Kinijit for Unity and Democracy

Washington Update

July 6, 2007

 

1. As expected, the Meles regime’s promises to release political   prisoners “within ten days” if Congress postponed a scheduled June 26 markup of HR 2003, the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007, has turned out to be a lie. Having succeeded in manipulating the U.S. State Department into calling for a postponement, and the Congress into complying, the Meles regime has both publicly insulted the U.S. government and given every indication that it will continue to use the political prisoners as chips in a cynical game that is designed to prevent the U.S. government from actively supporting democracy and human rights in Ethiopia.

 

Instead of releasing the prisoners, two days after Congress postponed action on HR 2003, Meles expressed his contempt for western governments. In a speech to Parliament – which several elected members were unable to hear because they were in prison – Meles said that efforts by the U.S. and European Union members to secure the release of political prisoners were "shameful and wrong." He vowed to resist pressure from the international community, and said "In Ethiopia there is nothing that can be resolved as a result of external pressure."

 

On July 4, a member of the Meles regime claimed to the Voice of America that the Ethiopian judiciary is independent and claimed that Meles cannot act until after the judicial process has been completed. This sets up a situation where the regime can indefinitely delay releasing the prisoners, and continue to try to manipulate Congress. It will then tell Congress that any forward motion on HR 2003, or any other efforts to hold the government accountable for its actions, will jeopardize the fates of the prisoners because Meles cannot be seen to be bowing to external pressure. If Congress gives in to the extortion, then Meles can continually indicate that a release is being considered. If Congress acts, then Meles regime will blame it for his decision not to free the prisoners.

 

It should be clear to the U.S. Congress and State Department that Meles regime is manipulating them, and that he has absolutely no intention to free the prisoners. He will respect the basic human rights of individuals who are seeking peaceful political change only as a last resort, if the U.S. and the European Union apply extreme pressure – and if the international community is resolute. History makes it clear appeasing dictators never yields good results, but merely emboldens them.

 

The case of the political prisoners is only the most obvious manifestation of the corruption, violence, and repression in Ethiopia. The U.S. government hails Meles as a partner in the war on terrorism, but Meles regime is terrorizing the Ethiopian people with impunity.

 

2. Ethiopians must communicate with members of Congress and urge them to support HR 2003, and to take any other actions possible to press both the U.S. State Department and the Meles regime first to release the prisoners without conditions and second to begin the process to creating a democratic government in Ethiopia. Congress must be informed that a transition to democracy is essential to prevent Ethiopia from becoming another front in the war on terrorism, that the Meles regime’s actions are creating fertile ground for the terrorism.

 

3. There has been some progress on H.R. 2003. So far, there are 13 co-sponsors, including nine who signed on during the week before the scheduled subcommittee markup:

 

Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 4/23/2007

Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 4/23/2007

Rep Watson, Diane E. < [CA-33] - 4/23/2007

Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 4/23/2007

Rep Wu, David [OR-1] - 6/19/2007

Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 6/20/2007

Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 6/20/2007

Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 6/20/2007

Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 6/20/2007

Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] - 6/20/2007

Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12] - 6/20/2007

Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 6/26/2007

Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 6/26/2007

 

4. Kinijit International Council members, including Dr. Taye Woldesmaite, chairman, Dr. Seyoum Solomon, and Mesfin Mekonen, have been meeting with staff of members of Congress from both parties, stressing the need for Congress to act urgently. Sen. Obama’s office has been briefed on the human rights situation in Ethiopia and has expressed concern about the health of the prisoners and indicated that Sen. Obama is interested in taking some action. Ethiopians should contact his office, as well as the offices of other Senators, and ask that they sponsor a resolution demanding the release of political prisoners.

 

Mesfin Mekonen, Kinijit International Foreign Relations