EPRDF sets political contribution terms
April 14th, 2008 | EthioPolitics.com |Capital
The amended bill for political party registration endorsed by the House of Peoples’ Representatives on Thursday, April 10, 2008, empowers the government to confiscate all finances of political parties, that comes from unidentified sources.
Major opposition parties see the law as a threat; intentionally put by the ruling party to diminish their strength and grind down financial support. Opposition Whips attempted to obtain enough backing to reject the bill, which the ruling party’s and allied Members of Parliament did not hesitate to deny.
Before the House passed the bill by majority, Bulcha Demeksa (MP) told the House that he sees no use in going through the bill with comments since it would pass untouched no matter what he says or offers. “The standing committee wouldn’t pass it in the first place, if it weren’t for the 97% majority the ruling party holds, “Bulcha explains, “it is inevitable that the bill becomes law and surely it is intended to damage us so that the ruling party becomes sole power.”
In this one of the unified and tough resistances the opposition camp managed to demonstrate, Lidetu Ayalew’s UEDP-MEDHIN, which claims to present a third political option, aligns itself with the opposition despite its negotiation with the government on the bill.
The party’s whip told the House that his party is in agreement with some of the articles but the objection it has in the remaining articles force it to stand against the bill. He proposed that the article, which orders to disclose any donor, be amended and only donations that pass a certain support level be identified.
The proposal was not accepted by the ruling party, which says the Opposition should have taken the amendment as a victory since political party’s right for financial support, which would come from the government during election period, is preserved with this bill. The bill introduces how political parties shall merge, form coalition, or be replaced.
This bill sent back from the Legal and Administrative Affairs Standing Committee to the House and endorsed by majority on both occasions stipulates that any political party, which received financial support of any kind from unidentified sources, should return it and explain the situation to the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) in twenty-one days.
The bill also stipulates that if any of the political parties fail to return financial gains from restricted and unidentified sources as per article 52, the assets shall be confiscated with court permission and the party shall be prosecuted with the relevant law.
Temesgen Zewdie (MP), a whip of the parliament group that is forming a new party-UDJ with a former CUDP majority, refers the bill as an oppressive tool, which will result in the extinction of democratic forces in the country. “When we say our members and supporters were killed and jailed for standing with us, this bill on the contrary forces us to disclose details of our supporters, “explained Temegen, “it is intended to scare away supporters and kill democracy by destroying opposition parties in the country.”
Government Whip, Shiferaw Jareso, chair and deputy chair of the Legal and Administrative affairs standing committee does not see why the Opposition is protesting stating that it is only natural that the NEBE subjects any form of transactions in political parties to inspection. The bill indicates as to how political parties shall merge, form coalition, or be replaced and on how government’s assistance to political parties shall activate. Shiferaw explained that political parties cannot be above the law and accountability and transparency is due as it is for the government.
5 Responses to “EPRDF sets political contribution terms”
By Setitu on Apr 14, 2008 | Reply
If I am not mistaken, the bill also states that political parties cannot take money from foreign citizens, countries and organizations. If that is the case, is the ruling party going to stop taking money from Al Amoudi? He is a Saudi citizen, isn’t he? And when the TPLF was celebrating it’s 30th (??) anniversary, he gave them millions of Birr. Furthermore, he is funding the OPDO monument being built in Adama, right?
So, whats going to be the deal with that?
Its not like they need Al Amoudi’s money anyway. It is just a bonus for them. In addition to owning party businesses, they are pressuring civil servants across the country to become party members, and then pay membership fees. I assume those sources, added to the illegal use of government resources for party businesses, puts them in a pretty good position finance wise.
By the way, let’s not cry about this please. There’s always a way out. The key is managing to come up with better mechanisms for those of us in favor of democracy to join forces and work together. “Dir Biyabir anbesa yasir” - The message in this saying is an absolute truth, IMO; I don’t care what you say.
By Medeksaa on Apr 16, 2008 | Reply
Selective Democratic processing may not qualify a nation and Democratic nation, specially when such bias selection process aginst its majority population.
How could a nationa claim to be Democratic while subjugating and underminding its majority citizen`s culture,wish and language ??
If there ought to be meaningful democratic reform and change in Ethiopia, then ethiopias must recognize its majority as anchor of its political process, by recognizing its majority culture and majority language as amblem of the nation.
“ETHIOIPAS NATIONAL LANGUAGE SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELLY CHANGED FROM AMARA MINORITY LANGUAGE (AMHARIC) TO TETHIOPIA MAJORITY (AFAAN OROMOFFIAA).
By Anonymous on Apr 17, 2008 | Reply
Dear Medekssa do not be emotional.It cannot be implemented overnight.Of course I agreed on the suggestion because as oromos are a majority people the language of this people must be the national language but this should be changed into practice gradually not overnight.
By Ototo Gormolo on Apr 19, 2008 | Reply
I am always surprised to hear complaints coming from many Ethiopians in general and some so-called opposition parliamentarians regarding literally all the laws passed by the kangaroo parliament of Woyane. I find these people very naive at best or stupid at the worst. What were they expecting from Woyane when it flooded the paliament with its unelected stooges after rigging the election of May, 2005 and subsequently throwing the elected leaders of the people to the horrendous Kaliti prison? Why did the elected leaders refuse joining the parliament by putting forward the 8 preconditions that Woyane should meet in order for them to join the parliament?
What is happening now in the so-called rubber-stamp parliament is what the elected leaders had predicted then. Woyane will continue doing its dubious and evil deeds until it is tossed out from office with the people’s power who should wage a relentless struggle and make the country ungovernable. Our people are determined to make Woyane’s life a living hell. Bright light has already started shining in some quarters of the army, the police and the security forces where an underground movement has kicked off. Once considered as the bastions of Meles Zenawi and his cronies, these groups have certainly started pulling the carpet under Mele’s feet, hence his days are numbered.
God bless Ethiopia and damn Woyane.
OG
By Birhanu Abate on Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
Dear Mideksa,I and the majority of my compatriots do have AMARIGNA as a communication bridge as Ethiopians as we have been,are and continue to be ,what we lack in OUR BELOVED ETHIOPIA is lack of unity in diversity,equality in all level of life and constitutional democracy.Therefore I would like to advice you to be more tolerant and a person who loves all his compatriots and his country,unless you are your country to be oromia by then I as someone who is panETHIOPIAN would not know how to learn oromiffa.I THNK YOU.