Militias given special roles for Ethiopia's 2015 general election
ESAT News
September 17, 2014
Local militia officers in all regions of Ethiopia have been given special
roles of repressing the voting to opposition parties in the upcoming May
2015 general election. Mekuanent Melkamu, the Deputy Head of the Amhara
Regional State Militia Office, briefed loyal officials of the Region that
the ruling Front, EPRDF, has finalised works of eliminating all forms of
threats which could enable it to win the election wholly.
Mekuanent said over 360 militia officials were trained in two rounds and
five day training was given to Woreda militia members in two rounds. He said
all militia members found in 3600 kebeles of the Region were given training
on how they could execute the special roles they have been delegated with.
The Head said the militias have been given orders to work together with
local youth, women's and farmer's structures and change the views of the
voters. Mekuanent said although 22 million birr has been requested to
conduct these training courses, the 15 million has been covered by the
public who were persuaded to contribute their lambs, goats, chicken and
harvest.
In the future, there is a plan to identify soldiers who are aficionados of
the ruling Front among those who have returned from the Front and mix them
with the militia and facilitate ways by which they would get various types
of benefits from the farmers, the official said in the closed meeting.
Mekuanent also said that there is a "problem of opinion" among securities of
private and state organisations and the militia, whom he said have been
given 'roles by anti peace forces'.
Some members of the militia and their leaders in the Dangila area,
preferring to remain anonymous, said that they will save themselves from
being historically criticised by prioritising the interests of the people
than the benefits of the ruling Front.
ESAT sends its gratitude to members of the militia who exclusively sent us
the audio recordings of the closed meeting.