Repression Is Alleged Before Vote in Ethiopia

Source: The New York Times

NAIROBI, Kenya — Diplomats, human rights groups and witnesses say the Ethiopian government is methodically stifling dissent in the prelude to this weekend’s national elections, denying food aid to opposition supporters, jailing political opponents and possibly killing a few activists, part of a broader pattern of repression in several of America’s closest allies in Africa, especially during election time.

Ethiopia is one of the poorest and most aid-dependent countries in the world, and the American government and the World Bank, two of its biggest donors, are investigating potential leaks in the aid system and allegations that the government is manipulating food aid to reward political allies and literally starve out political opposition.

“We have seen these reports, and we are looking into them, and we would object to any politicization of our humanitarian assistance,” said Johnnie Carson, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs. “We expect countries to use the aid in the manner in which it was given and to ensure that it reaches those who need it.”

The allegations, which the Ethiopian government strongly denies, seem to be part of an increasingly iron-fisted strategy to ensure that the governing party holds on to power while preventing the widespread protests that erupted after the last major elections in 2005.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/21/world/africa/21ethiopia.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

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