(Aigaforum 09/29/09)
The ruling party EPRDF and other main stream opposition groups have been discussing on a code of conduct that all political organizations should adhere to during the coming campaign season. Our sources told us the discussion has been going well and there is now agreement on the main talking points raised throughout the discussion. To enhance the spirit of cooperation and to move the democratic process one step forward the group has agreed to consider one more agenda item raised by AEUP/ANDINET.
Sources told us on 09/29/09 around 8 AM (Ethiopian time) AEUP, EPRDF, EDP and KINJIT met to consider AEUP agenda item but all agreed to wait until Thursday 10/1/09 9 AM to see if MEDREK will join them.
Despite MEDREK's attempt to taint a bad picture on the process, the EPRDF has sent a letter to MEDREK to join the process this coming Thursday (10/1/09). It has asked Medrek to bring any agenda item it deems necessary to be addressed to present it prior to the final negotiation. In fact sources told us EPRDF convinced all other participants in the current negotiation team to bend backwards to show magnanimity and accommodate MEDREK. This is being done despite MEDREK's vilification and door to door campaign against EPRDF to all donor country embassies and offices in Addis Ababa. MEDREK has been blackmailing the EPRDF telling donors that it has not received an answer from EPRDF for its request to sit down with EPRDF. Donor countries are asking all political organizations to sit down and talk!
Our sources told us EPRDF has answered MEDREK's letter and infact MEDREK was part of the negotiation team early on. They simply walked out because they did not like the other opposition groups to be present.
MEDREK should be criticized for wanting to short cut the process of dialogue that could enhance the democratic process. It should sit down with anyone to promote inclusiveness and tolerance at the very least. Without such culture we are not sure why MEDREK wants to even play in the game. There are over 90 organizations in Ethiopia and there is going to be a disagreement and dislike. It will be uncivilized to hold the process of dialogue hostage fabricating lame excuses.
Kudos to EPRDF, AEUP, EDP and Kinjit for bending backward one more time to accommodate MEDREK. Let us see if MEDREK’s Western advisors will encourage them to be part of the democratic process or help them to create havoc to the democratic process. There is no question that if MEDREK continues to behave as a nuisance then it is bound to find itself alone, isolated from building our infant democracy to a higher platform. If MEDREK decides to remain in the side line and create sabotage to the parties that are sitting at the negotiating table it will be a waste of its time. The parties will move forward and discuss the comprehensive code of conduct that all organizations will abide. If MEDREK continues to solicit unfounded support from donors’ embassies to derail the democratic process then it seems lessons have not been learned from election 2005 and its aftermath. The same donor countries were there and there was also a despicable role that was played by the “viceroy of colonialism” with an attempt to institute the color revolution, yet to no avail, and a futile effort indeed. The clock is ticking for Thursday (10/1/09)! MEDREK better think of the bigger picture and that of the great majority of the Ethiopian people instead of being hard wired for its own egotistical satisfactions.