Amhara, Oromo MPs disapprove emergency law

ESAT News (October 20, 2016)

The state of emergency declared in Ethiopia a week ago by the executive branch of the regime has faced stern opposition on Thursday from representatives of the Amhara and Oromo regions of the country.

In a rare move by members of the otherwise rubber stamp parliament, the 137 representatives of the Amhara region in the 547 seat legislature voiced their opposition to the marshal law saying it was repressive and undemocratic and that they would not want the law to take effect in their constituency.

Similarly, Oromo members of the parliament have also voiced their opposition to the repressive law.

Representatives of the two ethnic groups reportedly told the parliament that they would not subjugate their people to the repressive law that curtails the human and political as well as God given rights of their constituent.

The executive branch, which is dominated by the Tigrayan clique running the country, had passed the emergency law last week. But the law, that was tabled to the parliament on Thursday, run into stiff opposition from the Amhara and Oromo representatives. The two majority ethnic groups have for the last one year been protesting against the Tigrayan domination in the politics, business and all aspects of the lives of the people.

The MPs, who disapproved the emergency law, have reportedly been harassed by regime’s security and intelligence in an attempt to change their position.