May 26, 2005
The EU speaks, again
As some of you have already pointed out, the EU's public statement on Ethiopia's elections yesterday was upstaged by the EU's private report, leaked to Associated Press.
Here is the full story: EU observers say Ethiopia's electoral board has lost control of vote counting
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - Ethiopia's electoral board appears to have lost control of the vote counting for the May 15 legislative polls, European Union election observers said in a report obtained by the Associated Press Wednesday.The confidential report said the EU might have to make a public denunciation of developments to distance itself from "the lack of transparency, and assumed rigging" of the vote.
All the criticisms of the election board were pretty damning. But the most interesting bit for me was the criticism of former US president Jimmy Carter. Apparently, he undermined the electoral process and EU criticism with "his premature blessing of the elections and early positive assessment of the results."
People were puzzled at the time when he came out and praised the election process just hours after arriving in the country with his relatively tiny (50-strong) team of observers. The EU's comments are a highly public kick in the teeth for a man who is normally seen as beyond criticism.
It would be easy to get carried away with both EU reports, through. As far as I can see, they both stop short of alleging any irregularities at polling stations. The public one is about the handling of the media and delays in counting after the election - saying it might raise the risk of fraud. The second is directed at the NEB and talks about "assumed" not "actual" vote rigging.
Both Carter and the EU said they were broadly happy with what happened on and around election day itself.
Posted by aheavens at May 26, 2005 4:23 AM
Comments
Andrew: I see that you are trying to analyze the days events like your readers, and not making much of an attempt to report on the events that make the news. Long live leaks!
Posted by: Fikru at May 26, 2005 4:56 AM
NEBE RESPONS TO EU-EOM CRITICISM
In response to concerns raised by a 24 May statement from the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), Kemal said “The NEBE Secretariat is in full control of the counting and aggregation process in each constituency. Our electoral officers are keeping us fully informed.” The EU EOM had criticised that delays by constituencies may lead to manipulation of results. “All procedures at constituency level are undertaken in full view of observers and political party representatives,” Kemal added.
http://www.electionsethiopia.org/Whats%20New31.html
Posted by: Dawit at May 26, 2005 8:26 PM
Dawit: This is a lie. The NEBE has no control over the administration of the election result. The NEBE was not an independent body to begin with and was never intended to be one. This is now obvious for all to see.
Posted by: Fikru at May 26, 2005 8:45 PM
Fikru
YOU ARE THE LIAR. All parties accepted the authority of NEBE before the election. They are bound to accept its authority after the election. "It is not an independent body", It is this, it is that are all balloneys meant to discredit its work.
Get lost!
Posted by: DAWIT at May 26, 2005 9:14 PM
Since when NEBE is not part of eprdf? Since when eprdf start safegurding ethiopian interes. People sometimes we tend to forget. the flag is just clothes with no meaning? ethiopia has only 50yrs history. erterians in ethiopia were in charge of ethiopian afaires.
Actually Can some one please tell me Who is eriterian in eprdf and who is not.
I know Meles, Sieyum, bereket are part eriterians.
How in the hell can this people be more ethiopian than the Tigray, amhara, oromo ,gurage, hadiya, omo, afar, and money more.
People is over living with those who don't safguared ethiopian people and it's interes.
Posted by: Bole at May 26, 2005 10:29 PM
Bole!
You smell like shabia. Go away you skuni!
Posted by: DAWIT at May 26, 2005 11:35 PM
June 8th is world wide demonstration to support our people in ethiopia. I hope everybody will join us including the fallen eprdf cadres.
People unite
"yellow revolution" is in the making we like it or not.
Would sombody please post all informations on this site regarding the fund raising for each major cities.
Thank you
TG
Posted by: Bole at May 27, 2005 3:44 AM
People, the process of building a democracy for the long term is more important who wins or loses an election. Being able to talk to each other about politics and political differences is the big step forward, instead of killing or beating each other.Think to the long-term and what you want to leave for your children and grandchildren.
Posted by: Ken at May 27, 2005 6:49 AM
No Green or Pink revolution, the people of Ethiopia has spoken in the ballot box, and we are going to abide by the result, beit the ruling party or the opposition, so have a patience and let the Election commission come with the result. OK mister burger kid.
Posted by: solomon at May 27, 2005 5:26 PM
We should all work for establishing a viable and sincere democracy where the people can decide and choose their leaders through fre and fair elections. To achieve this kind of election we need to set up a neutral electoral commission and an independent judiaciary to decide on cases of disputes on elections. But Ethiopia does not have the neutral electoral body and there is no independent judiaciary at presnet in Ethiopia. The NEBE is set up by Meles/EPRDF and all the members of the Board are hand-picked by Meles, the same goes to the heads of the judiaciary. Then how can any one expect a free and fair election in Ethiopia?? NO WAY!!!
Posted by: Atnasios Zerubabel at May 28, 2005 11:25 AM