To Senator______________

To Senator_______________:

On October 2^nd, the United States House of Representatives voted to send HR 2003, The Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007, introduced by Congressman Donald Payne, to the Senate. It is a bill that requires Ethiopia to achieve certain benchmarks in these areas or withhold aid and security funds unless they are met.

On the surface, it sounds good to demand accountability from any government, but in reality it is one of the worst legislative pieces crafted, and will not achieve what it sets out to do. First of all, who are the proponents of this bill? It is being spearheaded by some Ethiopian political operatives who have an axe to grind, some of whom were members of the defunct Communist Military Junta that terrorized Ethiopia for seventeen years before being thrown out of office by the present government. And behind these few are many enemies of Ethiopia, namely: Eritrea, Egypt, and Libya, supporting and funding them.

Besides being an ally of the United States in the fight against global terrorism as was clearly demonstrated in its intervention in Somalia against the Islamic Courts Union, (ICU) Ethiopia has made, and continues to make tremendous strides in democracy, in human rights, and in good governance in the last fifteen years. Democracy cannot be speeded up by sheer pressure from outside. It must be nurtured and allowed to grow from within. This bill is not one that will achieve its goal. It is only intended to hurt Ethiopia.

One can only be puzzled by this action and be amazed that the House would not even debate a Resolution that places sanctions on one of our allies in the fight against terrorism in the Horn of Africa. Who will the United States turn to for assistance in the fight against terrorism in the Horn: Yemen, Somalia, Sudan or Congressman’s Payne’s friends in Eritrea? Furthermore, how come there is no such bill with similar benchmarks for the scores of dictatorial and repressive nations in Africa and elsewhere, and why is Ethiopia being singled out for such a treatment with this bill?

As someone who cares about National Security and has great concerns about terrorism continuing to build in the Horn, HR 2003 is in no way in the best interest of the United States, or of Ethiopia.

As the State Department considers adding Eritrea to its list of countries supporting Terrorism, I beg you to carefully review this Resolution and the ramifications it will cause. If we turn our back on an ally that stood with us in the fight against Terrorism in Somalia, then how seriously can our allies really take us in the future?

Is Ethiopia perfect? No. Have there been mistakes? Of course, but lets just step back and look at the region and ask ourselves if not Ethiopia then who is our friend in the region?

As a constituent and a supporter I ask that you give a careful consideration to this Resolution if it actually comes up in the Committee. This is a bad legislation and comes at a delicate time in the Horn of Africa, therefore it should be rejected.

Sincerely,