ETHIOPIA: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THRONG ADDIS ABABA IN LARGEST OPPOSITION RALLY EVER TO BE HELD IN THE COUNTRY

Record ID: 648710

  • Title: ETHIOPIA: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THRONG ADDIS ABABA IN LARGEST OPPOSITION RALLY EVER TO BE HELD IN THE COUNTRY
  • Date: 8th May 2005
  • Summary: (W3) ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (MAY 8, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS OF OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS RUNNING ON THE MAIN STREET TO MASKEL SQUARE 0.06 2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING AND CHANTING "THERE ARE NO VAGABONDS- ONLY UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE, MELES RESIGN!" (2 SHOTS) 0.16 3. PEOPLE RUN TO MESKEL SQUARE (2 SHOTS) 0.26 4. CU: POSTER READING: "CUD (COALITION FOR UNITY AND DEMOCRACY) STANDS FOR EQUALITY, DEMOCRACY, JUSTICE" 0.31 5. VICTORY SIGN ON BALCONY, HUGE CROWD BELOW 0.34 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic)COALITION FOR UNITY AND DEMOCRACY PRESIDENT, ENGINEER HAILU SAHWEL SAYING: ++++AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING ++++ "This is a huge turnout and it has demonstrated who and what they people stand for. Those willing to appreciate this fact, will not doubt do so again." 0.42 7. VARIOUS OF RALLY (2 SHOTS) 1.10 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic) OPPOSITION PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICIAL, LEDETU AYALEW SAYING: +++AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING +++ "When people see this crowd, they will conclude that we have won the election. The people who are assembled in this square came of their own volition, without any intimidation. It is a signal fort the May 15 elections. This crowd has demonstrated that the will of the people will not be trampled by dictators. Victory to the Ethiopian people, victory to the Coalition for Unity and Democracy. Victory, victory, victory." / PAN TO CROWD CHEERING 1.59 9. VARIOUS OF RALLY 2.11 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 23rd May 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
  • Country: Ethiopia
  • Reuters ID: LVACABGC7SK877CKCABRQ1XWUFHX
  • Story Text: Hundreds of thousands of people thronged Addis Ababa
    on Sunday in the largest opposition rally ever to be held
    in Ethiopia.


    Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians thronged the
    streets of the capital on Sunday (May 8) to support the
    opposition, who go to the polls next week pledging to
    tackle poverty by freeing up the state-controlled economy.

    Thousands of young Ethiopians streamed into the central
    square in Addis Ababa, flashing the two fingered sign for
    victory - the election symbol of the opposition Coalition
    for Unity and Democracy (CUD).

    Some supporters had taped banners saying "Victory over
    Dictatorship" and "Stand Up Speak Up" to their heads.

    The May 15 elections are widely regarded as a key test
    of democracy in Ethiopia, where opposition candidates say
    their supporters have been harassed, beaten and detained in
    the run up to the polls.

    Rally organisers estimated the number of supporters
    could have been as high as two million.

    Five main opposition parties and coalitions have set
    aside their differences to form one of the strongest
    alliances yet to challenge Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's 14
    years in power.

    Meles' Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic
    Front (EPRDF) is widely favoured to win a third five-year
    term in Africa's top coffee producer, but analysts say the
    ruling party's parliamentary majority may slip under
    pressure from opposition candidates.

    Police had blocked the city centre, stopping opposition
    supporters from the suburbs from joining the rally,
    organizers said. Police officials were not immediately
    available for comment.

    CUD Chairman Hailu Shawel said they would focus on
    economic growth through political reforms and privatization
    in a country which is still struggling to shake off centuries
    of feudalism and socialist policies.

    Officials say 46 percent of Ethiopia's 71 million
    people live below the poverty line, with many peasant
    farmers in the rural areas trapped in abject poverty.

    Critics of the government say the EPRDF have failed to
    tackle poverty by reforming land policies blamed for
    chronic food shortages.

    They say the present system gives little incentive to
    the farmer to invest in land which is leased to him by the
    government.

    Hailu dismissed Meles' claim that the opposition were
    promoting divisive ideologies similar to those of the
    ethnic Hutu militias who butchered 800,000 Tutsis and
    moderate Hutus in Rwanda's 1994 genocide.
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