Why Is It a Great Day for Ethiopia?
The history of Ethiopia has been a history of a long train of abuses of its people by a motley syndicate of autocrats, despots, dictators and tyrants. It is great day for Ethiopia because in H.R. 2003, for the first time since the elections of 2005, we have an opportunity to purge the miasma of tyranny and dictatorship that envelopes Ethiopia today. It is an effective tool to promote and institutionalize freedom, democracy, human rights, accountability and transparency in Ethiopia. H.R. 2003 helps Ethiopia live up to the true meaning of its own constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations.
Passion of Don Payne, Chris Smith, Dana Rorabacher and…: Is it “Vendetta” or Passion That Gave Birth to H.R. 2003?
The Vendetta?
On the occasion of the state visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Zenawi accused Donald Payne and the U.S. Congress of exacting a “vendetta” against him in passing H.R. 2003. Zenawi said, “If this man [Payne] is really concerned about human rights issues, he should talk about human rights violations in Eritrea, not Ethiopia.”3 He complained, “It is an unfair decision. It is the result of a vendetta… If it was about the human rights situation, they should have looked at Eritrea first.”
Why would Payne wage a personal vendetta against Zenawi? Where is the evidence of a vendetta?
But here is conclusive proof that H.R. 2003 is NOT a vendetta. The bill was co-sponsored on a bipartisan basis by 85 members of the House of Representatives. It first passed unanimously in the Africa subcommittee (11 members), then passed unanimously again in the Foreign Affairs Committee (50 members) and finally passed unanimously on the floor of the House of Representatives (435 members). It was not passed by one man. Does Zenawi mean to suggest that 435 democrats and republicans were assembled by Don Payne in a secret location, and conspired to exact a vendetta on him and his regime when they passed H.R. 2003?
Assuming, arguendo, H.R. 2003 is an act of vendetta, what is the harm done? What harm is done by requiring observance of the rule of law in Ethiopia? Or establishing independent and professional judicial institutions? Or allowing an independent and free press to function? Or guaranteeing democratic liberties such as freedom of speech, association, assembly and due process of law? Or… Or…
But even more wacky is Zenawi’s claim that Payne and the U.S. Congress should have scrutinized Eritrea before turning their attention to his regime. By why begin with Eritrea? Why not clean up Burma, the Sudan, Chad, Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Algeria, Sierra Leone, North Korea, Iran, Zimbabwe, East Timor, Uzbekistan, Kazakhistan, Kyrghistan…. before knocking on the doors of Ethiopia. Zenawi says, “There are worse guys than me out there. Deal with them first before you train your flashlight on me. Turn a blind eye and deaf ears to what I do because I am helping you fight Al-Qaeda.”
This is the kind of reasoning logicians call ignoratio elenchi; or in common vernacular, the argument that misses the point. The point is that there are massive human rights violations in Ethiopia, not that more massive or severe violations of human rights are not occurring in neighboring countries or elsewhere in the world. The fact that other countries violate the human rights of their citizens at a greater level offers neither moral absolution nor legal immunity for human rights violations or other criminal acts by the regime in Ethiopia. It certainly does not preclude accountability to a legislature that shells out $500 million a year to support that regime!
While we are on the subject of “vendetta”, let’s ask a few of our own: Was vendetta the cause of the massacre of the 193 unarmed protesters and shooting of 763 others in 2005? Or the mass incarceration of 30,000 innocent persons? Or the 20-month imprisonment of opposition leaders? Or jailing of independent journalists? Or continued detention of thousands of ordinary citizens? Or…. Or…
The Passion
Why are House democrats and republicans familiar with the human rights situation in Ethiopia so passionate about doing something to improve it? What would drive ordinarily genteel members of Congress — who rarely, if ever, use abrasive language in their proceedings — use such word and phrases as “thugs”, “gangsters”, “vicious dictators”, “petty tyrants” to describe Zenawi’s regime? Surely, anyone who has viewed the video stream of the mark-up proceedings will attest to the passionate and bipartisan advocacy on behalf of human rights and democracy in Ethiopia.
Why should any of them care about Ethiopia? Don Payne does not have relatives in Ethiopia. It is doubtful that any other member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee has an extended network of family, friends and relatives in Ethiopia to care so passionately about Ethiopia. The answer is simple. They love Ethiopia and its people. They care about their Ethiopian American constituents. Talk to any member of Congress who is familiar with the human rights situation in Ethiopia and you will understand what I mean. Talk to Payne, Smith, Honda, Rorabacher, Royce, Jackson-Lee, Lantos, the whole bunch. Ask them how they feel about Ethiopia and Ethiopians. Only then will you truly appreciate the passion behind the words… continued on next page
10 thoughts on “One small step for the U.S. Congress, one giant leap for Ethiopian human rights”
Prof Al Mariam – We are so proud of Mr Donald Payne, the Capitain of the Freedom Train – Ethiopia and all freedom loving people owe him big.
As an Ethiopian I am very proud of you (Prof Al Mariam) for your relentless energy and wisdom in this very frustrating time. You help draft this legislation and answered all the questions at every turn and guided the legislators through the complex political landscape!!!
You are my hero – unflinching, unassuming, a man of highest integrity and most of all intellectually loaded. I hope Ethiopia and Ethiopians will celebrate your contribution one day in a free and Democratic Ethiopia – You are a man of substance in times of bravado and hypocrisy shown by others.
Prof Al Mariam – I salute you and wish to express my sincere thanks!!!
Gashie Alemayehu
Earlier today I was sharing this quotation of Victor Hugo with my paltalk brothers and sister and now when I read it on your article, I said to myself ‘indeed the time has come and it is now’!!
“One can resist the invasion of an army, but one cannot resist the invasion of ideas whose time has come.”
It is our time NOW and we are the future of Ethiopia!!!
God Bless you for your wonderful message.
I concur with everyone. You have achieved something no one has been able to do, help pass bill against the Woyanes despite their religious clowns led by Ephrem, and their $50K most powerful lobbyists.
Many in Washington including the recently appointed the so-called phony acters and Hailu Shawl foreign relation clowns have tried to do it until you came to the scene and took charge.
Keep it up and please don’t worry. Let them get the credit and we know who is doing the actual work, Al Mariam and his supporters.
Dawit Hailu
Prof. Alemayehu I have no words to express my appreciation
the one word only one word I can say is You are Ande Le-Enato Ye Ethiopia Amelake Eskezezerhe Yebarkeh. Yo have offered somithing that cannot be quantifyied in any shape or form. Thank You !!! Thank You!!!!!
Prof. Alemayehu i don’t know how i express my respect to you ,today we need the real ethiopian like you, don’t lesson or give attention for those loser just do it and you show them the way of thinking ,strugling and caring for your people not like them made “hamete” for 35 years and it will be more unless if they need progress i hope you and kinjet delegates are ready to teach them, any way you are my hero ,you are hero for ethiopian and any one who have a good vision for ethiopian democarcy and human right strugle
god bless you! god bless Ethiopia
Prof. Alemayehu, I read your piece with absolute interest and the hope that very humane , knowledgable & very dedicated people like you and people like congressman Payne and his fellow congress members out there are doing something for humanity and the service of truth. We were at the verge of getting frustrated by the stand and double standard The US taken towards the human right abuse and governance by coercion and terrorizing it’s own citizen as compared to that of American open disapproval of vote rigging and human right abuse in UKRAIN & GEORGIA. Fortunately because of you and those American freedom fighters in congress we are able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I also appreciate the statment you made about vigillance and the challenge this bill faces in the senate as being repeatedly being portrayed by the regim & it’s supporters in Ethiopia and the US. please, please and again please donot get frustrated from temporary hitches and failures, because the fate of millions of people and the country enlarge depends on fighters of your caliber. Never loose hope as the ALMIGHTY won’t let those fighting for the truth down. May God give you the strength and the wisdom in your fight.
Hello Prof Al Mariam, You have united us when they try to divide us, you have made a call for action, you have done it professionaly and with integrity. you should proud of your great work. your are one in a million. we all love you
and keep it up .
You are a respectful and different person. It is such type of educated individuals that our country needs at this time. you are doing a great job. Let God be with you.
Prof Al Mariam – it was just absolutely fantastic to read your message to all of us. Thank you from the bottom my heart for the work you have been doing to advance human right in our home land Ethiopia.
Ethiopians and history will remember your contribution for generation to come.
Victor Hugo
“One can resist the invasion of an army, but one cannot resist the invasion of ideas whose time has come.”
very true indeed!