(By: Marthe van der Wolf)
Thousands of Ethiopians demonstrated Sunday in Addis Ababa, the first political protest against the country’s ruling party since 2005.
The demonstrators were shouting they wanted their human rights to be ensured, that political and religious prisoners should be released, and accusing state television of only broadcasting propaganda.
“We have been raising lots of questions for the government and one is to release those political party leaders and journalists,” said Getaneh Banch, a member of the Blue Party, the opposition party that organized the demonstration. “And we have been also calling for the government to release also those who have been dislocated from their locations, because of their ethnic background.”
This was the first political demonstration since the 2005 elections, after which many protesters and opposition leaders were imprisoned.
One of the opposition leaders jailed after the 2005 elections, Jacob Hailemariam, says this demonstration is significant for Ethiopia.
“This will definitely encourage people to demand their rights that they have been very quite about, until today,” he said.
Many of the protesters were young men with a Muslim background who do not necessarily support the Blue Party, but do feel a change in government is needed.
“I am not happy with the political party of this nation,” said Mustafa, a high-school teacher. “I never support this party because if I am a citizen I can not believe in what I believe. We are suffering too much, our leaders are in prison.”
University student Shimelis says he does not expect any immediate change, but still feels it is important to be present.
“When we demonstrate, we express our idea, we express our thinking to the government and to the international community,” he said.
The Blue Party says it will organize more demonstrations if Ethiopia’s ruling party does not respond to its demands within three months.
***************
Source: VOA – June 2, 2013.
The photos in this post are by Daniel Berhane (not from VOA)
this is all sick Blue party taking advantage of the Muslim people to control power in the country. this was always the strategy adopted by most of Ethiopian politicians. We all know what is real for our parties they all want to be the kings and nothing more please let the people live and work to get out of poverty leave the government alone to work for the people as it was always been. We all know this parties do not give a thing about they all care about their lost power which dates back to the monarch. this is not the time for Amharas this is the time for ETHIOPIANS!!!!
Come on Filmon, I didn’t say the govt won almost 100% popular vote. I said almost 100% seats in Parliament. I think my sentences are clear enough for an open mind person. I say it again, it can’t happen anywhere except in Ethiopia, Eritrea and some likes.
The tone of your comment may confirm that the election results were imposed by force.
With love and respect.
CAIRO (AP) — Politicians meeting with Egypt’s president have proposed hostile acts against Ethiopia, including backing rebels and carrying out sabotage, to stop it from building a massive dam over the Nile River.
Some of the politicians attending Monday’s meeting with President Mohammed Morsi appeared unaware it was being carried live on TV. Morsi did not directly react to the suggestions.
Morsi called the meeting to review the impact of Ethiopia’s dam on Egypt’s share of the Nile’s water.
Younis Makhyoun, leader of an ultraconservative Islamist party, said Egypt should back rebels in Ethiopia or, as a last resort, destroy the dam. Liberal politician Ayman Nour proposed spreading rumors about Egypt obtaining advanced warplanes to scare the Ethiopians.
Egypt has in the past threatened to go to war to preserve its water share.
Read more: http://www.ctpost.com/news/world/article/Egypt-Politicians-advise-attacking-Ethiopia-4572514.php#ixzz2VBenxfM6
“Ethiopia has to commit to a certain deadline for providing more substantial information on the impact of the dam. It also has to sign a written, internationally accountable document that guarantees the dam will not harm Egypt and Sudan,” the Egyptian president declared.
First of all, we shouldn’t have suggested or agreed the establishment of the so called committee. Because we should learn from our history, our people scarified their resources and life for thier land, Badme, then – what happened the prejudice “court” awarded to Shabiya as a result of lack of experience in our government.
Now, the Egyptian government demanding too much staff in our own natural resources. We should stand firm and say enough is enough. Water is a natural resources like Oil and Gas. We should learn from Turkey. Also, We need to learn from Lesotho’s highlands water project and Columbia’s river in Canada.
In 1927, K. Hailesilassie had a plan for Ethiopia to receive income from Great Britain, now that plan is implemented in Lesotho, Canada…
We worked hard for Entebbe agreement and waited them more than two years to put their government in order. The sneak turned back and accuse us plotting harm on their interest. Are they kidding? I think they are playing card against us.
Ethiopian government, please, don’t fall into the sneak trap. No more waste of time and resource, they have to come and sign to Entebbe agreement if they have any respect for Africans.
Water is a Natural resources like oil and gas, this principle is not to harm anyone, but it is to help my people life out of poverty and famine. Clean water coverage in Egypt is 99%; however, according to USAID drinking water coverage in Oromia region is 32%. So, First Ethiopian’s natural resources to its people benefit.
Thanks
you beter comment in the language you know
EPRDF didn’t win 99% of the total votes. it won 99% of the total seats. these two things are completely different as for one seat the government could have even won by 50.1%. you should straighten yourself out first before you so surely write about this.
Etyopiyawiw,….a good insight
The blue party this sounds like CIA colour revolution funded by CIA ethiopians must really be carefull. What they wish for ethiopia has so much enemy’s within and outside the country and the government must not let the muslim brotherhood penetrate ethiopia
Wait a minute, …
who is protesting? Members of the Blue party or someone is riding on the Blue Party?
Please pay attention on the following extract from the VOA news:
“Many of the protesters were young men with a Muslim background who do not necessarily support the Blue Party, but do feel a change in government is needed.”
This ensures that the Blue party is not able to stand on its own, but it is a conduit for those who have their own agenda, who join as free riders and even those do not support it.
Brother,
You are right the rule of law has to be respected! Not only the poor public, but the government, the local and federal police, the security agents, the rich and their families, all MUST have to respect the rule law. The reality is the one wants to respect the law, himself above the law. That’s being an animal!
Also, wining almost 100% sites in parliament by the ruling party undermine the fairness of the election. In movie it can be done, but in reality not so except in Ethiopia, Eritrea… Even not in Egypt.
With love and respect.
Maybe this shows that it actually pays off getting permission to demonstrate, not just defying laws. Ethiopia needs a vibrant opposition, but the first step is to respect rule of law, and stop undermining the legally elected government. Time will tell if the Blue Party is more serious than its predecessors. They should not make throuble if they don’t get an answer within the deadline they so arrogantly have set. .