ETHIOPIA: Interview with Congressman Chris Smith

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

ADDIS ABABA, 17 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - United States Congressman Chris Smith has spent four days in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, holding high-level talks with government and opposition leaders regarding the recently concluded parliamentary elections.

In an interview with IRIN on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Smith, who is the chairman of the US House of Representatives sub-committee on Africa, discussed the disputed 15 May elections. Below are excerpts:

QUESTION: Why is America concerned about elections and election results in Ethiopia?

ANSWER: We have a generic concern about democracy and free and fair elections everywhere, particularly in fledgling democracies, trying to ensure there are poll watchers - people who can judge whether or not it is free and fair - in sufficient numbers to do so.

The people of Ethiopia, no less than anybody else in the world, deserve to have their ballot counted and not be subject to being defrauded, which is why we looked at the elections here with such scrutiny. This is why we are awaiting final reports from the European Union and others as to what they found here and whether it was totally free and fair and the like.

Q: What is your feeling? Would you describe the elections as free and fair?

A: I don't think I have the competency, not having been here before the elections and on election day to make a conclusion, but only to react to what others who are on the ground say. I think there were flaws - based on observation experts - the extent of it though is still [awaiting] the report to be rendered and all of us need to hold back somewhat until we get the full picture. There are problems, there is no election in the world that is flawless, but it is a matter of degrees.

Q: What are the degrees here, what are the concerns?

A: There were concerns about intimidation of voters and candidates, and that is probably at the top of the list. The other concern is the fear - real or imagined - of retaliations that happen weeks or months after the fact and that can have a chilling effect on the elections.

Q: What should voters or opposition officials do if there are claims of election abuse?

A: I think what the final report says will make a difference. The opposition have seen their minority grow very significantly; they had only 12 seats in 2000 and that is a significant victory for the multiparty system.

Q: Do you think the way the elections have gone, and the killings, have tarnished the image of Ethiopia and its relations with the US?

A: The killings have put an already questionable election in further light and scrutiny. For many Americans and many members of Congress, the fact that there are many issues grabbing for attention, the slaughter of three-dozen people all of a sudden raises 'what is this all about'?

It almost caused a rubberneck effect, like when you see an accident on the road. The election was getting some attention, but it was not getting much attention until the killing of all those people. From [UN Secretary General] Kofi Annan to [US] President [George] Bush to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to many members of congress, we have all called for an aggressive, absolutely transparent investigation and to hold those individuals to account for all those killings, and that hasn't happened yet.

I raised that directly with [Ethiopian] Prime Minister Meles [Zenawi]. As each day goes by we become more sceptical that an honest investigation can be undertaken and part of the reason is that you also tend to lose evidence and memories fade.

Q: Are you putting pressure on the government or opposition to sort out these problems? Ethiopia is a key ally in the US war on terror - isn't that more important than rocking the boat?

A: Like other governments in the world, we have an honest and frank discussion and we did. In every conversation it has been very frank that we want truth and transparency. I haven't minced my words whatsoever. I also met with the opposition leaders and, for whatever it was worth, suggested they ought to join the parliament. To leave those seats vacant I think would disenfranchise the very voters who put them there.

Having said that, it doesn't mean I am enamoured with the election process. I have been criticising it, as have other people. I read some of the press that has been coming out, which says I have been siding with the government - I am not. I am saying we do not pick sides as American politicians and nor should we. We say we want the institutions and the processes to be above board and clean and there are egregious points here that need to be remedied.

Q: And the threat of renewed election-related violence?

A: However flawed the elections might be, violence is not the answer and that is something I have said to everybody. That will facilitate nothing but more death.

That also goes for the border dispute with Eritrea, we have been trying to press that issue because we are very concerned that could [lead] to a large loss of life. You not only lose life but there is a diversion of scarce humanitarian resources so people who are indirectly related to the conflict end up losing.

Q: When you return to the US, what will your message be?

A: I will brief the speaker [of the House of Representatives], I will call Condoleezza Rice and speak to several assistant secretaries when I get back. The message will be that we need to keep the pressure on the government.

Friends don't let friends commit human rights abuses. Part of my message - verbatim - was: "Ease up on the opposition. Stop following them, stop intimidating individuals who are supporters." I said that eyeball-to-eyeball, which is the message that needs to be conveyed.

We want this government to respect the dignity of these individuals who are in opposition. Nobody in politics likes an opponent, but that is part of the price of democracy, even if an opponent takes your seat or your prime minister-ship, which is the cost of democracy. It is not holding power at all costs; otherwise the people are ill served. That is what I will be going back and saying.

[ENDS]