Now is the time to push for HR 5680

By Mesfin Mekonen
July 8, 2006

These are some of the important provisions of the legislation.

• This act will bring the assistance of the government of the United States of America to help free our imprisoned brothers and sisters languishing in Meles’ jails. Those murderers of our Ethiopian citizens in the events of June and November last year, 2005 will be denied visa entry to the U.S. and pursued by all interested governments around the globe.

• American money will be invested in hydro projects to aid all our countrymen. The desperately needed infrastructure investment in the Nile and Awash river systems will benefit Ethiopian farmers. They will particularly benefit from the dams and irrigation systems that will prevent future catastrophic floods and famines.

• The bill also helps to clean up the Ethiopian electoral system by funding and training election officials. Transparency will be much closer now for Ethiopia.

• Human rights are also a critical topic in HR 5680. Ethiopian civil society will benefit from confidence building in our nation’s institutions in Ethiopia.

• Ethiopian entrepreneurs will also see the benefit of fair trade between the USA and Ethiopia. There will be money available for investment in projects that will raise the standard of living and quality of life for Ethiopians.

This is critical now! We pray for your help!