Oromo: OLF Urges Ireland to Press for Democratic Change in Ethiopia

Dec 10, 2006 (DUBLIN) — The Ethiopian opposition OLF urged Ireland to put pressure on the Ethiopian government in order to hold a conference with the participation of the opposition forces, stressing that dialogue is the sole way to end the current crisis in the country.

In a speech before the Irish Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, the OLF Representative in Europe, Dr. Shigut Geleta, hailed the recent criticism of the violations of human rights and the deficit of freedom and democracy in Ethiopia by the Irish government.

He further said the western countries are able to push for the respect of the Human rights and democracy in Ethiopia “because the regime survives with western money”.

He expressed the wish of the Ethiopian opposition coalition AFD for the held of an all-inclusive conference, “but the government rejects such dialogue” he added.

He further accused the government of declaring war on Somalia to divert the attention form the deteriorated internal situation. He said such move could lead to regional instability.

“The crisis will get worse unless the regime heeds the call for dialogue. However, for this to happen, Europe and the US have to stop handling the ruling party and the Prime Minister with a kid’s glove.” He said.