From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Wed May 19 2010 - 09:26:21 EDT
African Union election observers downplay criticism by Ethiopia opposition
19/05/2010
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The head of the African Union (AU) election observer
mission to Ethiopia’s 23 May polls, former Botswana President Ketumile
Masire, has downplayed allegations by the opposition that his mission is
biased in favour of the government.
Masire was speaking at a news conference on Tuesday in Addis Ababa following
a two-day orientation for the 70 members of the election monitoring mission
to the Horn of African state.
Major opposition parties in Ethiopia have frequently accused AU observer
missions of favouring the incumbent and said that they do not expect
professional monitoring of the electoral process and a final report by the
Pan-African body’s observer mission.
“Such assertions, I am afraid, would be prejudging the mission,” the AU
Chief Observer said in reaction to the allegations.
The AU and the European Union (EU) election observer missions are the only
two accredited by the Ethiopian government after they signed a code of
conduct for observers.
Though both missions monitored Ethiopia’s highly contested elections in
2005, the tone of AU’s report was entirely different from the assessment by
the EU whose report had alleged serious irregularities mainly committed by
the ruling party, which is still in power.
While the EU mission reported major frauds that led to public protest
against the government, the AU mission said the elections were smooth with
minor irregularities.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry last week prohibited diplomatic missions
and other international organizations from observing the elections saying
their primary purpose in Ethiopia is diplomatic.
“In addition they are not professional elections observations,” Bereket
Simon, chief government spokesperson, said.
Addis Ababa - Pana 19/05/2010
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