Addis Ababa: Ethiopia has put in place a National Dialogue Commission and Transitional Justice Policy that would allow the country to rectify its historical shortfalls, the National Security Council said in a statement it issued today.
The National Security Council issued a statement on the current national security of the county.
The statement said the challenges that Ethiopia is facing cannot be resolved only through corrective measures but it requires efforts to heal wounds which the country inherited from history.
We have therefore put in place three pathways that would enable us to rectify our historical shortfalls through resolving past political challenges through inclusive national dialogue, implementation of transitional justice and upholding peaceful political avenues, the statement underscored.
Peaceful political transition is not an end by itself but a means to ensure other overarching political goals, the council noted.
Pursuant to the objective reality in Ethiopia, a government that assumes political power by winning elections should not just make decisions on overarching political issues, it said, adding there are other significant and important issues that require inclusive engagement with all stakeholders.
Stating the commissioners of the National Dialogue, who were appointed to serve in the institution, are of high caliber and rich experience, the statement indicated the law has empowered them with extensive power to conduct their duties of coordinating and conducting an inclusive national dialogue.
The commissioners have now charted out extensive outlines on how the inclusive dialogue should be conducted by consulting with pertinent stakeholders, the council added.
The process of identifying candidates, who would participate in the national dialogue, has been conducted in 10 regional states and two city administrations where some 12,294 participants have been identified from 679 districts, it said.
According to the statement, the commission is expected to commence dialogue on regional levels within few weeks.
The implementation of transitional justice which incorporated international best practices, has also been a viable strategy to break the dichotomy between the transgressors and the victims in Ethiopia, it said
The council further noted that over the past several historical incidents, various transgressions, heinous activities and violation of basic human rights have been conducted in the country.
‘Those who have hitherto assumed political power condemns and punishes others by shifting the blame on others it considered as transgressors. Such approach will never promote the prevalence of justice. It would only produce regrets, and escalation of revenge. This is the major reason why a vicious circle of the desire for vengeance, revenge and unforgiving have prevailed in the country’ the statement elaborated.
The Pretoria Peace Agreement signifies a mature and resolute decision to prevent future generations from inheriting a legacy of winners and losers characterized by animosity, the National Security Council said.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
