Mele's TPLF(EPDRF) wins so called Ethiopian Election.

[hanqadh]

Early results: Ethiopia's ruling party won vote
By ANITA POWELL (AP) – 44 minutes ago

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia's election board says provisional results show the ruling party has won the national vote.

Board chairman Merga Bekana says the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front and its allies have won in the nine regions that have reported results out of a total of 11.

He says the party also is ahead for 20 of the capital's 23 parliamentary seats, with only two left to report results in Addis Ababa. There are 546 assembly seats in all.

New York-based Human Rights Watch had criticized Sunday's vote as corrupted by pre-election irregularities, including telling voters they could lose food assistance, public-sector jobs, loans and educational opportunities if they voted against the ruling party.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

[hanqadh]

O.N.L.F Statement on The So-Called Ethiopian Elections of 2010

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) wishes to inform the International community that the upcoming so-called elections in Ethiopia will not be free, fair or unfettered. The Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) led Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Front (EPRDF) regime will declare a landslide victory in all areas and continue its policy of repression throughout Ethiopia and war crimes in Ogaden primarily because the regime is convinced there will not be consequences.

The Ethiopian regime continues to bet on the fact that it's security cooperation with donor nations will give it a pass to operate with impunity, particularly in the Ogaden. It also feels that the particular humanitarian Aid it is dependent on will be politically problematic to cut.

As such, the regime believes that it is in a position to continue its current policies effectively eliminating all forms of dissent and attempts to create democratic space in Ethiopia because of its unique position Vis-a-Vis the security interests of key democratic donors and their lack of leverage on this regime given that humanitarian and development aid has been effectively off the table as a leverage tool.

This strategy on the part of the regime also includes partnerships with relatively wealthy undemocratic nations in order to make up for any shortfalls in critical development assistance. Such partnerships comfort the regime in that they know forthcoming assistance will not be used as a leverage tool to bring about respect for human rights, freedom of the press and freedom of association. The TPLF led regime has made clear It will continue to utilize international security relationships to get a free pass on its actions while systematically and deliberately expanding its relations with undemocratic donors it knows will not hold them to account for their gross violations for human rights.

This fine line that this regime is walking is designed to maintain the status quo in the short to medium term with any changes in leadership on the part of the regime being only cosmetic in nature. However, walking this fine line is simply not sustainable in the long run.

As opposition groups see democratic space narrowing and their leaders being either killed or arrested, they will choose to defend themselves in the long run as the people of Ogaden have. They will come to realize that the only true leverage is what they are prepared to do themselves. What we see in Ethiopia today is a clear path towards the predicament of the people of Ogaden for all peoples repressed by this regime. There are clear parallels to be made.

The Ogaden has never had a free press, freedom of association existed only for a brief time after the fall of the previous Marxist regime, political leaders have always been either killed or arrested, even the concept of an independent judiciary does not exist. Ogaden today is effectively a large military garrison. This is what the future holds for the peoples of Ethiopia as well if they do not remove this regime from power. Through its actions, this regime has shown that it can not be reformed by the ballot box because it does not believe in the ballot box or even it's own Constitution.

The international community must recognize that the current political dispensation in Ethiopia and the strategy of this regime to render itself immune to foreign pressures for reform is a recipe for long term disaster which will eventually harm the interests of the International community in general and the Geo-strategic interests of key democratic donor nations in particular.

Dealing with such an eventuality tomorrow will prove to be more costly and less effective then recognizing and addressing the challenges associated with the repressive policies of this regime today.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front stands prepared to partner with the international community in not only finding a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Ogaden conflict but also in working with other non State actors in the region to avert what is sure to be a recipe with alarming regional ramifications in the future should Ethiopia be allowed to continue down this path.

It is only through engaging non State actors in a substantive manner that the international community can realize a more peaceful and democratic Horn of Africa. Non State actors have significant influence over facts on the ground in the region in general and Ethiopia in particular. As such, with the outcome of this so-called election all but certain, given the current environment of fear, what remains is the people who understand that democracy is not a staged event but rather a dynamic and real process. A process this regime has rejected through its actions repeatedly.


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Ogaden National Liberation Front (O.N.L.F)
onlfpress@onlf.org

[kambuli]

Mindhaa dacawada(Meles) xaalkiisu waa "Korsiyow mindhee kaama kaco" Balaayada daayeerka u eg...Wallee goor ay noqotaba waa laga tuuri kursiga

[2ndtoNone]

I think Somalis(non-Ethiopians) should refrain from interference intrusion on the decision and the will of the Ethiopian people, the national election is only an Ethiopian affair and instrumental to ensuring the sovereignty of Ethiopians not for outsiders.

Why are we interested to compel leaders of sovereign nation, especially in matters that don't concern us. Allah knows we have our own issues to worry about.

[BODHI]

I think Somalis(non-Ethiopians) should refrain from interference intrusion on the decision and the will of the Ethiopian people, the national election is only an Ethiopian affair and instrumental to ensuring the sovereignty of Ethiopians not for outsiders.

Why are we interested to compel leaders of sovereign nation, especially in matters that don't concern us. Allah knows we have our own issues to worry about.

LAST I CHECKED THIS SO CALLED "ETHIOPIAN" GOVERNMENT IS KILLING INNOCENT SOMALI PEOPLE AND OTHERS SO
ANY NATION WHICH SOMALIS INHABIT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE IN THEIR BUSINESS AS IT CONDENSER US