April 13, 2005

Board passes decisions regarding ONC’s complaints

The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) yesterday (April 12) gave decisions on complaints submitted to it by the Oromo National Congress (ONC) after it heard the report of a probing team that had been investigating the case. ONC had complained to the Board that its members and supporters had been beaten by local police authorities while campaigning in Jeldu constituency, West Shoa zone of the Oromiya State, on April 9, 2005.

The report by the probing team presented to the Board indicated that some members of the police, ONC members and the public sustained light and heavy injuries when ONC supporters, who staged a rally without notifying local authorities, clashed with the police.

After hearing the report, the Board decided that candidates and supporters of political parties should carry out their campaigning activities peacefully refraining from hate speech and insult against other parties or candidates as agreed by contending parties in the campaigning code of conduct.

Any party undertaking election campaigning should in advance notify local police authorities as stipulated in the electoral law of the country, it said. The Board has temporarily banned any election campaign at the marketplace in Jeldu town.

The NEBE also pointed out that any election campaign supported by music bands and loud speakers should not be targeted at inciting violence and fomenting dissension. The Board has urged all parties contesting in Jeldu constituency to strictly observe the above decisions.