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Dear Congressmen/women,
When asked to nominate the worst tyrant leaders in power that the world should be paying attention, Director of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth, nominated Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and further stated: ”Meles Zenawi was widely criticized for responding to accusations of fraud in May 2005 parliamentary elections by gunning down scores of demonstrators and putting prominent opposition politicians on trial for genocide and treason. But in smaller towns and villages throughout Ethiopia, his systemic repression escapes meaningful scrutiny. In the vast Oromia region, thousands of alleged government critics have been harassed, imprisoned, tortured and killed in the past decade. MILLIONS have been intimidated into silence.”” THE WASHINGTON POST, April 23, 2006.
We, the undersigned, petition you thereby to apply every effort to ensure the speedy passage into law of H.R. 4423, Ethiopian Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2006 on which you will participate a markup in just a few days. The importance of the bill for rescuing the innocent detainees in Ethiopian prisons cannot be emphasized enough, yet the bill was at one point withdrawn by Democratic Congressman Donald Payne for more discussion. We ask you therefore to allow no further delay in passing this vital document that can save lives and hope that in this country there are people who care for the Ethiopians, abused and neglected by their own government. You heard the witnesses’ testimony during the Congressional hearing on March 28th, 2006. The current Ethiopian government has a documented history of human rights abuses documented by the US Department of State. Of special interest are the Country Reports on Human rights Practices released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor on March 8, 2006, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls... ; documented by the EU-EOM 2005 report on elections in Ethiopia:
http://www.ethiopianreview.net...
; by Human Rights Watch, http://hrw.org/english/docs/20... ; by Amnesty International http://web.amnesty.org/library... ; and an excellent report on government atrocities in Ethiopia (Crime and Nourishment): http://www.ethiomedia.com/cour...
Another evidence of the antidemocratic and inhumanly policy of the Ethiopian government was found recently. This secret document (52 pages) outlines step-by-step policy that should lead to the suppression of Diaspora capabilities to influence the political situation in the country and contribute to democracy and freedom. By implementing this policy the regime is hoping to avoid the widespread of awareness about its crimes, corruption and violation of basic human rights. http://www.ethiomedia.com/care... Also, a reliable source, O'Dwyer Public Relations News, reported on June 8, 2006 that the Meles regime has hired a professional US lobbying firm, in Washington DC. The regime has agreed to pay 50,000 dollars/month to this largest lobbying and pubic relations firms. The firm has stated that the Ethiopian government's major U.S. concern is over the ˜ Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005" that was introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-HJ). It has also stated that the firm will report directly to Samuel Assefa, Ethiopia's U.S. ambassador: http://www.ethiomedia.com/care...
Dear Congressmen/women: why in the world would anyone with the right mind hire a professional lobbyist to kill a major milestone bill---a bill that is so essential to bring peace, freedom and human rights to mankind? Dear Congressmen/women: how on earth Ethiopia, one of the poorest nations in the world (where most people are not sure of their next meals) could afford to pay this much money (50,000 dollars/month) to a professional US lobbying firm??
We, therefore, ask each member of the Committee going to this mark-up meeting to look into their hearts and for one brief moment place themselves in the position of the political detainees in Ethiopia who have no one else they could beg for protection. We ask you to imagine the sufferings of such a great number of people, staying in prison on false claims and in terrible conditions, starving and risking AIDS infection on a daily basis. The lives of thousands of people depend on the bill you are about to discuss, and we hope that this day can mark a decisive victory in the struggle for democracy and freedom in Ethiopia. Dear Congressmen/women: we urge all of you, as Democratic leaders of the world to show your full support and pass this bill immediately into law, without making controversial amendments on unrelated issues and other obstructionist tactics that could keep it from passing. There is no such a thing as alternative democracy. Therefore, please support the original bill introduced by Congressman Christopher Smith, HR4423, Ethiopian, Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2006.
America didn’t tolerate crimes committed by Sadam Hussein, so it should not tolerate and ignore the sad reality documented in US official documents confronting the nation that has just as much right to enjoy a democracy as Iraq and as any other country on earth. HR4423, Ethiopian, Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2006, is a great milestone on the way toward democracy in our nation. This victory can be reversed or secured by your vote, may God help you to pass this bill right away and avoid confrontation by another helpless family who has to go through the regime’ s heartless murder and crime and have them say “ Why didn’t you do anything??””
May God give us all the wisdom not to condone and support criminals anywhere!! May God give us all the wisdom to do the right thing at the right time in the right way.
MAY GOD BLESS ALL MANKIND!!
Respectfully & truly,
Concerned Citizens and friends of Ethiopia around the globe!!! |
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