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Dear Members of Congress: We are writing to encourage you to co-sponsor HR5680, The Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy, And Human Rights Advancement Act, so that a vital document upon which the destinies of many Ethiopians depend can be passed without delay. Your participation in this legislative effort will make the liberation of imprisoned opposition leaders, members of the CUDP party, come closer. These people are being kept in inhuman conditions; many of them are advanced in years and experience severe health problems aggravated by torturous environment in the Ethiopian prison. They are starved, denied basic hygiene measures, and kept in captivity without proper legal procedures merely because they had the courage to protest fraudulent elections of May 2005 in peaceful actions.
CUDP leaders’ only crime is the belief in the possibility of true democracy in Ethiopia. It is this trust that brought them to the intimidating reality of Meles Zenawi’s prisons where they risk their health and lives every day. US Congressman Christopher Smith saw the truth of outrageous human rights violations with his own eyes when he visited our country, an event that motivated him toward a noble deed, introduction of HR5680, formerly HR4423, to protect human rights in Ethiopia, support democratic process and independence of judicial power, and reverse economic policies leading to oppression and poverty.
The implementation of HR5680 can make a striking difference to all freedom-loving people in Ethiopia and spearhead the release of political prisoners. Yet we want to warn you that a serious obstructionist campaign is under way, profusely sponsored with money received by Ethiopia as financial aid. The dictatorial regime led by Meles Zenawi agreed to pay DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, a Washington-based law firm, $50,000 a month for PR and legislative efforts that should convince US lawmakers that there is a democratic process ongoing in Ethiopia. The sum is truly outrageous when one considers that about half of the government’s funds comes from foreign aid, and that millions of Ethiopians live in such poverty that they are never sure when they will have their next meal or if they will ever send their children to school. The funds that could have helped quite a few are then spent on lobbying against the crucial human rights bill and setting up a surrogate opposition party to cheat US Congressmen into thinking that the opposition is granted democratic freedom in Ethiopia.
Dear Members of Congress: We want to inform you that the false CUDP represented by Lidetu Ayalew, Ayele Chamiso and Temsgen Zewde is just another unethical attempt to use CUDP brand to stop the passage of HR5680. So are the allegations that the bill will infringe on the strategic partnership between US and Ethiopia in containing Islamist threat in Somalia, while the bill in fact leaves this important aspect of cooperation intact.
What it does is to put pressure on the minority military regime to release prisoners of conscience and introduce democratic procedures that are destined to bring Ethiopia to prosperity and stability. Twenty-four of your colleagues have already co-sponsored the bill that helps improve human rights situation in a country where urgent changes are needed. We ask you to join in this movement for freedom. Your actions mean a lot to the real opposition leaders suffering in Ethiopian jails; they mean a lot to all pro-democracy Ethiopians; and they can make a difference to all citizens of the world supporting democratic values.
May God give us all the wisdom not to condone and support brutal dictatorship anywhere!!
MAY GOD BLESS ALL MANKIND!!!
DON’T LET THIS MOMENT PASS!!!
Respectfully & truly,
Deeply concerned Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopians around the world!! |
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