Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma hold a protest rally in front of Senator Inhofe’s office
Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma hold a protest rally in front of Senator Inhofe’s office
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For Immediate Release – November 14, 2007
ETHIOPIAN-AMERICANS and FRIENDS of ETHIOPIA in
OKLAHOMA For H.R. 2003
First Week Peaceful Protest at Senator Inhofe’ s Oklahoma City office Successful
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – On Tuesday, November 13, 2007, Ethiopian-Americans and Friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma for H.R. 2003, held a successful peaceful demonstration in front of Senator James Inhofe’s district office in Oklahoma City. Local TV stations and international media such as Associated Press covered the peaceful demonstration.
The purpose of the demonstration was to protest Senator James Inhofe’s opposition to H.R.2003,
the “Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007” In a statement that Senator James Inhofe made on the Senate floor on October 17, 2007, he stated;
“… In Ethiopia, recently, I met with Prime Minister Meles, his wife. I met with members of the Parliament and with all the individuals there who are trying to do a good job. While there, I saw first hand their democratic progress and commitment in fighting terrorism….…..In spite of all these successes, in spite of what we have talked about and the significance of Ethiopia, I think we have to oppose H.R. 2003….This resolution’s idea of encouraging and facilitating is to impose restrictions and ultimatums. These punitive actions could damage the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Government of Ethiopia, as well as derail progress Ethiopia has made in furtherance of democracy and supporting human rights.”
Senator Inhofe went on to say, “I hope when it comes to this side, if it does come in this form, that we will be able to resoundingly defeat it. I look forward to being in Ethiopia in about 3 weeks. I will certainly hope that I don’t have to go over there after having something like this pass the Senate.”
The senior Senator from the State of Oklahoma was referring to a visit in Addis Ababa with Prime Minster Meles Zenawi – that Parade Magazine identified as one of the Worlds Worst dictators.
A delegation representing the peaceful demonstrators presented a letter with backup documents that documented the recurring human rights abuses in Ethiopia to Senator Inhofe’s district office Director. The delegation comprised of Ethiopian-Americans, and native-born Americans underlined the importance of H.R.2003 in the struggle for human rights, freedom and the rule of law in Ethiopia. The delegation stressed that they were very concerned about Senator Inhofe’s continued opposition of the Human Rights bill.
The District Director stated that Senator James Inhofe did not, at this present time, put a “hold” on H.R.2003 and that Senator Inhofe as well as his staff will be doing further research on H.R.2003. The delegation requested that Senator Inhofe put out a statement stating that he did not put a “hold” on the bill and discussed thoroughly the reasons Senator Inhofe should support H.R.2003 when it came to the Senate Floor.
After exiting Senator Inhofe’s office, the delegation reported to the crowd the result of the meeting; commitments were made from the energized crowd to continue to engage Senator James Inhofe to garner his full support in the passage of H.R.2003 from the U.S. Senate.
As promised, Senator James Inhofe put out a short statement later on in the afternoon confirming that he has not put a hold on H.R.2003 at this time. Senator Inhofe’s quote on not currently having a hold on the bill is as follows:
“I do not currently have a hold on the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 as it is still being considered in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has not yet been reported in its final form.”
-U.S. Senator James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.)
In light of today’s successful campaign towards Senator James Inhofe, Ethiopian-Americans and Friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma for H.R. 2003 commit to continue engaging Senator Inhofe so that he will give his full support to the human rights bill. Ethiopian-Americans and Friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma for H.R. 2003 urge all who have successfully supported the November 13 effort to continue to call, fax and e-mail Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) , Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) until Friday, November 16, 2007.
Ethiopian-Americans and Friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma for H.R. 2003, thank everyone for the support that was given to the Oklahoma campaign, without the united action of everyone the effort would not have shown the success seen today.
Contact Person:
Mr. Muluneh Zeleke, Spokesperson
Phone: 405-314-4560
The Woyanne regime has jammed the VOA broadcast to Ethiopia since yesterday, according to ER sources in Addis Ababa. Woyanne has been trying to jam VOA for a long time, but finally it succeeded with the help of the Chinese Government that provided technicians and powerful radio jamming equipments.
This is one more evidence that China is fast becoming a major obstacle to Africa’s move toward democracy.
Ethiopian Review and all other web sites that are critical of the regime are continued to be blocked. Ethiopian Review was briefly accessible in Ethiopia last month after the web site changed an IP address. It is now blocked again.
ER Research Unit has found out that the Woyanne helicopter gunship that disappeared last Friday had landed in Mogadishu after it was hit by machine gun bullets while carrying out a mission. The pilots and two gunners survived the landing and are heading to Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airlines plane, according to the ER sources.
MOGADISHU (AFP) — Columns of joint Ethiopia-Somali forces scoured for weapons in the capital’s main market on Monday to stem an escalating insurgency that has killed at least 60 people in five days.
The troops blocked roads then swooped from door-to-door in Bakara market, a suspected hideout of Islamist-led rebels relentlessly attacking pro-government targets in recent days. The usual bustle was absent.
“The operation will continue for a week,” said Mogadishu’s mayor and former warlord Mohamed Omar Habeb.
Traders denied they were hiding weapons in what used to be an open-air arms bazaar.
“I do not think there are weapons in the market, but let them check,” said Ali Mohamed Siad, dean of Mogadishu traders. There were no reports of recovered weaponry or civilians injured as reporters stayed away.
After talks, Ethiopian army and Bakara traders cliched a deal set enter into force on Tuesday, although previous accords have barely been implemented.
“We have agreed starting tomorrow, all roads should re-opened, business should not be disturbed and the dead should be buried,” said a trader who requested anonymity.
At least 60 people, mostly civilians, have died since Thursday in the worst clashes since April when Ethiopian troops wrested control of Mogadishu from Islamists who briefly controlled large parts of the country.
The EU humanitarian body, ECHO, pleaded Monday for civilian safety in the city.
“It is necessary for all parties to spare the civilian population, to respect the medical staff (and) to allow the evacuation of the wounded to the hospital,” said Giuseppe Angelini, the agency’s deputy for Africa.
The closure of Bakara market, a lifeline for Mogadishu dwellers, has disrupted trade in the city where violence has choked aid operations, according to residents.
The fortnight of clashes and displacement of scores more thousands of people has worsened the humanitarian crisis that has blighted the nation for 16 years, with areas just outside the city struggling to cope with the latest influx.
The Shabelle region — known as Somalia’s breadbasket — has suffered its worst crop in 13 years and relief agencies warned that major food shortages threaten the lives of thousands of children.
Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is locked in talks to find a new prime minister following the resignation late last month of Ali Mohamed Gedi.
Bloody clan bickering and power struggles that intensified after 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre have scuppered many bids to stabilise the Horn of Africa country of nine million people.
Meanwhile Monday, authorities shut down Mogadishu’s Radio Shabelle, giving no reason for the move against one of the largest independent stations in the capital.
Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said the closure, the second since September, showed that the government’s “contempt” for media had reached a “new level.”
Several neighborhoods in the Somali capital, Mogadishu are virtually deserted as residents flee to avoid fighting between Ethiopian Woyanne troops and Islamist-led insurgents Somali freedom fighters. From the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, VOA’s Peter Heinlein reports Ethiopia has rejected charges its troops engaged in reprisal killings after rebels dragged the bodies of dead soldiers through Mogadishu’s streets.
Reporters in the Somali capital say streets are empty in some of the most dangerous areas. The sprawling Bakara market in the southern part of the city was reported closed for a second day.
Tens of thousands of people fled during the past few days to avoid what one witness told VOA was some of the worst violence in Mogadishu in months.
It began Thursday, when Ethiopian Woyanne soldiers launched house to house searches and shelled suspected insurgent hideouts in southern parts of the city.
Civilians complained that the Ethiopian Woyanne troops had fired indiscriminately in reprisal attacks after insurgents dragged the mutilated bodies of dead soldiers through the streets of the capital.
The group Human Rights Watch accused both soldiers and insurgents of violating the laws of war during the exchange of hostilities.
But Bereket Simon, a senior adviser to Ethiopia’s prime minister dictator, vehemently denied there had been any revenge attacks or targeting of civilians.
“Our army is not trained in that fashion,” said Bereket Simon. “It is an army who knows its mission and gives top priority to the safety of the civilian people. So that is not true.”
Ethiopian Woyanne spokesman Bereket soundly rejected any comparison between events of the past few days and the Black Hawk incident.
“This is an accident and it cannot have an impact on Ethiopian Woyanne soldiers, I assure you,” he said. “We have made some sacrifices, but that is not that serious in our opinion. We have improved the situation in Somalia. There is more or less stability in most parts of Mogadishu, and last time somehow this accident happened, and we are singling out the perpetrators and targeting them, so it cannot be contrasted with Black Hawk Down.”
Military analysts say Ethiopia Woyanne sent as many as 2,000 fresh troops to Somalia in the past week, to bolster a force estimated to be in excess of 50,000. Ethiopia Woyanne dispatched troops to Somalia almost a year ago to aid an interim government overwhelmed by Islamist insurgents Somali freedom fighters.
Ethiopian Woyanne leaders have said they would withdraw from Somalia in favor of a robust international peacekeeping force capable of restoring order in a country that has suffered more than a decade and a half of political turmoil. But U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says sending peacekeepers to Somalia under current conditions is ‘not a realistic or viable option’.
ER Research Unit has obtained an information that a Woyanne helicopter gunship has been missing since Friday. The helicopter took off from Debre Zeit and landed in Gode for refuel. From Gode it was to head to Mogadishu with two other helicopters. But soon after take off, the helicopter, which was fully armed, disappeared. Top officials from the Ministry of Defense in Addis Ababa flew to Debre Zeit as soon as the news of the disappearance reached them. So far there is no radio contact and no sign of crash. The Woyanne officials now fear that the helicopter may have gone to Eritrea.
