http://www.krmg.com/ap/ap/top-news/ethiopia-opposition-groups-say-they-are-uniting-fo/nn86Z/
Updated: 11:38 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 | Posted: 11:38 a.m. Sunday,
Oct. 25, 2015
Ethiopia opposition groups say they are uniting for change
0 0 0 New
By RODNEY MUHUMUZA
The Associated Press
KAMPALA, Uganda —
Five Ethiopian dissident groups in exile said they have formed an
alliance to bring a change of government back home, describing Prime
Minister Hailemariam Desalegn's government as oppressive.
The new group is called the People's Alliance for Freedom and
Democracy, according to a joint statement issued Friday in Oslo,
Norway, where the groups met recently.
The alliance was formed by the Benishangul People's Liberation
Movement, the Gambella People's Liberation Movement, the Ogaden
National Liberation Front, the Oromo Liberation Front and the Sidama
National Liberation Front, the statement said.
"The (alliance) will create an opportunity for all peoples in Ethiopia
to co-create a transitional political order that is based on the
consent of all peoples, where the outmoded hegemonic culture of a
single group dominating the rest is dismantled and a new just
political order is established, where the respect of the right to
self-determination is genuinely granted to all," the statement said.
The group said it "will conduct diplomatic, advocacy, information and
other campaigns to change the current undemocratic political culture
and oppressive system in Ethiopia."
Ethiopia's ruling party won every seat in parliament in May elections,
raising questions about the credibility and fairness of the polls in a
country whose government is accused by human rights organizations of
harassing and jailing its opponents.
Human rights groups criticized U.S. President Barack Obama for
visiting Ethiopia in July, saying his trip lent legitimacy to an
oppressive government.
At the time, Prime Minister Desalegn defended Ethiopia's commitment to
democracy and said the country needs "ethical journalism," not
reporters that work with "terrorist groups."
Ethiopia is the world's second-worst jailer of journalists in Africa,
after Eritrea, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Copyright The Associated Press
Received on Wed Oct 28 2015 - 21:55:09 EDT