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Week Ending October 5, 2007

H.R.2003 To encourage and facilitate the consolidation of peace and security, respect for human rights, democracy, and economic freedom in Ethiopia.

<< Click flag for map and country data, Ethiopia

The bill establishes US policy in support of the advancement of human rights, democracy, independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press, peace keeping capacity building and economic development in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The policy also included seeking the unconditional release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia, fostering stability, democracy and economic development in the region, collaboration with Ethiopia in the global war on terror and strengthening US-Ethiopian relations based on the policy objectives.

Ethiopia, Congress finds, have suffered for decades through military conflicts, natural disasters, poverty and disease and regional instability and the dictatorship of the military junta headed by Mengistu Haile Mariam accused of killing hundreds of thousands.

But Mariam’s regime was defeated in 1991 by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front ushering in a transitional government and a new start towards democracy.

Despite a 90% voter turn out, the opposition party to the Ethiopian Government disputed the results of the 2005 elections and called for civil disobedience resulting in more deaths and detention including 11 elected members of parliament and the elected mayor of Addis Ababa. After an investigation and a re-vote, it was shown that the opposition party won 170 seats rather than the 12 reported in the earlier election.

Political chicanery continues. More ‘findings’ below….

Human Rights

The bill requires the Secretary of State to establish a mechanism to provide financial support to local and national human rights groups, establish a victims support network including legal support for political prisoners, facilitate discussions between relevant government agencies regarding human rights standards, create a process to monitor th judiciary, establish programs to strengthen private media through training, technical and other support, expand Voice of America programming to Ethiopia and establish a mechanism to identify and extradite members of the Mariam regime, Mengistu himself, and the current government residing in the US who were engaged in gross human rights violations.

Democratization

The Secretary is directed to provide assistance to strengthen regional and national parliaments and governments in Ethiopia through training and consultation with government groups and political parties, and establish a program focused on reconciliation between the Government and minority, civil society communities.

Whatever the Secretary provides for democratization is to be provided to the ruling party and the opposition as well but may not be made to the Government (ruling party) if it obstructs US technical assistance to advance human rights, democracy, etcetera.

Security assistance and US visas shall not be provided to Ethiopian government officials until the president can certify that all political prisoners have been released, their rights restored and the property returned, that prisoners held without charge or kept in detention without fair trial in violation of the Ethiopian Constitution are released or given a fair trial, that the Ethiopian judiciary is able to function independently, that security personnel involved in the unlawful killings of demonstrators Etnesh, Yemam and Kaliti prisoners are punished, family members and legal counsel have unfettered access to detainees in prison, that print and broadcast media are able to operate freely and licensing is open and transparent, that Internet opportunities are not restricted, that the National Election Board includes both political parties, and that international and internal human rights organizations are unobstructed.

The president may waive the elements of the certification on a case-by-case basis if the government of Ethiopia complies or if such a waiver is in the US national interest.

Economic Development

The president shall provide assistance for sustainable development of Ethiopia’s Nile and Awash River resources including irrigation systems and hydroelectric power that might prevent future famine. The president shall provide material support for hospitals and health care centers especially in the rural areas.

A report to Congress on the plan and the implementation of this act is due in 180 days.

Sponsor:  Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-NJ-10^th)

Vote:

Cost to the taxpayers: “In General- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 2009.”

Earmark Certification:   Not applicable to this bill.

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MORE INFORMATION

Congress finds the following:

(1) The people of Ethiopia have suffered for decades due to military conflicts, natural disasters, poverty and diseases, regional instability, and the brutal dictatorship of the military junta under Mengistu Haile Mariam. Hundreds of thousands of civilians were brutally murdered by the Mengistu regime, including women and children. Many more sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom, respect for human rights, and to bring an end to the brutal dictatorship of the Mengistu regime. Members of that murderous regime are currently living in Europe, the United States, and Africa.

(2) In May 1991, the brutal dictatorship of the Mengistu regime came to an abrupt end when the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) defeated the Mengistu army. In July 1991, the EPRDF and a coalition of other political groups established a transitional government in Ethiopia. A number of liberation movements joined the transitional government in a spirit of a new start and the building of a democratic Ethiopia. These groups included the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), and many others.

(3) Since the ouster of the Mengistu regime in 1991, the EPRDF-led government instituted a multiparty system and organized 3 regional and national elections and a number of local elections. The 1995 and 2000 elections were largely boycotted and judged to be neither free nor fair. Some opposition groups participated in the 2000 elections, giving such groups 12 seats in the 546-seat parliament.

(4) The May 2005 pre-election period and the conduct of the elections in Ethiopia were seen by observers to be transparent, competitive, and relatively free and fair, although there were a number of problems reported. More than 90 percent of registered voters participated and dozens of political parties took part in the elections. Moreover, some international groups observed the elections, unprecedented access to the mass media was given to the opposition, and there were televised debates between the government and the opposition. Some political parties and armed political groups boycotted the 2005 elections. However, trained local groups were barred from observing the elections.

(5) Despite apparent improvement in the electoral process, preliminary election results announced by the Government of Ethiopia shortly after the May 15, 2005, elections were seen by observers as questionable. The opposition accused the Government of Ethiopia of stealing the elections and called for civil disobedience, which resulted in the killing of demonstrators and detention of opposition leaders and thousands of their followers, including 11 elected members of parliament and the elected mayor of Addis Ababa.

(6) The Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), and the ruling EPRDF reached an agreement to resolve disputed election results peacefully with the help of the National Electoral Board (NEB). The NEB investigated more than 299 complaints and later agreed to hold reruns in 31 constituencies. In late August 2005, the NEB held reruns in the 31 constituencies as well as in all 23 constituencies in the Somali region, where elections had been postponed due to insecurity.

(7) Election results show that opposition parties won 170 seats in the national parliament, a significant increase from the 12 seats they won in the last elections. Opposition parties also won the city council in Addis Ababa, giving them control over the capital. An estimated 150 of the 170 opposition members of parliament have taken their seats. In early May 2006, the Government of Ethiopia appointed a caretaker government in the capital. Members of parliament from the CUD walked out of parliament in protest. The CUD won the city, but the designated mayor has been in detention since November 2005.

(8) Human rights conditions deteriorated significantly after the May 15, 2005, elections in Ethiopia and overall human rights conditions in the country remain poor. The Department of State, in its 2005 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, noted a myriad of human rights abuses by the Government of Ethiopia. Moreover, journalists and editors of the independent press have been and continue to face harassment and prosecution for alleged violations of press laws in Ethiopia. Dozens of journalists have fled the country, and some are currently in exile fearing prosecution or harassment.

(9) In June 2005, more than 35 demonstrators were killed by Ethiopian Government security personnel and in November 2005 an estimated 53 people were killed, including 7 policemen, according to Human Rights Watch and several other reports. The violence against these victims occurred after pro-opposition groups went to the streets of the capital to protest government actions in handling the elections results of May 2005. Tens of thousands of people suspected of being opposition supporters were detained over the past months, although many of these detainees were released. Nonetheless, government security forces continue to abuse opposition leaders, supporters, and family members.

(10) An estimated 112 political leaders, human rights activists, community leaders, and journalists, including the chairman of the CUD (Hailu Shawel), the newly elected Mayor of Addis Ababa (Berhanu Nega), and the founder of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam), were imprisoned and charged with treason and genocide. These measures were deliberately taken to stifle and criminalize opposition party activity in the country. The measures also were intended to intimidate and silence independent press and civil society, raising serious question about the Ethiopian Government's commitment to democracy and good governance.

(11) According to Department of State's 2006 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, `human rights abuses [in Ethiopia] reported during the year included: limitation on citizens' right to change their government during the most recent elections; unlawful killings, and beating, abuse, and mistreatment of detainees and opposition supporters by security forces; poor prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention . . .'.

(12) Whereas the Ethiopian Parliament established an 11-member Commission of Inquiry to `investigate the disorder and report to the House of People's Representatives in order to take the necessary measure'. The Commission was tasked to investigate whether government security forces used excessive force, caused damage to life and property, or showed a lack of respect for human rights. The Commission was mandated to investigate the June 8, 2005, and November 1-10, 2005, violence in different parts of the country.

(13) Whereas members of the Commission of Inquiry visited several regions, reviewed police reports, met with prisoners and government officials, made 122 radio and TV announcements to the public, examined 16,990 documents, and took testimonies from 1,300 people.

(14) Whereas the Commission of Inquiry concluded that 763 civilians were injured and 193 killed. The Commission also reported that 71 police officers were injured and 6 killed. Damage to property was estimated at $512,588. The Commission also reported that more than 30,000 civilians were detained, some were tortured, and prisoners in Kaliti were killed.

(15) Whereas the Commission of Inquiry reported that security forces fired 1,500 bullets at prisoners, killing 17 and injuring 53. The Commission stated that civilians did not use weapons and reported bank robberies by demonstrators did not take place. The Commission's deliberations were video-taped and votes were taken on key findings on July 3, 2006.

(16) Whereas shortly after the Commission of Inquiry reached its decision, the Ethiopian Government reportedly began to put pressure on Commission members to change their report. The Chairman of the Commission, a former Supreme Court President of the Southern Region of Ethiopia, was told by a senior advisor of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to call for an emergency meeting of the Commission in order to change the Commission's report.

(17) Whereas the Commission of Inquiry was scheduled to give its report to the Ethiopian Parliament on July 7, 2006, but the Parliament was adjourned a day early. Several Commission members, including the Chairman and the Deputy Chair, left the country with the final report, other documents relevant to the investigation, and several video tapes of the Commission deliberations.

(18) Whereas in November 2006, the Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry and another Commission member presented the Commission's report and briefed Members of the United State Congress.

(19) Whereas in November 2006, at a congressional briefing with members of the Commission of Inquiry, a young women named Alemzuria submitted her testimony about what happened to her mother, Etenesh Yemam. Alemzuria's father was elected in May 2005 as Council Member of in Addis Ababa. Subsequently security personnel came to arrest him at his home and then shot Etenesh Yemam as she pleaded for her husband's release.

(20) Whereas the Commission of Inquiry investigated the killing of Etenesh Yemam and confirmed beyond doubt what happened on that dreadful day. Etenesh Yemam's husband still languishes in prison while Alemzuria remains a refugee in another African country.

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