Washington Update, July 14, 2008
Mesfin Mekonen, Kinijit International Foreign Relations


   1. Sen. Russell Feingold made an excellent statement about Ethiopia on the floor of the Senate recently. Sen. Feingold described the terrible human rights situation and the increasingly desperate food shortages in Ethiopia. He also attacked the Meles regime’s plans to crack down on non-governmental organizations, saying that rather than make NGOs more accountable, they would “erode the government’s own accountability and transparency by impeding these organizations’ ability to serve their essential watchdog functions.” He predicted that passage of legislation on NGOs pending in the Ethiopian parliament would “send a negative message, that of a government desperately seeking to hold on to power and dismantle any groups that might expose its failures or
 limitations.”

2. Kinijit International and Kinijit chapters in the U.S. have held several teleconferences with leadership in Ethiopia. The chapters are cooperating to press for Senate introduction and enactment of H.R. 2003. It continues to be essential that every Ethiopian in the United States contact his or her Senator, especially those who serve on the Foreign Relations Committee, and advocate passage of H.R. 2003. When  contacting members of Congress, it is important to stress that the looming famine in Ethiopia underscores the importance of H.R. 2003. Increased democracy and human rights are essential to building a stable country that can organize itself to avoid famines. In addition, H.R. 2003 includes specific assistance aimed at helping make the Ethiopian agricultural sector self-sufficient.
 
3. Engineer Hailu Shawel, President of Kinijit continues to organize throughout Ethiopia and work for democracy, human rights and economic development. He recently held a meeting with over 800 representatives of every region of Ethiopia and also met with the youth and Women yesterday to mobilized their involvement in the peaceful struggle,  Continued financial support from Ethiopian Americans is critical to maintaining progress.

Concerned Ethiopians should focus their efforts on advancing democracy and human rights in Ethiopia. Rather than attack each other, they should ask themselves what they are, or could be doing to advance this important work. Bickering and personal attacks distract attention from our common goals and provide openings for the Meles regime’s propaganda machine to sow discontent and division.

 

 

Posted on 16 July 2008 @ 00:56

 

 

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