CUD May Not Be Behind The Initial Protests
An intelligent and reasonable friend who just got back from Ethiopia gave me some insight into what has happened in Addis during the past week. I inquired about who was behind the initial AAU students protests and this was her response
It was most likely not CUD who instigated the students to rise. The students felt that they had to hold protests early because they thought that once they left Addis after their finals, it would be difficult to speak with a united voice. According to her, leaflets were dispersed [by the students] expressing the intention to hold a peaceful protest. CUD officials who learned these developments were urging the students to show restraint via the Voice of America (VOA), Deutsche Welle (DW), and, the private news papers. Apparently those were the only media outlets that the opposition had the opportunity to voice its views and communicate its messages. That explains why journalists from those news services were stripped of their license to work in Ethiopia. According to my friend, many people felt that the students gave EPRDF the excuse to justify its crackdown on the opposition and those who regarded the early election results with suspicion.
According to the latest reports, an MP-elect (UEDF) from Arusi Negele has been fatally shot by the police. I read that the constitution requires another election to be held if an mp dies before taking office (not verified). Five dormitories at Gondar university were set ablaze earlier Ethiopians are still in a tense mood
I will come back with more updates after I speak to other friends who just got back from Ethiopia.
