Visit Kinijit offical website at www.kinijit.org 

Kinijit Chairman Hailu Shawel Letter to Kinijit Executive Committee   Letter 

The 20 member CUD Executive voted not to negotiate with EPRDF any more. The 60-member CUD central council is expected to second the executive decision tomorrow. Meanwhile, CUD's chair-person, Ato Hailu Shawel cancelled his medical treatement, working visit to Europe and headed to Ethiopia.

Two officials from the US State Department began a visit to Ethiopia today as talks continued between the ruling party and opposition over the nation's election crisis. The two-day visit by Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Donald Yamamoto and Director for East African Affairs Eunice Reddick will include talks with the Ethiopian government. The State Department says the trip is designed to support efforts by the Ethiopian government and opposition groups to strengthen democracy in Ethiopia. To Listen

Ethiopia under Attack: "I can't give you a precise figure, but the number of those arrested in several regions runs into hundreds," Merera Gudina, Chairman of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), said. "Several opposition offices have also been closed." (Caption and photo montage: Ethiomedia; Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Heavens) ADDIS ABABA - The number of opposition supporters thrown into jail within one week has skyrocketed to over 1,800 nationwide in spite of "talks" between the ruling party and the two major opposition parties to resolve the post-election crisis, a newspaper reported on Wednesday. Full Story

To Listen

Ethiopia's government and opposition leaders held their first face-to-face talks in months overnight in an internationally-mediated bid to defuse a volatile political fracas. Story

Press Release by Kinijit and UEDF and Dr. Beyene Petros interview on VOA.

By the Network of Ethiopian Scholars (NES) - Scandinavian Chapter
Full Press Release

Kinijit has elected its new leaders. The new leaders consistes of:
Engineer Hailu Shawel - President
Wzr. Birtukan Mideksa - Senior Vice President
Ato Lidetu Ayalew - Vice President
Ato Muluneh Eyoel - Secretary

The party's 20-member executive committee and 60-member central committee has been elected and has took over the responsibilities from the former 16-member council. We will post the offical press release soon.

September 21, 2005

Jerome McDonnell asks Ethiopian Ambassador Kassahun Ayele why Meles calls the EU report "garbage" even though carter report is "virtually in the same page as the EU report". ... Professor Donald Levineasks who is a scholar in Ethiopian affair and a friend of Ethiopia said "our intelligent, our dignity is insulted when Meles calls the EU observers "Garbage".
To listen to the feeble reason of the Ambassador. 

   Archive: Profesor Donald Levine Interview on Chicago Public Radio by Jerome McDonnell on July 29, 2005

Full Interview.  Must Listen

September 20, 2005

By the Network of Ethiopian Scholars (NES) - Scandinavian Chapter
September 20, 2005 Full Press Release

September 20, 2005

Tension deepens in Addis Ababa as armed men of the ruling party continue to mount attacks on opposition officials and members. Full Story

CUD chairman Ato Hailu Shawel gave a press conference this afternoon at the National Press Club in Washington DC. Ato Hailu started out by saying that what took place in Ethiopia is not "vote rigging." He said, "it's a daylight robbery of the people's vote." Regarding CUD's decision not to enter the parliament, Ato Hailu said, "the parliament is going to be illegal because it will not represent the people. We are not going enter an illegal parliament." Asked what he specifically wants from the U.S. Government, Ato Hailu said he wants the U.S. to tell Meles that he lost the elections and "must relinquish power."

Chairman of the Coalition for Unity & Democracy (CUD), Ato Hailu Shawel drew a standing ovation from the crowd in a town hall meeting in Washington, DC after he declared Kinijit will not enter parliament.

Chairman Hailu Shawel explained why his party has rejected the result of the May 15 elections that was announced by the National Election Board and made it clear that Meles Zenawi's regime that has been rejected by the people of Ethiopia.

The ruling party of Ethiopia has continued attacking and harassing opposition party leaders and members.
Surveillance and harassment on opposition members has intensified since last Friday September 16, 2005.
The latest incidents include:
1. Ato Debebe Eshetu was beaten by the ruling party security forces at the gate of his home.
2. Dr. Merara Gudina's car wind shield was broken.
3. Ato Mesfin Aman, member of AEUP executive committee, has been detained.

"While pre-election and election day processes were generally commendable, the post-election period was disappointing."  "Ultimately, it is the citizens and voters who determine the credibility of their elections."  Full Report

The problem started after May 15 when the Ethiopian government discovered many people has voted in favor of the opposition party? Full Interview.

Ambassador Herman Cohen stated the people in power (TPLF, EPRDF) will not allow to be a minority? "call it rigging the vote, vote counting fraud". Full Interview (VOA).

Full Interview (BBC)

CUD will not accept election result declaring EPRDF the winner. CUD President Hailu Shawel said "It is the most illegitimate process I have ever seen in my life, even in a beginning democracy, where the winner is declared the loser and the absolute loser is declared the winner". CUD President Hailu Shawel said "It is not rigging as some call it, it is simple burglary,"  "Meles' government has lost the election and we are not going to accept the results declared by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia." CUD action will be within the limits of our constitutional rights and is committed to non-violence.