MESSAGE TO CONTESTING PARTIES AT THE 4^th NATIONAL ELECTION

 

‘I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it  - not for sordid gain but eagerly.’ (1 Pt. 5:1-2)

Introduction

First of all I would like to express my heartfelt joy in the name of the Ethiopian Catholic Church for having this opportunity to offer my reflection on the forth coming election of May 23, 2010. It is the utmost desire of the Ethiopian people for ‘freedom from misery, the greater assurance of

finding subsistence, health and fixed employment; an increased share of responsibility without oppression of any kind and in security from situations that do violence to their dignity as men; better education—in brief, to seek to do more, know more and have more in order to be more’ (The Development of Peoples 6). ‘All citizens, therefore, should be mindful of the right and also the duty to use their free vote to further the common good. The Church praises and esteems the work of those who for the good of men devote themselves to the service of the state and take on the burdens of this office.’ (The Church in the Modern World 75).

1.         Resolving differences through dialogue.  We strongly believe in the importance of being engaged in continual dialogue among the contesting parties to narrow down gaps of electoral differences.

2.         Avoiding the use of violence. At voting time and in post voting period both electors and police force, knowing human dignity is greater than differences in personal views, should avoid the use of force and instigate unrest. Valuing the cost of peace is our natural obligation.

3.         Not repeating the past mistakes. Looking back at the reality of our country, during the past many years’ people in this country have entertained so many destructive and life-costing conflicts and wars. We, who passed through the history and reality of those events, do not wish to see same events happen again in the history of our children. Let all unnecessarily unrest instigating and life-costing solutions stop on us. Let us have a matured, civilized and God-fearing way of thinking and resolutions as the best measure taking approach.  

4.         Responsibility for voting.  We are preparing to vote for party/parties that would lead us for the next five years. In reality, the voting procedure is essential and inescapable issue for a country. Therefore, all citizens within the age range of voting are legitimate national benefit recipients, and thus should realize that to vote is their legitimate citizenship right and responsibility. When we exercise this right, it is the initial stage of participation in progress of this country.  One has to vote for a party following the dictate of his own conscience rather than being dictated by any other external pressure.     

5. Precautions against post election events. The election experience of many countries reminds us that popular unrest occurs not at the time of preparation for the election rather at the process of election and post election period. We too have observed similar events at our few past election periods. To come to a peaceful ends it is obvious to engage the participation of many (government, contenders and voters). For whatever the outcome would be, we would like to stress that it would be totally unfair to instigate unrest by pointing at others or creating grounds for such acts. When we say so we do not mean that there will not be good reasons to complain on the outcome of results. Though it may happen, we strongly believe in possibilities for a peaceful dialogue to take place to sort out disputing issues. Opting for peace-threatening and life-endangering procedure would stand against the law of nature. On this issue I implore in the name of God, each and every Ethiopian and concerned parties to contribute their part for a peaceful election process that would lead to a successful outcome. Meanwhile, I would remind all the faithful to be vigilant in prayer for a peaceful election. May God bless Ethiopia.

 

Prayer

Lord, make an instrument of your peace

Where there is hatred love

Where there is injury pardon

Where there is discord unity

Where there is doubt faith

Where there is mistake forgiveness

Where there is despair hope

Where there is sadness joy

Where there is darkness light. AMEN!