From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Thu May 27 2010 - 18:04:30 EDT
Africa Expert Skeptical About Ethiopian Elections Being Democratic
Cole Mallard | Washington 27 May 2010
"a classic case of a state that takes on the trappings of a democracy while
dispensing with all the fundamental rights and freedoms that really are at
the core of a democratic process."
An Africa expert is skeptical about Ethiopia's election on May 23rd being
genuinely democratic. Jennifer Cooke is the Director of the Africa program
at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington.
She calls the vote "a classic case of a state that takes on the trappings of
a democracy while dispensing with all the fundamental rights and freedoms
that really are at the core of a democratic process."
Taking into account the government's actions of harassment, violence and
intimidation over the past two years, she says "you cannot call this
election free and fair."
Carter Center will not participate
The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia -- highly credited and renowned as an
observer in international elections -- will neither participate as an
observer of these elections nor comment on them. Cooke says the Center was
only allowed a "snapshot," or brief period ahead of the elections, to be
involved, so she thinks that's why it chose not to participate:
"If they're not able to observe over a longer period of time to look at
freedoms of association and assembly, potential harassment and intimidation
that goes on, they don't want to legitimize an election day that may be
technically competent, and without violence, but that doesn't take into
account everything that has preceded it."
She gives as an example governmental denial of funds to politically oriented
non-governmental organizations which, she says, clamps down on any NGO's
ability to educate specifically on opposing views and advocate for them.
Other examples include "a fairly oppressive media law" and harassment of
opposition leaders. Some have been killed or imprisoned, she says, "The
violent crackdown after the last election in 2005 has really kind of cowed
and silenced many of the opposition groups."
Again, violence?
Following the last national vote five years ago, the government cracked down
on protesters killing 200 and injuring many more. Cooke thinks the Melis
government will be prepared now and not be taken by surprise from protests
in the streets:
"The opposition may be thinking the same," she continued, " believing that
protests will be met with a violent response by the government. So, you may
actually not see much violence simply because of the fear there, and the
really brutal response to the last election outcome."
Cooke says she doesn't expect a free and fair or credible election and that
the Meles government will stay firmly in control," really controlling the
state machinery down to the local level."
When asked, under these circumstances, why have elections at all, Cooke says
that Ethiopia, as well as other countries, take on the image of a democracy
in order to boost their credibility, possibly in the eyes of the
international community. However, she says that, in her opinion, they
really have no intention of ceding power or "opening political space."
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