Verdict of people versus verdict of Hague for Ethiopia.

There is a verdict of boundary commission between Ethiopia and Eritrea, that is given in the international court on 13^th April, 2002, in Hague, Netherlands. Ethiopia says it accepts the verdict in principle but will not accept implementing it unless its concern are fulfilled.

Well, now, there was a parliamentary elelction in the 15^th May, 2005, in Ethiopia. The ruling clique says the Ethiopian people has given its verdict. Before the official results released the opposition and the governing body are accusing each other of bad practices. Especially, the opposition are not satisfied with the behaviour of the governing body. The following is an article from CNN.com.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Reuters) -- Ethiopia's main opposition party on Monday threatened to boycott the next parliament unless accusations of fraud and rigging are investigated and new polls held.

The main opposition coalitions and the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi claimed victory in May 15 elections to the 547-seat federal parliament.

Official results are not expected until June 8.

The Coalition for Unity and Democracy, or CUD, said its evidence of voting irregularities must be investigated by a neutral body made up of international observers, some from the CUD and the ruling party, and the Ethiopian Election Board.

"At present, we can see clearly that the free and fair election process is in real danger. On our part we have compiled evidence that election irregularities have been observed in 139 constituencies," CUD Chairman Hailu Shawul told a news conference.

Unless the investigations and re-votes are held, "our party will not join the next parliament," he said.

Last week, the party demanded repeat polls in 27 districts, and a vote recount in 57 others.

The election board held re-votes in six constituencies Saturday and said it was looking into other charges of impropriety in an unspecified number of districts.

Hailu warned that people may resort to civil disobedience such as sit-in strikes, absenteeism and prayer vigils if the ruling party goes ahead and forms the next government.

Ethiopian Information Minister Bereket Simon reiterated the ruling party's promise to clamp down on post-election violence or disobedience.

"Nothing can hold back the [Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front] from forming the next government," he said. "It should be known to all that defying the verdict of the people will not be accepted."

The government already has banned public demonstrations for a month after the vote, only the second real multiparty poll in Africa's biggest coffee producer.

The above article taken from CNN.com shows that verdict of the people in Ethiopia are going to be violated anyhow being by the opposition groups or the governing body.

The opposition could say we will accept the verdict of the people in principle but we are not going to implement it unless our concern are taken in consideration. The EPRDF are going to say; that is a verdict of people and it has to be implemented. Then if the opposition asks to EPRDF; why don't you then imply the verdict of the international community at the Hague? What is going to be the answer of EPRDF? This is a question to be seen answered on practical terms in near future in Ethiopia's parliament formation.

On the other hand, the opposition while they accept EPRDF violates international verdict are they now going to ask the international community to help them the EPRDF to respect the verdict of the people. I think there is a mockery of what a verdict of people and verdict of Hague is in Ethiopia.

God bless Eritrea.

Tesfamicael Yohannes

Oslo, Norway.