Latest interview with Colonel Alebel Amare, senior leader of Amhara Democratic Movement 
 

On his second interview with EriTv, colonel Alebel provided some insight on the upcoming election.

Colonel Alebel highlighted that this is not a free/democratic election and thus, it does not reflect the people’s choice. The election, being controlled by a single party, offers no free podium for the opposition group candidates.

He pointed out that when the election board is organized within the ruling party, it is impossible to run as an opposition candidate, and it’s pointless for these candidates to waste their time. He said, him and his organization would have preferred these candidates to spend their time and energy fighting the ruling power, and against these types of campaign strategies, rather than run for election in an environment where it is impossible to have the freedom of expression.

Col. Alebel indicated that for the past 18 years, woyane’s highest accomplishment was instigating hate and creating divisions among the people of Ethiopia. He stressed that there’s no economic growth, but jail, hunger and pain. People cannot elect such a government; the people know it and so does the ruling party.

This is why, he said, woyane has been busy from kebele to the highest organizations, intimidating the oppositions. These groups are under constant surveillance, and those suspected of supporting such groups are intimidated, arrested, and even killed.

He added people are fleeing their beloved land to the neighboring counties – Sudan, Kenya and Uganda, because they are scared for their lives.

Col Alebel described the election as a battle between woyane’s police and the people of Ethiopia. He said, in 1997 (E.C.) election when the people voiced their opinion against woyane, they were arrested and killed by woyane's police. In today’s election campaign, the same type of battle is taking place.

About foreign observers coming to the election, Colonel Alebel called it an “election drama”. He said it is not done to benefit the people, but for the party to gain foreign favor. He added that these so called observers know exactly what’s been going on, both during the previous election and the upcoming one. He said, in 1997 (E.C.) Carter and the EU came to observe and eye-witnessed the crime committed against the people of Ethiopia, but did nothing. There was no pressure placed on woyane, instead, they continued their military and economic support for several years after the election.  Col. Alebel remembered Ms. Ana Gomez as the only observer who tried to voice her concern about the election, and expressed his highest regards for her. Nevertheless, he said, she never found anyone who supported her stand. The Colonel said that he has no positive expectation out of these foreign observers in the upcoming election.

Regarding how he viewed Eritreans when he was with woyane, the Colonel stated that woyane’s propaganda was based on instigating hate between the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea, but he always knew that the citizens of Eritrea were good-natured. He added that after coming to Eritrea, he has witnessed the congeniality of the people and the cultures and history that bind the Eritreans and Ethiopians together.