Ethiopian opposition parties oppose proposed anti-terrorism law

June 10th, 2009 | EthioPolitics.com |

Ethiopian political parties have opposed a proposed anti-terrorism law, which is in its final stage to be enacted as a law by the Ethiopian parliament.

While discussing the proposed anti-terrorism law at the Ethiopian parliament on Tuesday, representative of Ethiopia’s main opposition parties demanded that the bill should not to be endorsed as a law.

Bulcha Demeksa, head of Ethiopia’s Oromo Federal Democratic Party (OFDM) told the house that the law was against the country’s constitution, which he said might violate human rights in the country.

“If the law is endorsed, it will give more power to the police and other government bodies. We don’t think that such a law will help peace to prevail in this country,” said Demeksa.

The United Ethiopian Democratic Front (UEDF) also opposed the law and urged that some of the articles of the bill to be refined since these articles remain ambiguous and incomprehensible.

However, the opposition parties which have no majority vote at the parliament could not stop the bill from being passed.

The ruling party, which has majority votes at the parliament, is expected to pass the law in the next few weeks.

The government has repeatedly been saying that the bill is meant for protecting the rights of innocent civilians and to ensure that peace, stability, and harmony prevails in the country.

APA