(JT) One of the three main Ethiopian opposition parties, the Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP), gave life to the 2010 pre-election campaigns this week by organizing some of the largest political gatherings in the country since the 2005 election period. Thousands of Ethiopians came to EDP meetings in the cities of Dessie (northern Ethiopia), Soddo and Awassa (southern Ethiopia) in support of the party of Lidetu Ayalew, the most famous and controversial younger politician in Ethiopia.


Five years ago, Lidetu’s EDP was one of the four parties that made up the formerly successful but now defunct Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) opposition party. The CUD, together with other opposition forces, won the 2005 election until the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi suddenly changed the results of the election, according to election observers. However, while top CUD leaders Hailu Shawel, Birtukan Mideksa, Berhanu Nega, Hailu Araya, Gizachew Shiferaw, Mesfin Woldemariam and Yakob Hailemariam went to prison for boycotting the post-2005 parliament, Lidetu Ayalew decided to join the parliament, a face-saving move for Meles Zenawi whose security forces massacred hundreds of unarmed demonstrators in 2005. Lidetu said his party “believed in taking that chance even though the whole world knew the election results were rigged.” This began the political crisis for Lidetu Ayalew, who has since been renamed “Kidetu” (referring to his betrayal in Amharic language) by many Ethiopians.


But Lidetu has come back and risen up once again after shrugging off endless criticism that could still haunt his party in the future.


While some Ethiopians might forget his mistakes, most people of Addis Ababa might not be as forgiving, as exemplified by the low turnout of supporters in EDP gatherings in the capital. Lidetu has responded by personally running for another constituency near the rural northern town of Lalibela, over 300 miles away from Addis Ababa. And in other regional cities, his EDP party remains as popular as ever before, particularly among the youth.


Now his EDP is one of the three strong oposition groups for the 2010 election, together with the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum (Medrek) and All Ethiopia Unity Party (AEUP). Like the famous former CUD Vice-President Birtukan Mideksa, who is from an ethnically mixed background, EDP's Vice President Sophia Yilma also has similar ethnic background and a notable woman in political leadership, a rare role for women in Ethiopia. She is the daughter of Yilma Deressa, an ethnic Oromo and the former Finance Minister of Ethiopia during Emperor Haile Selassie I era.

EDP leader Lidetu says opposition movements need “self-criticism and democratic culture within the parties themselves.” Despite being a champion of the “third way” ideology, with a recently discovered oratory skills, Lidetu still faces many more challenges, including new attacks from the ruling party he saved in 2005. Recently, cadres of Meles Zenawi’s ruling party have reportedly used scare tactics and character assassination by labeling Lidetu as “Nafxanya Amhara” to Oromos who do not want to see the return of Amhara rule in Oromia and by labeling Lidetu as “Pentay” (Protestant) to Amharas in Lalibela town, the historic Orthodox town where most residents react violently toward non-Orthodox Christian denominations. Despite the obstacles, Lidetu says he will never give up and his party plans to hold meetings in Adama and Debre Berhan next week.

• EDP gathering in Awassa

• EDP meeting in Wolayta Soddo

Lidetu in Wolayta cultural attire

• EDP in Bahir Dar

• EDP in Dessie, Amhara region
  

• EDP in Aleta Wendo town, Sidama Zone

• EDP meeting in Addis Ababa