Europe slams Ethiopia
2005-10-14 12:02
Addis Ababa - The European parliament on Friday called for an end to harassment of opposition groups in Ethiopia and warned of possible aid cuts to the impoverished nation if it did not stop.
In a statement released here, the Strasbourg-based legislature deplored the government's treatment of the opposition since disputed May elections that EU observers said failed to meet international standards.
The parliament "calls on the Ethiopian government to end the persecution and intimidation of opposition parties and to release immediately thousands of people who were arrested at an opposition demonstration in June," it said.
"If necessary, the European Commission should step up its humanitarian policy towards Ethiopia and adjust its non-humanitarian aid," the statement said.
The European Commission and the member states of the European Union are among Ethiopia's biggest donors, contributing about $490m annually. The commission provides about 17% of that total.
The statement came as the country's largest opposition group was boycotting parliament to protest alleged massive ruling party fraud in the May 15 polls and irregularities in post-vote investigations into their complaints.
Lawmakers on Tuesday voted to strip the boycotting members of parliament - who want the formation of a national unity government to oversee new elections - of their parliamentary immunity amid accusations they are trying to foment a coup.
Protests against the results of the election turned violent in June when police opened fire on crowds in the capital during demonstrations, killing at least 37 people, then prompted a massive crackdown on the opposition in which thousands were detained.
Official results gave the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and its allies 370 of the 547 seats in parliament.
The opposition, which had held only 12 seats before, took 175 seats but insist they won the election outright.
Nearly all of the elected MPs from the largest opposition group, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), are boycotting parliament, which opened on Monday.