The Honorable James M. Inhofe (R-Okla)
United States Senate
53 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.
20510-3603 Phone: 202-224-4721
Fax: 202-228-0380
Dear Senator Inhofe,
Allow me to express my gratitude for your interest on the current crisis in the Horn of Africa specially, the call for a transparent democracy in Ethiopia.
Dear Senator Inhofe, On April 19, 1995 the Oklahoma City Federal Building was attacked by an evil extremist group. The attack claimed 168 lives and left over 800 injured. Until the September 11, 2001 attacks, this was the deadliest act of terrorism on U.S. soil.
Following the disputed election results of May 2005, Ethiopians marched to the streets to protest the fraudulent election process and deceptive result claimed by the ruling party. The Ethiopian government replied to their call for a true and fair election by slaughtering 193 unarmed protesters including 40 teenagers. The protesters were shot execution style at a close range, beaten and strangled to death, thousands were taken to unidentified prisons throughout the country and thousands fled the country in search of a save heaven; as the entire world turned a blind-eye on Ethiopian.
Dear Senator Inhofe, the massacre of 168 civilians in Okalahoma city and the massacre of 193 unarmed protestors in Ethiopia in 2005 is unequivocally the act of evil and the act of terrorism at its peak. The single differentiating factor may be, the first terrorist act was carried out by extremist group and the key perpetrator a 27-year-old man Timothy McVeigh was brought to justice within days. The latter is a state sponsored terrorism by a regime on innocent civilians that the government sworn to protect and never held accountable for its deed. Therefore, the United States has a moral obligation to denounce all terrorist acts despite they are being sponsored or carried out by a government, groups or a single individual.
Dear Senator Inhofe, On October 2, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 (H.R. 2003) on a unanimous vote. For millions of Ethiopians around the glob and defenders of Democracy and Civil Liberty in America, this day was cited as “A GREAT DAY FOR AMERICA AND A GREAT DAY FOR ETHIOPIA!” Because, this bill is not only intended to promote human rights in Ethiopia but also demonstrates that freedom, democracy and human rights are the fundamental values in American foreign policy.
Furthermore, the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 (H.R.2003) strengthens the relationship between the United States and Ethiopia and promotes a strategic alliance between the two countries in the Global War on Terror; while cultivating the advancements of human rights and democracy, independence of the judiciary system and freedom of press and economic development for Ethiopia.
On October 16, 1854 during his speech on the Repeal of the Missouri Compromise Abraham Lincoln said, “No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.” Therefore, I say unto you “No man is good enough to reign over 76 million Ethiopians without their consent.” Dear Senator Inhofe, Once, the 40th President of this great nation Ronald Wilson Reagan said, “People don’t start wars, governments do.” The root cause for the current crisis in the Horn of Africa specifically between the Ethiopian government vs. Somalia extremist groups, the Ethiopian government vs. Eritrea and the Ogaden region humanitarian disaster is a byproduct of 16 years tyranny by the Ethiopian government and the lack of Democracy and the Rule of Law in the region. Tragically, despite the U.S. State Department report on the lack of respect for basic human rights in Ethiopia. The regime has decided to use “The Global War on Terrorism” as a strategic mask and divert the focus from real issue at home from the international community.
Dear Senator Inhofe, While preparing this letter to your office, my research led me to believe that,
• You are a God Fearing Man with a great faith.
• You were a key supporter of H.R. 3824 (Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005.)
Today anyone who dares to speak for a transparent democracy and liberty in Ethiopia has become Endangered Specie of the Human Family. So; I ask you to support H.R. 2003 (Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007); for a human life is more precious if not equal to Endangered Species of the Wild Kingdom.
In a Senate speech you made in support of the State of Israel, you said:
“America should base its Israel policy on the text of the Bible. I believe very strongly that we ought to support Israel; that it has a right to the land. This is the most important reason: Because God said so. As I said a minute ago, look it up in the book of Genesis. It is right up there on the desk. In Genesis 13:14–17.”
The bible also says, Isaiah 18.1: “Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia.”
Exodus 5:1: “Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.”
So! I say unto you “Let the Ethiopian people be free from bondage so that they may hold a feast in the land of life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Dear Senator Inhofe, the struggle for democracy is not without its barriers. The Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 (H.R.2003) encountered many obstacles. For a country that can barely afford to feed its people, the Ethiopian government paid approximately $600,000 USD to lobbying army of DLA Piper to defeat the bill. They made hundreds of phone calls and visited members of Congress and Senators asking them not to support and vote for the bill. Despite all the wicked efforts to block the bill, on October 2, 2007, The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2003 by a unanimous vote. Because the liberty of 76,511,887 Ethiopians is not for sale.
Dear Senator Inhofe, on your recent speech on Ethiopian Resolution you stated, “I care deeply about Africa and visited the continent frequently.” Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action (1 John 3:18). So I ask that you show your true compassion for Africa by supporting the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 (H.R 2003). Because, this is not just a bill rather a sacred manuscript written to delivery 76,511,887 Ethiopians from bondage.
May God continue to bless this great nation, The United States of America.
May God bring a better day for Ethiopia.
Respectfully,
Hagos
A Concerned Citizen
Cc:
U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice
Congresswoman, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House Congressman,
Donald Payne, Chairman, House Subcommittee on Africa, Congressman,
Tom Lantos, Chair, House Committee on International Relations Congressman
Christopher H. Smith, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Africa,
Senator Russ Feingold, Chair, Senate Subcommittee on African Affairs
Ms. Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP)
Coalition For H.R. 2003
Ethiopian American Civic Advocacy (EACA)
Anuak Justice Council
Ethiopian Review