Ethiopia blames EU mission
2005-08-27 16:48
Addis Ababa - Ethiopia's government issued a statement on Saturday saying the European Union's election observer mission contributed to post-election violence that left at least 42 people dead.
The statement came two days after the EU's chief observer said the voting process did not meet international standards.
The Ministry of Information said the EU "illegally and secretly" leaked information to the main opposition party, prompting the street protests in June. The opposition has denied it organised the demonstrations.
EU officials were not immediately available for comment on the statement. But in a statement released in Brussels late on Friday, the EU said the 10-page report on the post May 15 election period was "balanced and impartial".
"While the EU notes continuing issues of concern, including the respect for human rights and balanced access to the media, the EU regards the elections as an important step forward in the democratisation process," the statement said.
The European Union is one of Ethiopia's largest donors, spending more than $490m each year funding food aid and development programmes.
"The mission, against the regulations of its tasks as an observer, illegally and secretly leaked unfounded information to the opposition which gave them confidence wrongly so as to lead them to violence in the streets," the government statement said.
"The government, time and again, criticised the mission for its contribution to the eruption of the June violence and it is believed that the present report of the mission has also been intended simply to cover its mistakes."
Police had responded with deadly violence to opposition protests following the May 15 vote, of which the governing coalition has been declared winner.
On Thursday, the European Union's chief observer, Ana Gomes, said key aspects of Ethiopia's parliamentary elections failed to meet international standards. She said there had been widespread human rights abuses with opposition members arrested and witnesses intimidated.
"Overall the elections appeal process failed to provide an effective remedy for the parties," Gomes told journalists. She said, "solid and tangible evidence" of irregularities presented by the opposition was dismissed, allowing the ruling party to keep seats.
The National Electoral Board also rejected the EU's report as indicative that the EU mission was biased in favour of the opposition.
- AP