STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Mr. LEAHY):
S. 3457. A bill to reaffirm United States objectives in Ethiopia and encourage critical democratic and humanitarian principles and practices, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the Support for Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia Act of 2008. Senator LEAHY joins me as an original cosponsor. The purpose of this bill is to reaffirm policy objectives towards Ethiopia and encourage greater commitment to the underpinnings of a true democracy—an independent judiciary and the rule of law, respect for human and political rights, and an end to restrictions on the media and non-governmental organizations.
As many in this body know, I have spoken numerous times in recent months about the situation in Ethiopia and I continue to believe that the U.S.-Ethiopian partnership is very important—one of the more critical ones given not only our historic relationship but also Ethiopia’s location in an increasingly strategic region.
Ethiopia sits on the Horn of Africa—perhaps one of the roughest neighborhoods in the world, with Somalia a failed state and safe haven for terrorists, Eritrea an inaccessible authoritarian government that meddles across national borders, Sudan a genocidal regime, and Kenya still emerging from a profound electoral crisis.
One look at the deteriorating situation across the Horn and the importance of a robust relationship with Ethiopia is obvious. And, by contrast with some of its neighbors, Ethiopia appears relatively stable with a growing economy. But I am concerned about a number of anti-democratic actions in that country, particularly since this administration has largely overlooked them.
The security threats in Ethiopia are real but, unfortunately, the Bush administration’s approach to addressing these threats and strengthening this alliance remains short-sighted and narrow—focusing predominately on short-term ways to address insecurity while overlooking the need for long-term measures that are needed to achieve the same goal, such as desperately needed goverance reform, the rule of law, and increased accountability.
Genuine democratic progress in Ethiopia is essential if we are to have a healthy and positive bilateral relationship. It is also essential if we are going to successfully combat extremism, thereby bolstering our own national security here at home.
That is why today I am introducing the Support for Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia Act of 2008—because as our administration fails to balance our priorities in Ethiopia, or to adopt comprehensive strategies to achieve those priorities, we are watching significant backsliding in previously hard-won democratic gains.
As we turn a blind eye to the escalating political tensions, people are being thrown in jail without justification and non-government organizations are being restricted, while civilians are dying unnecessarily in the Ogaden region—just like so many before them in Oromiya, Amhara, and Gambella.
Furthermore, the Ethiopian military has come under increasing scrutiny for its conduct in the Ogaden as well as Somalia, with credible reports from non-governmental organizations of torture, rape and indiscriminate attacks. By providing unconditioned security assistance we are also sowing the seeds of insecurity and creating new grievances both in Ethiopia and in its neighboring countries.
I want to see greater progress—not less—in Ethiopia which is why this bill authorizes an additional $20 million for democracy and governance projects in Ethiopia. The addition of these funds would make it one of the top five countries on the continent receiving this kind of assistance from this U.S. Government.
This bill calls on the President to take additional steps to implement these programs but also requires that funds made available to the Ethiopian government be subject to regular congressional notification. This ensures U.S. taxpayer dollars are being used appropriately—and used to support a government taking steps to become more democratic, not less.
I make it a practice to pay for all bills I introduce, and the authorization in this bill is offset by a transfer of funds from NASA. Some may disagree with me on the need for an offset, but recent Office of Management and Budget projections confirm that we now have the biggest budget deficit in the history of our country.
We cannot afford to be fiscally irresponsible so we must make choices to ensure that our children and grandchildren do not bear the burden of our reckless spending. Instead of cutting specific programs, which are likely to have begun and thus would cost more to close, transferring $20 million from the general budget would allow appropriators to evaluate, at their discretion, how best to make this transfer.
I ask my colleagues to consider what our own State Department has said about the political situation in Ethiopia and then consider how best to rectify the situation.
The 2007 State Department Report on Human Rights notes that in Ethiopia the following occurred:
“limitation[s] 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, particularly of those suspected of sympathizing with or being members of the opposition or insurgent groups; detention of thousands without charge and lengthy pretrial detention; infringement on citizens’ privacy rights and frequent refusal to follow the law regarding search warrants;
use of excessive force by security services in an internal conflict and counter-insurgency operations; restrictions on freedom of the press; arrest, detention, and harassment of journalists for publishing articles critical of the government;
restrictions on freedom of assembly; limitations on freedom of association; violence and societal discrimination against women and abuse of children; female genital mutilation, FGM; exploitation of children for economic and sexual purposes;trafficking in persons; societal discrimination against persons with disabilities and religious and ethnic minorities; and government interference in union activities, including killing and harassment of union leaders.”
The continued failure of the administration to acknowledge this reality is emblematic of its insular thinking and unwillingness to see the big picture. Without a balanced policy that addresses both short and long-term concerns in Ethiopia we are putting ourselves at greater risk and making ourselves more vulnerable, not less.
7 thoughts on “Statement by Senators Feingold and Leahy on S. 3457”
People,
As usuall, Ethiopia first and Agia editors are preparing to launch their assaults against the Honorable Senator for introducing the Bill. These losers are backed up by the oppressor regime of Ethiopia to do their best to ensure the bill ignored by the other Senators.
Ethiopians in the Diaspora must do something against these HODAM Ethiopia first and Agia editors for they are only up to their own benefits and advantages.
This historical country need to be rescued before its final destructtion from the worst devils on planet earth but the main quetion still remains: CAN HR THIS AND HR THAT SAVE ETHIOPIA AND THE ETHIOPIANS FROM MELES, SEYOUM, AZEB, BEREKET, AND THE REST OF WEYANES MURDERERS. If the senators can save Ethiopia from the mafia families of weyanes then the gates of heaven will be wide open for the rest of the state department officials; and that includes Frazer, Yamakutu, Carter, and the rest of America’s politicians evil contributors to Ethiopians!
Dear Senator Feingold,
Allow me to thank you for you belessing job you are doing
for 81 million people who are currently living under ruthless and crule TPLF led government. May God of love and
mercey look up on you, your colligues and family. Amen
Henoke
Every Ethiopian should write a thank you letter to these distingushed senators who cosponsored this bill. GOD bless them!
As always TPLF criminal gangs will continue their lies and deception through their paid agents in the congress. The TPLF fascist regime agents should know one fact, “you can cheat some people some time, but you can’t cheat all the people all the time”!!! Victory to Ethiopian people!
For those hoodwinkers who may raise the issue of sovereignty, one hodam called it “Maichew”, in opposition to the tremendous initiative by Senator Feingold, they should be reminded that USA which is pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into Ethiopia has the right and, yes, even an obligation to itself to set certain standards having to do with human rights and democracy before it releases its own funds.
It is high time that USA stops funding African leaders who use its money to brutalize and abuse their own people. Such is the situation in Ethiopia where elections are rigged in a systemic manner, where there is a blatant corruption including the use of over 40 companies owned by TPLF, the unlawful imprisonment and murder of thousands of people for no reason other than a peaceful opposition to the practices of an abusive regime. The unfortunate and tragic consequence of the extremely poor governance in Ethiopia has reached such a low point that after 18 years of its misrule, there is now famine in Ethiopia where people including children are dying even as we speak. By all international standards such as the UNDP human development index, corruption, per capita income, etc. etc. Ethiopia is at the very bottom of countries throughout the world. It is time that we say: Enough to this failed regime!
Therefore, the action by Senator Feingold is to be appreciated and supported by all people who believe in democracy and justice. The only reservation I have in Senator Feingold’s draft is the statement about the Ethio/Eritrean border issue. Considering that the whole process of the Eritrean cessation as well as the unnecessary disastrous war in 1998 is the consequence of the current regime’s criminal action and as the border commission’s recommendations were based on defunct treaties, to cede Ethiopian territory to anyone, is tantamount to a travesty of justice. In any case, given a chance, the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea would no doubt unite and live in peace and mutual respect. If there is any doubt about this supposition, let there be a referendum in Eritrea supervised by the international community and we would then see the actual result!
Let us support the bill and Senator Feingold! Power to USA and Ethiopia!
Hibret.
Dear Hebret:
I say Amen to your wish that Eritreans and Ethiopians would one day live in peace and mutual respect. Where I differ is with your notion that the previous referndum held was somehow illegal. First and foremost, let me remind you that in 1993 Eritreans from all walks of life and both inside the country and abroad participated in a UN/OAU/EU supervised referendum and overwhelmingly (99.8% or close) voted for INDEPENDENCE. This is a fact that we have to learn to live with. But, let’s say for the sake of argument another referendum was called for. What makes you think that the outcome will be different, as you try to implicate on your letter? Correct me if I’m wrong, but you seem to think that Eritreans would have a second thought about how they should lead their lives. Except for the very few sellouts (0.000001%) most Eritreans are proud of what they have achieved thus far. There’s no doubt in my mind that one day Eritreans and Ethiopians will live in peace and harmony as two good and civilized neighbors. To achieve them requires an attitutde of listening with open mind and mutual respect.
For whatever it’s worth, let me throw in a little, yet popular Englishmen saying: “If you love something set it free!! If it comes back it was yours; If it does not, then it never was!!”
GOD BLESS THE PEOPLES OF ETHIOPIA, ERITREA AND THE REST IN HORN OF AFRICA!!!
Dear Observer,
I should, first of all, express my appreciation of the courteous (beEthiopiawi/Ertrawi chewannet)manner of your response.
At the outset, though, I would like to ensure that we do not divert from the main issue at hand, namely, the passage of SB3457 initiated by Sen. Feingold and Sen. Leahy. I do hope that all Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia who believe in human rights and justice support the bill in all possible ways. This includes the use of the most potent weapon we have in our hands i.e. the vote by Ethiopian/Americans, which is more powerful than the $50,000.00 being paid by Woyane every month to DL Piper, their mercenary lobbyists. All Ethiopian/Americans should make it a point to see their respective Senators in every state calling on them to support the bill.
As regards “Observer’s = Tazabi’s” comments on Eritrea’s unity with Ethiopia, I’m still of the view that given half a chance, Eritreans would not hesitate to vote for it. One Eritrean friend of mine told me that if there were a free referendum in Eritrea, the overwhelming vote would be in favour of unity with Ethiopia.
My reasons for the above optimism are the following realities in Eritrea:
1. Eritreans who thought that cessation would bring them democracy are in fact suffering under a more brutal and severe dictatorship under the Ethiopian, Isayas Afeworki;
2. Eritreans were promised that it would be the Singapore of Africa if only it became “independent” whereas the fact now is that only a few like Isayas and his cohorts are wallowing in abundance while the vast majority of Eritreans are suffering under a grinding poverty.
3. Eritreans had mistakenly thought that they would have peace once the cessation were achieved. However, there was a totaly needless war in which nearly 100,000 Eritreans and Ethiopians perished and, as if this were not enough, the two very poor countries are in a state of tension which might lead to another devastating war!
4. The ports (Massawa and Assab) which might have been of immense benefit to both Eritreans and Ethiopians are now absolutely useless.
5. Unless the two countries unite and allow the people to live in harmony within a democratic framework and a comprehensive development strategy, there can never be peace and progress in the Horn of Africa.
6. Woyane’s mistaken action of facilitating the cessation has only resulted in establishing a leadership in Eritrea that has become a heavy thorn on Woyane’s side the evidence for which is the presence of so many opposition elements in Eritrea as well as the converse in Ethiopia.
7. The tribalist Woyane and EPLF short-sighted leaders in Eritrea and Ethiopia are virtual enemies of the people in the region.
8. The referendum in Eritrea was totally illegal as the choice given to Eritreans was independence or slavery. People were not given plausible options e.g. federation, unity, independence, etc.
In any case, dear “observer”, I’m delighted that you and I concur on the desirability for Eritreans and Ethiopians to aspire and work for peace, harmony, and mutual respect. After all, despite our respective brutal leaders, there is no doubt that we have more elements that unite us than those which divide us.
Hibret.