LOS ANGELES, CA – Majority Leader Karen Bass of the California State Assembly
(D-Los Angeles), whose legislative district encompasses Little Ethiopia, recently introduced
a joint resolution on human rights in Ethiopia which urges the US Congress and President of the United States to demand the Ethiopian government to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners in the country.
Assembly Joint Resolution (A.J.R.) 12 “urges the Congress and the President of
the United States to demand that the Ethiopian government immediately and
unconditionally release all political prisoners and journalists, and fulfill its obligations
under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and urge the California delegation in
the House of Representatives and the Senate to support and cosponsor ‘The Ethiopian
Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2006’ in the 110th Congress.”
The Coalition for H.R. 5680 expressed its deep gratitude to Majority Leader Bass
for her continued interest and deep commitment to the cause of human rights in Ethiopia.
Prof. Al Mariam, speaking on behalf of the Coalition, commented: “Majority Leader
Karen Bass has been extraordinarily responsive to her Ethiopian American constituents in
Los Angeles. By introducing this resolution, Majority Leader Bass reflects the deep
concerns shared by her constituents over gross human rights abuses in Ethiopia, and
the Assembly Joint Resolution (A.J.R.) 12 “urges the Congress and the President of
the United States to demand that the Ethiopian government immediately and
unconditionally release all political prisoners and journalists, and fulfill its obligations
under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and urge the California delegation in
the House of Representatives and the Senate to support and cosponsor ‘The Ethiopian
Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2006’ in the 110th Congress.”
The Coalition for H.R. 5680 expressed its deep gratitude to Majority Leader Bass
for her continued interest and deep commitment to the cause of human rights in Ethiopia.
Prof. Al Mariam, speaking on behalf of the Coalition, commented: “Majority Leader
Karen Bass has been extraordinarily responsive to her Ethiopian American constituents in
Los Angeles. By introducing this resolution, Majority Leader Bass reflects the deep
concerns shared by her constituents over gross human rights abuses in Ethiopia, and the
need for swift action by the U.S. Government to alleviate the situation. All Ethiopian
Americans are all profoundly indebted to Majority Leader Karen Bass.”
On the heels of the California resolution, the Coalition for H.R. 5680 today
announced the launching of a 50-State Legislative Initiative to stop human rights abuses
by mobilizing American state legislatures to take a stand on the acute human rights
situation in Ethiopia, and urging the release of political prisoners and passage of
H.R.5680.
Prof. Al stated, “The effort we have launched at the state level supplements our
national efforts to educate the American people on the gross and massive abuses of
human rights in Ethiopia. It is imperative on Ethiopian Americans, indeed, it’s our moral
obligation to expose the monstrous crimes and atrocities that are being committed today
by the ruling regime in Ethiopia to the American people through their state and local
representatives.”
A number of efforts in various state legislatures are currently under way. Meron
Ahadu of the Coalition for H.R. 5680 said, “There is growing realization among
Ethiopian Americans that resources at the state and local levels could be used to impact
national policy making. We believe we can positively influence our members of
Congress in our respective states and help pass H.R.5680 if we could present to them
legislative resolutions from each of the 50 states. Such results could add considerable
moral pressure on members of Congress to pass the bill. After all, Congress can not be
seen slacking behind the states in standing up for human rights in Ethiopia.”
Prof. Al further emphasized the role of Ethiopian Americans in educating and
informing the American people as part of the ingoing grassroots efforts to more
effectively advance the cause of human rights in Ethiopia. He added: “If we can
effectively educate the American people on the plight of the thousands of government
torture and murder victims, and the tens of thousands of political prisoners rotting in
Zenawi’s jails, we can mobilize American taxpayers to demand a stop to the use of our
American tax dollars to support the regime of a ruthless dictator in Ethiopia. We have to
get the truth out to the American public, and the truth shall help make Ethiopia and
Ethiopians free.”
The Coalition for H.R. 5680 called upon all Ethiopian Americans in the United
States to join in the 50-State Legislative Initiative and launch their own individual
efforts in each state of the union. Prof. Al reminded Ethiopian Americans: “We have a
choice. We can talk about human rights abuses and violations in Ethiopia until the cows
come home. Or we can put our collective shoulders to the grindstone and get to work.
The time has come to fish or cut bait. When our brothers and sisters are walking a
tightrope in Ethiopia everyday, we can’t afford the luxury of a slow dance. We must act
now, collectively and collaboratively, as we did with our 100,000 letters-in-ten-days
campaign.” (An update on the 100,000 letter campaign will be provided shortly.)
The Coalition for 5680 urges all supporters of human rights in the 50 states of the
union to use the California resolution as a template and example for their individual
state efforts.
Resolutions
Following is the full text of the resolution:
This measure would urge the Congress and the President of the United
States to demand that the Ethiopian government immediately and
unconditionally release all political prisoners and journalists and fulfill
its obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and
urge the California delegation in the House of Representatives and the
Senate to support and cosponsor “The Ethiopian Freedom, Democracy
and Human Rights Act of 2006” in the 110th Congress.
WHEREAS, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which
constitutes a common standard of achievement for all peoples and
all nations, is the source of inspiration and has been the basis for
the United Nations in making advances in standard setting as
contained in the existing international human rights instruments,
in particular, the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights and the African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples’
Rights, and has been incorporated by reference in the Ethiopian
Constitution as the part of the supreme law of the land; and
WHEREAS, The Ethiopian government has repeatedly violated
the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights and the African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples’
Rights; and
WHEREAS, Human rights conditions in Ethiopia have
deteriorated significantly in the aftermath of the May 2005
parliamentary elections, and the Ethiopian government has
undertaken a massive crackdown on political opposition and
dissent, including arrests of opposition leaders, journalists, human
rights defenders and civic society leaders, and extrajudicial killings
of protesters by using excessive and deadly force; and
WHEREAS, Documented violations of human rights in Ethiopia
include widespread violation of privacy rights, warrantless searches
and seizures, arrests without probable cause, and severe
curtailments of basic human rights, including freedom of speech,
press, association, and assembly; and
WHEREAS, The massive crackdown on opposition and dissent
has resulted in the incarceration of, among others, Dr. Berhanu
Negga, mayor-elect of Addis Abeba, Hailu Shawul, chairman of
the coalition opposition party, Coalition for Unity and Democracy
(Kinijit), Yakob Hailemariam, an academic and former United
Nations genocide prosecutor at the Rwanda tribunal and former
United Nations Special Envoy in the Cameroon/Nigeria border
dispute; Mesfin Woldemariam, university professor and president
of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, Birtukan Mideksa, one
of the few female judges in the country, a number of newly elected
parliamentarians, over 14 editors and reporters of independent and
privately owned newspapers; and
WHEREAS, The government of Ethiopia established a
commission of inquiry to investigate the violence that occurred in
the aftermath of the May 2005 parliamentary elections, and the
chairman and vice chairman of this commission reported in a
briefing to the United States House of Representatives that the
Ethiopian security forces had used excessive force resulting in the
deaths of 193 persons and serious injury to 763 others; and
WHEREAS, The United Nations Commissioner for Human
Rights has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating human
rights situation in Ethiopia, and other respected independent
international human rights organizations, including Amnesty
International, Human Rights Watch, and Genocide Watch, have
expressed equally deep concern, and called for the unconditional
and immediate release of all political prisoners in the country and
improvements in the human rights situation; and
WHEREAS, Ethiopian-Americans in the United States are
deeply concerned about human rights violations in their native
country and seek the immediate and unconditional release of
opposition leaders and all political prisoners in Ethiopia; and
WHEREAS, House Resolution 5680, the “Ethiopia Freedom,
Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2006,” which passed the
House International Relations Committee of the United States
House of Representatives on a unanimous vote, demanded the
immediate and unconditional release of opposition leaders and all
political prisoners in Ethiopia; and
WHEREAS, The Ethiopian government continues to repress all
peaceful attempts by the Ethiopian people to bring democratic
change by denying universally recognized liberties, including
freedom of speech, assembly, association, and of the press, and
employing repressive measures aimed at eliminating opposition
and dissent; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature of California condemns
the widespread violation of human rights in Ethiopia and the use
of violence and deadly force to suppress political opposition and
dissent; and be it further
Resolved, That the California State Legislature calls on the
Congress and President of the United States to demand that the
Ethiopian government immediately and unconditionally release
all political prisoners and journalists and fulfill its obligations
under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as incorporated
in its constitution, the African (Banjul) Charter on Human and
Peoples’ Rights and established norms of human rights, democratic
principles and the rule of law; and be it further
Resolved, That the government of the United States work
vigorously to secure as soon as possible the release of political
prisoners and prisoners of conscience, as well as closely monitor
their treatment in prison, and further demand disclosure of the total
number of persons detained on political charges throughout the
country, and ensure that all political prisoners and other defendants
are treated humanely while in custody in accordance with
international and regional standards for the treatment of prisoners,
such as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the
Treatment of Prisoners, with particular regard to medical treatment,
family visits, and reading and writing materials; and be it further
Resolved, That the government of the United States demand
that the Ethiopian government forbear from interference in the
exercise of the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, and
association in Ethiopia, including the right to demonstrate
peacefully, the right to publish opinions freely through an
independent press, and the right to engage in civil society activism,
and put an end to the government media monopoly; and be it
further
Resolved, That the government of the United States work
through its representatives in the United Nations to establish an
independent international commission of inquiry to investigate the
broad scope of human rights abuses in Ethiopia, and to identify
those responsible for human rights violations; and be it further
Resolved, That the government of the United States demand
resumption of the process of reform and improvement of
democratic institutions, including a serious and international
examination of the results of the parliamentary elections held in
May 2005; and be it further
Resolved, That the Congress adopt a resolution on the human
rights situation in Ethiopia, aimed particularly at protecting and
supporting the Ethiopian human rights defenders on trial, in line
with the European Union Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders;
and be it further
Resolved, That the government of the United States encourage
and support the African Human Rights Commission and its member
states to more actively investigate and report on human rights
violations throughout the country and bring these to the attention
of the Ethiopian government and the international community for
remedy; and be it further
Resolved, That the government of the United States demand
that the Ethiopian government prosecute the individuals, officials,
and others who were responsible for the deaths of 193 unarmed
and peaceful protesters and scores of others who sustained serious
injuries as a result of the unlawful use of deadly force by
government security forces; and be it further
Resolved, That the government of United States demand that
the Ethiopian government implement specific measures to ensure
the independence of the judiciary and institute due process to
guarantee defendants accused of crimes the right to be tried by a
competent and independent court, and the rights to the presumption
of innocence, confrontation, and compulsory process, speedy trial,
and assistance of counsel; and be it further
Resolved, That the Congress pass “The Ethiopia Freedom,
Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2006,” which was introduced
as House Resolution 5680 in the 109th Congress, Second Session,
and passed the House International Relations Committee with a
unanimous vote; and be it further
Resolved, That the California delegation in the House of
Representatives and the Senate support and cosponsor “The
Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Act” upon its
introduction in the 110th Congress and that Senators Barbara Boxer
and Dianne Feinstein sign on as sponsors of the bill in the Senate;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the
Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and
Representative from California in the Congress of the United
States.
