Students say recent gov't training had little impact
ESAT News
September 4, 2014
Many students do not believe that the first round of the ongoing political
training for Ethiopian university students being given by the officials of
the ruling Front of EPRDF has not brought much impact as the government
planned, the students told ESAT.
The political training courses being given before the upcoming general
election, have showed the misunderstanding between the students and the
officials of the Front and also that the students do not trust the system.
A student, who attended the first two weeks of the training held in Debre
Markos University, said to ESAT that four main topics were raised in the
training. The students denounced saying that the issues that the government
raises about the histories of the Amhara and Oromo ethnic groups are aimed
at making the Amhara ashamed of their own history. Many of the students also
have not accepted the government's argument saying which said that it was
"part of our history."
The student said that there have also been debates about human rights
violations, injustice, press freedom and economic problems in the country.
He said around 90 percent of the students have expressed their opposition to
the Front.
Another student, who took part in the training in Araba Minch University,
said that the comments of EPRDF official caused uproar. The official said
"in a condition where there is no opposition that could take over, EPRDF
will be persuaded to rule for the next 50 more years".
The students said that many students that come from remote areas and had
little awareness about national and political issues learnt a lot from the
discussions and the questions of the students, they added.
Similarly students in Dire Dawa University have opposed the government's
ethnic federalism which they called was "divisive". They also lambasted an
economic growth orientated report saying that the accumulation of the money
grants and aid that Ethiopia receives from other countries will finally
threaten Ethiopia's security.
Also students in Harar have raised questions about the "premeditated burning
of businesses and markets in Harar city" and asked that the victims should
be duly compensated. The students also said that although they were born and
brought up in Harar, they have been denied employment for they "did not
speak Harari language". They have called on the officials of the Region, who
were chairing the meeting, to resign as they have been incapable of
administering Harar. The students then refused to let the chairs exit the
hall until they give them an answer, the officials had finally been set free
by the intervention of Federal police.
The political training is also underway in Haromaya University; another
round of training is planned for first year and newly entering students in
the following days.