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The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society
Organisations has become the first to be recognised
by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE)
to observe the national elections on Tuesday, March
9, 2010.
The coalition has 10 member organisations, including
the Ethiopian Employers’ Federation (EEF), the
Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU),
Ethiopian Teachers’ Association, Ethiopian Women
Traders’ Association, Ethiopian Patriots’
Association, Ye Ethiopia Hidase Mahiber, Ethiopian
Youth Federation, Ethiopian Women’s Federation,
Ethiopian Tour Operators Association and the
Ethiopian Lawyers Association. It was formed on
January 2, 2010.
“There have been requests to the NEBE previously,”
Mohammed Abdurrahman, head of Public Relations at
the board, said. “But the coalition is the first to
fulfil the requirements of nationality, impartiality
and other requirements.”
The coalition, formed with the instigation of the
EEF and CETU, plans to deploy observers to over
40,000 polling stations, according to Tadele Yimer,
chairperson of the coalition and president of the
EEF.
The observers will come from each of the
organisations, which together boast over 400,000
members, according to Kassahun Folle, president of
CETU and vice chair of the coalition.
Observation reports will be made commonly through
the coalition. |
