HR 4423 gains ground
By Mesfin Mekonen
June 9, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC - Momentum continues to build up for the enactment of HR 4423 as the
House International Affairs Committee is expected to markup
and vote on the bill this month.
The challenge then will be to get it to
the House floor before the Summer recess. It is essential that all Ethiopians contact members of Congress to express their support for
this legislation - specially those who haven't co-sponsored HR 4423 --
and to ask members of Congress to co-sponsor and vote for it. Even if
you have already contacted Congress, do it again.
It is especially
important to contact members of the International Relations Committee whose address and those of others is available
here.
Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary of State for
African Affairs Donald Yamamoto recently visited Ethiopia, and his visit was focused, among others, on the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute, and on securing the release of political
prisoners. It appears that there is some activity regarding the former - "Ethiopia
and Eritrea seem to be prepared to ratify the treaty soon" - but no
sign of action is seen on the latter.
In fact, the pressure on Meles Zenawi to release the
political prisoners may be receding as the World Bank and European Union
announced last week that they would release some of their fund. Theoretically this aid
will go directly to rural areas, but in in reality ends up in Zenawi's hand as every sector in the country is controlled by the government.
I continue to stress to the State Department that it is impossible to
even begin to resolve the political problems in Ethiopia unless and
until all political prisoners are released.
In another development, State Department officials met recently with representatives of the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (AFD), which reportedly is composed of
the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP-Kinijit), the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), and the Sidma Liberation Front (SLF).
The State Department is evaluating AFD's request for the U.S.
government to act as an intermediary in negotiations with the Meles
regime. However, the State Department is likely to insist that all
legitimate political and civic groups be included in any negotiations.
There are now 20 co-sponsors
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 3/7/2006
Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 3/7/2006
Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] - 3/7/2006
Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] - 3/7/2006
Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. [CO-6] - 3/7/2006
Rep Sabo, Martin Olav [MN-5] - 3/7/2006
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 3/7/2006
Rep Boyd, Allen [FL-2] - 3/7/2006
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 3/14/2006
Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] - 3/14/2006
Rep McKinney, Cynthia A. [GA-4] - 3/14/2006
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 3/30/2006
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 3/30/2006
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 4/4/2006
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 5/3/2006
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 5/3/2006
Rep Kennedy, Mark R. [MN-6] - 5/3/2006
Rep Scott, Robert C. [VA-3] - 5/3/2006
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 5/23/2006
Rep Chabot, Steve [OH-1] - 5/23/2006
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
WASHINGTON, DC - Momentum continues to build up for the enactment of HR 4423 as the House International Affairs Committee is expected to markup and vote on the bill this month.
The challenge then will be to get it to
the House floor before the Summer recess. It is essential that all Ethiopians contact members of Congress to express their support for
this legislation - specially those who haven't co-sponsored HR 4423 --
and to ask members of Congress to co-sponsor and vote for it. Even if
you have already contacted Congress, do it again.
It is especially
important to contact members of the International Relations Committee whose address and those of others is available
here.
Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary of State for
African Affairs Donald Yamamoto recently visited Ethiopia, and his visit was focused, among others, on the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute, and on securing the release of political
prisoners. It appears that there is some activity regarding the former - "Ethiopia
and Eritrea seem to be prepared to ratify the treaty soon" - but no
sign of action is seen on the latter.
In fact, the pressure on Meles Zenawi to release the
political prisoners may be receding as the World Bank and European Union
announced last week that they would release some of their fund. Theoretically this aid
will go directly to rural areas, but in in reality ends up in Zenawi's hand as every sector in the country is controlled by the government.
I continue to stress to the State Department that it is impossible to
even begin to resolve the political problems in Ethiopia unless and
until all political prisoners are released.
In another development, State Department officials met recently with representatives of the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (AFD), which reportedly is composed of
the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP-Kinijit), the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), and the Sidma Liberation Front (SLF).
The State Department is evaluating AFD's request for the U.S.
government to act as an intermediary in negotiations with the Meles
regime. However, the State Department is likely to insist that all
legitimate political and civic groups be included in any negotiations.
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 3/7/2006
There are now 20 co-sponsors
Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 3/7/2006
Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] - 3/7/2006
Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] - 3/7/2006
Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. [CO-6] - 3/7/2006
Rep Sabo, Martin Olav [MN-5] - 3/7/2006
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 3/7/2006
Rep Boyd, Allen [FL-2] - 3/7/2006
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 3/14/2006
Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] - 3/14/2006
Rep McKinney, Cynthia A. [GA-4] - 3/14/2006
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 3/30/2006
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 3/30/2006
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 4/4/2006
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 5/3/2006
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 5/3/2006
Rep Kennedy, Mark R. [MN-6] - 5/3/2006
Rep Scott, Robert C. [VA-3] - 5/3/2006
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 5/23/2006
Rep Chabot, Steve [OH-1] - 5/23/2006
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
