From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Thu Sep 17 2009 - 10:34:53 EDT
Ethiopia not drifting to chaos, says Meles
By ARGAW ASHINE, NATION CorrespondentPosted Thursday, September 17 2009 at
15:50
ADDIS ABABA, Thursday
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has strongly condemned last week's
ICG's report on the country.
The International Crisis Group had expressed concern there would be risk of
conflict in Ethiopia as a result of rising ethnic tensions, ahead of the
elections scheduled for May next year.
Meles told reporters in Addis Ababa that the report was the work of some
rich individuals who were attempting to do their wish by financing and
organising colour revolutions, against the sovereignty of developing
countries.
"Some people have too many billions of dollars to spend and they feel that
dictating how developing countries manage their affairs is their God-given
right" Meles said.
Meles also warned such kind of meddling may harm the relationship between
developed and developing nations.
Meles doubted the credibility of ICG's report, raising his suspicion on the
ill motive of the group's financing body.
ICG on its report acknowledges its trustees and many charity groups based in
US and Europe including Sudanese-born billionaire Mo Ibrahim and US tycoon
Gorge Soros.
Ethiopia had a very contested and fair election in 2005 but ended up with
post election violence bloodshed which killed more than 200 people.
Ahead of the election, opposition politicians accused the incumbent party
led by PM Meles Zenawi for harassment and violation of rights.
Last week, the ruling party and opposition groups gathered to discuss the
next election's code of conduct, but the main opposition walked out from the
discussion after a disagreement.
Meles reacted to this move on Wednesday’s press briefing, saying the
intention of the individuals in the opposition was to discredit the election
from day one. “They are not intending to participate in a proper manner,” he
said.
Former Ethiopian Defence minister Seye Abreha and former president Negaso
Gidada are among the opposition icons to challenge the 18-year-old regime of
EPRDF in the 2010 election.