EAD hoped that the Ambassador’s personal relationship with the regime does not color her policy decisions. It urged Dr. Frazer to distance herself from the regime and to adopt a more balanced approach.

Although the push for democracy is said to be the cornerstone of President Bush’s foreign policy, Dr. Frazer’s action on Ethiopia is contradictory to the declared US policy.

The advocacy group called on the United States to pressure Zenawi to put a stop to the violence and human rights violations.

Some of the demands include the following: An end to the criminalization of political discourse and activity by the Prime Minister; an end to the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians; the release of all political prisoners; a visit by the Red Cross to all prisons and a full accounting of all those killed and arrested; and independent investigation of all the killings; reform of parliamentary and electoral systems with the full participation of the opposition.