COUNT DOWN FOR A PEACEFUL, FAIR AND DEMOCRATIC UPCOMING FORTH ETHIOPIAN NATIONAL ELECTION

Yohannes Gebresellasie (Ph.d) Canada 04/26/10

The count down is on for the upcoming Forth Ethiopian National Election. Taking all information there is thus far, all activities are well in place and things are going very well thank you very much. As a result, all indications show that the upcoming forth national election will be peaceful, free, fair and democratic; there are reasons for that. First and foremost, the Ethiopian Electoral Board has finalized its preparations and has been instrumental in giving all necessary electoral guidelines, procedures and proceedings via all media outlets including via its new web-site. Further, all independent candidates and over sixty-five different political parties have already signed the electoral code of conduct that has now become a law agreeing that all will do their best and will abide by it in order to make the upcoming forth national election peaceful, free, fair and democratic. Also, candidates and political parties now do have a responsibility to teach and reach out their followers not only to make them well aware of and abide by the electoral code of conduct but also to make sure that they and their followers strictly respect and help others respect the electoral law.

International observers are invited normally to observe the electoral proceedings and provide their professional opinion regarding the election; however, they also have a responsibility not to interfere encroach and meddle within the internal affairs of a sovereign nation. With the code of conduct that deals with rights and responsibilities of international observers already put in place, it is believed that all invited international observers will correct some of the mistakes done by few previous observers such as the infamous Ana Gomez and the likes and strictly adhere to their professional observer’s ethics as opposed to imposing whatever hidden agenda they may want to peruse using election opportunities. Also, it is hoped that observers will make unbiased, balanced and good appreciation of the situation on the ground in order to draw a conscious and wise concluding remark of their observation. For that, it is believed that this time around, international observers will fulfill their international obligations strictly guided by their professional and personal ethics and that they will respect the law of the land, the electoral code of conduct and the guidelines drawn by the Electoral Board of Ethiopia and not by that of their own good self, the hidden agenda and/or interest of other groups or countries.

The public at large has taken a lesson or two from previous elections and is well aware of the previous mistakes made. Therefore, the public at large has no reason to repeat those mistakes; instead, it has learned from those mistakes and is better equipped to do a better job this time around. The public at large is much better aware of electoral processes, procedures and proceedings thanks among others to the advent of technology. Further, media outlets have been instrumental in teaching the public at large about the importance of conducting a peaceful, free, fair and democratic election and the public at large is well tuned to it this time around better that the previous ones.

Extensive electoral awareness enhancing programs have been aired almost on a daily bases on a national television and other media outlets and unprecedented air time has been allocated to opposition parties in order to educate candidates, parties and the public at large about the importance of conducting a peaceful, free, fair and democratic forth national election in the country. Although the substance, the content and maturity of the debate varies from person to person and from one political party to the other, nonetheless different political parties and candidates have also been very busy informing their followers about their policy and programs during their political campaign and during their political debate vis-a-vis the nation’s business; therefore, they too have been instrumental in teaching their followers about the importance of conducting peaceful, free, fair and democratic upcoming forth national election.

Whereas the reality on the ground shows a very conducive environment for a peaceful, free, air and democratic upcoming forth national election in Ethiopia, few individuals and groups such as former red terror and current Genbot-7 architects, Ana Gomez, the OLF, ONLF etc. who have sold the national interest of this beautiful nation simply to slake their personal and/or group ambitions are using tax-payers money for pathetic and despicable purposes. They are using few disillusioned innocent Diasporas assisted and directed by Shabia: all inherent enemies of this beautiful nation are also actively engaged in a shameful subversion to confuse the international community about the upcoming national election. They are currently very busy knocking at the doors of foreign government representatives, embassies and contacting different self appointed institutions such as the human rights watch, the international crisis group etc. and providing bogus, injurious and uncorroborated information in order to spoil, disrupt and undermine the upcoming national election. Further, these disillusioned vacant dreamers are broadcasting innuendos via stations such as the VOA and Deutsche Welle Amharic service almost on a daily basis from their sanctuary in North America and Europe assisted by Shabia’s radio and television services directly from Asmara in order to confuse the public at large and the international community regarding the upcoming national election.

Generally, similar unholy shenanigans have been manifested and tried before by those individuals, groups and the likes time and again. However, all their activities failed rather badly before and this new attempt by the above individuals and groups is doomed to fail once again because as the saying goes, they may fool some people some time but they can not fool many people many times and the Ethiopian people are telling them enough is enough. Further, Ethiopians from coast to coast to coast are telling these individuals and groups who made their daily business distorting the true picture of our nation please don’t mess up in our national interest and national affair and please do not confuse the international community and disrupt our peace and stability. Further, Ethiopians are saying that they are more aware of their democratic and constitutional rights and that they do not need few self centered individuals and groups such as those mentioned above to lecture them about issues that they are well aware from their sanctuary in foreign land. Ethiopians know quite well what to do and what not to do on themselves and by themselves. Ethiopians have never been arm twisted by individuals, governments and non-governments alike and their history is there for any one’s perusal. Therefore, the Ethiopian people have always been masters of their destiny despite continuous external pressure and/or interference thank you very much.

Finally, the Ethiopian people are ready and willing to cast their votes for the candidate and for the party of their choice because they know and they are well conscious of their constitutional, democratic, citizenship and electoral rights and responsibilities now more than ever. All these shows that there is more political maturity within candidates, the different political parties and the public at large and that Ethiopians are ready and willing to show the world that they can and that they will conduct an exemplary election in order to shape the nation’s future political landscape and the count down is on for the show case. I wish the Ethiopian people a peaceful, free, fair and democratic upcoming national election.