ETHIOPIAN VOICE OF REASON (VOR)

P. O. Box 13154

Alexandria, Virginia 22132

ethiopian_voice_of_reason@yahool.com

 

 

October 18, 2007

 

 

Mr. Jerry Zeros

President

National Press Club

529 14th Street NW

Washington D.C. 20045

 

Dr. Zremski:

 

It has come to our attention that Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) will address the press club in what we believed to be a relentless campaign to influence public opinion and garner support for an ill conceived and

Poorly deliberated bill that neglects the vital security interest of tour country- the United States, and threatens to undermine that long standing strategic BI-lateral relations between the US and Ethiopia at critical moment. The bill HR-2003, Ethiopian Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 has been railroaded through the house floor without due consideration of its ramifications. Here are the potential damages:

 

1.        Ethiopia has been a steadfast and strategic ally on the war against terrorism. This emanates not only because of the fundamental understanding of the threat posed by international terrorism to peace, stability and security world wide, it is also because Ethiopia has been in the receiving end of terrorist acts. Therefore the alliance against terrorism is the convergence of strategic interest to both countries.

 

2.    International terrorism has been trying to a get a foothold in the Horn of Africa to open another front

 of terror that targets primarily US strategic interest and those that are perceived to be our  

 Allies.  Should they succeed it would have a disastrous effect of destabilizing the region in general and

 an important ally, Ethiopia in particular.

 

3.        It threatens to derail the process of democratization and economic development that Ethiopia has   

embarked upon. The GDP growth registered at 10% or more for past four consecutive years will be jeopardized by perceived political instability. The attainment of significant achievement in the areas of physical social infrastructure has beginning to pay off including attracting significant foreign investment. This bill threatens to discourage much needed direct foreign investment.

The advent of the Ethiopian Millennium has brought about spirit of reconciliation and renewed vigor towards cooperation and unity in promoting democracy. It threatens to dampen this excitement.

 

4.        Should this bill become a law, it will deconstruct the carefully nurtured relationship between the two countries and deny us the ability to influence constructive changes in the Ethiopia. The bill will no doubt be construed as challenge to the very sovereign rights of the State of Ethiopia.

 

Much more than that the bill essentially contradicts itself and disregards recent developments that the bill itself was intended to address. How so?

 

The bills’ intended policy statement is to:

1)       “Support the advancement of human rights, democracy, independence of judiciary, freedom of   Press, peacekeeping capacity building and economic development of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

 

2)       “Seek the unconditional release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in    

Ethiopia.”

               

3)       “Foster stability, democracy, and economic development in the region”

 

4)       “Collaborate with Ethiopia in the global War on Terror;

 

5)       “Strengthen United States-Ethiopian relations based on the policy objectives specified in Paragraph (1) through (4).

 

 

While the desire for freedom of the press, judicial independence, reform of the National Election Board and release of opposition prisoners as expressed in the policy statement of the bill, may have relevance a year or so ago, it neglects the fact today important steps have been take to rectify these problems. The government in consultation with the majority of the opposition parties have instituted the foundations for acceptable press law, reconstituted the National Election Board and as a gesture of reconciliation, the opposition leaders and supporters have been released and their full rights restored.

 

As to the other elements of the paragraphs above, not only it is naïve to assume that democracy, stability, partnerships and economic development can be achieved through punitive actions, but also reflects ignorance of the socio-cultural and economic constraints and challenges emerging democracies face. It exhibits the lack or a deliberate distortion of historical understanding of the genesis of democratic process.

Democracy is a work in progress that requires not only governments’ willingness to create the political space but also society’s constructive engagement to build enduring institutions utilizing the space. It is counter intuitive, hence counter productive to impose democracy from outside.

 

Mr. Zremski:

While we question the motive and the veracity of his information, we nevertheless respect Representative Chris Smith’s right to advocate and promote issues of his choice. We would have expected him to be mindful of the strategic interest of United States instead of catering to a few self serving, vocal Diaspora constituencies.  Mr. Smith has chosen the National Press Club as a stage for his advocacy. We believe in all fairness and objectivity, the press has inherent duty and responsibility to scrutinize his information, motive, and reasoning.

 

Thank you.