Ethiopia’s ruling party “EPRDF” defends its resolve to work with opposition 
By Samson Haileyesus
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), Ethiopia’s ruling party on Tuesday defended its position on opening doors to the opposition to settle any grievances that may arise in the lead up to parliamentary elections slated for May, amid criticism that the incumbent had made it difficult for the opposition to participate in the elections.

Speaking to journalists Sekoture Getachew, EPRDF Public and Foreign Relations Department Head said in line with the recently passed electoral code of conduct for the elections the party has been giving training to thousands of its members on the code of conduct as well as legal matters pertaining to the elections.

“The electoral code states that differences between political parties should first be resolved through dialogue by parties if the issues cannot be resolved the matter could be taken to the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia and the justice system”, explained Sekoture.

In addition the PR head also stated that the party had been working towards setting up joint councils with the opposition at national and regional levels towards resolving grievances that might arise but accused the opposition parties of dragging their feet towards the establishment of the councils.

As a case in point the Sekoture sated that the party has established a joint investigating committee with the All Ethiopia Unity Organization (AEUO). In which Sekoture stated that the party in consultations with the AEUO had secured the release of 181 AEUO members that were in prison over charges related the 2005 election riots who though been pardoned had not been released from Ziway.

In addition Sekoture said that as testament to the EPRDF’s commitment towards making the upcoming elections free, fair and democratic EPRDF and the AEUO through joint committees looked into complaints filed by AEUO in the Amhara, Oromia and Southern Nations and Nationalities Peoples’ (SNNP) regional states.

“As of mid January based on the investigation sin the in the investigation carried out in Oromia and SNNP AEUO had raised 30 complaints all 12 of the complaints from the Oromia states were found baseless and both sides have confirmed the authenticity of the findings with their signatures. Similarly in the SNNP only three of the 15 complaints in were valid state, except three, were similarly found baseless… the complaints that were raise din the Amhara region were mostly baseless nevertheless we tried to resolve those complaints that were valid”

Sekoture stated that much of the complaints brought before the committees stemmed from intimidations on opposition members not to open offices, threats at members, refusing to pay opposition members who are civil servants salaries, preventing opposition candidates from registering and others. 
Sekoture however would not give details on the three complaints EPRDF had conceded to stating candidly that it would not be necessary to separately give details on EPRDF’s mistakes.

“ we conceded to the three complaints and  we also agreed that those were problems. If the necessity of raising these three issues comes about we will in the future disclose to the public”, said Sekoture. 
 
Sekoture also noted the importance of the code of conduct in resolving disputes by creating participation among political parties and that the joint committees between
Regaring grievances raised by AEUO in the Afar and Benishangul regional states Sekoture had this to say: “There are no EPRDF structures in the Afar and Benishangul regional states but our allies are there. They are required to follow up on those developments. When we say that joint political councils be established we mean that in the Afar region should also establish joint political councils in the region as well and resolve their problems there as well similarly in Benishangul. So this issue should be addressed separately with them. But we do not believe that problems that arise where we [EPRDF] are not present are not pour concerns we will hold discussions with our allies to resolve the problems”.
 
EPRDF and AEUO were case in points. However citing Article 6-d of the proclamation. Which stipulates that ‘false allegations and exaggerated claims by parties are not acceptable’ Sekoture urged AEUO to refrain from such acts and contribute its share towards the conduct of free, fair and democratic elections.

Sekoture also indicated that EPRDF would have liked to have held a joint press conference with AEUO regarding the report by the joint committees but was forced to go at it alone as AEUO declined. Sekoture also

EPRDF is a coalition of four parties Tigrayan People's Liberation Front, Oromo People's Democratic Organization, Amhara National Democratic Movement and the Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement