WASHIGNTON, DC – HR 4423, the Ethiopian Freedom, Human Rights and Democracy Act, continues to move forward in the House. Congressional staff say that several more members of Congress have indicated that they will sign on as co-sponsors. Staff of the subcommittee on International Affairs are expected to meet this week to discuss the bill. Interest in the legislation continues to grow.

The key point to get this legislation passed is to emphasize that promoting democracy and human rights in Ethiopia is not a Republican or a Democratic issue and there is no reason for it to be controversial or partisan. We need to continue to reach out to members of Congress from both parties.

Donald Yamamoto, Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs, briefed Dr. Seyoum Solomon, CUD representative and Mesfin Mekonen about his recent trip to Ethiopia. He said that the State Dept. continues to demand the release of political prisoners, especially leaders of the CUD. The State Dept. plans to make additional public statements soon, indicating that the only way for Ethiopia to move toward democracy is for these political prisoners to be released.

Yamamoto reported that he visited several of the political prisoners, including Prof. Mesfin Woledmariam, Ato Hailu Shawel, and Dr. Berhanu Nega. They are in good health. Yamamoto told them that the U.S. considers them legitimate
leaders of the Ethiopian opposition. Yamamoto said that the U.S.
government policy is to maintain a dialogue with both the Ethiopian government and the opposition.

Dr. Seyoum Solomon and Mesfin Mekonen argued strongly for the U.S. government to more solidly support democracy and human rights and urged it to take a much tougher stand against the oppressive regime.