nazret.com Merkato Blog

Ethiopia - Washington Update April 20, 2010

By Mesfin Mekonen

The biggest news coming from Ethiopia in the last weeks was about the debates by the opposition, including The All Ethiopia Unity Party (AEUP), and the regime about land reform in Ethiopia.

The debates were held in Addis Ababa and were broadcast live to the nation on Radio and TV. The AEUP presented its program to the people of Ethiopia. The proposal by the AEUP continued to stress the need for development of the Awash and Blue Nile projects. This would increase agricultural output by introducing modern methods of irrigation and also be a source of hydroelectric power as well.

It calls for land to be owned by the farmers who raise their crops on the land. It would eliminate the government’s strangle hold on agriculture in Ethiopia and put an end to the constant cycle of famines. The regime’s response was incoherent. Basically the regime has no faith in the Ethiopian farmer to make his own decisions.

Elections are on the Ethiopian horizon coming on May 23. Will they be “FREE & FAIR?” The record of the regime in this respect continues to be a poor one. As we stated in an earlier Washington Update from June 25th, 2004: “…also crucial to free and fair elections and the establishment of a democratic society is to stop current attempts to censor and intimidate the press. A free press is a precondition to fair elections.”


Already there are reports of intimidation and silencing of political opponents. The European Union is so concerned that it making election process observation of the Ethiopian elections a top priority. Please see this piece in the Washington, DC newspaper The Hill.

http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/90973-free-and-fair-elections-in-ethiopia

We thank the EU and the US for their concern and support. The international community is saying all the right things but we need action! The key thing is for Ethiopians to bring about change by peaceful means themselves. Fund raising for AEUP is the critical link. The AEUP needs your help now to take its message of reform, development, and full human rights to the Ethiopian people. Please donate what you can; go to:

http://www.kaeup.com

and then:

http://www.kaeup.com/cms.asp?cmsID=27


This past week we have been communicating with Representative Chris Smith, (R-NJ), the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Africa. He is very much concerned with the poor human rights situation in Ethiopia and the effect that this might have on next month’s elections. He continues to monitor the situation and we believe that he will work to help get the Ethiopian elections to be really “Free & Fair.”