- Dr. Gudina says Ethio-Channel “private” newspaper “belongs
to the Ethiopian Government security."
- European and American diplomats pushing for compromise between FDD and TPLF/EPRDF
(Jimma Times) - The Ethiopian opposition leader Dr. Merera
Gudina rejected comments and quotes attributed to him in the Addis Ababa based newspaper
"Ethio Channel."
Dr. Merera Gudina is the present chairman of the Oromo People's Congress (OPC, formerly ONC)
opposition party and gained the rotating chairmanship of the eight-party opposition alliance Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum, better known as "Medrek" - the Forum
for Democratic Dialogue (FDD). In its latest publication, the Addis Ababa based newspaper “Ethio
Channel” printed false information about developments inside the FDD, according
to Dr. Gudina.
Including divisive comments on the relation between Dr. Gudina and former
leader of the UEDF Prof Beyene Petros, the newspaper incorrectly reported on
the terms of Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) party's participation inside the
FDD. Dr. Gudina, who is also an Associate professor in Addis Ababa
University, said Ethio Channel's "intention is to divide the
opposition." Some opposition sources told JT that the new “Ethio Channel”
newspaper is part of the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) ruling party's
intelligence network.
According to Dr. Gudina, people inside Ethiopia and in the
Diaspora should not trust most of the new "private" newspapers secretly
supported by the TPLF, adding that "Ethio-Channel belongs to the Ethiopian
Government security."
The Ethio Channel newspaper claimed the temporary chairman of the UDJ (formerly
CUD) opposition party, Engineer Gizachew Shiferaw, is losing his party
leadership control to the dissenting Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam, who was
previously a high level UDJ official. In early October of this year, Prof.
Mesfin organized an anti-FDD demonstration supported by the government to
protest UDJ’s involvement inside FDD (Medrek). However, unconfirmed sources
told JT that Prof. Mesfin used pro-government EDP supporters of Lidetu Ayalew
to organize the anti-FDD demonstration in Ethiopia.
The demonstration organized by Prof. Mesfin was not the first time
pro-government mobs protested against the FDD. In August this year, members of Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi’s ruling party branch Oromo Peoples Democratic
Organization (OPDO) posed as independent Oromos and disturbed a meeting by UDJ
of FDD held inside Adama city of Oromia.
One-Party 2010 Election?
Last week, the FDD announced its preliminary program and plans for the 2010
national election. In addition to the eight opposition parties, FDD members
include the former Defense Minister Siye Abraha and former President Dr.
Negasso Gidada. All members of this coalition joined FDD for a shared principle
and goal of establishing democratic and independent institutions for the first
time inside Ethiopia.
According to JT sources, European and American diplomats are
pressuring Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to negotiate with the FDD coalition in
order to avoid organizing a one-party national election in 2010. With the
exception of the FDD opposition, all other parties registered for the 2010
election are seen as pro-government parties and ruling party affiliates by the
majority of Ethiopians.
The FDD adopted the UDJ's 2005 pre-conditions for joining
the election. All members of the FDD diverse coalition agreed to set aside their ideological
differences in order to push for democracy as their priority. Eng. Gizachew,
who is also the vice-chairman of FDD, said the upcoming elections would likely
be boycotted by the FDD opposition coalition unless an independent election
board is established, western observers are allowed, the media is privatized,
the security force becomes impartial and Judge Birtukan Mideksa is released.
_
- Oromo People's Congress (OPC) website
- Chairman Dr. Merera Gudina at OPC/ONC demo in Oromia
- Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) website
- Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ-Andinet) website
- ARENA Tigray website
- "Free Birtukan" Campaign website
