No subject

discharge its responsibilities in building confidence
and creating the sprit of decency by teaching the
public to fend off hearsays and rumors, while on
issues relating to legal affairs the concerned
government bodies would follow the developments.  He
advised the opposition to however abandon inciting
turmoil since it is not in the interest of the public.

Responding to the taxation during the past years,
Meles said tax is lower in Ethiopia as compared to
most Sub-Saharan countries.  He however said tax
officials at all levels were levying unreasonable rate
and indulged in bribery and similar practices which
obviously infuriated the tax payers.

He also said late implementation of the civil service
reform programme and unsatisfactory nature of tax
reforms made to cultivate the culture of tax payment
were some of the major problems observed.

Asked on the backlash of labeling opposition parties
as Inter Hamwe group during election campaigns as
being one of the reasons for the defeat of EPRDF in
Addis, meles defended his position saying that the
opposition parties were in fact promoting Inter
Hamwe’s attitude, but said the failure was in getting
the message across to the public and the EPRDF’s
failure to address the deep-rooted problems in the
city.

He also said the measure taken on the banning of
demonstrations was useful and banning of
demonstrations was useful and a normal practice that
has been acclaimed by foreign observers, adding that
such move would by no means contravene the
constitution of the country.

Meles said the putting of the security forces in Addis
under high alert and one command would help in
ensuring peace in the city, while sending the message
that the government is impatient to violence
instigators. 


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Pol.ethiopia
May 26,2005
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