August 13/2005

Mr. Patrick Mazimhaka, the Rwandan born deputy chairperson of the African Union recently made a public statement that does injustice to the struggle of the Ethiopian people to secure their inalienable human rights and democratic governance.

Ambassador Mazimhaka not only gave an undeserved and partisan support to the regime of Meles Zenawi by negating the justified claim that the regime has resorted to fraud to negate the voice of the people but has also baselessly accused the opposition as being responsible for the killing of more than 60 peaceful demonstrators in Addis Ababa. The AU deputy chairperson has practically echoed the claims of the Meles Zenawi regime as fact and accused the opposition without foundation. The statement made by the AU official is just a copy of the official propaganda of the regime and is thus injurious to the Ethiopian people. It is an uncalled for and gross interference by the AU official and SOCEPP condemns it with vigor and calls on the AU to disassociate itself from this partisan and politically motivated declaration. The facts show that the Meles Zenawi regime was defeated in the May lections and that it has resorted to fraud to maintain itself in power. The facts show that the Special Forces and security agents of the regime murdered more than 60 people in Addis Ababa alone and have jailed thousands. The gross violation of rights is evident for all to see and it is surprising that Ambassador Mazimhaka failed to see the reality and chose to echo the repressive regime.

SOCEPP is calling on all Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia to send their protest messages to the following addresses:

Ambassador Mazimhaka: MazimhakaP@africa-union.org/fax number 251-1-1517844

To the secretary general of the AU at konareAO@africa-union.org

To the secretaries of the ambassador at: shumbushoV@africa-union.org

umubyeyimc@africa-union.org