Ethiopia: Govt arrests opposition members
for denouncing "aid abuse"

27 December, 2009 | By Tsfa Alem Tekle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia’s biggest opposition coalition, Forum for
Democratic Dialogue (FDD-MEDREK), who accused government of
obstructing foreign aid on Saturday said that its members are being
arrested for speaking-out on the alleged aid abuse.

Last month, the opposition group accused Prime minister Meles Zenawi-
led government of politicizing foreign-funded humanitarian assistance,
using it as a weapon to retain power in next year’s election.

    The accusation said that its
    members are routinely being
    denied access to foreign aid
    and now alleges that
    government is harassing its
    members to silence their
    claim.

    "Now three days, seven of
our members from the northern Tigray region are being secretly held in
the capital Addis Ababa and in Desse town" Asrat Abraham, public
relations of an opposition within the coalition, Arena Tigray told Sudan
Tribune on Saturday.

"They were held by secret agents after the members in person reported
regional aid abuse situation to party leaders and to aid organizations in
Addis Ababa," Asrat added.

The opposition official who he said hardly managed to speak to one of
the held opposition members said that the arrests were in retaliation to
the allegation by the opposition members.

"You have backed and reported false allegation on the regional aid
system. You won’t be released unless you officially retract your reports
in a media outlet" Asrat said as was told by one of the arrested members.

Attempts to verify from a government body didn’t work at the moment.

The ruling EPRDF party has denied only allowing its members to be
embraced in country’s food-for-work scheme, the productive safety
net program to gain support.

Last month, Ethiopia State Minister for Disaster Management and Food
Security Mitiku Kasa, has blasted the allegation saying totally "baseless
allegation".

"Government has no intention to discriminate against the poor based on
such grounds. After all, it is the community that is mandated to select
who should be involved in the programme," Mituku said.

"The programme targets the community and government doesn’t get
involved in the selection process. It has nothing to do with politics or
political ideology. It’s all absolutely owned by the community. It is the
community that has a say in this programme," he said.

There is no separate confirmation yet to support the opposition
allegation but some foreign aid organizations in the country are now
saying that they will launch a probe into how foreign humanitarian relief
supplies are delivered.

Currently Some 7 million Ethiopians heavily rely on the Productive
Safety Net Program.

                                     Courtesy
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