(Addis Voice) The European Union Election Observation Mission to Ethiopia deployed over 160 experienced observers during the disputed May 2010 national elections. The mission headed by Thijs Berman, a Dutch Member of the European Parliament, released its preliminary report on May 25th based on its observations and evidence it collected on the ground.

The preliminary report was not as harsh as one could expect given the fact that the TPLF has deliberately stifled basic liberties, it never allowed citizens to exercise their freedom of expression, jammed radio broadcasts including VOA and Deutsche Welle, closed down newspapers, introduced restrictive laws aimed at crippling civil society organisations, pressurized electorates by forcing them to sign documents committing them to elect ruling party candidates a few days before the election at the expense of their right to choose candidates without fear and used state resources at its disposal to the incumbent’s advantage.

The preliminary report acknowledged the peaceful conduct of the election but underlined the fact that it was marred by narrowing political space and lack of level playing field. Despite the fact that elections under dictatorships are known to be conducted to create a semblance of legitimacy, Zenawi was very furious over the failure of the EU observers to meekly endorse his farcical election drama as “free, fair and democratic.” In the absence of any independent group to endorse his tyrannical elections, as usual, it was no one but himself who called the international community and opposition parties to accept the results of the “free, fair and democratic” elections.

In his latest press conference, Zenawi even went as far as disparaging and discrediting the final report before it is released. In violation of the memorandum of understanding signed between the regime and the EU, Meles declared that the final report is not worth waiting for.

“I don’t know even if the European report is late or not.  I’ve not really been interested in the report.  We have seen a glimmer of what it might look like, and what we have seen is bad enough, and so we are not interested any more in the full package as it were,” he told reporters.

According to well informed, sources Meles has been making every effort to undermine the credibility of the final report, an effort that has displeased the EU, which has been providing aid to prop up the regime despite its tyrannical and brutally repressive records.

Addis Voice tried to interview the Chief Observer, Thijs Berman. But we were told that he is busy with other commitments and making preparations to issue the final report. In an email response to our request for an interview,  Agnes Doka, Press Officer for the European Union Election Observation Mission to Ethiopia, said: “Mr. Berman is busy with his other responsibilities, and he cannot give an interview. However, we are preparing the launch of the final report in Addis Ababa, date yet to be confirmed.”

According to Zenawi, what we have witnessed in Ethiopia is just the emergence of a dominant party system like the case in Japan, Botswana and Sweden. Though it is hard to address deliberate ignorance, none of the countries mentioned are similar to Burma, whose democracy is more similar to Zenawi’s. The Burmese military is also organizing a national election scheduled to be held in November. The result will be nothing short of 99 percent in favour of the military rulers who will soon come of their highly fortified palace and unashamedly tell the world, standing in a bullet proof glass box, that the elections are “free, fair and democratic.”

Thus far there is no explanation why EU EOM’s final report has been delayed. But it seems evident that Zenawi never wants to hear the details of his own tyrannical drama which has caused embarrassment not only to himself and his followers but also to those who are throwing him some alms from abroad. While Meles has continued his boring lectures on democracy, it seems all his two-decade long efforts to get a democratic credential for his criminal tyranny will end without any success as the EU does not seem to be willing to cooperate with him to issue a certificate that he so desperately wanted to hang on the wall.

That must  be very sad for Mr. Zenawi!