US committe supports Ethiopia bill

EAC Press Release
June 27, 2006

Representative Congressman Chris Smith and Congressman Donald Payne on Monday reintroducing the bill as H.R. 5680. This is great news HR5680 enjoys bipartisan.

The Ethiopian Americans Council (EAC) is happy to announce that to-date 25 members of U.S. Congress have agreed to co-sponsor HR 5680. In addition, over 56 members of U.S. Congress have agreed to vote for the bill once it goes to the full House.

We are very much encouraged by the positive responses of U.S. Congressional representatives we contacted and their readiness to support the bill. We ask all Ethiopian Americans and friends of Ethiopia to continue their effort in this endeavor and generate more support for the passage of the bill. This is the least and painless effort we can do for the cause of freedom and justice in Ethiopia.

The bill recognizes that a stable, prosperous and democratic Ethiopia is critical in serving U.S. interests in North East Africa and the Middle East. Among other things, the bill:

• calls for release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia;
• provides support for the work of both international and domestic human rights agencies;
• provides human rights training for both civil society representatives and government officials on international human rights standards;
• encourages the Government of Ethiopia to revise its laws that currently limit the rights of journalists to freely provide information, and establishes a program to strengthen private media in Ethiopia – a vital factor in any free society;
• provides technical assistance to enhance the democratic operation of local, regional and national governments and to promote reconciliation through peaceful political groups;
• provides technical assistance on the appropriate and effective use of resources, especially water resources, as well as economic policy assistance on such issues as land ownership to help build the Ethiopian economy so that it can reduce the need for donor support; and
• provides financing for U.S.-Ethiopian commercial ventures so that the Ethiopian private sector can create jobs and help the nation reduce its high level of unemployment.

Given the crisis gripping the country, it is critical that we worked quickly and efficiently to help pass "Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights Act of 2006”. We urge the Ethiopian community to become fully engaged in mobilizing congressional support for the bill. Call your District Office, attend Town Hall meetings and urge your Congressional representatives to support the bill. The only way we can stop the systematic destruction of Ethiopia is through our collective effort. Millions of Ethiopians are yearning for a better tomorrow. Supporting this effort is the least we can do.

Ethiopian Americans Council