Mircha '97 - Ethiopian National Election of 2005 - was a watershed event in modern Ethiopian political history. In the run-up to Election Day on May 15, 2005, the level of interest displayed by the voters were unprecedented, and the atmosphere in the nation was the most hopeful in at least a quarter century. On Election Day, the turnout of millions of voters who stood in line for many hours to cast their ballot was historic and noted by media worldwide.
However, events took turn for the worse immediately following Election Day, when the ruling party EPRDF claimed victory before ballot counting was completed. As opposition parties objected this move, tension grew by the day, till June 8 when security forces fired live ammunition on protesters and more than 40 people lost their lives.
As we approach another round of National Election on May 23, 2010, I found it appropriate to reflect back to events surrounding Mircha '97. What lesson did we learn individually and collectively? What is the legacy of Mircha '97? And how should it influence the voters in 2010?
As hard as it may seem, Mircha '97 is now a distant memory to most of us. A quick search on the internet reveals how few audio and video files are available telling a coherent story of Mircha '97. Hence, this effort to put together an audio document to fill some of that gap.
"THOSE WHO DO NOT LEARN FROM THE PAST
ARE CONDEMENED TO REPEAT IT"
Abiy Zewde
roocha2@gmail.com
DEDICATED TO:
-Hundreds of Ethiopians who were gunned down in broad daylight on June 7-8 and November 1-3, 2005
-26 millions Ethiopians who stood in line for many hours to cast their ballot
-VOA Amharic and other print, radio, and online media journalists in Ethiopia and America who reported the story
-Mesfin, Yared, and Feleke who have paid much too much for the betterment of Ethiopia
