Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Addis Ababa (Fides Service)- “This is a democratic process which must be encouraged: Ethiopia’s elections cannot be read with Western spectacles. Ethiopia has only known democracy for 12 years” said local sources in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, where tomorrow 15 May, there will be elections to form a national parliament and eight regional parliaments.
“Certainly there are problems arising from the fact that about 80 per cent of Ethiopians live in remote rural areas difficult to reach. For most of them the only source of information is the government controlled national radio” the sources told Fides. “However this should not discourage us from backing the democratic process underway”.
On the eve of the vote the two main parties Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front EPRDF in power and the main Opposition party Coalition for Unity and Democracy CUD announced they had reached a non-violence agreement to ensure elections without trouble.
“However despite the agreement there are fears of possible disorder” the sources told Fides. “A few days ago a large demonstration was staged in Addis Ababa by the Opposition. There was some tension. However , as the first demonstration of this kind in the history of Ethiopia it was an important sign of the vitality of the country’s political life”.
“One positive element is a conspicuous presence of international and local observers who will monitor to see the vote is fair” the sources told Fides. “At least 300 international observers are present from the African Union, European Union, Arab League and also from a Centre founded and presided by former UN president Jimmy Carter who is present in person. Among the local observers, some are religious representatives”. In view of the elections the Catholic Bishops of Ethiopia issued a statement (see Fides 28 April 2005).
Ethiopia after the fall of Emperor Hailé Sélassié in 1974 was governed until 1991 by a pro-Marxist military regime led by Hailé Mariam Mengistu who became Ethiopia’s strong man after the so-called “Red Terror” period 1977-78. With the fall of the regime, Ethiopia granted independence to Eritrea in 1993 and gave itself a strongly de-centralised constitution.
Addis Ababa hosts the African Union headquarters and an important regional office of the United Nations. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2005 righe 35 parole 406)
