[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 22]
[Senate]
[Pages 30801-30802]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN ETHIOPIA

  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise to speak on the disturbing 
reports of political chaos in Ethiopia. With allegations of vote 
tampering and emerging pictures of large-scale human rights abuses 
taking place in Ethiopia, that the administration must impress upon 
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and other global neighbors, that severe 
consequences follow actions which undermine democratic ideals.
  Ethiopia held its first ever democratic elections on May 15, 2005. 
Revelations since then of violence and mass detention of Ethiopian 
citizens by the Me1es government are not only alarming and 
disconcerting to me and the American people who have supported the 
country in its effort to advance the cause of democracy. It is 
regretful to have to witness a regress in democratization.
  Roughly 90 percent of Ethiopia's populace turned out for the 
democratic election. Rather than a sentiment of accomplishment or 
progress, the mood of the country remains nihilistically somber. 
According to international human rights observers, increased repression 
of the Ethiopian people is connected to the seeming loss of power from 
the ruling Meles government to the opposing party, the Coalition for 
Unity & Democracy, CUD--has shown by early vote counts during the 
election. With the Meles government accused of voting irregularities, 
it is not surprising that the people of Ethiopia protested the 
unofficial election results.
  Recent reports of human rights abuses in Ethiopia range from arrest 
and intimidation by government authorities and illegal arrests of 
innocent people, including ranking members of the CUD party and media 
representatives, to the loss of life. For example, some 14,000 people 
were detained when riots ensued following the election. Among other 
journalists, Getachew Simie, former editor of the Amharic-language 
weekly, and Leykun Dngeda, former publisher of the Dagim WonchifWeekly, 
have been given jail sentences for covering the anti-government 
protests. Even Prime Minister Meles reported that 48 people were killed 
last month in relation to the unrest caused by the alleged fraud in the 
May polls.
  Prime Minister Meles must fulfill his good faith commitment to human 
rights. With any successful transition to democracy, civil society 
requires

[[Page 30802]]

the firm accountability of its government authorities. Until the Meles 
government brings an end to the intimidation of its people, political 
unrest will remain high and America's support for the democratization 
of Ethiopia will be muted by concern for the country's political 
instability.

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