Britain withholds direct budget support

Britain has withheld direct budget support worth around 50 million pounds sterling (US $88 million) to the Ethiopian government over political unrest that followed disputed elections in May 2005. "The UK [Britain] is seriously concerned about governance, human rights and the detention of and serious charges faced by opposition, media and members of civil society," Hillary Benn, Britain's international development secretary, said on Wednesday. "Because of our concerns over the political situation, I have told the Prime Minister that we cannot provide direct budget support under the current circumstances," he added. Ethiopia was rocked by violence in June and November 2005 after the elections, which returned Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's party to power. The violence led to the death of 88 protesters at the hands of security forces and the arrest of thousands of people in the capital, Addis Ababa. Some 129 opposition leaders, journalists and aid workers are currently facing charges of treason, genocide and other crimes, some of which carry a maximum sentence of the death penalty. "There has been a breach of trust in light of what has happened here in Ethiopia since June," Benn told a news conference in Addis Ababa. During a daylong visit to Ethiopia, Benn met Meles and expressed his "deep concern" over the unrest. He also met opposition leaders. Britain, he said, was looking at other methods of using the funds to help provide education, better health facilities and water to the poor. The budget cut includes 20 million pounds ($35 million) that Britain withheld in 2005. Other western donors have said they are looking at re-directing $375 million in direct support to the government to other areas because of the political crisis in the country. Benn said concerns had also been raised over "ongoing clashes involving students and security forces in schools and colleges across the country". He called for an independent investigation into alleged human rights violations in the country's southern Oromiya region. International lobby group Human Rights Watch reported on 13 January that Ethiopian authorities were intimidating, arresting and using excessive force in rural areas to quell dissent over election results. "There needs to be a prompt, fair and open judicial process for those currently detained," Benn added. "I hope that the international jurists will be able to observe the trial, and that an independent organisation will be able to inspect all the places where people are currently being detained." Britain also provides some 40 million pounds ($71 million) in support to various humanitarian organisations, including UN agencies, working in the country.