Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the country’s national elections can only be postponed up on the will all stakeholders mainly the general public.
Briefing journalists on current issues on Thursday, Abiy reiterated his government’s commitment for the election to take place as slated.
Some are suggesting that the election should take place on schedule and others are saying it should be postponed, he said.
But, it is the interest of the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) for the election to take place as slated. EPRDF is preparing well for it, he said.
However, it will be decided after consultations are held with all competing political parties and the public, he added.
The Prime Minister also rejected claims of backtracking in the protection of human rights. “There is no evidence for that.”
The Prime Minister said the government would scale up its efforts of ensuring rule of law. Individuals and groups engaged in illegal attempts to seize power and terrorize society will be held accountable.
Commenting on claims that the government has used the June 22 incidents to silence voices, he said a government that unblocked websites and mass media and released prisoners has no interest to silence voices.
We should denounce any coup attempt as the current Ethiopia has no room for it, the Prime Minister said.
The Government had received over 1,200 tips and found a training manual used to recruit and train people drawn from various offices in connection with the incident.
A total of 350 people were detained initially and more than 120 of them have been released so far, according to the Prime Minister.
He said the suspect arrested in connection with the killing in Addis Ababa was currently undergoing medical treatment for injuries he sustained around his neck.
As far Ethio-Eritrea relation is concerned, he said, Ethiopia has established good relation with Eritrea better than the relations it had with other neighboring countries.
The Prime Minister indicated that the Government and people of Eritrea want to build close relations with the Government and people of Ethiopia.
But regularizing the relation between the two countries requires more time, he said, further underscoring the need to be patient until it is regularized.
MG/abj/APA