Human Rights and Democratic Rights Protection Debate

The party fights against the injustices and oppression faced by the Sidama people and advocates for equal rights, freedom of religion, and unity for all ethnic groups living in the region.

• Fights against injustices, oppression, and illegal systems imposed on the Sidama people.

  [19:51]

• Advocates for equal rights, freedom of religion, and the right to live together in unity for all ethnic groups in the region.

  [21:33]

The party prioritizes human and democratic rights, believing that development and survival depend on them. They advocate for an independent security apparatus that is free from political interference to protect both individual and group rights.

• Prioritizes the protection of human and democratic rights as a necessary foundation for development and survival.

  [23:28]

• Advocates for a security apparatus (police, military, intelligence) that is independent and free from political interference.

  [24:12]

The party follows moderate liberalism, prioritizing individual rights as the foundation for group rights. They believe that when individual dignity and freedoms are respected, group rights will naturally be protected.

• Follows moderate liberalism, prioritizing individual rights and freedoms.

  [25:58]

• Believes that group and ethnic rights are best protected when individual rights are secured first.

  [26:23]

The party promises to free courts from government interference and ensure that the police are subject to the law.

• Will ensure courts are free from government interference.

  [29:49]

• Will make police accountable and subject to the law.

  [29:56]

The party will ensure justice institutions operate on principles without government interference, and will establish independent monitoring teams from all sections of society to evaluate them.

• Will ensure justice institutions are independent and free from government interference.

  [31:13]

• Will establish independent monitoring and evaluation teams drawn from all sections of society to oversee justice institutions.

  [31:22]

The party plans to amend the constitution to establish an independent constitutional court, removing the power of constitutional interpretation from the politically affiliated House of Federation.

• Plans to amend the constitution to ensure the independence of the judiciary.

  [32:54]

• Will establish an independent constitutional court to interpret the constitution, replacing the House of Federation's role.

  [33:23]

The party will ensure equal rights, freedom of religion, and the right to work and own property for all citizens in the region, regardless of their ethnic background, based on laws drafted with public consultation.

• Will ensure equal rights to live, work, and own property for all citizens regardless of ethnicity.

  [35:13]

• Will implement these rights through laws drafted based on public consultation and the desires of the people.

  [35:52]

The party follows social democracy and democratic federalism, prioritizing individual rights as the basis for group rights. They support self-administration but oppose regions belonging exclusively to one group, advocating for free movement.

• Follows social democracy and democratic federalism.

  [37:31]

• Prioritizes individual rights as the foundation for group rights.

  [37:50]

• Opposes regions belonging exclusively to one group and advocates for the right to free movement.

  [38:31]

The party believes that securing individual rights naturally leads to the protection of group rights. They advocate for a system that ensures not just equal opportunity, but equal benefit and social security for all.

• Believes protecting individual rights is the prerequisite for protecting group rights.

  [39:09]

• Advocates for a system that ensures equal benefit and social security, not just equal opportunity.

  [39:53]

The party organized ethnically out of necessity to defend the Amhara people from targeted attacks by the TPLF. However, their core belief remains in individual rights, and they plan to transition into a pan-Ethiopian party after the election.

• Organized ethnically to defend the Amhara people from targeted attacks by the TPLF.

  [43:01]

• Plans to transition into a pan-Ethiopian political party after the 7th national election.

  [43:36]

The party accepts most of the constitution but wants to amend specific parts, such as Article 39 (the right to secession), which they believe threatens national unity. They emphasize the need to actually implement the human rights provisions already in the constitution.

• Wants to amend Article 39 (the right to secession) as it threatens national unity.

  [45:29]

• Will focus on implementing the human and democratic rights provisions already present in the constitution and international agreements.

  [46:16]

The party advocates for the rights of all ethnic groups in the Raya area to learn and be judged in their own languages. They support self-determination but oppose secession, and propose a controlled dual citizenship system.

• Advocates for the right of all ethnic groups in the Raya area to learn and be judged in their own languages.

  [48:49]

• Supports the right to self-determination but opposes secession (Article 39).

  [49:58]

• Proposes a controlled dual citizenship system to reduce brain drain.

  [50:12]

The party's ideology is built on the political process and the desires of the people, focusing on protecting people's rights and equality.

• Ideology is based on protecting the rights and equality of the people.

  [52:45]

The party follows a social democracy ideology and democratic federalism, positioning itself as center-left on the political spectrum.

• Follows a social democracy ideology.

  [53:18]

• Positions itself as center-left on the political spectrum.

  [54:03]

The party follows social democracy or moderate liberalism, prioritizing individual rights as the basis for group rights.

• Follows social democracy or moderate liberalism.

  [54:27]

The party will ensure that those who violate human rights are held accountable and brought before the law.

• Will ensure legal accountability for human rights violations.

  [56:21]

The party will establish a strong, independent justice and security structure to ensure the rule of law and bring armed groups and violators to justice.

• Will establish strong and independent justice and security structures.

  [56:47]

• Will ensure the rule of law and bring perpetrators of violence to justice.

  [57:08]

The party will enforce constitutional provisions that deny amnesty to those involved in human rights violations and genocide, and stop government involvement in such acts.

• Will enforce laws denying amnesty to perpetrators of human rights violations and genocide.

  [58:12]

• Will stop government involvement in human rights abuses.

  [58:49]

The party plans to prevent displacement by addressing issues early through local elders, religious leaders, and government institutions before they escalate.

• Will use local elders, religious leaders, and institutions to resolve conflicts early and prevent displacement.

  [59:58]

The party emphasizes creating common understanding around the constitution, using indigenous knowledge and elders, and promoting behavioral change to ensure people respect each other.

• Will use indigenous knowledge and elders to create common understanding and resolve issues.

  [1:01:25]

• Will promote behavioral change so citizens respect each other's humanity.

  [1:01:39]

The party believes displacement is rooted in the group-rights-based state philosophy. They will amend the constitution's preamble to remove the "oppressor-oppressed" narrative and focus on individual rights.

• Will amend the constitution's preamble to remove the "oppressor-oppressed" narrative.

  [1:02:52]

• Believes securing individual rights to live, work, and own property anywhere will stop displacement.

  [1:02:19]

The party will ensure freedom of speech, writing, peaceful assembly, and religion are implemented and monitored in consultation with the public.

• Will ensure the implementation of freedom of speech, writing, peaceful assembly, and religion.

  [1:04:41]

The party will focus on practically implementing the constitution, fostering mutual respect, and expanding industries and cities to solve economic problems and ensure peace.

• Will focus on the practical implementation of the constitution and fostering mutual respect.

  [1:05:19]

• Will expand industries and cities to solve economic problems and ensure peace.

  [1:06:10]

The party will amend the constitution, pressure the government to reform, work on raising public awareness, and strive to unite opposition parties into a strong national force.

• Will amend the constitution starting from its preamble.

  [1:06:34]

• Will work on raising public awareness to address the root causes of human rights crises.

  [1:06:46]

• Will strive to unite opposition parties and grow into a national party.

  [1:07:12]

The party criticizes the corridor development for lacking proper study and failing to prioritize citizens, leading to uncompensated evictions. They advocate for development based on economic studies and legal frameworks with proper compensation.

• Criticizes the corridor development for displacing citizens without proper preparation or compensation.

  [1:08:23]

• Advocates for future development to be based on proper studies, economic planning, and legal compensation.

  [1:09:19]

The party believes the project was poorly studied and ignored citizens' social structures. They suggest building apartments in the same areas to keep communities together instead of displacing them.

• Criticizes the project for destroying social structures and causing psychological distress.

  [1:10:24]

• Proposes building apartments in the same areas to resettle citizens without destroying their social fabric.

  [1:10:41]

The party supports corridor development in principle but condemns the current "revolutionary" and forceful implementation by the Prosperity Party. They claim they have been voicing their opposition.

• Supports corridor development in principle for urban growth.

  [1:11:10]

• Condemns the forceful, "revolutionary" manner of implementation by the current government.

  [1:11:26]

The party acknowledges that oppression affected all Ethiopians, but notes the constitution's narrative specifically targets Amharas as oppressors. They believe amending the constitution and focusing on individual rights will solve problems for all Ethiopians.

• Acknowledges that ethnic federalism and oppression affected all Ethiopian peoples.

  [1:14:45]

• Points out that the current constitutional narrative specifically targets Amharas as oppressors.

  [1:15:45]

• Believes amending the constitution to focus on individual rights will resolve issues for everyone.

  [1:14:19]

The party clarifies they are a national party and recognize that the TPLF oppressed people across Ethiopia, including Tigray and Oromia. They highlight the specific historical marginalization and displacement of the Raya people.

• Recognizes that the TPLF oppressed people across Ethiopia, including in Tigray and Oromia.

  [1:16:57]

• Highlights the specific historical marginalization, lack of development, and displacement faced by the Raya people.

  [1:17:28]

The name was chosen during their armed struggle phase against targeted attacks, but they have now transitioned to peaceful struggle and plan to change their name to a pan-Ethiopian one after the election. They also plan to amend the constitution to move away from ethnic federalism towards citizenship-based federalism, which would address regional naming issues.

• The name "Movement" stems from their origins as an armed group defending against targeted attacks.

  [1:19:50]

• Has transitioned to a peaceful struggle and plans to adopt a pan-Ethiopian name after the 7th election.

  [1:21:16]

• Plans to amend the constitution to shift from ethnic federalism to citizenship-based federalism.

  [1:22:17]

The party prioritizes post-war rehabilitation and reconstruction, coordinating support for victims. They have an inclusive policy for people with disabilities, focusing on psychological support, training, and accessible infrastructure.

• Will prioritize and coordinate post-war rehabilitation and reconstruction for conflict victims.

  [1:26:08]

• Will provide psychological support and training for people with disabilities.

  [1:27:46]

• Will ensure infrastructure and social services are inclusive and accessible for people with special needs.

  [1:28:03]