Millennial Challenge: Last minute attempt to force HR2003 on the floor

Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc for Peace and Prosperity- www.globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; www.SolomonicCrown.org

Dear Global Patriotic Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:

It is becoming evident that the HR2003 Activist group are not prepared to accept defeat until the last minute. They continue to believe they can twist the hands of congressmen to do their bidding.

Congressmen and women and the likes of Speaker Nanci Pellosi, did not become speaker in a male dominated field by accident but rather with competence, honor, deligence and most importantly for being visionary leaders of their time.

To try and force such undiplomatic and suicidal motion speaks a lot about the inexperience and shallow perspectives of those who try to impose their negative will on political leaders.

This is a very unique level of dedication or activism that does not know legal and protocol bounds. In effect, this is the main problem of those who tried to command an Orange Revolution from Abroad using the Kinijit outfits. This appears to be their last ditich. As usual they will lose as they do not know what is right and wrong or how things should be done. In democracy you represent, you dialogue and you never force or ditate terms.

These extremists were creating havoc in Addis and went to jail and their partners are now crowding European and American jails not knowing how to demonstrate peacefully. The recent experience in DC was so embarassing even the VOA Amharic program decided to drop the news in mid air or broadcast that created a serious sense of shame by the listners world wide.

I always wonder, if the same level of tenacity and persitence could be seen on positive issues to save lives, to feed the hungry, to heal the sick and most importantly to invest in short and long term development. Good governance comes from positive attitudes and not from criminal and deceitful and punitive approach.

However, it appears we are not driven by positive issues that benefit every one but by negative vindictive and vengeful spirit that humiliate a people, a nation and a government in this time of critical need for win-win partnerships for US-Ethiopia relations.

I wonder if some one campaigned so vehimently against the jobs and privilages of people like Professor Alemayehu, like some did successfully to fire the controversial and treasonous professor Churchil in Colorado, would Alemayehu (I saw the world) defend himself in any way. How can one spend so much time and effort to punish the poor Ethiopian people who will eventually be the main losers in this campaign.

I just wonder, even if the so called CUD or Kinijit leaders who just came out of jail with the notion of pardon and reconciliation want to go so far. I find this very interesting and really reprehensible. It appears that the people of Ethiopia should be informed about such level of treason by Diaspora group who claim to be dedicated to protect the principle of democracy which in effect is representation and no one appointed or announced the representative status of these HR 2003 Group who are deliberately misleading the United Congress, which in itself is a crime.

The conforting issue of all this faisco, is that the people who are in congress have common sense; and, they will not do any thing that will endanger their careers by bungling US- Ethiopian relations and the prospect of the whole Ethiopain, African and people of African descent in the USA campaigning against them in the upcoming elections.

After all, there is a limit for every thing. Prof Alemyehu Mariam (I have seen the world), has gone too far. We will remember this and we are posting this for posterity and most importantly to alert our friends and our citizens to double their efforts against such militant campaign.

Please read on and see for yourselves the level of this losing campaign.

May the Lord bring wisdom to those who are driven by hate and revenge. Unfortunately, the US Congress and Senate and specially the White House will not take such campaign lightly. We need to be engaged to the finish.

With regards and seeking your considered opinion and letters to the Speaker of the House in the same light as these letters.

with regards

Dr B of GSE4P&P


25 July 2007
Dear Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Chairperson Tom Lantos and Africa Subcomittee members:


Re: Encouraging you to make HR2003; a win-win partnership bill and remove punitive and pejorative language that does not respect the strong US-Ethiopian Alliance on the War on Terror.

I am writing to encourage your office to taken no further Action on H.R. 2003, unless it is reflects the excellent US-Ethiopia relations and strong unique alliance on the War on Terror.

Given the positive developments in Ethiopia last week, I am writing to urge that the House Foreign Affairs Committee take no further action on H.R. 2003, the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007.

As I am sure you are aware, on July 20th, President Girma Wolde-Giorgis pardoned 38 political leaders who were imprisoned during the violence that followed the May 2005 elections. Many of us who follow events closely in the Horn and Ethiopia in particular believe that the current Presidential Pardon supported by the “Traditional Ethiopian Elder’s Council” is an important step on Ethiopia’s path toward building a better country and stronger democracy.

Most importantly, this act demonstrates that progress can be made when Ethiopia is able to address its own challenges without outside interference. It is critical to acknowledge that Ethiopians do not like nor respect overt or covert pressure outside the normal diplomatic protocol and the current HR2003 is likely to generate unnecessary strain in the otherwise excellent US-Ethiopia relations.

I sincerely believe that Congressman Payne’s bill, (HR20003) while well-intentioned, constitutes meddling in the internal affairs of Ethiopia and will have the unintended consequence of making democracy harder, not easier, to achieve.

I encourage you and your colleagues to consider the facts on the ground and substantiate with irrefutable evidence some of the allegations made in the draft Bill and make the appropriate recommendations for transparency and accountability that the bill is demanding on the deliberations and assumptions of this bill in the first place.

I thank you for your continued interest in promoting the ever improving US-Ethiopia relations in the coming Ethiopian Millennium.

Sincerely,

Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Founder and Chair of Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc.

Cc: Ambassador Samuel Assefa-Ethiopian Embassy, Washington, DC.
Honorable Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State
President George Bush, President of United States of America




Dear Congressman and woman:

Given the positive developments in Ethiopia last week, I am writing to ask that you reconsider further action on H.R. 2003, the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007.

As I am sure you are aware, on July 20th, President Girma Wolde-Giorgis pardoned 38 political leaders who were imprisoned during the violence that followed the May 2005 elections.

While the past cannot be forgotten, we are now presented with the chance to close this chapter of Ethiopia’s history and open one where we all work together toward a common objective that benefits all Ethiopians.

With this opportunity we can ensure Ethiopia remains on the path toward building a better country and stronger democracy. While Congressman Payne’s bill is well-intentioned, I believe that this moment calls for positive measures, not punitive ones.


Sincerely,





Dear Congressman Payne,

Given the positive developments in Ethiopia last week, I am writing to ask that you reconsider further action on H.R. 2003, the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007.

As you are aware, on July 20th, President Girma Wolde-Giorgis pardoned 38 political leaders who were imprisoned during the violence that followed the May 2005 elections.

As evidence of the growth of democracy in Ethiopia, the pardons were, in part, the result of work done by an unofficial group of Ethiopian elders who have been making substantial progress over the last few months in bridging the political and legal divide between the opposition leaders and the Ethiopian government.

While the past cannot be forgotten, we are now presented with the chance to close this chapter of Ethiopia’s history and open one where we all work together toward a common objective that benefits all Ethiopians.

With this opportunity we can ensure Ethiopia remains on the path toward building a better country and stronger democracy. While I appreciate the good intentions behind your bill, I believe that this moment calls for positive measures, not punitive ones.


Sincerely,
**************************************************************************

Here is HR2003 Campaign material for your review.


http://www.hr2003.org E-mail: passhr2003@hr2003.org Tel: 323-988-5688 Fax: 323-924-5563

URGENT! For Immediate Release

July 29, 2007

FAX letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Washington – The Coalition for H.R. 2003 calls upon all pro-democracy Ethiopians, Ethiopian Americans and friends of Ethiopia worldwide to IMMEDIATELY fax letter to the US House of Representatives Speaker’s Washington, DC office and follow-up with a telephone call starting July 30, 2007, Monday, 9 AM Eastern Standard Time.

Fax your letters, DO NOT MAIL. It takes 2 weeks to deliver a letter to congress because of security inspections.

Office telephone and fax numbers are listed below.

Copy and paste, and modify the letter below to fit your special situation.

Documents can be FAXED during the day or at night. They will be read whenever they are sent. If you do not have a fax machine, please use fax services available at places like Kinkos, Staples, Office Max and others. You can also ask friends who have faxes to send them for you.

Try to fax your letter before Monday morning. Make sure to call and confirm that your fax was received any time after July 30, 2007, Monday, 9 AM, Eastern Standard Time (Washington, DC time).

July 29, 2007


The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
United States House of Representatives
235 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0508

BY FAX 202-225-4188

Telephone: 202-225-4965



Re: H.R. 2003 (Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007)



Dear Madam Speaker:


I am writing to inquire on your reported opposition and directives to Chairman Tom Lantos not to mark-up H.R. 2003 (Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007). This bipartisan bill authored by Africa Subcommittee Chair, Donald Payne, is co-sponsored by 83 members of the House, including all members of the Black Caucus.

H.R. 2003 was drafted with the aim of helping Ethiopia become a stable democratic society with strong human rights protections for its citizens, and to strengthen the Ethiopian American partnership in the global war on terror. The bill is fundamentally about democratic reform and accountability, restoration of the democratic rights of the people, strengthening human rights and civic society organizations and human rights monitoring and reporting processes, increasing the independence of the judiciary, prosecution of human rights abusers, improving election procedures, removing press censorship and repeal of restrictive press laws and provision of various training programs for democratic participation, and limiting U.S. security assistance to peacekeeping and counter-terrorism only, among others.

I am extremely concerned that you have directed Chairman Lantos not to mark-up the bill and thereby keep it from getting floor action. I would very much like to know why you have given such direction which will effectively block passage of the bill in the House.



I am therefore asking to find out your reasons for blocking the bill so that I can help you understand its importance to my brothers and sisters, parents and relatives in Ethiopia.


Madame Speaker:

Is your concern with the language in H.R. 2003 that requires the “Secretary of State [to] establish a mechanism to provide financial support to local and national human rights groups and other relevant civil society organizations to help strengthen human rights monitoring and regular reporting on human rights conditions in Ethiopia”?



Or are you concerned about the provision in the bill having to do with “establish(ing) a program to provide legal support for political prisoners and prisoners of conscience and to assist local groups or groups from outside Ethiopia that are active in monitoring the status of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia”?

1

Could it be the language in H.R. 2003 which “seek(s) to increase the independence of the Ethiopian judiciary through facilitation of joint discussions for court personnel, officials from the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice, relevant members of the legislature, and civil society representatives on international human rights standards”?

Or the provision which “create(s) and support(s) a judicial monitoring process, consisting of local and international groups, to monitor judicial proceedings throughout Ethiopia, with special focus on unwarranted government intervention on strictly judicial matters, and to investigate and report on actions to strengthen an independent judiciary”?

Does the provision which “establish(es) a program to strengthen private media in Ethiopia, provide support for training purposes, offer technical and other types of support as necessary, and expand programming by the Voice of America to Ethiopia” trouble you?

Is it possible that the language in H.R. 2003 which “seek(s) the unconditional release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia” presents some ambiguity for you?


Do you find repugnant the provision which directs the U.S. “President [to] provide assistance for the rehabilitation of victims of torture in Ethiopia at centers established for such purposes”?


Madame Speaker: I know that a champion of human rights and a member of the highly respected Congressional Human Rights Caucus. I and thousands of my Ethiopian American friends would like to work with you in helping my family and friends in Ethiopia enjoy the blessings of liberty and human rights.


Please stand with us! Help us in our struggle for human rights in Ethiopia. Be that strong link in the chain of freedom, democracy and human rights forged by Donald Payne and Chris Smith in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. History will remember that when the clock struck midnight, you were on the side of your proud and loyal Ethiopian American constituents, and not the distant tyrants repudiated by their own people.


I will follow up with a telephone call to your office in the next day or so to find out your responses to my questions above. Thank you.


GOD BLESS AMERICA!


Sincerely,


Your name,

Address

Telephone #



cc: Rep. Steny Hoyer, Majority Leader, Rep. Donald Payne, Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.