Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) has introduced S.3757, the Support for Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia Act of 2010 (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s3757/text). The legislation includes statements putting the U.S. Senate on the record as opposing the Ethiopian government's suppression of human rights and democracy... It is very important that all Ethiopians in America contact their Senators to ask them to co-sponsor this legislation, and their Representatives to ask them to introduce similar legislation in the House...
Great news for all Ethiopians and Ethiopian-Americans! Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) has introduced legislation, S. 3557 entitled “Support for Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia Act of 2010”. In this new piece of legislation, which has been cosponsored by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Feingold summarizes the ongoing crises in Ethiopia. He goes on to focus on the deplorable state of Human Rights in the country. Please find below the actual text of the bill. It speaks directly to the great issues that we face. We must organize ...
The window for introducing legislation that would mandate changes in U.S.-Ethiopia relations has closed for the current session of Congress, so the Washington focus must be on the Obama administration. We have recently met with State Department officials. The U.S. government continues to say all of the right things, expressing dismay over the suppression of democracy and over human rights abuses in Ethiopia, but there is little sign of concrete action. The State Department Ethiopia strategy seems to be focused on maintaining dialogue with the Meles regime and with the opposition, and if possible, exerting pressure behind the scenes on the regime.
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health held a hearing on the Horn of Africa on June 17 that included some excellent testimony. Leslie Lefkow, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, presented an accurate overview of the situation in Ethiopia (the testimony is available at http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/111/lef061710.pdf ). She reported that the "2010 elections were simply a milestone in a broader effort by the EPRDF to consolidate control," and expressed Human Rights Watch's view "the repression we have documented in the lead-up to 2010, particularly the assault on civil society and independent voices, is a trend that will continue, and worsen, and is one that should deeply concern Ethiopia’s friends and partners."
The reaction in Washington to the May 23 Ethiopian elections has been swift and clear: the White House, State Department, Congress and non-governmental groups all condemned the Meles regime for stealing the election and making a mockery of the democratic process. Some of the most relevant observations about the elections are posted below, with links to the complete documents. President Obama's National Security Council issued a statement on May 25 which noted that "international observers found that the elections fell short of international commitments."
The news of the expected result of a rigged ‘election’ in Ethiopia has been circulated now for some days. Subsequently the leaders of the world have spoken out forcefully about this massive fraud. The regime thinks that it has pulled off a communist style one party regime that overawes all opposition. The EPRDF is a mouthpiece for the real rulers of Ethiopia and seeks total domination of the country. The people wanted free and fair elections. Millions of Ethiopians expressed themselves in support of that goal. Now their aspirations have been crushed by a dictator’s hand. The regime will now continue its misrule after it paints itself as somehow legitimized by this phony process.
Letter of Congress Representatives, the Honorable Christopher Smith, Frank Wolf, Trent Franks, Bob Inglis, James P. Moran, Ed Royce, and Dana Rohrabacher to Assistant Secretary of the US State Dept. Bureau of African Affairs, Ambassador Johnnie Carson. The letter expresses their serious concern in regard to Ethiopian election 2010 and the Department of State’s Human Rights Report on Ethiopian government conduct also stating the tragic expereince of Ethiopia's 2005 election. Click for Letter
The Ethiopian ‘elections’ are close now. The All Ethiopia Unity Party (AEUP) is struggling to modernize Ethiopia. The regime is doing its best to manipulate the electoral process. Not the least factor of which has calculated its foreign policies to enhance its own image for Ethiopians to the disadvantage of all Ethiopians. The AEUP and its president, Hailu Shawel, have advocated a foreign policy to bring the advantages of peaceful negotiations through diplomatic channels.
Dear Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia, Representatives Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Frank Wolf (R-Virg.) have written a strong letter to the U.S. State Department urging the Obama administration to support democracy in Ethiopia. The letter notes the upcoming May 23 elections, the Ethiopian government's suppression of democracy and human rights, and calls on the U.S. government to let the Ethiopian regime know that the U.S. and the world are watching its actions.
The All Ethiopia Unity Party, (AEUP), is campaigning all over the country. Most of the rest of the opposition to the ruling regime is composed of regional or ethnic parties more concerned with their areas and their constituents than with Ethiopia as an national entity. The President of the AEUP, Hailu Shawel and his team are speaking out for change in Ethiopia in every part of the country.
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