ETHIOPIA: Opposition MPs stripped of parliamentary immunity

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

ADDIS ABABA, 11 Oct 2005 (IRIN) - Opposition members of parliament in Ethiopia could face prosecution after their immunity was lifted following a boycott of the opening session of the legislature, MPs loyal to the government decided on Tuesday.

The decision sparked a mass walkout by around 40 opposition law makers who had taken up their seats despite an increasingly hostile stand-off between the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front and the largest opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD).

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told parliament the CUD had committed "serious crimes" by threatening to take power through street demonstrations and insurrection during bitterly contested May elections dogged by allegations of fraud and vote rigging.

"If they take illegal actions then this government has to see to it the constitution is protected," Meles told parliament on its second day.

"They want to use immunity to crash the constitution," he added. "Immunity is used to defend the constitution, not dismantle it, so this immunity must be removed for the sake of peace and stability in the country."

Some 334 MPs voted in favour of the motion stripping the opposition MPs of their immunity, while 35 opposed it and two abstained.

The new law, according to government officials, means charges could be brought against boycotting CUD members found to have been behind post-election disturbances or found to be planning any disturbances.

They cannot, however, be prosecuted for not attending parliament.

Opposition parties have been protesting since the May polls that voting had been rigged in favour of the ruling party. Violent clashes with security forces left 42 protesters dead.

The chairman of the opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, Beyene Petros, said the move was unconstitutional before walking out with his party members.

"This House can remove immunity if they are caught red-handed committing crimes. They have not done that. This is a political issue and bad for the country," he said.

Hailu Shawel, leader of the CUD, insisted their boycott would continue. "We are prisoners here," he said after watching the debate on state-run television. "This means that we are going to be herded into jail. They will concoct charges against us."

Former youth sport and culture minister Teshome Toga, who is now speaker of the House of People's Representatives, told the 443 MPs who attended the house that the decision would only apply to those boycotting parliament.

"This concerns only those who did not join parliament. The immunity works only if the party accepts the mandate of the people and come to sit in this house," he said.

Meles also announced a major reshuffle of his cabinet, increasing the number of posts from 18 to 20.

Senior ministers who lost their positions included education minister Genet Zewdie, health minister Kebede Tadesse and information minister Bereket Simon.

The standoff over the disputed polls has also left the capital city, Addis Ababa, - home to four million people and the headquarters of the African Union - without an administration.

The CUD has refused to take up their seats on the council and parliament voted for a transitional former city government - voted out in May's election - to continue running affairs.

Opposition parties won just 12 seats during the last elections in 2000, but now hold 176 seats, constituting 32 percent of the parliament.

[ENDS]