Ethiopia’s main opposition party threatens to boycott elections
By Dereje Berhanu
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- The Forum for Democratic Dialogue in Ethiopia, a coalition of eight opposition parties said this week that if the election process becomes restrictive impeding the electoral process it would boycott the election.

Forum’s Chairman Dr. Merera Gudina said his coalition group is being targeted by the ruling party and being labeled as an anti-peace and anti-development organization.

“they lump us together with rebel groups like Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in their party publications”, accused Merara.

According to Dr. Merera his party would win the elections, if there is a fair and free election process as his party represents all groups of the nation.

According to Forum the election is in its preliminary stage and the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) works in all regions as an extension of the ruling party.

“If more than 200,000 observers and election office staff are not independent, how can the country have fair and free elections?”, Forum deputy Chair Engineer Gizachew Shiferaw questioned.

 “boycotting the election is the last option, but if the process goes in an undemocratic way, there is no other option left”, said Engineer Gizachew.    
 
According to Dr. Merera, the Forum applied many times to NEBE but they did get response on those faults. Deputy Chair Prof. Byene Peteross for his part said: “if we boycott the election the ruling party also loses its legitimacy. The party will not be happy, because they would win the election without the main opposition party”.

The Forum is also accusing the ruling Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) over the use of the national media.

“our party members are threatened by the ruling party members by alleging that the Forum does not agree with the election’s code of conduct”.  The Forum will present 500 candidates for the parliament and 1,500 candidates for regional council seats.