DECEMBER 1/2004

Ethiopia is one of the worst affected countries as far as the AIDS epidemic is concerned: more than 3 million afflicted and hundreds of deaths on a daily basis. And if there is one issue that exposes the human rights violations of the ruling EPRDF it is the AIDS catastrophe in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian people have been denied the basic right to elementary health care because the ruling EPRDF has practically dismantled the health care system that had previously existed. Moreover, attempts to combat the AIDS epidemic were cut short. The system in place which has given energy to the spread of prostitution (including child prostitution), unemployment, use of drugs, etc...No campaign worthy of its name was made to make people (especially in the rural areas) aware of AIDS.EPRDF soldiers who moved all over the country spread the virus without any control.

At present, the EPRDF officials (including the spouse of Prime Minster Meles Zenawi) are making a lot of noise to hijack the anti AIDS campaign and to swindle money from donors in the same way donors were swindled by the TPLF/EPRDF during the 1984 famine. The official Anti AIDS campaign is too little too late and for embezzling funds for the personal coffers of the ruling elite. On this day of observance, SOCEPP calls on all Anti AIDS groups to stop giving any aid or assistance to the EPRDF controlled so called anti-AIDS "NGO"s.