Ethiopia’s election: all losers

The crushing electoral defeat of the Ethiopian opposition does not actually help the ruling party and encourages its slide into authoritarianism ‘I really feel totally betrayed by the system,’ confessed Beyene Petros, one of the most respected leaders of the Ethiopian opposition, a few days after its crushing defeat in the general elections on 23 May 2010. ‘I thought that, if we competed in the elections, there would be a door ajar that could be made use of by competing parties.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Rejects Opposition Criticism of Elections

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi rejected criticism of his ruling partys sweep of 99 percent of announced parliamentary seats in May 23 elections and compared the countrys political system to that of Sweden and Japan.

Ethiopias Meles Rejects Opposition Criticism of Elections

May 26 (Bloomberg) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi rejected criticism of his ruling partys sweep of 99 percent of announced parliamentary seats in May 23 elections and compared the countrys political system to that of Sweden and Japan.

Two Ethiopia opposition members killed

Ethiopian police shot dead two opposition members in the sensitive Oromia region after an election the ruling party won by a landslide, an opposition party and the government said Wednesday.

Two Ethiopia opposition members killed after poll

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – An Ethiopian opposition party said Wednesday that two of its members had been shot dead by security forces in the sensitive Oromia region in a crackdown on dissent after the ruling party’s crushing election win.

Tension mounts in Ethiopia as the battle of ballot looms

Accusations of harassment and even of murder have led to escalating tensions in Ethiopia between the ruling party and the opposition, a month ahead of general elections.

Ethiopia Attacks Press : 2009 Report

Ahead of national elections scheduled for May 2010, the ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) further curtailed the limited freedom of the country’s small number of independent newspapers. The government enacted harsh legislation that criminalized coverage of vaguely defined “terrorist” activities, and used administrative restrictions, criminal prosecutions, and imprisonments to induce self-censorship.

Ethiopia : New Election Code Sparks Furore (AllAfrica.com)

Addis Ababa — Opposition parties are troubled by what they say is government’s strategy to keep them out of the general elections in May 2010. They accuse the ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) of harassment.

Ethiopia Ruling Party Denies Opposition Imprisonment Claims (Voice of America)

In Ethiopia, the ruling Ethiopia People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front says it’s unaware that hundreds of opposition members have allegedly been jailed ahead of next year’s election.

Ethiopia : Defected MP testifies about prevailing political condiitions in Ethiopia

Press Release by Mr. Belete Etana, MP & D/Chairman PAC of Ethiopian Parliament To introduce myself, I am MP and D/chairman of Public Account Standing Committee (PAC) of the House of Peoples’ Representatives of Ethiopia, elected as a representative of Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO) from Limu Kossa District, Jimma zone, Oromia region. I want to give my honest and sincere testimony of the conditions currently prevailing in Ethiopia.