ROBBERY AT GUNPOINT

By N. Kebede

It is astonishing that the TPLF/EPRDF dictators declared themselves winners of the ‘election’ by landslide before the votes are even counted. Such outrageous claim by the TPLF/EPRDF only confirm the long held suspicion that they have rigged the election and reveals their pre-planned plot to hang on to power whatever the outcome of the election. There can be no other explanation to it.

Long before the election started, they paved the way for carrying out massive fraud by refusing to make the election board independent and by expelling foreign election observers in order to avoid scrutiny. Some of the election observers the EPRDF/TPLF picked and chose themselves were intended to give credibility to the fraud being committed behind the scene and to endorse the ‘election’ in their favour.

In the days preceding the election and afterwards many acts of fraud have taken place through out Ethiopia and numerous complaints have been made to the Election board- so far the Board has not bothered to investigate any of the complaints made. Let’s look at a few of them-

-In a massive human rights violation, the majority of the population in Southern Ethiopia was held hostage right through the ‘election’ period (see Human Rights Watch Report) and forced at gunpoint to vote for TPLF/EPRDF. This is democracy TPLF/EPRDF style – we could give you a chance to vote but you should vote for us. What sort of logic can convince people living in rural Ethiopia to vote for the TPLF who have taken away their land, made them their tenants and continually terrorize the population?

-The TPLF/EPRDF courts deliberately delayed issuing permits to the independent local observers to prevent them from reaching their destination on time to observe the votes on voting day. Many were ordered by the election board to leave after their arrival at the polling stations.

-In total disregard for the well being of office workers and their families, the TPLF/EPRDF sacked many of them from their jobs for not showing up at demonstrations forcibly called in by the regime.

-The youth left by the regime without hope and a future, have been made targets and condemned as dangerous criminals who should be rounded up and locked in prison.

We have witnessed the actions of a government that is trying to force itself on the country by sheer aggression, intimidation and murder while publicly preaching democracy to the international media and western aid donors. There is no reason why the Ethiopian people should trust the TPLF/EPRDF and give it their votes. They have come out in large numbers as never seen before to show clearly and unequivocally their disgust and contempt for the regime and to vote them out of office. TPLF/EPRDF have no credibility, and do not have the confidence of the Ethiopian public.

It is scandalous and irresponsible to claim that election held under conditions of intimidation, harassment and arrests was free and fair. Only the power crazed TPLF/EPRDF cannot see it but the Ethiopian people have shown in this ‘election their rejection of the TPLF/EPRDF. How low and nasty can they get before they realize that they cannot continue with their deceit and conspiracy against Ethiopia.

In an almost abrupt change of tone and in a manner resembling those of yester year dictators, the TPLF dictators have declared a state of emergency almost immediately after the end of the ‘election’

The emergency legislation gives the police and other security services the power to detain people indefinitely, conduct searches without warrants, impose curfews and ban public processions.

At this moment in time, the TPLF/EPRDF have tightened the screw and have the people of our capital have been muzzled, banned from holding public processions and expressing their views in public. By putting the army and police force under one command, the TPLF/EPRDF have made their intentions clear to everyone that they will continue to harass, intimidate, kill and imprison the Ethiopian people as they have done for the last 14 years.

Mass turnouts at demonstrations across the nation in recent weeks reflect our people\'s determination to fight for political participation and to form an effective voice. The TPLF attempt to gag the Ethiopian people clearly indicates their anti-democratic nature and their fear of the Ethiopian people. All those who care for the advancement of democratic values in our country should stand up and fight this aggression and threat by TPLF/EPRDF and show their support for the people of Ethiopia.

A corrupt and fraudulent regime has no legal or moral ground to lead the decent, tolerant and peace loving people of Ethiopia. The Ethiopian people deserve a better government worthy of their decency and love for their country.

 

Victory to the Ethiopian People

GOD BLESS ETHIOPIA