So, I finally get it! The one thing the Diaspora CUD tourists are agreed on is the 8-point proposal to EPRDF before they join parliament to do the peoples business. The one they were elected to do in the first place, before they elected to join the Kality parliament instead.
Is some one briefing them on the developments in Ethiopian politics since they joined Kality? Is every one so taken in by the never ending festivals that these delegates are treated to as they criss-cross these
Well, if I am the soul voice of resentment so be it. I have nothing against the tour or the efforts made to raise funds for a non-existing party. I don't even care about the unfolding drama and division between the Chairman Engineer Hailu Shawel and the Gang of Five lead by Dr. Berhanu Nega. They are making a laughing stock of themselves without me having to clap on. But what I am more concerned about is the unanimous position they have taken on the so called 8-point talking points. Be patient with me and follow me as I examine these eight points that make mockery of democratic principles and rule of law:
1. Demands for an independent election board.
If memory serves me right, these has partly been accomplished by allowing opposition party members who have joined parliament after the 2005 elections, to nominate members to join the Election Board to start the process of democratizing it. I hope this board is better prepared or preparing itself for the coming elections. Can you make any demands on a functioning government as a non-party member?
2. Free press accessible to all political parties.
To me this is an issue of basic democratic rights to any political party, registered by the government and actively participating in parliament. I would rather hear such complaints from these parties. I also have confidence that the EPRDF government has made note of this and is working on accommodating these needs.
3. Release of all political prisoners.
All? How many are left? By whose count? The 100 or so as per Ms. Bertukan Mideksa or the ones claimed by OLF and Shabia? So you will not join parliament until the last one is out? Give me a break!
4. Professionalization of the police and military forces.
I am sure you expect for this to happen by the time you're done with your vacation in the Diaspora! Actually that is my dream too. But I have a different time line. I hope that some day, our military and police forces are so professional to not bow down to political party interests, but to national interests. That will require continued recruitment of Ethiopians of different ethnic backgrounds into our military over many years. Are you going to sit on the side lines and watch or are you going to join parliament and fight for more fund allocations to professionalize our police and military forces?
5. Investigation of post-election killings by government forces.
6. Establishment of a follow-up commission.
Very noble idea indeed! Lives were lost on your watch. You are partly responsible for it. You have signed and apologized for worse crimes than this. So, go establish a party, have it registered and approved by the government, run for elections, get elected, join parliament and challenge the report of the inquiry commission. All of those lives lost need to be accounted for. Their families deserve to be rewarded and we should all learn a thing or two to not repeat the same mistake ever again.
7. Rescission of undemocratic parliamentary procedures.
Please join parliament and fight for that. That is what you were elected to do in the first place. Instead you decided to head toward Kality and leave your supporters leaderless.
8. An independent judiciary.
Please see all of the above!
You have your work cut out for you. Go in peace and join the budding democratic forces in
God bless.
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