Ethiopia 2010; ENPCP calls for "free and fair" elections

Ethiopian Election 2010: Free and Fair Elections Require Substantive Negotiation

A democratically elected government opens political space for the opposition and civil society organizations, and has a better chance of resolving conflicts, building political stability and economic prosperity that helps stem the recurring scourge of hunger.

The Ethiopian National Priorities Consultative Process (ENPCP), a network of rights based civil society organizations, is convinced that free and fair election is an important instrument for the prevention and resolution of conflicts, and the installation of a government that is accountable to the electorate.

It is from this firm belief that ENPCP enunciated the minimum conditions that are necessary for holding free and fair election in Ethiopia, in 2010. These conditions are available at the following link:

ENPCP Declaration of Free and Fair Elections in Ethiopia pdf

ENPCP members also note the recent positive intervention of the diplomatic community in Addis Ababa whose past posture, in the view of the general public, did not put enough pressure to temper the bellicose stand of the ruling regime. Our hope was and still is that the negotiations between the ruling regime and the opposition will be broader in scope so that the process paves the way for a comprehensive settlement of the country’s governance problems. We keep observing that the present negotiations between EPRDF and most opposition parties do not bode well, in some cases even abruptly interrupted, simply because the government is irresponsibly posturing to escape from substantive and an all inclusive negotiation.

ECADforum.com Article on Free and Fair Elections in Ethiopia 2010

ENPCP 2009 Letter to President Barack Obama