March 30/2009

SOCEPP CONDEMNS LOYAL OPPOSITION MP’S CAMPAIGN

AGAINST THE POOR

A member of one of the loyal opposition groups within the regime’s parliament has called for a repressive law (ban) against “beggars in the city”. Gebru Gebre Mariam, a “UEDF" MP, alleged that  the thousands of beggar are made up of “loafers and healthy but lazy youngsters and people» while, to his shame, the regime’s Minister of Labour corrected him by saying that the root cause must be addressed and no simple solution sought from a banning law. In the past, the Meles regime had rounded up many beggars and thrown them out of the city and one of such a major operation involving 25,000 people was a total fiasco causing grief and harm to defenceless.

It is surprising to note that a self declared opposition group member and MP will call for a ban and repression when it is apparent that the number of beggars has swollen all over the country due to the economic collapse characterized by a 60% inflation, famine afflicting 12 million people, high rate of unemployment and sky rocketing prices of basic goods and necessities. SOCEPP strongly protests against the MP in question and voices its opposition to any repressive measure against the poor who are in their condition through no fault of theirs. The repressive regime does not need any such irresponsible call to turn violent against beggars and the unemployed in the city and this call for a ban and a “decisive action” could very well be initiated by the ruling front itself using the MP Gebru as its mouthpiece

INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS INJUSTICE EVERYWHERE