June 17, 2005: Headlines: COS - Ethiopia: State Department: RPCV Chris Albin-Lackey was positive in his assessment of recent elections in Ethiopia: "I agree the elections were an incredible achievement" for Ethiopia.

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Ethiopia: Peace Corps Ethiopia : The Peace Corps in Ethiopia: June 17, 2005: Headlines: COS - Ethiopia: State Department: RPCV Chris Albin-Lackey was positive in his assessment of recent elections in Ethiopia: "I agree the elections were an incredible achievement" for Ethiopia.

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-245-37.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.245.37) on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 3:13 pm: Edit Post

RPCV Chris Albin-Lackey was positive in his assessment of recent elections in Ethiopia: "I agree the elections were an incredible achievement" for Ethiopia.

RPCV Chris Albin-Lackey was positive in his assessment of recent elections in Ethiopia: I agree the elections were an incredible achievement for Ethiopia.

RPCV Chris Albin-Lackey was positive in his assessment of recent elections in Ethiopia: "I agree the elections were an incredible achievement" for Ethiopia.

Africa Panel Finds Ethiopia's Elections Extraordinarily Open

But condemns tampering, post-election violence, use of force by government

By Jim Fisher-Thompson
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington – A panel of African experts meeting June 15 displayed striking unanimity in its assessment of Ethiopia's recent parliamentary elections as having been extraordinarily open and free of violence. However, panel members expressed concern over the charges of tampering and condemned the post-election violence.

The way forward, they agreed, must include greater restraint by the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and opposition leaders to prevent another outbreak of the kind of disturbances that led to numerous deaths.

Jane Gaffney, State Department director for East Africa, told a meeting on "Ethiopia's Elections and the Aftermath," sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, that the May 15 national elections were "very impressive," in part, because of the absence of violence; an all too common occurrence in some emerging nations.

Joining her on the CSIS panel were: Professor Terrance Lyons, an Ethiopia expert with the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, Ethiopian Ambassador Kassahun Ayele, and Chris Albin-Lackey, an Africa program officer with Human Rights Watch.

[Excerpt]

Human Rights Watch's Albin-Lackey was also positive in his assessment: "I agree the elections were an incredible achievement" for Ethiopia. However, he said he was disturbed at the number of opposition members who had been arrested and detained since the elections. "I know people in Addis Ababa who have disappeared in the last week," he said.

But he acknowledged the opposition had been provoking the government. "CUD's rhetoric has been inflammatory over the past few weeks," he stated.

The former Peace Corps volunteer also said he was concerned the Meles government had put down demonstrations "by an excessive amount of force." At the same time, he commended the judicial system. One hears over and over again about judges releasing people from detention and most Ethiopians believe the courts are "a bright spot" in an otherwise politically oppressive system, he said, recommending donors should provide more aid for the judiciary.




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June 12, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: June 12 2005 No: 644 June 12, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
US should take a stand for freedom in Uzbekistan
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June 12, 2005:  Special Events Date: June 12 2005 No: 642 June 12, 2005: Special Events
Vote in the NPCA Election for new board before June 15
"American Taboo" author Phil Weiss in Maryland on June 18
"Rainforests and Refugees" showing in Portland, Maine until June 25
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RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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June 6: PC suspends Uzbekistan program Date: June 7 2005 No: 640 June 6: PC suspends Uzbekistan program
Peace Corps has announced that it is suspending the Uzbekistan program after the visas of 52 Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were not renewed. The suspension comes after a State Department warning that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in Uzbekistan and after the killings in Andizhan earlier in May. Background: PCOL published a report on April 23 that Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were having visa difficulties and reported on safety and visa issues in Uzbekistan as they developed.

Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000  strong Date: April 2 2005 No: 543 Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong
170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.


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Story Source: State Department

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Ethiopia

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