Ethiopia emergency law ratification 'disappointing and irresponsible'

‘Disappointing and irresponsible,’ are the two words global rights group Amnesty International chose to describe the parliamentary ratification of Ethiopia’s February 16 state of emergency (SOE).

According to Salil Shetty, the group’s Secretary General, the regime had failed to recognise that there was the need to promote civic freedoms rather than restrict them in the current climate.

“Heightened tensions and protests in the country underline the need to reinforce civic freedoms, not restrict them,” he said in a tweet issued after the House of Peoples Representatives ratified the measure.

Shetty had in an earlier open letter to lawmakers, entreated them to put human rights at the heart of their debate and vote. The letter said they should vote against the SOE or ensure a series of changes were made to what the Command Post had issued as directives.

Ethiopia MPs must make human rights central to state or emergency debate: Amnesty https://t.co/ybw6HfSqZR

— africanews (@africanews) March 2, 2018

The state broadcaster, EBC, initially said the vote was successful as it was passed by two-thirds of the house. The numbers indicated that 346 voted in favour as against the 88 opponents and 7 abstentions.

The figures have since been amended to reflect a much higher number of MPs voting in favour of the measure. There has subsequently been a back and forth about the figures – with activists claiming it fell short of the needed votes.

Parliamentarians were summoned earlier this week to debate the state of emergency and ratify it as by law required.

Defense Minister Siraj Fegassa announced the measure on February 16, with the reason that government wanted to curb spreading violence in the wake of mass prisoner release which formed part of promised political reforms.