#FakeEllection

 

NEWS: US SAYS ETHIOPIA’S ELECTORAL PROCESS WAS NOT FREE OR FAIR FOR ALL ETHIOPIANS; CALLS FOR INCLUSIVE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION TO MOVE THE COUNTRY FORWARD

https://addisstandard.com/news-us-says-ethiopias-electoral-process-was-not-free-or-fair-for-all-ethiopians-calls-for-inclusive-political-participation-to-move-the-country-forward/?fbclid=IwAR1P0-3lZFkzV40idkGyYiT9ZkexFPZr6c6PL0xuPPo0wPVbZRZNDHFQpvk

#Justiceserved

 

Derek Chauvin sentencing: Ex-Minneapolis cop sentenced to 22.5 years in prison in murder of George Floyd

https://www.foxnews.com/us/derek-chauvin-sentencing-ex-minneapolis-cop-murder-george-floyd?cmpid=fb_fnc&fbclid=IwAR28ItQj0NhdC-J1d0IZ9NLa3nnZ5-ZHmsNVaWxmyYCdLTTxhwVsj_4Zz2I

#FakeEllectionEthiopia

 An election that is not fair and not inclusive cannot deliver democracy.

A statement from The Oromo Federalist Congress on the Ethiopian ‘Elections’

For over the past three years, the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) has been expressing its position and concerns regarding the political direction of Ethiopia and has been working tirelessly in advising for the creation of a favorable condition for the realization of the right political environment for a successful democratic transition. Our party repeatedly underlined the fact that only a broader understanding among the political forces of the country through a meaningful political dialogue can take the country out of the existing political dead-end.

However, the ruling party that believes in a domination of one group and determined to rule in perpetuity at all costs repeatedly has frustrated our quests for political dialogue by turning them into a ‘dialogue of the deaf, which in turn have led the country to wallow under an endless political quagmire.

The on-going political theater under the name of “national election” we have witnessed yesterday was the direct consequence of the rigid stand taken from the side of the ruling party. And as we feared all along - the election from which our party has been forced out was proved to be a fixed game and orchestrated by the ruling party – a very fact that finally being understood by those parties stayed in the election as it can be read from the complaints they are making.

As it is to be recalled, the election was not able to seriously attract the attention of our citizens as a result of which voters registration deadlines had been postponed at least three times. Far worse, as even the Election Board admitted - there were seventy-nine election stations that the board itself did not know while no elections were taken place in hundreds of constituencies across the country because of security reasons. And in regions like Oromia, because of the absence of those who could help the ruling party’s political drama in several places, there were only nominal presence of a very few opposition parties while in hundreds of constituencies the ruling party cadres had to compete by themselves unopposed. What also should be noted is that as the Tigray Administrative Region was in the middle of a war, the entire region was out of this election. In a nutshell, about 50% of the population of the country was out of this election process. To be sure, the outcome of such a political drama and what it meant to the future of our country is not difficult to predict.

As even our own political rivals understood it, the fact that the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and our party, the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) not be able to take part in this election would not spell well for anyone. Above all, in the eyes of the Oromo youth who have paid the ultimate sacrifices to bring about this three-year-old political change that was expected to transit the country to stability and democratic governance, missing the two Oromo parties they overwhelmingly support in the election definitely leaves a black spot in the history of the Oromo people’s struggle for freedom and democracy. To say it in the clearest language possible, this can be taken as a second betrayal to the struggle of our people for their democratic rights and self-rule.

Finally, we repeat again and again that there will be no miraculous shortcut to fulfill the three greatest needs of our country: lasting peace and stability, birth of democratic Ethiopia that equally house all its citizens and a prosperous country that provides better opportunities to the millions of its citizens – without a genuine all-inclusive political dialogue based on a common road map.

Therefore, from our end, we are suggesting the following as a way forward to all the political forces of the country to take them seriously:

1. To start an immediate talk for the establishment of all-inclusive Government of Salvation that can undertake the aborted reform of governmental institutions;

2. To start an immediate all-inclusive and honest political dialogue to sort out the country’s our standing political problems;

3. Based on an agreed common road map, to hold an all-inclusive ‘free and fair’ election within one year that can be acceptable to and respected by all of the peoples of Ethiopia.

At the end, at this very decisive moment in the history of our country promising to play our share of the game genuinely and positively, we call upon the peoples of Ethiopia and the international community to stand with us in our endeavor to create lasting peace and true democratic transition.

Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC)

Addis Ababa: June 23, 2021

 

Abiy Ahmed and the tarnishing of the world’s most famous prize

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/06/22/abiy-ahmed-tarnishing-worlds-most-famous-prize/?fbclid=IwAR27emp9BesWVVzxQpi9OIHjMmHKanzVF5npCWCPP3MRfjSqqCsn6zaulFk

Share on Twitter Share via Email Print this page Africa New UN Report Accuses Eritrea of Committing Heinous Crimes in Ethiopia

 

New UN Report Accuses Eritrea of Committing Heinous Crimes in Ethiopia

https://www.voanews.com/africa/new-un-report-accuses-eritrea-committing-heinous-crimes-ethiopia?fbclid=IwAR2lDKbglKbzSiuRBHSlTvAOXGY17ooW89ueTpel0R2BpaRyS9yLToQ9c8k

 

Tigray Dissidents Claim Territorial Gains in Ethiopian Civil War

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-22/tigray-dissidents-claim-territorial-gains-in-ethiopian-civil-war?fbclid=IwAR27emp9BesWVVzxQpi9OIHjMmHKanzVF5npCWCPP3MRfjSqqCsn6zaulFk

#FakeEllection#Ethiopia

 

US Sanctions on Ethiopia: Good Policy or Violation of Ethiopia’s Sovereignty?

https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/21/06/2021/us-sanctions-ethiopia-good-policy-or-violation-ethiopias-sovereignty?fbclid=IwAR0D7upzOoXCbQEdtkloK1Jr2Li8IBBvumrpmhYs9z9NbSb-Qz6tXxD1TyE

#FakeEllection#Ethiopia

 #Ethiopia: 102 polling stations in Benishangul-Gumuz State cancel the election; preparing to rerun another

The #BenishangulGumuz Regional State Electoral Branch Office Head, Tadesse Lemma, said the election held in 102 polling stations located in Asossa Hua and Asossa Mengele was canceled due to a shortage of ballot papers Tadesse told DW Amharic that the Electoral Board will re-run the election.

According to Tadesse, the election was held peacefully and in all six other constituencies where the election was held on the day. However Asossa Hua and Asossa Mengele constituencies have reported a shortage of ballot papers for the 102 polling stations. There are six constituents in BG regional state with a total of 302 polling stations in Assosa Zone.

The Boro Democratic Party, one of the opposition political parties operating in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, said it supported the decision of the Branch Electoral Office. Yohannes Tessema, the party's head, said he has been complaining to the Electoral Board several times during the voting yesterday and that the decision was fair and just.

More than 360,000 citizens in Asossa Zone have registered to cast their votes.

Pictures: DW Amharic and Benishangul Gumuz Mass Media

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Ethiopia's poll: Prime Minister Ahmed is ‘deaf’ says detained Oromo opposition politician

https://www.news24.com/news24/Africa/News/ethiopias-poll-prime-minister-ahmed-is-deaf-says-detained-oromo-opposition-politician-20210621?fbclid=IwAR1XyujSdGx82qNGm-MlD5o_3hoQG4szumTy6lME6bRa0yeqJtNhynEQhSM

#FakeEllection#Ethiopia

 OLF and OFC Denounce the Unlawful Mistreatment of Oromia Refugees by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in its Detention Centers.

Urgent Joint Press Statement of the Oromo Liberation Front & Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC)

21 June 2021

The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) are enormously saddened and shocked by the atrocities of the of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the Oromia refugees in its detention centers. The Oromia refugees are political refugees who escaped from their country because the human rights, political and economic suppression in Ethiopia has passed the level of just human rights abuses and reached the height of massive violations of human rights including extra-judicial killings. The refugees who flee their country to save their lives deserve to be protected and must be treated according to the international refugee norms and at least with minimum standards of international Human Rights principles.

According to the information we received from the detention centers in Saudi Arabia, huge number of Oromia refugees are suffering from below-standard detention conditions in prisons. The refugees in detention are living in extremely overcrowded rooms- up to 200 persons in a small room. The people in detentions include children, pregnant women, old age, and people with different sorts of disabilities who are susceptible to various type of diseases and infections caused by overcrowded, unhygienic and suffocated detention conditions. Currently, the refugees in Saudi Arabia detention centers do not get essential basic needs to survive including food, water, sanitation, and medicines. According to the information we received so far, two refugees have already died due to the maltreatment. We are overly concerned in particular that the Oromia refugees in these detention centers are exposed to Covid- 19 pandemic that could kill even large number of these refugees.

We, the OLF and OFC, extend our deepest condolences to families of those who lost their lives in these tragic detention centers. We condemn the terrible actions taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the strongest possible terms. We request all human rights organizations, especially those who are concerned with the rights of refugees, minors and children, international health institutions and relevant united nations bodies to put the necessary pressure on Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to treat these refugees according to the refugee standards and human rights principles.

We would like to inform the Oromia citizens and Ethiopian peoples that the Ethiopian ruling group and its ambassador and diplomatic team in Saudi Arabia are keeping silent, apart from lip services, while Oromia and its citizens are suffering under harsh situations in foreign detention centers. We understand that the Ethiopian ruling groups see political refugees as its adversaries, but we expected that the ruling group would demand at least minimum respect of human rights of these refugees. Unfortunately, the Ethiopian ruling group failed to do so as they did during refugee atrocities in Republic of Yemen. Particularity the Ethiopian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia who is solely responsible to protect Ethiopian refugees in that country is personally responsible for atrocities on refugees in Saudi Arabia and the lives lost as a result. It seems that the Ethiopia Embassy in Saudi Arabia is intentionally silent while the Oromia refugees in detention are suffering and dying as obviously most of the refugees are oppositions to the ruling group.

We would like to inform the Oromia citizens and the Ethiopian oppressed nations and nationalities that the political crises in Ethiopia have far reaching impact on the lives and living of citizens including agonies beyond Ethiopian borders. The crisis in Ethiopia is not only ruining the existences of those in the country, but also the country’s ruling system impairs are extended to the refugee hosting countries and citizens are unable to survive at least as refugees in some countries including Arabian states. We would like to reiterate that the only solution to this tragedy is to intensify peoples’ struggle for freedom and democracy by coordinating forces from both inside and outside the country and avoid these century long sufferings.

We urge the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to make sure that the Oromia refugees in detentions are protected from any inhumane and degrading treatments. We also urge the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure that the refugees get basic needs including food, water, medicines, air conditioning and protected from police and security abuses. We also would like to urge the Kingdom to give special attention to the most vulnerable refugees in the detentions including the wounded, pregnant, children, old aged and disabled people to get special medical attention and necessary support.

We would like to call up on the Oromo institutions around the world including the Media groups, communities, religious institutions, professional bodies, human rights groups, and activists to coordinate your efforts and make the voices of these Oromia refugees heard as they are in extreme danger at this time. This includes, media campaign, appeal letters to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to relevant international organizations, as well as financial supports to reach the vulnerable refugees in Saudi Arabia.

We would like to inform the international community that Oromia refugees in Saudi Arabia and Republic of Yemen are repeatedly mistreated and handled in debilitating situations in recent years. This is against the covenants and laws of the UNHCR, international Human rights and regional refugee laws. We particularly appeal to the UNCHR, UNHRC, and western democratic nations to interfere and urge the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to treat the Oromia refugees according to the international refugee laws and humanitarian standards.

Oromo Liberation Front and Oromo Federalist Congress

June 21, 2021

Finfinne

 

Ethiopians vote in elections overshadowed by crisis and conflict

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210621-ethiopians-to-vote-in-elections-overshadowed-by-crisis-and-conflict?fbclid=IwAR3qphtgD_DHHDTnU9QB40-xOFqKBURR_TI1BqIQp3zUnlvH_PBjiJCEND8

#AbiyMustGo

 

Ethiopian elections: In the eyes of the international community, this vote ‘is already tainted

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210621-ethiopian-elections-in-the-eyes-of-the-international-community-this-vote-is-already-tainted?fbclid=IwAR0J7RU1YuCVt_rNlHhlvAcfSATAHbBCOF6JJgJ3RsZfuwHYG8yhWSKrkcs

#FakeEllection#Ethiopia

 Ethiopia's sham election does not constitute a new beginning

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There is simply no conceivable universe in which a sham election that proceeds by excluding critical stakeholders could be considered a 'new beginning' or a 'step in the right direction'. This election is a shambolic exercise designed to manufacture legitimacy for the incumbent and will do nothing to address Ethiopia's ominous challenges. If anything, it exacerbates existing contradictions and hastens the disintegration of Ethiopia as we know it.

A key part of Abiy's systematic and calculated campaign of repression in Oromia is the elimination of popular politicians who represented a formidable electoral threat to his childhood dream of becoming a King. Without locking up people like Jawar Mohammed, Bekele Gerba, Hamza Borena and others, his coronation as a PP leader would not become a reality.

The Prosperity Party & its reactionary Ethiopia-First ideology have no support in much of the country. With the exception of the Amhara region and Addis Ababa, there is no appetite for Abiy's delusional Make Ethiopia Great Again ideology. However, the Prosperity Party has already rolled back the limited progress made thus far in the areas of self-government, pluralism, & respect for diversity, leading to civil war & massive unrest.

In 2018, Abiy inherited a shambolic mandate from Hailemariam Desalegn but he ruled Ethiopia as though he had an overwhelming democratic mandate and continued support for his policies. Abiy took drastic measures that effectively changed the constitutional fabric of the country. After his expected coronation, he will continue to rule in the same way and ultimately impose his totalitarian idea of 'unity' by any means.

After Abiy's coronation, the political demands and proposals for change will change. Opposition groups are likely to demand gov't of national unity and insist that a genuine national dialogue that will sort out the country's ominous troubles cannot be held under Abiy's direction.

Abiy is unlikely to accept those demands. If he could not accept domestic and international pleas for dialogue and a peaceful end to the crisis facing Ethiopia over the last three years, one could not reasonably expect a newly crowned Abiy to accept any conditions to end Ethiopia's woes?

I predict the election will end without a significant episode. The parties running in the election are ideologically homogenous and they see those excluded from the process as bigger threats to their long term vision than the ruling party. But one thing is clear: this election will not end Ethiopia's menacing crisis. It will complicated and exacerbate it.

The country will likely plunge deeper and deeper into the abyss, gradually. Ethiopia will revert to its authoritarian self to repress those it excluded and this will further harden and entrench feelings of marginalization. The government will produce new governing narratives to obscure and gaslight people - they will do the same thing all over again. But this time, Ethiopia may not survive & the Empire could fall under the weight of its contradiction.