Opposition calls for demos to protest killings, arrests

Ethiopia's largest opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), threatened on Friday to call peaceful strikes and demonstrations, accusing the government of arresting and killing its members. The CUD alleged that over the past two months, the government had killed at least six of its supporters, arrested 837 others and ransacked party offices. Speaking to reporters, party Chairman Hailu Shawel accused the ruling party of "transgressing the constitution with impunity" and maintained that the CUD would continue its boycott of parliament. "We were hoping the situation would improve, but it is getting worse each day," the CUD's Hailu said. "The type of action we are talking about are peaceful measures like demonstrations, strikes and stay-at-homes." He also condemned recent changes in the which, he said, limited the opposition's legislative powers. The new rules stipulate that only parties with 51 percent of parliamentary seats could propose motions and present an agenda. Previously, only 20 lawmakers needed to support a motion before it was tabled in parliament. However, Information Minister Berhan Hailu accused CUD of resorting to illegal measures to try and undermine the constitution. He said the CUD should settle their problems through the established political and legal systems. Berhan said he was unable to confirm CUD's claims on numbers arrested or if anyone had been killed. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has repeatedly accused the opposition of plotting to incite violence and topple his government. However, CUD's Hailu rejected the Zenawi's accusations that he had committed treason by calling for street demonstrations. "We will only use legal measures allowed under the constitution," he said. "We have never had arms. We do not have guns." He added that the protests should begin after the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan, which ends in the first week of November. CUD's 109 parliamentarians were stripped of their immunity after boycotting parliament in protest at the elections, which they claim the ruling party rigged. Violent clashes with security forces in June over the results left 42 protesters dead. The standoff over the disputed polls has also left the capital, Addis Ababa, - home to four million people and the headquarters of the African Union - without an administration. The political deadlock prompted the European Union parliament to warn last week of possible cuts in development aid to Ethiopia if "persecution and intimidation" of opposition groups continued. Opposition parties won 12 seats during elections in 2000, but now hold 176 seats, constituting 32 percent of the parliament. Meanwhile, British charity Action Aid has condemned a "politically motivated" attack on one of its staff, who was beaten on the head by armed men on 16 October. According to the Action Aid employee, the gunmen said during the late night attack: "Who are you to criticise the EPRDF [Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, the ruling coalition party]?" Action Aid said in a statement: "We have reason to believe that this vicious assault was politically motivated."