Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Ethiopian Americans are disappointed by President Obama's Speech to the African Union extending trading partnerships "...I want Africans and Americans doing more business together in more sectors, in more countries. So we’re increasing trade missions to places like Tanzania, Ethiopia Mozambique. ...".
These are the facts:
I. Tanzania and Mozambique (mentioned in the speech) and Kenya (visited by the President) are Threshold Compact Agreement parties with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC - an American Agency). They have submitted their leadership to minimum thresholds and periodic monitoring therefore challenging themselves towards better leadership, human rights, women's rights, property rights etc.
II. The Ethiopian Government is not an MCC Threshold Compact Partner nor has it compensated Ethiopian/Americans whose assets have been confiscated.
Our questions
1. Why does the Ethiopian Government deserve an American partnership similar to those we have with Tanzania, Mozambique and Kenya.
2. Does the President believe a "watered-down" version of property rights and democratic governance is "good enough" for Ethiopia?
Our demands
As a life-long Democrat and an Ethiopian/American, I started this petition to encourage the Democratic Party Leadership to hold the Ethiopian Government to the same standards the United States has for other MCC Threshold Compact Partners. The Ethiopian Government continues to hold and in fact has sold assets of Americans while encouraging new American investment establishing a double standard and a nepotistic investment environment. The Ethiopian/American community is intelligent, informed, educated and closely follows the economic and political realities in Ethiopia. We are engaged American voters that have legitimate grievances that must be addressed before any aid or trade overtures are made towards the current Ethiopian Government.
Please sign our petition here and on change.org
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4 Comments
The Ethiopian Government has not corrected the injustice that Derge committed by confiscating the property of hardworking individuals who have built and given all of their time for Ethiopia. In fact it continues to hold these properties, willfully denying, or delaying the return of any such properties to the rightful owners, hoping that time will silence them. Justice delayed, is justice denied. A government such as the US where law and order reign, it gives the wrong signal to Ethiopia at best, and at worst, the US adds its own name to this well-known injustice.
Justus
Both governments need to familiarize themselves with the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment before proceeding any further. We support constructive, sustainable engagement. Property and Democratic rights left unaddressed are a very big issue that will paralyze this well intentioned beginning. The Congtessional Ethiopian American Caucus Chair Mike Honda addressed this brilliantly in his insightful well balanced special order. Let's encourage both governments to work harder in their people's interests by signing this needed petition .
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Ethiopian Americans are disappointed by President Obama's Speech to the African Union extending trading partnerships "...I want Africans and Americans doing more business together in more sectors, in more countries. So we’re increasing trade missions to places like Tanzania, Ethiopia Mozambique. ...".
These are the facts:
I. Tanzania and Mozambique (mentioned in the speech) and Kenya (visited by the President) are Threshold Compact Agreement parties with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC - an American Agency). They have submitted their leadership to minimum thresholds and periodic monitoring therefore challenging themselves towards better leadership, human rights, women's rights, property rights etc.
II. The Ethiopian Government is not an MCC Threshold Compact Partner nor has it compensated Ethiopian/Americans whose assets have been confiscated.
Our questions
1. Why does the Ethiopian Government deserve an American partnership similar to those we have with Tanzania, Mozambique and Kenya.
2. Does the President believe a "watered-down" version of property rights and democratic governance is "good enough" for Ethiopia?
Our demands
As a life-long Democrat and an Ethiopian/American, I started this petition to encourage the Democratic Party Leadership to hold the Ethiopian Government to the same standards the United States has for other MCC Threshold Compact Partners. The Ethiopian Government continues to hold and in fact has sold assets of Americans while encouraging new American investment establishing a double standard and a nepotistic investment environment. The Ethiopian/American community is intelligent, informed, educated and closely follows the economic and political realities in Ethiopia. We are engaged American voters that have legitimate grievances that must be addressed before any aid or trade overtures are made towards the current Ethiopian Government.
Please sign our petition here and on change.org
4 Comments
Only in today's Ethiopia do we have two classes of rights. In one property confiscated because individuals proved wealthy is treated as government owned property. In the other investors are encouraged to create more wealth. This confuses and scares away potential investors. What guarantees will be there for property ownership for them ?
The Ethiopian Government has not corrected the injustice that Derge committed by confiscating the property of hardworking individuals who have built and given all of their time for Ethiopia. In fact it continues to hold these properties, willfully denying, or delaying the return of any such properties to the rightful owners, hoping that time will silence them. Justice delayed, is justice denied. A government such as the US where law and order reign, it gives the wrong signal to Ethiopia at best, and at worst, the US adds its own name to this well-known injustice.
Justus
Both governments need to familiarize themselves with the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment before proceeding any further. We support constructive, sustainable engagement. Property and Democratic rights left unaddressed are a very big issue that will paralyze this well intentioned beginning. The Congtessional Ethiopian American Caucus Chair Mike Honda addressed this brilliantly in his insightful well balanced special order. Let's encourage both governments to work harder in their people's interests by signing this needed petition .
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Only in today's Ethiopia do we have two classes of rights. In one property confiscated because individuals proved wealthy is treated as government owned property. In the other investors are encouraged to create more wealth. This confuses and scares away potential investors. What guarantees will be there for property ownership for them ?