BY MERGA YONAS|The Ethiopian Reporter
As the election for local and the Addis Ababa City Administration is left with less than a few months to go, 28 opposition political parties placed their own reservation before committing themselves to the election. Listing out 18 questions that includes using media, allowing observers and the independence of the NEBE, among the many to make the election fair and free, so far they didn’t receive any response from the electoral board and the PM office. Among the 28 parties, there are prominent parties like Medrek and the newly-emerging Semayawi party. Yilikal Getnet, chairman of Semaywi Party spoke to Merga Yonas of The Reporter on the questions they raised, how they could seize response from the mandated body and what could be the fate of these parties.
Excerpts:
The Reporter: As an opposition political party and and one who has boycotted the upcoming local and Addis Ababa City Administration elections, how do you see the current political atmosphere leading to the election?
Yilikal Getinet: By the way we did not fully boycott the election. But we are asking the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) about its response to our request on the standards of electoral process, our constitutional right and the electoral law and even in accordance with the international standards. At the minimum level, we are asking to have fair, free and transparent elections. So we are not boycotting the election; rather we have filed 18 questions to the NEBE and the government of Ethiopia. They did not accept our questions and we have not got any response from both entity so far.
Why do you think that is so?
It is better if you ask the incumbent or the election board. Because in the questions we are asking about the media and press law, fairness of the election, how to organize our members, about election observers. So without all this minimum requirements how can we take part in the election. An election is not a one time job, it is a process where the process justifies the end. They are not interested to do that. Even they are violating the law, as the law says the schedule of election can be arranged with the consultation of the stakeholders including the members who held a meeting at Adama to discuss the election mater. Among the 41 members of political parties participating in the meeting, six said that before going into the technical matters with regard to the schedule, they requested to discuss the political matter in the country, including the political landscape the media and some laws that are against the constitution.
The election board accepted the appeal and plan to discuss the matter at first instance. But later, we were informed by the election board public relation officer, Yeshi Fekade, that Prof. Merga Bakana and Dr. Addisu Gebregzihaber have traveled to the US and got some experience from the US elections. So, we were told that when they get back they will discuss the matter and we will hold the meeting.
Could you explain to me the main points in the questions you have filed to the NEBE and the PM’s office and why are they necessary for the upcoming election?
The main one is how to use the public media. Since the inception of our party, for instance, we have undergone a rough path and this is reported by some private and international media outlets. but not by the state owned media for one. So if you don’t take your voice to every media, how could one conduct an election? The second thing is whether the NEBE is free or independent from the government. We are asking as we have doubts on its independence. For instance, Yeshi Fekade, the public relation officer of the NEBE, was a nominee in the 2005 national elections representing the EPRDF and she was also in the armed struggle. We do thus, have substantial evidence and that is what we are asking to be free and fair.
One, including your party and other 28 opposition political parties, could not so far get a responses from NEBE and the PM’s office to your questions, second, these parties didn’t field their candidates and took election signs to take part in the election as its deadline is approaching. So what do you think would be the way forward or remedies to participate in this election?
By the way, we believe the schedule of this election is not the legal schedule. It is illegal. This is what we should underline first. As I mentioned, the schedule can be rearranged with the consultation of stakeholders. So the deadline the NEBE has is not the legal schedule and not according to the law of Ethiopia. I can say this is not an election as it is against the Constitution and election proclamation.
Why do you think other opposition political parties, excluding the 28, didn’t raise the question as you did and put their own reservation?
This question could be very good if you ask parties participating in the election. But I can give you my point of view that these opposition political parties are in the payroll of the EPRDF. This is not something hidden. I can tell you that the weekly newspaper, Sendek, has already published how much salary they get from the EPRDF. There is this party called Selamawi party, an affiliate of EPRDF, gets 20,000 birr from the incumbent. There is a donation from the international community that is meant to improve the democratization process of Ethiopia and political atmosphere of the country in general. This donation comes through the NEBE, which made some criteria that says the 90 percent of the donation goes to the EPRDF and the rest to the opposition political parties. For instance, Medrek – a front comprising six various parties – was offered just 6000 birr but they didn’t accept that.
If you have substantial evidence for your allegations why didn’t you inform the international community who, you said, are funding in the name of improving democratization?
We informed the international community and we have submitted our plea to the funders on what we are asking for the government and not getting a response. We have written a petition letter to the British Embassy, US Embassy and the UN as well.
If you could not get a response for any of your questions, what do you think is the fate of opposition political parties like yours, for instance, in the 2015 national elections?
It is a very interesting question. I know the political climate in Ethiopia is very difficult and it is deteriorating from time to time, especially since the historical 2005 national election. Since then many laws have been introduced, including the anti-terrorism law, media and press law, civil society law and the land lease law. All this is against the constitution and violates the right of the public. These are not the difficulties the opposition political parties are facing, but for the general public it really is a difficulty. So we are planning to work together with other opposition political parties to solve out our own and the public’s problems. So it is the people who can answer this question.
Recently, Redwan Hussein, head of EPRDF secretariat, said whether these 28 parties take part in the election or not it will not have any loss or benefit for the EPRDF though their participation is good. How do you react to his statement?
It is really a pity to hear such a comment from a government official. For one thing, what EPRDF lacks is a moral integrity, ethics and principles to lead a nation. When you are in a public life, they see you not only as a government official but as a figure and model personality. So how could one say the lack of opposition political parties in the political atmosphere is meaningless and it doesn’t have any impact on the EPRDF or the election process for that matter. So this is really EPRDF’s discordant policy.