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Tell President Obama: Don’t turn a blind eye to Ethiopia

Michael Posner On Wednesday, Mr Michael Posner, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, held a live discussion on Facebook about Human Rights Agenda for the 21st Century (see here). Participants of the discussion submitted a number of questions pertaining to global human rights issues, including the abhorrent human rights conditions in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Review Editor Elias Kifle submitted this question to Mr. Posner:

Dear Secretary Posner,

The tribal junta in Ethiopia led by Meles Zenawi is a close ally of the U.S. Government. Meles is being accused of crimes against humanity by all international human rights organizations. He is currently carrying out genocide in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. Meanwhile, the U.S. Gov’t continues to give hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance to this genocidal regime. When the U.S. Congress tried to pass a bill restricting U.S. aid to Ethiopia’s regime unless human rights conditions are improved, the U.S. Department of State fought hard to kill the bill, and it succeeded. So my question is, why does the State Department continue to fuel the Meles regime’s violence and repression against the people of Ethiopia with hundreds of millions of dollars, most of which go to buy weapons? – Elias Kifle

Unfortunately, Mr. Posner chose not to address any of the questions regarding Ethiopia.

We want to hear from Ethiopian-Americans and friends of Ethiopia who campaigned for President Obama in the last presidential campaign regarding his administration’s deafening silence on human rights issues in Ethiopia. You worked hard to elect him; urge him to fulfill his campaign promise by putting human rights issue on the forefront. We will submit your comments to the White House and State Department. Please be concise and courteous!

17 thoughts on “Tell President Obama: Don’t turn a blind eye to Ethiopia

  1. There are times to appreciate even the worst dicatator turned a polished and sophisticated negotiator. Genius knows Genious. Thumbs up crime minister. It may not change my mind about his crime but he has proved to be a the best manipulator even at the world stage. Worry my people this is the antichrist. Nothing but god can save you from this brilliant devil mind. Sorry Elias you got to work 1000 times more to have a slight effect on this rascal.

  2. The impression I have about Obama from the time I posted the following comment on May 31, 2009 still stands firm:

    Assta B. Gettu says:
    Is a half-black and a half-white person considered as “one of our own”? The words “one of our own…” have, to some people, a racist connotation.
    Generally, Obama’s visit to Africa is not going to solve Ethiopia’s problems or the problems of the rest of the African states. It does not mean “one of our own” is always good for his own – us. In fact, it is “one of our own” – Meles Seitanawi who has been destroying our country. It was “one of our own” – Mengistu Haile Mariam who terrorized so many innocent Ethiopians and finally left when he was threatened by a formidable force from the north.
    Therefore, “one of our own” can be one of our worst enemies as the Bible warns us: “…a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” (Matthew 10:36)
    So, when Obama, our half brother, visits Africa, we should not expect that he will address the human rights violation issues in Africa, especially in Ethiopia; he will simply ignore it as his State-Secretary, Madam Clinton, in her visit to China, said nothing about the human rights violations in that communist country.

  3. Leave Obama alone. We Ethiopians have to fight our own fight by ourselves. Obama cares for his country nothing else. Don’t be fool to get support from him. Once we show Obama that we can dismantle this ruthless dictator, he will be on our side. until then let us stop whining and let us foucs to get rid of him by any means we can.

  4. I did not do campaign for Obama, but I was happy for him simply because he is smart and his messages make sense and I also thought that he will listen to poor and repressed people as he has some experience of what it means from his Daad’s side. Anyways, I am sorry for those of you who have been campaigning for him day and night and spending your time and money to just end up with no hope. May GOD help you

    Tazabi

  5. Dear President Obama,

    I know your plate is full and most likely you will not consider Ethiopia a priority issue.

    But I beg for your attention for a couple of minutes.

    An American-imposed minority government is tormenting and killing Ethiopians by the thousands. It’s killing directly by bullets and indirectly through starvation.

    We know the US has looked the other way because Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is considered an ally in the so-called war on terror.

    A man who terrorizes his own people has become the favored son of the Pentagon, the various covert operators in the Horn of Africa and several US administrations, including your own.

    There is extensive documentation on the crimes of Prime Minister Zenawi and his associates. These are crimes of extra-judicial killings, genocide and crimes against humanity. They happened in Gambella, in Addis Ababa, in Ogaden and Somalia.

    The evidence comes from your own State Department, Genocide Watch International, Human Rights Watch, Doctors Without Borders, Reporters Without Borders and Committee to Protect Journalists.

    For Gods’s sake, what more evidence does your administration need to stop supporting a criminal regime?

    How long will the US continue to pay lip service to human rights while coddling dictators? When will American words match America’s deeds?

    Is human rights just another political tool to badger disfavored states such as Zimbabwe, Sudan, Iran and North Korea?

    Eighty million Ethiopians have been suffocating under American-imposed dictatorship for the last 20 years. They are not asking for your help to free them.

    ETHIOPIANS ARE NOT ASKING FOR MUCH: THEY ARE ASKING FOR THE US TO STOP HELPING THEIR TORMENTOR. Is that too much to ask?

    We believe the US has a moral responsibility to right the wrong. Through action, and not words.

    The best foreign aid the US can give to Ethiopians is to stop backing Zenawi. It will be better than food aid, HIV aid and your assorted alms giving which

  6. My dear Ethiopian friends,
    Why are you westing your time to make case about the missery and crime commited by Legese (Meles) and his hanch men. The west is blessing it to persue their interest. Why not claim Ethiopia for Ethiopians. Pleadng, pegging to any western official is mute case. Aren’t you all live here? Obama, Bush no difference and if onyone hopped to see changes in US police think twice. The game plane is do what is best for you and your people. It is my sencire hope everyone gets that! A while back I read a book by Henrry Kissinger about the US frienge plicey. As he was promoting the book he was asked I believe it was by Ted Cople from ABC. The burning issue at that time was Israel vs Palastine which still to date is. Why not resolve the conflict? The answer was the US policiy is to manage and maintain conflict not to resolve. This is the realy of US policy nothing more.

  7. It is very unfortunate but real that the US administration loves what they call “friendly tyrants” from Mobutu to Meles. Mengistu was tyrant not because he killed more than Meles but he was Moscow friendly. The question is not who is killing less or more, even one persons life is precious.
    As long as their is state terrorism in Ethiopia unlished by Meles and his ethnic politics, there will not be sustainable development and the next massacre and the disintegration of Ethiopia is in the Horizon.

  8. I have always said that, as Africans and Ethiopians, we should not expect too much from Obama since he is going to be the president of all American not only those of African origin. He has to please everyone in America and that is understandable. However, as a minimum, I had expected him to understand the dire situation we are in and help us.

    But so far, on Obama’s handling of Africa, I give him a D, and on his handling of the cause of Ethiopia in particular, I give him an F.

    Don’t misunderstand me, I personally like Obama; but I am completely disappointed at his handling of Africa and at the complete lack of respect for us.

    Mr. President, How can you keep silent when Mr Meles Zenawi puts the opposition leader, Birtukan Mideksa, in prison for so long simply for exercising her right to free speech? I just can’t comprehend that. Sometimes, I feel like your administration is worse than the Bush Administration based on your handling of Africa, and Ethiopia in particular, so far.

    Mr. President, Do you realize how mad you made us all when you complemented the African Tyrant the other day for a job well done on his leadership?

    Finally, I would like to remind you that it was perhaps the Ethiopian votes that helped you carry the traditonally conservative state of Virginia.

    AGAIN, MR. PRESIDENT, IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO TURN YOUR BACK ON THE POOR PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA BY REWARDING AND SUPPORTING THEIR OPPRESSOR.

    God Bless Ethiopia and the USA !

  9. #9 remind us an important matter.
    VA is a swing state, and our vote is very very very important for his reelection. Every individual vote makes a difference in this state.
    All Ethiopians should start grouping themselves and send a clear message for Obama.

  10. When the going gets tough, the tough get going; but, the weak get brainwashed, sick, misguided, and cowardly and blame others for not taking care of his own business. Ethiopia is our business not Obama’s. Leave the good man alone. Get your ass out of a warm couch and turn of your tv. Dont blame Obama or your mama for your weakness. Take your own like real men. No body is served freedom on a silver plate. This is really getting disgusting by the minute. Weak and lazy person has only to blame himself.

  11. “There are neither permanent allies nor permanent enemies but there are only permanent interests.”
    This is the guiding principle of today’s world and we do not expect Americans or Obama’s administration to do otherwise while he made an oath to keep American interest as his first priority from the first day of inauguration ceremony and before he is ushered to the oval office.
    If we do not have an alternate that is ready to hold power in Ethiopia, or if we do not determined to fight against the evil tyrant at home, we do not expect Americans or IMF or World Bank to do what we failed to do. We do not have to be a bystander and watch while complaining and shouting foul on others. Those westerners and their institutions are not liable for our failure as a people to change or topple the tyranny at home.
    If the Ethiopian people do not say anything or feel or revolt against the crime they face everyday, the westerners consider it normal, or they would say if it is ok with the people, we have to be cautious not to meddle in others internal affair. Even if there are some opposition internally and if they are comfortable with the current government they do not care about democracy or human rights or other pretexts as long as their interest is intact. However if they see some small and weak opposition in a country where the government is against their interest, they will exaggerate a tiny and small issues and start siding with opposition till their demands are met from the current government and use the opposition as a lever to topple whichever one is against their interest in any nation.
    So it is better for us to tighten our belts and fight against this brutal tyrant at home by any legitimate means. We have to be ready to make sacrifice and put ourselves in the first row of this struggle and lessen the complaints towards others. As it is like saying, if westerners are not helping this tyrant it would have step down due to the crisis. It is a wishful thinking. Let us be pragmatic, bold and determined to topple this monster from the shoulder of the Ethiopian people. It is in our hand that the fate of the future Ethiopia is determined not by the US, European or their arm twisting institutions.

  12. Kassa,
    Excellent thinking. I am Eritrean and I have been advocating to all my Ethiopian friends to tieten up their belts and claim Ethiopia for them self. Whiching Ethiopia on the verg of disintegration due the selfish work of the scame of the earth is not tolorable. The minority group who are in power are nothing but a servant of the western interest. Their elgence is not to the flag of Ethiopia but to the western interest. How on earth can one accumulate $1.2b wealth while his people are die on starvation? I am speach less to say the least. I aploud you for your corage and good idea.

  13. every one knows the genocide in ogaden and everybody loved to be freed .then we have to work hard to get freedom and liabilties and to defeat our enemies
    and we hope we will soon be free
    let us be patient
    thanks

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