Diaspora Forum

Election and the Diaspora

Regularly held democratic elections are among the yardsticks used to measure whether a government is democratic or not. And elections are said to be democratic when the ballots decide which way government power goes.

The Ethiopian constitution clearly stipulates that regardless of their color, race, ethnicity, sex, language, religion, politics and other stances, all Ethiopians have the right to elect or to be elected. The 1997 E.C. revised electoral law states that any Ethiopian aged 18 and above has the right to register for voting. And the person who is accorded this right has to register at one place at a time. Proclamation No 111/87 Article 18 says that voter registration covers Ethiopian territory.

From the outset the government has shown its readiness to hold a peaceful and democratic elections. This was unequivocally demonstrated in its willingness to revise some articles of the electoral law. The government and all stakeholders have exerted efforts in tandem for the realization of a democratic election. As a result, a number of political parties were registered and unprecedented numbers of people have cast their ballot.

Specially, the heated debates broadcast live on the national television and radio as well as press columns devoted for the same purpose had been quite unprecedented in the history of the country.

Air time had been allotted to respective parties to present their objectives and alternative polices on a range of issues. This has enabled voters to go to the polling station with sufficient knowledge about the policies of the contending parties.

Local and international observers were also invited to witness the smooth conduct of the over all electoral process. Accordingly, they have proved that the election was peaceful, free and fair.

Despite some shortcomings, the voters have shown their resolve to consolidation democracy. The four decades struggle of all nations and nationalities of Ethiopia has borne fruit.

Some members of the Ethiopian diaspora were also among the expertise who contributed for the successful execution of the election.

Election experts and experienced individuals within the diaspora have also comeover to respond to the need of professionals in that particular field. 

It is needless to say that the Ethiopian people specifically the diaspora have to use the conducive atmosphere created during the election to speed-up the economic development of our country.

The post election developments have to be handled appropriately in line with constitutional provisions so that the country could focus on its priorities of fighting poverty and building democracy.   

The positive attitude of the international community and its appreciation achieved as a result of the democratic elections will be an asset in depicting the other face of Ethiopia against the lingering stereotype.  But for this to happen there is still a need from the diaspora as a group or individually to continue contributing their share in areas where they have the desired capabilities.

In the after month of the elections, pursuing to their election strategy some elements among the ranks of the diaspora are campaigning to discredit the process. In doing so, these individuals in the  diaspora  remnants of the Dergue are trying to tarnish the image of the country and fanning violence through demonstrations from Atlanta to Amsterdam from Canada to Brussels.

Former Red Terror perpetrators are  trying their best  to once again force Ethiopia slide in to crisis and anarchy. But this could never happen again.

What the Ethiopian people expect from the May elections is the consolidation of a democratic culture and not division along party lines, which leads to bitterness and hatred. That will destabilize the nation and negatively affect the encouraging results the country has achieved over the years. 

The atmosphere of tolerance and understanding which was prevalent during the pre-election period should not in any way be replaced by violence and conflict which was the order of the day in previous regimes. Hence, Ethiopians from all walks of life and specially the diaspora have to pay due attention to their role in consolidating the emerging democratic culture in the country.

Members of the diaspora who are concerned about their compatriots at home are already doing their level best. This is not only expressed in economic assistance and investment they bring, but in the role they can play in building a democratic culture, as they are residing in a western culture, where there is a rich tradition of democracy.

To contribute to the democratization process, the diaspora should have a balanced out-look of the development in their country. They should avoid extremist views in all aspects. They should as well differentiate between strength  and weaknesses, positive and negative points. Bitterness and hatred will not benefit anyone and would only negatively impact the encouraging results registered so far.