Yohannes Tessema, a member of the Boro Democratic Party, has been arrested by regional security while attempting to address controversial legislative changes in the Benishangul Gumuz region. The BDP claims these changes are unconstitutional and fail to respect population considerations outlined by Ethiopia’s Constitution. The ruling Prosperity Party has yet to comment on the arrest or allegations against them by the BDP.
Yohannes Tessema, a member of the Benishangul Gumuz regional parliament and an executive member of the Boro Democratic Party (BDP), has been reportedly detained by regional security forces. This arrest follows growing discontent regarding recent legislative changes in the region. Yohannes was apprehended on March 9 as he prepared to travel to Addis Ababa to voice complaints at the House of Federation about these controversial alterations.
According to Mr. Haile Embiyale, a member of the Boro Democratic Party’s central committee, Yohannes is currently held at the district two police station in Assosa town but had not appeared in court by the writing of this article. His arrest appears to be directly linked to his opposition towards a motion in the regional parliament and plans to contest the legislative changes through the constitutional interpretation court and the House of Federation.
The legislative modifications at the heart of this controversy have raised significant concerns for members of the Boro Democratic Party. The regional council’s seats increased from 99 to 165, a decision the opposition party challenges as unconstitutional. In their detailed statement, the BDP criticized the legislation (202/2017) that was allegedly passed by a majority, arguing that it disregards necessary considerations outlined in Ethiopia’s Constitution regarding demographic representation.
Furthermore, the Boro Democratic Party claims that the regional council does not hold the jurisdiction to affect changes tied to general elections. They highlighted that constitutional amendment matters should be addressed by the National Dialogue Commission instead.
On the political front, the ruling Prosperity Party, which boasts more than 15 million members, currently oversees both federal and regional parliaments but has not released any statements regarding the arrest of Yohannes or the allegations made by the BDP. The regional government has accused the opposition party of aiming to create instability within the region, which has already been marred by severe security crises resulting in the tragic loss of numerous ethnic Amhara lives.
In summary, Yohannes Tessema’s arrest is a significant event reflecting the tensions surrounding recent legislative changes in the Benishangul Gumuz region. The Boro Democratic Party strongly contests the increased number of seats in the regional council, citing constitutional violations. This situation is compounded by political rivalries, with the ruling Prosperity Party remaining silent on the issue, amidst accusations of chaos intended by the opposition.
Original Source: borkena.com
