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Now that the Election Board has spoken out loud and the results will be official by June 21st should MEDREK and AEUP cut their loss and accept the people’s verdict and move on or try the last resort going to the courts to demand for re-election?

By all account even if there were irregularities  here and there EPRDF has won big! We have not heard any evidence that could change the lopsided victory of the EPRDF.The difference of votes between EPRDF and the next best MEDREK is too huge. Such difference can not be simply explained by irregularities!

Five years is not that long and opposition parties should look inward and figure out what went wrong and start the preparation for the next election. Some of their leaders are already throwing the towel with out a transition plan. That is so sad and not good for democracy but that is our view what about yours? Should MEDREK and AEUP accept the election result and move on or continue the legal process? Have Your Say!

What did EPRDF do since election 2005  to convince Addis residents to vote for its candidates? And why did voters give their overwhelming  support for the continuation of the current
Status quo all over the country?

Do you think voters gave the nod to EPRDF because they like what they see or are mad at oppositions for the bickering and their poor performance in managing internal squabbles?

Now that EPRDF has won with a wide margin  what do you think was the real cause? Economic or ideology? Do you believe HRW allegation crap of intimidation as a cause or the other crap   one opposition leader said  the “X-Ray Machine” had some thing to do with it?Have Your say!

The political debate between the ruling party and opposition groups in Ethiopia has been very informative, we think! The electorate has now a better understanding about the principles and motives behind each organization. EPRDF has accused most if not all oppositions- that they have no alternative to its policy discussed so far. And oppositions have accused EPRDF- that it cannot lead Ethiopia to a better place since it has failed to do over the last 18 years. The final verdict as to who is right and wrong will be heard after May 23 2010 when all votes are counted and winner declared.

Mean time we want to know what you all think about the new time allocation. Is it fair or not fair? Why are the oppositions complaining about time allocation now? Did not they agree to disagree and move on? On the face of it seems EPRDF has an advantage to explain its position since it has more minutes compared to the others!  But, should EPRDF be treated on equal footing as EDP or AEUO or Medrek in this regard? Have Your Say!

Do you believe in responsible journalism? Do you believe VOA-Amharic has been fair and responsible media? What comes to your mind when you listen to VOA-Amharic?  That the station is biased and controlled by supporters of Ethiopia’s legal and illegal opposition groups?  Should Ethiopia jam VOA-Amharic if and when it develops the technical knowhow to jam any radio station? Why is VOA allowing Oromo and Tigrigna program to remain fair and balanced but not the Amharic program? Is VOA knowingly or unknowingly telling Amharic listeners as well as Tigrigna and Oromiffa listeners have different interest or different political mind set? It looks to us that way but what about you?  Have your say!

Election 2010 by all indication is going  to be as popular if not more as election 2005 was. As we all know a spectacular peaceful election 2005 was tarnished by  events that followed after the election. Ethiopians are hoping lessons were learned both by the government and the oppositions no to repeat past mistakes. The recently signed code of conduct by most oppositions and the EPRDF is a good sign that indeed lessons have been learned.

But in Ethiopia political groups are born every election and the learning curve is always there with all new comers. The latest new comers are ARENA, UDJ and MEDREK. ARENA’s constituents are mainly Tigreans, it is a regional player. UDJ is a national player and claims its constituents will be allover the country. UDJ has nominated an ex-EPRDF to represent  its ideal and  stand for election in Qola Tembien.

UDJ through its nominee is already claiming foul play if its nominee does not win! Remember Eng Hailu election  night claim that Addis Ababa election was rigged! 

Qola Tembien  is in Tigrai where ARENA is expected to contest TPLF another regional player. TPLF as we all know is the governing party in Tigrai and will contest every regional and federal seats. But will ARENA contest every seat? Will it contest Qola Tembien seat against UDJ? Aite Gebru in his recent interview with Merhawit  Radio said  the link between UDJ and ARENA is a very thin thread. He said MEDREK a coalition between ARENA and UDJ as well as others was formed with a minimum requirement. Many think that minimum requirement is hate against EPRDF but what ever it is it is not a link  strong enough to pull UDJ strong man Siye to join ARENA. Siye joined UDJ shunning ARENA!

 ARENA and UDJ do not see eye to eye when it comes to article 39 and land ownership and many critical pillars of the constitution of Ethiopia. Or do they!

 The question is will ARENA forfeit its potential seat in Qola Tembien for expediency and dishearten its supporters? The lesson from election 2005 is that quick fix coalition do not last much and  when push comes to shove  and split rears its head, much like EDP/AEUP/Kestedemena, every organization will claim its seat for itself.

Also, elections are suppose to be about ideas and not personalities in Ethiopia. And, as we all know UDJ and ARENA’s idea’s are  not the same. Unless ARENA thinks it is okay to use UDJ personalities regardless of their views and ideals as long as they help defeat EPRDF they must not forfeit any seat to UDJ or any one else. If they do then it all makes sense why many people think to this day TPLF split was not about ideas and policies but all about power!

That is what we think but what do you think? Have your say!

The renowned artist and long time TPLF member Iyasu Berhe passed away. Iyasu died suddenly in Alamata town Tigrai, Ethiopia on Jan 18 2010. Funeral service will be conducted Jan 20 2010 in Addis Ababa

 Iyasu  we will miss you! Thank you for all the memories ! To Iyasu family Tsnat yehabkum,  may God give your the strength to overcome the sorrow.

You can leave your condolences below… Aigaforum  Jan 19 2010

The Ancient country is slowly becoming a modern country thanks to the far sighted EPRDF leadership. The country is in the midst of a historic transformation in all spheres. The city of Addis whom many think cannot be reformed nor modernized is slowly becoming a modern city. The City administration with the help of the federal government is doing all it can to do the impossible following the footsteps of Mayor Arkebe Enquay who started the transformation way back! The public as we speak is engaged rehabilitating the over farmed and overgrazed country side. Slowly and but surely Ethiopia is joining the modern world. In all of this one thing is missing.

 Information is power they say! It has been that way all along but it is more so now that the world is living in the information age. The state owned Ethiopian Television has been the sole information provider and transmitter up to now. Sadly many think the agency has not been up to the task. Although of late, the agency has been trying its best to do more with its international coverage many think it lacks quality programming.

 Competition in a market economy is critical and we thought competition may be what is needed to improve the quality of Ethiopian television programming. No one knows for sure when the Ethiopian government will allow private ownership of Television stations. However until that day comes the government should create different management to run different Television stations. Having different management will introduce competition which should help quality programming.  Currently there are two Television stations on the air (ETV and ETV2). Instead of both stations being managed by the same agency the government should lease one of the stations to be managed by outsiders with a clear mandate to compete with ETV or at the very least have the two stations address different needs. If the city of Addis Ababa can be reformed and reconstructed to become a modern city, certainly, Ethiopian Television agency can be encouraged to do more. Ethiopian Telecom and Ethiopian Television/Radio are to relic organizations  that needs reform now and not tomorrow! Do you agree…Have your say!