Ethiopian Authorities Stopped Democratization Process, says Dutch Minister

March 31, 2008

Ethiopian Media Forum – Opposition oriented Diaspora website (March 31) After the 2005 elections, the Ethiopian authorities have stopped all political reforms and have even partially reversed it, Dutch foreign minister Mr. Bert Koenders said.

In its detailed report published today, the minister said it is unlikely to talk of the free press in Ethiopia today, all the activities of the opposition parties are hampered and the civil society - particularly human rights organizations get a very little space.

“This development is worrisome, certainly because Ethiopia had made promising beginnings of the democratizations process by the end of the nineties of the previous century,” Mr. Koenders said.
The Dutch minister was on Horn tour from 2 to 7 March 2008.

The minister has also clearly conveyed these concerns in his conversations with Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian opposition and the civil society leaders.

“Although PM Meles insured me that the democratization process is irreversible, it is my impression that the priority of the Ethiopian government at this moment especially lies at economic development and at national and regional security questions.” He said.

According to Koenders’ findings and conclusions, neglecting the democratizations process is not only a political problem. In the longer term, it will also have a negative effect on the economic development and national security questions. For that reason, the Netherlands supports the democratization process through NGO’s. Thus, the Netherlands support a number of Ethiopian NGOs and human rights organizations in the field of human rights, democracy and rule of law.

The Netherlands supports the advancement of democratic institutes such as the national Election board, the ombudsman and the human rights groups through political dialogue and by means of support to the Democratic Institutions program managed by United Nations Development program.