The lawmakers expressed their ideas during a meeting with two members of the Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners Canada (SOCEPP Canada).
Some of the lawmakers said “continued abuse of human rights and civic liberties cannot be tolerated, and that they would use possible avenues that their recommendations be considered for implementation.”
In the meantime, Socepp-Canada called on the government in Ottawa break its silence and condemn the ongoing repression and climate of fear in Ethiopia.
Canada must strongly condemn the repression of human and democratic rights in Ethiopia and demand a full respect of basic rights; break its silence and condemn the ongoing repression and climate of fear in Ethiopia.
Canada must join the people of Ethiopia and human rights organizations and demand that all political prisoners including Birtukan Mideksa be released without any preconditions and for the government to account for the “disappeared” including the leaders of EPRP.
Use its considerable financial leverage to end the harassment of the opposition and lift the oppressive laws on activists and the media and demand the immediate revision of the Charities and Societies, media, and the anti terrorism proclamations.
Investigate whether Canadian aid had been misused for political purposes including the buying of votes.
Send a substantial number of independent election observers to be placed in strategic election districts in consultation with the opposition. Take into account the pre-election repression when assessing the freedom and fairness of the polls.
Canada should take the initiative and work with other donor countries to put pressure on the incumbent regime to negotiate with all opposition parties and pave the road for an all inclusive national reconciliation, sustainable change and democratization in Ethiopia.
Canada should consider the suspension of non-emergency aid and or targeted sanction should the ruling group in Ethiopia refuse to heed the call for respect of rights and democratization.
SOCEPP Canada is very pleased by the increased engagement of Canadian Parliamentarians on issues pertaining to Human and Democratic Rights in Ethiopia. We urge parliamentarians and the Canadian public to pay very close attention to developments in the country as we get closer to the planned “election “scheduled for May 23, 2010.
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SOCEPP-Canada
P. O. BOX 413 STATION E
TORONTO, ON M6H 4E3 CANADA
Email: [email protected]
www.humanrightsethiopia.com
