127. Among the concrete issues said to be fuelling these concerns is the slow pace of addressing the question of the former officials of the Derg who remain in prison. Similarly, opposition party members who protested and questioned the process and outcomes of the 1995 elections remain in detention. Individuals who discussed these questions with the CRM are fully aware that with respect to the former officials of the Derg, there are complex issues of crimes against humanity and charges of such magnitude do require time to be properly sorted out. Yet, the fact that the processes concerning them are moving at such a slow pace seems to be detracting from the otherwise strong, widespread, and welcomed perception of democratic change ushered in by the EPRDF. The continuing detention of some opposition members long after the 2005 elections is of major concern. 128. To a much lesser extent, some opposition party leaders refer to the ruling party rhetoric in political discourse as a source of concern. They stress that there is an unhelpful stridency and repugnant labelling by the ruling party and the government of those who disagree with its policies and practices. Categories of “revolutionary democrats,” “reactionary democrats,” and “opportunist democrats”, have been coined by the ruling party and government to distinguish members of the government from the rest of the political class, and to deride and berate the latter. The same categories are assigned to members of the mass media such that those amongst them who support the government are referred to as the “revolutionary media” whilst others are caricatured as reactionary and opportunistic. In a fragile, emerging democratic culture, respect for the opposition is crucial. A ruling party that does not respect the opposition helps to sow seeds of disunity and distrust and will not only dread the day it is likely to become the opposition but, more importantly, will tend to employ every measure to ensure that day never comes. Thus, the possibility of democratic alternation which democracy promises and which keeps the opposition loyal is seriously undermined. 129. Internally Displaced Persons: On the whole, regional states are left to face the challenge of the proper settlement of internally displaced persons. In several regional states, the CRM was told that they are hard pressed to carry this burden without more substantial federal government involvement. The CRM is of the view that federal government needs to increase its involvement with regional states in the humanitarian care of IDPs. Inter-regional state cooperation mechanisms for conflict prevention, management, and transformation, as well as for humanitarian care of IDPs, should be strengthened where they exist, and established where they do not. 130. Refugees: As stated above, the CRM was informed about the situation of Eritrean refugees. The presence of ex-soldiers amongst them potentially poses a problem in the regional state of Tigrai. Deportees who are Ethiopian citizens are also among this group. This situation needs to be addressed more fully by the federal government. It could become a potential security threat. Moreover, it imposes a major resource burden on the regional state. - 78 -