SUPPORT THE FORBES AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2764
June 21, 2007
Dear Colleague:
As Chair of the Congressional Ethiopian American Caucus, I urge you to vote YES to Representative J. Randy Forbes amendment to H.R. 2764 restricting certain economic assistance to Ethiopia until the Secretary certifies that the Government of Ethiopia is not wrongfully holding political prisoners.
The Amendment reads:
SEC. ll. None of the funds made available in this Act under the heading ”Economic Support Fund” for assistance for Ethiopia may be obligated or expended until the Secretary of State certifies to the Committees on Appropriations that Ethiopia has released all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia. The President may waive the limitation under this section if the President determines and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that it is vital to the national security interests of the United States to do so.”
A YES vote would send a unified message to Ethiopia on promoting higher human rights standards of our allies. This amendment will restrict $3 million of the Economic Support Fund (ESF) for Ethiopia. The amendment carefully excludes $478 million that Ethiopia is expected to receive in humanitarian accounts such as Development Assistance, Child Survival, HIV/AIDS, as well as various Security Assistance funding given U.S.-Ethiopian activities in the war on terror. The amendment also includes a waiver for a compelling national security interest.
This amendment is in response to last week’s Ethiopian Federal High Court conviction of 38 members of a political opposition party, including elected parliamentarians and human rights advocates, for “outrages against the Constitution,” and mounting an armed insurrection against the Government of Ethiopia. Other political prisoners, such as elected Parliamentarian Kifle Tigneh, had their trials postponed until the late date of October 2007, leaving them imprisoned for a total of 2 years. Among those convicted last week are internationally renowned Mesfin Wolemariam, a senior Fulbright Scholar and founder of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRC), and Dr. Yacob Hailemariam, a former professor at Norfolk State University for 20 years and the l ead attorney for a U.N. tribunal on war crimes in Rwanda. They face sentencing on July 8, 2007 and could face the death penalty.
I am deeply concerned about the plight of these individuals. We must send a clear message to Ethiopia – that the full participation of political opposition is absolutely necessary in a democratic society. By continuing their imprisonment, the Ethiopian Government suppresses the most fundamental element of democracy.
I will vote YES on Mr. Forbes Amendment with full understanding of the historical context in which the democratic process must progress in Ethiopia. I will continue to be an advocate of humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia, and for promoting policies that promote trade and economic development there – but I cannot comply with such a clear offense to the democratic process.
If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Kaldahl in Mr. Forbes Office at 5-6365 or [email protected]. To join the Congressional Ethiopian American Caucus, and to learn more about other ways of getting involved in this issue, please contact Selam Mulugeta at 202-225-2631 or at [email protected]. See the below links to learn more about the history of this issue.
Sincerely,
/s
Michael M. Honda
Member of Congress
Chair of the Congressional Ethiopian American Caucus
Additional Background:
1. H.R. 2003 Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery
2. Virginia Pilot Article: http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=126530&ran=4292
3. State Department Briefing that includes comments on Ethiopian court decision: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2007/jun/86337.htm
4. BBC Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6743721.stm
5. Amnesty International press release: http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=ENGUSA20070615001