Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Greetings of peace and blessing for all of you from Africa. Here is a good news about the peace work of Interfaith PeaceBuilding Initiative (IPI), a URI CC in Ethiopia. This is one good example what URI CCs are doing in different part of the world.

 The Ethiopian government granted full pardon to Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) leaders (opposition political party leaders) and members with the tireless effort of Ethiopian Elders who have exerted their utmost effort to resolve the conflict at the verge of the Ethiopian millennium. CUD leaders and members were imprisoned in connection with the chaos occurred in the wake of the 2005 National Election convicted of getting rid of the constitutionally established government by force and were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The IPI CC played  major role in the reconciliation process from the start along with the rest, represented by Mussie Hailu who serves in the coalition of Elders of Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi aproved the Party leaders' and members' request for pardon, admitting their attempt to change constitutionally organized institution,  after it was thoroughly reviewed  by the Ethiopian Board of Pardon. He also confirmed that the pardon granted would enable CUD leaders and members to pursue their political endeavours individually or as a group. The Prime Minister, the President, different religions leaders, the released prisoners and the people of Ethiopia highly appreciated the great peace work of the elders.

Coalition Elders of Ethiopia, who exerted their tireless effort to resolve the disagreement, also expressed their deep delight over the pardon granted to CUD leaders and members. They promised to continue exerting similar efforts to enable those remaining in jail since the 2005 election and called on Ethiopians at home and abroad to contribute their share in strengthening the spirit of pardon and creating a strong and prosperous Ethiopia where its citizens live in peace and harmony in the new millennium. The Traditional Elders worked to resolve the problem with a neutral spirit free from any political  affiliation. They started the peace negotiation on their own initiative and have continued promoting the sense of creating a culture of peace and reconciliation in the country for the last 18 months.

Religious leaders expressed their joy over the pardon given to CUD leaders and members that were effective as on July 20, 2007. They said it would have significant contribution towards national security, stability and development.  In the letter of felicitation jointly issued by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, Ethiopian Catholic Church, and Ethiopian Evangelical Mekane Eyesus Church, his Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC) and president of the World Council of Churches, expressed gratitude to the governance for the wise measure it took showing consideration to the efforts of local elders.

IPI also sent official press releases to different medias in the country exerting its delight and gratitude for those who asked the pardon as well as the government who gave it for the common good of all. It is in IPI hopes that this start will pave a way for bringing a new chapter of Peace, Harmony, Reconciliation & Democracy to the country in the upcoming millennium of Ethiopia.

May Peace Prevail on Earth.