Indian Ocean Newsletter N° 1222 25/09/2007
The American government has invited Ethiopian opponents to Washington for talks with opposition leaders recently freed from prison. The latter group, led by Ms Birtukan Mideksa (ION 1222), came to the USA on its own steam two weeks ago. All were received at the State Department on 21 September by American officials working on the Africa and Ethiopia desks.
This meeting gathered Beyene Petros, Merera Gudina, the former President Negaso Gidada, Ayele Chemiso (an MP from the legal arm of the CUDP), Lidetu Ayalew, Berhanu Nega, Birtukan Mideksa and Hailu Araya.
Their discussions with the American officials concerned how the Ethiopian opposition could adopt a joint political platform so that it could take part in the next elections in Ethiopia with the approval of the Addis Ababa government.
They also discussed a strategy to sideline the hard wing of the opposition, consisting of Hailu Shawel and the EPRP, which wants nothing to do with the current EPRDF regime in Ethiopia. The talks are expected to continue with further meetings with the presence of Bulcha Demeksa, currently passing through Washington.
The American Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer is expected to meet these Ethiopian opponents this week. This American mediation is consistent with the strategy devised by the US Ambassador to Addis Ababa Donald Yamamoto, intending to isolate Amhara radicals such as Hailu Shawel and the anti-EPRDF forces like the EPRP.
Monday, 1 October 2007
Meles due to meet opposition in Washington this week
Congress Should Condition Military Aid to Ethiopia on Human Rights
| Congress Should Condition Military Aid to Ethiopia on Human Rights |
This week, a vote is expected in the House on H.R. 2003, the "Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act," introduced by Rep. Donald Payne. If you think that the U.S. shouldn't be green-lighting human rights abuses in Ethiopia, why not drop your Representative a line.
Supporters of democracy in Ethiopia have faced repression from the ruling party since 2005. Residents of the eastern Ogaden region are now at serious risk of starvation because the government has withheld food and other humanitarian aid, the New York Times reports.
Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has accepted these abuses, and continues to provide military aid unconditionally to the Ethiopian government, because - they claim - the Ethiopian government is promoting U.S. interests in the region. The U.S.-backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia last December, which was condemned by human rights organizations, is cited as an example of how the Ethiopian government is a useful ally, despite the fact that the Ethiopian invasion and occupation have greatly increased the violence and suffering in Somalia.
This week we have a chance to change U.S. policy. The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote as early as tomorrow on H.R. 2003, which would make military aid to Ethiopia conditional on democratic and human rights reforms.
Our government's support for abuses by the Ethiopian government has not received prominent media attention. But advocates for democracy and human rights in Ethiopia have been lobbying Congress. Now we have a chance to change course from a destructive policy in Africa based on the "global war on terror" towards a policy based on democracy and human rights.
www.huffingtonpost.co