Open Letter to Ambassador Vicki Huddleston
To: Ambassador Vicki Huddleston American Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 14 Entoto Rd, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1014 Addis Ababa Phone: (251-11) 517-4000 Fax: (251-11) 517-4888 Re: Embassy Service Dear Ambassador Vicki Huddleston As you very well know, the Horn of Africa has become a strategic focal point in the war against terrorism following the 9-11 attacks against the United States. Ethiopia is a major country in the Horn of Africa whose stability is paramount for long term American national interest. Following the May 15th election, in which Prime Minister Melese Zenawi lost, the government of Ethiopia has embarked on massive human right abuses, detentions of peaceful demonstrators, extrajudicial killings, and imprisonment of the entire local leadership of the opposition political party as well as thousands of political party members. These repressive measures have been condemned by the State Department, the European Union, Amnesty International, Human Right Watch, as well as numerous members of the U.S. Congress. The atmosphere in Ethiopia today is tense and at best sobering. Scores of Ethiopian diplomats, government employees, police officers are defecting to various parts of the world in thousands. Even an army General has defected with hundreds of soldiers to Eritrea a country that was at war with Ethiopia not to long ago. However, we at Ethiopian American Civic Advocacy (EACA) and by large the Ethiopian American community in the United States are very disappointed by your lack of actions and conduct to the present situation in Ethiopia. These leaders have been reported as prisoners of consciousness by Amnesty International and Human Rights watch. More ever yet, the United Stated of Congress recently passed a bill titled HR5680 in the full International Committee unanimously demanding for the release of all political prisoners. These leaders are vital stakeholders in brining peace and stability to the region. Believing that the Ethiopia government can just simply continue on the same path now without the release of all political prisoners, work in a non bipartisan manner with opposition members is a colossal failure to read the mood of the majority of Ethiopians on the ground in Ethiopia and abroad. We hope that you will take this opportunity to inform us and the public at large the steps that you have taken and are taking now to help about bring peace, stability and the release of all political prisoners in Ethiopia. It is EACA, Amnesty International, Human Right Watch, United States Congress believe that for Ethiopia to get on the path to peace, democracy, and economic development all political leaders must be released and the reconciliation process must begin. Awaiting your positive response Sincerely, Dr. Kassa Ayalew (Acting Chair) --------
cc:
President George W. Bush
Vice President Richard Cheney
Jendayi E. Frazer
Donald Y. Yamamoto
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