Blue Party postpones rally again

Yidnekachew Kebede, the Legal and Demonstration Section Coordinator of the Semayawi (Blue) Party told ESAT that the Party has been forced by the government to again postpone its opposition rally. The government argued that the date (September 07, 2013) was the eve of the Ethiopian New Year and was a busy business week, so it should be transferred to September 22, 2013. The Party chose September 22 because the Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) Party has also called another demonstration on September 15m 2013. On a related report, the consortium of the 33 parties has stated that it decided to support and join the rally called by UDJ on September 15. The first round of UDJ’s three month Popular Movement will be completed on rally in Addis Abeba on the same date. UDJ said, although the rallies of the past three months cost the Party a lot, they were successful. The Party is also attempting to get the permit to conduct its rally campaign in Adama from the Woreda officials. UDJ’s rally promoters have been detained and released in Adama yesterday.