Open letter to President Barack Obama

EACA Advocacy | May 25, 2009

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
(202) 456-1111

Re: Human Rights Concerns in Ethiopia

Dear Mr. President:

Your election as President of the United States of America has brought considerable hope among many Ethiopian-Americans and among Africans in general. This hope is founded on the promise of significant and sound changes in the US policies towards Africa.

We are writing this letter to convey to you our growing concerns over ongoing human rights violations, war crimes, government-sponsored brutality, ethnic cleansing, suppression of independent media, torture and illegitimate detentions of those who criticize the Government.

The recent arrest of over forty people in Ethiopia, including individuals who happened to be relatives of opposition leaders, on fabricated charges of plotting a coup is an example to our growing concerns that demonstrate the instability of Ethiopia’s government as well as its ongoing disregard to the international human rights laws.

The situation in Ethiopia is perilous every day. We strongly believe that the lesser the US makes urgent changes in Washington’s policies, the further destabilization of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.

Recognizing your commitment to protect the US interests, improve the crisis in Africa and prevent the destabilization of the region we urge you:

1. To denounce the most recent arrest of opposition members, their families and demand the Ethiopian authorities stop the further violations of international law,
2. To demand the immediate release of all political prisoners and ensure that the practice of arbitrary arrest and unfair trials shall come to an end in Ethiopia,
3. To take immediate and tangible steps to ensure that the actions of the Ethiopian government shall comply fully with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
4. To demand that the Ethiopian government be accountable and responsible for violating International Human rights Law, and
5. To ensure that any kind of U.S. aid to Ethiopia be granted subject to the recognition, promotion as well as implementation of Democratic Ideals and Civil and Political Rights.

Sincerely,

Mekdese B Kassa,
Acting secretary
[email protected]
www.eacamoveon.org
PO Box 1292
Lorton, Virginia 22199-1292

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*Mekdese Kassa is also a community activist and a leadership Member of African Immigrants Movement for Obama (AIMO) (http://www.tnj.com/africa_focus.php)