By Scott A Morgan
In Recent Weeks there has been some focus on events in the Horn of Africa. A Border Clash between Djibouti and Eritrea appears to have stablized and intervention by France and the United States is not expected at this time. However this is not the only area where the US should be concerned about.
Also during this time period there has been ample criticism of the US Relations with [the Meles dictatorship in] Ethiopia. Ethiopian Woyanne Forces are currently in neighboring Somalia propping up a weak Western Backed Regime. There are two main issues that the Zenawi regime has to deal with. First there are persistent reports of Famine in the Country and there is an insurgency currently active in the Ogaden.
In a recent report Human Rights Watch was very critical of the close relations between the Ethiopians Woyannes and the US and British Governments. The Group feels that the support of London and Washington gives the Zenawi Regime Carte Blanche to deal with its adversaries within the country and in its neighbors.
There has been an effort within the US Congress to have both Transparency and Accountability in dealing with the Ethiopian Woyanne Government. The Ethiopian Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 passed the US House of Representatives. It is currently dormant in the US Senate. The Legislation was first introduced in response to the Highly Controversial Elections in 2005 and their violent aftermath.
Key elements of this legislation include a suspension of US Military Assistance and other sanctions until the Zenawi Government follows specific steps outlined by the US Government. Exemptions will be allowed for Peacekeeping and Counter-Terrorism Operations. Any Government Official that is found to have used Lethal Force against peaceful demonstrators would be prevented from entering the United States.
The Ethiopian Woyanne Regime has spent over a million Dollars in attempting to defeat this legislation. It has recruited prior members of Congress such as former House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas to defeat this Bill. One tactic that is being used is that this Bill will be detrimental to the National Security Interests of the United States.
The announcement of the timing of the Bill being stalled in the Senate coming on the heels of the criticism of turning a blind eye towards Ethiopian Human Rights Violations will have conspiracy theorists going crazy with glee. After all, there was a concerted effort by members of the Ethiopian Diaspora in the USA to support this Bill. This could be the time when American Human Rights Defenders to contact their Senators to bring this Bill to a vote.
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The Authors publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet (morganrights.tripod.com) and comments on US Policy towards Africa.