[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 153 (Thursday, September 13, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1246-E1247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REVIEWING CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ETHIOPIA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 13, 2018

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we held a hearing at 
the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and 
International Organizations, which I chair.
  Our first order of business was to note that today many Ethiopians 
are celebrating the start of the New Year under the Ethiopian calendar. 
To our Ethiopian friends who observe the new year, I wish to say 
``Enkutatash''--Happy New Year.
  Many of the hearings that this subcommittee holds are hearings of 
condemnation--for abuses of human rights, for failures of governance, 
and for holding accountable those who betray the public trust.
  Yesterday's hearing, however, struck a different tone--one not of 
condemnation, but of commendation for the great strides Ethiopia has 
made since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed assumed authority in April of this 
year.
  Consider where we were just over a year ago. A State of Emergency 
existed, and thousands of political prisoners languished in jail. A 
cold war standoff existed between Ethiopia and its neighbor Eritrea.
  As this subcommittee pointed out in a hearing we held in March of 
2017, ``increasingly repressive policies have diminished political 
space and threaten to radicalize not only the political opposition but 
also civil society by frustrating their ability to exercise their 
rights under law.''
  In response to this, I introduced, along with original cosponsors 
Karen Bass and Mike Coffman, H. Res. 128, a resolution ``Supporting 
Respect for Human Rights and Encouraging Inclusive Governance in 
Ethiopia.'' The resolution set forth milestones which needed to be met, 
and passed thanks to the leadership of many--including Chairman Ed 
Royce who guided the Resolution through Foreign Affairs Committee 
markup and Leader Kevin McCarthy, who scheduled a vote on H. Res. 128 
that passed the House unopposed and sent a clear message of 
Congressional resolve on the need for civil and political reform in 
Ethiopia.
  But success of this measure was due in largest part to the efforts of 
the Ethiopian diaspora community in the United States, which came 
together to demand that egregious human rights abuses immediately 
cease, and that fundamental human rights must be promoted and protected 
for all in Ethiopia.
  Indeed, one of the greatest collateral benefits brought about by 
passage of H. Res. 128 is the political effectiveness of the Ethiopian 
American community, which provided a textbook civics lesson for all of 
us to admire. It is thanks to their tireless efforts of contacting your 
congressional representatives, of making your case in a persistent and 
respectful manner that helped spur Congress to action.
  Since assuming office, Prime Minister Abiy has begun to implement 
some of the very reforms that H. Res. 128 called for. He has released 
thousands of political prisoners, and lifted the state of emergency, 
for example.
  But he has also reached out to the diaspora community, catalyzed an 
end to a schism that had plagued the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and 
initiated an historic peace deal between Ethiopia and Eritrea this past 
July. Indeed, it is hoped that his domestic reforms will also inspire 
Eritrea, which remains a repressive regime, to undertake similar 
internal reforms.
  Just a few weeks ago, Ranking Member Karen Bass and I visited the 
Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, where we met with Prime Minister Abiy 
and a broad array of individuals and groups, including His Holiness, 
Abune Mathias I. One impression I had--was of a profound feeling of 
change and optimism.
  For what he has accomplished in less than half a year, Prime Minister 
deserves praise and encouragement. Yet we still must keep in mind that 
expectations have been raised, and the reforms he has begun must 
continue.
  For example, the notorious Charities and Society Proclamation and the 
Anti-Terrorism Proclamation, both passed in 2009, remain on the books 
and thus retain the potential to stifle legitimate civil society 
organizations and political speech.
  Many former prisoners and torture victims still demand justice. 
Ranking Member Bass and I met with a group of torture victims in Addis 
Ababa, and what they described as having been done to them was 
horrific. One refrain we heard, including from the Ethiopian Orthodox 
Church, is that there is a need for Truth and Reconciliation in order 
for the country to move forward.

[[Page E1247]]

  There also needs to be an opportunity for people who have been 
displaced to return home. Catholic Bishop Abaraham Desta of Meld 
recently brought to my attention that over two and a half million 
people are internally displaced and require the government's immediate 
attention, especially by providing education for displaced children, as 
the school year has already started.
  The economy needs to grow to provide jobs for the many youth, 
including those who participated in protests and civic disobedience. 
Reforms in the economic sector, including liberalization and 
deregulation as well as an opening of economy to ethnic groups that 
have not been fully enfranchised, needs to continue.
  It has also been said that the reforms begun by Prime Minister Abiy 
represent a ``once-in-a generation opportunity for Ethiopia.'' It is 
thus absolutely crucial that this opportunity not be squandered.
  With this in mind, the United States must remain a partner Ethiopia 
can call upon. We collaborate on counter-terrorism measures, we support 
and are grateful for Ethiopia's contribution to peace keeping 
missions--indeed, with 12,000 troops deployed, Ethiopia is the largest 
contributor to UN peacekeeping missions worldwide--and we must continue 
to encourage Ethiopia to participate in our IMET military 
professionalization programs.
  I do believe, having met the man and had an opportunity to engage in 
substantive discourse with him, that Prime Minister Abiy is the right 
man at the right time, and is therefore deserving of our support.

                          ____________________