Opposition targeted

last updated 8 January 2015

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s parliament this week voted to lift the immunity of some 100 of their members who have been boycotting parliamentary sessions since the May election. The boycotters, all members of the opposition, say the parliament is illegitimate because the election was riddled with fraud. They say that a fair vote could have put their party in power, a claim that E.U. election monitors back up. With their immunity gone, the legislators can now be arrested and jailed, although it’s unclear what law they may have broken. “Today means the destruction of the democratic process,” said opposition leader Hailu Shewal. “It is the people against dictators.”