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In the
course of 2006 and 2007, inter-party dialogue (consisting of
ruling and opposition parties) took place continuously, and
a great deal of time was spent, among other things, on the
revised election law.
When
this aw was considered (in 2007), representatives of the
opposition parties strongly held the view that Ethiopian
elections, at all levels, should be observed by local and
foreign observers. They insisted that the law should provide
that observers, both foreign and local, should be allowed to
observe Ethiopian elections, because there should not be
anything that the country hides from foreign observers in
the process of elections.
The
governing party argued that Ethiopians can conduct elections
with only local observers, considering that some foreign
observers can have negative influence on the outcome of
elections. During the debate on the election law, the
government ruling party cited some recent examples of
foreign observers who had a negative impact on the outcome
of the elections.
Opposition parties argued that the Ethiopian election law
should say that in “principle”, Ethiopian elections are open
to foreign observers and that the government has the
perogative to control the visa of foreign observers, thus
screening out those who have ill intentions in their desire
to observe the Ethiopian Elections.
Thus,
Proclamation 532/2007 only allows local observers to observe
Ethiopian elections. The Law provides, under Article 78,
sub-articles a-d, very rigorous conditions for qualifying as
an observer organisation. For example, a civil society
organisation cannot participate in observing the elections
if it provides voter education in its constitution.
Under
Article 78 (2), the election law says that Ethiopia would
honour its international treaty obligations with respect to
foreign observers. In other words, Ethiopia would allow
foreign observers if there is an international treaty
obliging her to invite an international organisation to
observe Ethiopian elections.
For
example, according to the Peer Review Mechanism of the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development (NePAD), an African
country is obliged to invite the African Union (AU) to
observe its elections and good governance. Therefore, when
the Ethiopian election law refers to Ethiopia’s treaty
obligations, I assume that it refers, among others, to its
obligation to invite AU to observe the upcoming local and
by-elections of April 2008. Opposition parties would
naturally be watchful whether or not Ethiopia will invite AU
to observe the next local and by-elections.
One of
the questions which opposition parties repeatedly raised was
why the ruling party was so strongly opposed to foreign
observers of Ethiopian elections, while it has become almost
an international norm for foreigners to observe other
countries’ elections.
Opposition parties thought that citing the experience with a
foreign observer in a recent election did not justify the
adoption of a law which prohibits foreign observers from
observing Ethiopian elections. The European Union (EU), as
well as major donors to Ethiopia, is interested in the
democratisation of Ethiopia. It is a highly
anti-international attitude to exclude any foreigner from
observing Ethiopian elections. After all, Ethiopia has never
been able to conduct free and fair elections.
It is
likely that the outcome of any election in Africa in
general, and in Ethiopia in particular, would be disputed.
To avert disputes and prolonged wrangling, it is advisable,
logical and judicious to invite at least those organisations
and institutions from friendly countries to observe the
upcoming local and by-elections. Disputes and disagreement
about the outcome of an election would derail our efforts to
build a democratic system which will eventually withstand
any political tremor.
It is
safe to assume that it is the desire of all Ethiopians to
see unbiased and objective foreigners observe our elections.
In the presence of foreigners, it is difficult for reckless
polling officers to stuff ballot boxes, intimidate voters,
abuse opposition party representatives and irresponsibly
throw away ballots with the excuse that they contain
mistakes.
Let us
be foresighted and prudent in regard to the expression of
the will of our people.
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