Supporting Respect for Human Rights and Encouraging Inclusive Governance in Ethiopia

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution.

I would like to begin by thanking Representative Smith for sponsoring H. Res. 128, which expresses support for human rights and encourages inclusive governance in Ethiopia. I am a cosponsor of this resolution, along with over 100 of my colleagues--a testimony to the work Mr. Smith has put into this effort.

This resolution acknowledges the partnership between the United States and the Ethiopian Government. We have partnered together on many issues in the world: economic issues, global health issues, and security issues. Indeed, the Ethiopian military benefits from the U.S. counterterrorism and peacekeeping support programs that we work with them on. However, it also expresses concern at the unrest in the Oromo, Amhara, and Somali regions since 2015 and the human rights violations perpetrated against largely peaceful protestors.

With the recent election of Prime Minister Abiy last month, Ethiopia now has an opportunity to emerge from this crisis to undertake the reforms called for in this resolution, including lifting the repressive state of emergency, repealing or amending proclamations used to suppress human rights, holding accountable those responsible for human rights violations, and releasing all remaining political prisoners.

As the ranking member of the Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee on the Foreign Affairs Committee, we have done a lot of work in that subcommittee around the importance of the rule of law and of legitimate, accountable governance in making sure communities are secure and more resilient to destabilizing influences from criminal and terrorist networks.

This is not just an issue for us on the international front. I am also a member of the Homeland Security Committee, and this is an important issue in terms of our safety and security here at home.

Prison sentences for peaceful protest, restrictions on freedom of the press, and broad enforcement actions against civil society organizations is a recipe for instability--instability that impedes economic growth and leaves countries and communities vulnerable to security and other threats, both globally and, as I said, back here at home.

When a society witnesses the arrest of over 22,000 persons and the closing of over 200 NGOs, we should expect to see the trust between communities and their government suffer as a result. Instead, the government should work towards promoting this trust that is so critical to the right of Ethiopians to live freely and safely at home, as well as to their government's strength as a partner with the United States and others around the world.

In light of recent events in Ethiopia, it is important to view Prime Minister Abiy's election not as the end of the crisis, but as a new beginning for social and political reform in Ethiopia. I hope he will undertake this challenge and undertake these vital reforms.

In the spirit of a new beginning, I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey.

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Mr. KEATING. Bass), the ranking member of the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I will note that Chairman Royce has been a big factor in moving this forward, and when I give thanks to Mr. Smith and over 100 more colleagues, I want to make sure that Chairman Royce is a person that is highlighted for his great efforts.

We are going to miss him, as he has decided not to seek reelection. He has been a person that has shown great ability to be a bipartisan leader on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and I have enjoyed working with him on this issue and many other issues.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution seeks to support Ethiopia's political transition as it hopefully moves beyond a state of emergency towards greater civil liberties under a new prime minister.

This resolution also supports the Ethiopian people and their aspirations to live in a more democratic system in which government respects fundamental freedoms.

We have partnered with Ethiopia on so many important issues, issues important to their own security, their own health, their own global welfare, and we also recognize the value in that partnership in dealing with the security issues and the ideals and values that the United States has as a country.

This resolution strongly urges them to take that other step, to expand that partnership beyond those issues into a partnership of democracy where there will be rule of law, freedom of the press, where opposition people will not be endangered in terms of their safety, will not be imprisoned.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 128, and I urge my colleagues to go forward.

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey.

Mr. Speaker, I include these letters of support in the Record. I call attention to the membership an excellent letter written by human rights and diaspora groups, six groups in all. It is entitled, ``Ethiopia: Joint Letter About U.S. House Resolution 128'', in support of it. They make a number of very important points. Ethiopia: Joint Letter About US House Resolution 128 Democracy, Human Rights and Diaspora Groups Urge Congress to Pass H. Res. 128 on Ethiopia

Ethiopia is at a crossroads. On Monday, April 2, a new Prime Minister, selected from within the ruling coalition, delivered a speech about planned reforms while the country was under another State of Emergency. At such a juncture, amid mounting pressures, the role of the US, Ethiopia's longstanding international ally to encourage critically- needed reforms and human rights protections, should not be underestimated in urging the country toward a new era of stability.

The undersigned human rights and diaspora groups fully support the passage of House Resolution 128 for the positive contribution it can make toward respecting basic human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia. The resolution has strong bipartisan support and more than 100 co-sponsors. In addition, H. Res. 128 has significant grassroots support among constituents across the US who have ties to Ethiopia. It calls on the government of Ethiopia to open up civic space, ensure accountability for human rights abuses and promote inclusive governance.

For the past three years, Ethiopia has faced largely peaceful and sustained protests in the Oromia and Amhara regions of the country. These protests were led by youth seeking opportunity, political reform and more participatory development strategies. The government responded with excessive force. More than a thousand protesters have been killed by Ethiopian security forces, a greater number injured, tens of thousands imprisoned and many tortured for expressing grievances. Over a million, mostly from Oromia, were uprooted due to government-instigated conflict in the Eastern part of the country.

However, a combination of forces has accumulated in support of the protesters--diaspora groups and international human rights organizations helped publicize the protest movement in Ethiopia and the government's violent response; the US Congress rallied behind H. Res. 128; international news outlets gave frequent coverage of the protests. At the dawn of this new year, the EPRDF coalition announced reforms and some changes began to occur. Close to 7000 political prisoners were released in January and February of 2018, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn stepped down within days, and Dr. Abiy Ahmed, a man with ties to the region most impacted by the protests, was put forward by the coalition as Ethiopia's newest prime minister.

In light of these beginnings, now more than ever, it is imperative that the United States Congress take a stand that reiterates the need for Ethiopia to take further steps in a democratic direction by passing H. Res. 128. Ethiopia's previous transfers of power indicate that leadership change is often followed by unfulfilled promises, a culling of opponents and power consolidation. If Prime Minister Abiy is truly committed to breaking that pattern, this resolution will encourage Ethiopia to lift the State of Emergency, ensuring freedoms of expression and assembly and opening up democratic space, all prerequisites for political and economic reform.

1) H. Res. 128 is a signal of support for the youth in the country who have organized to peacefully demand justice and democracy and have paid a terrible price in terms of loss of life, injury and arbitrary detention. Accountability for the human rights violations that have occurred over the last 3 years will be an essential step towards genuine reconciliation and is a key demand from the protesters.

2) H. Res. 128 contains clauses that could strengthen the hand of the Prime Minister vis-a-vis less responsive segments within the EPRDF party coalition structure, requiring negotiation with the forces that control the country's security apparatus, intelligence and the economic sectors.

3) H. Res. 128 contains clauses that call on the State Department and USAID to develop a comprehensive strategy to support improved democracy and governance in Ethiopia.

4) H. Res. 128 contains clauses that call on the Secretary of State and Secretary of Treasury to apply appropriate sanctions on individuals and organizations responsible for gross human rights.

We support passage of H. Res. 128 as a means to send a strong, unambiguous signal that the United States Congress requires concrete reforms. Such reforms are needed to create a path toward improved respect and protection of human and civil rights, political stability and sustainable regional security.

We urge members of the House to pass the resolution. Amhara Association of America. Coalition of Oromos for Human Rights and Democracy. Ethiopian Advocacy Network. Ethiopian Human Rights Project. Human Rights Watch. Oromo Advocacy Alliance. ____ Amnesty International, Washington, DC, April 9, 2018. Re Amnesty International USA (``AIUSA'') urges the House to vote yes on H. Res. 128 which will be on the House floor on April 10.

Dear Representative: On behalf of AIUSA and our two million members and supporters nationwide, we are writing to urge you to vote YES for H. Res. 128, supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia.

H. Res. 128 outlines key benchmarks for critically needed human rights reform in Ethiopia and calls for a review of U.S. policy toward Ethiopia to prioritize human rights and good governance.

H. Res. 128 was approved by Voice Vote by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in July 2017 and has strong bipartisan support with 108 cosponsors including 29 Republicans and 79 Democrats.

Following highly contested elections in 2005 the Ethiopian government imposed a web of laws criminalizing any form of dissent or questioning of government policies. These laws have empowered authorities to engage in widespread surveillance, and have resulted in the arrest and detention of members of civil society.

For the past three years the Ethiopian people have been subjected to brutal repression by the security forces in response to protests against the increasingly autocratic rule of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (``EPRDF''). Over 1000 people have been killed since 2015 and according to the Ethiopian government's own admission, 10,000 people were arrested during the first state of emergency between 2016 and 2017. Amnesty International believes that the figure is above 25,000. The current human rights crisis is the result of years of repression by security forces using sweeping legislation criminalizing dissent, the arrest of civil society leaders and journalists, and brutal crackdowns leading to scores of extrajudicial executions, massacres and the destruction of property and livelihoods. The Ethiopian government has created a culture of impunity and a climate of fear.

Ethiopia is currently under its second State of Emergency since 2016. Amnesty International has documented unlawful killings, forced displacement, arbitrary arrests, detentions, as well as torture and the ill-treatment of detainees.

In the last two months there have been some positive developments in Ethiopia: a new prime minister has been appointed, the government released a large number of political prisoners and closed the notorious Maekelawi Prison known for torture. However, many more prisoners remain behind bars. While the country's web of repressive legislation remains in place and the state of emergency is in effect, all those individuals who have been released remain at risk of re-arrest. Indeed, some of them have been re-re-arrested. At the same time protests are continuing and are being met with brutal force by government authorities.

H. Res. 128 is a direct appeal to the Ethiopian authorities to listen to their people, change course, and uphold human rights and the rule of law.

H. Res. 128 calls on the US Secretary of State to:

Conduct a review of security assistance to Ethiopia to improve transparency with respect to the purposes of such assistance to the people of Ethiopia and,

Work with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, to improve oversight and accountability of U.S. assistance to Ethiopia, pursuant to the expectations established in the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub- Saharan Africa.

H. Res. 128 call on the Ethiopian government to lift the state of emergency and end the use of excessive force by security forces. The resolution calls the government to conduct a credible, transparent investigation into human rights violations committed during the last three years, in an expedient manner and for those responsible for the killing, torture, and detention of innocent civilians who exercised their constitutional rights to be held accountable.

H. Res. 128 call on the Ethiopian government to take steps to restore the respect and protection of human rights and enforce accountability as provided under the Ethiopian Constitution including the

Release dissidents, activists, and journalists who have been imprisoned; respect freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of the press and media;

Repeal of laws that

(i) can be used as a tool to harass or prohibit funding for civil society organizations that investigate human rights violations, engage in peaceful political dissent, or advocate for greater political freedoms.

(ii) prohibit or limit those displaced from their land from seeking remedy or redress in courts,

(iii) restrict access to justice for displaced persons

(iv) prohibit or otherwise limit peaceful nonprofit operations in Ethiopia.

H. Res. 128 urges the Ethiopian government to cooperate with a rapporteur appointed by the United Nations to conduct an independent examination of the state of human rights in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia has engaged in a number of ambitious large-scale development projects that have displaced hundreds of thousands of villagers. A key trigger of the three years of protest was the proposed expansion of the capital Addis Ababa on lands occupied by members of the Oromo community. H. Res. 128 call upon the Ethiopian government to engage in open and transparent consultations with citizens regarding its development plans, especially those strategies that could result in the displacement of people from their land and address the grievances brought forward by representatives of registered opposition parties.

Finally, H. Res. 128 reiterates Congress' support for the people of Ethiopia and their peaceful efforts to exercise the rights guaranteed by the Ethiopian constitution.

Amnesty International USA urges you to vote YES on H. Res. 128 and for the full House to pass this important resolution.

For more information, please contact me. Sincerely, Adotei Akwei, Africa Advocacy Director.

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. For the past 3 years, they point out, as we know, Ethiopia has faced largely peaceful and sustained protesters in the Oromia and Amhara regions of the country. They were led by youth seeking opportunity, political reform, and more participatory development strategies. The government responded with excessive force. More than 1,000 protesters have been killed by the Ethiopian security forces, a greater number injured, tens of thousands imprisoned, and many more tortured for expressing grievances. Over 1 million have been displaced.

Let me just say in conclusion that they talk about the importance of supporting this. Yes, there is a new prime minister, but as they point out in their statement, and it is so true, Ethiopia's previous transfers of power indicate that leadership change is often followed by unfulfilled promises, a culling of opponents, and power consolidation. That can't happen again.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution, I think, deserves the support of every single Member.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 128 Supporting Respect for Human Rights and Encouraging Inclusive Governance in Ethiopia.

This resolution condemns the killing of peaceful protestors by the Ethiopian security forces and calls upon the government of Ethiopia to hold accountable those responsible for killing, torturing, and detaining innocent civilians who are exercising their constitutional rights.

Passing H. Res. 128 brings attention to the stifling of political and civil dissent and journalistic freedoms committed by the Ethiopian government.

Mr. Speaker, as co-sponsor of this resolution, we recognize that the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has been an ally of the United States and the preservation of basic constitutional rights in this country is the bed-rock of any democracy.

Protestors in Ethiopia are urged to refrain from violent demonstrations and encouraged to engage in peaceful negotiations.

However, the responsibility lies upon the government to implement democratic principles and respect the right to peaceful assembly and guarantee freedom of the press.

Since protests started in Oromia in 2015, the Ethiopian government has charged more than 150 students, opposition leaders, and activists at the Federal High Court under the 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation (ATP).

They have repeatedly abused such laws to limit the freedom of the press, silence independent journalists, and persecute members of the political opposition.

Ethiopian Human Rights Commission reported 669 deaths by April 2017 and Human Rights Watch subsequently reported that the Ethiopian security forces had killed between 500 and 800 peaceful protestors in the Oromia and Amhara regions by November 2016, and the number is likely higher.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 128 to show their support and compassion for the people suffering as victims of human rights violations at the hands of their government.

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