Hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Africa and Global Health Subcommittee - Ehtopia and the State of Democracy: Effects on Human Rights and Humanitarian Conditions in the Ogaden and Somalia - Panel 1

Statement

Hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Africa and Global Health Subcommittee - Ehtopia and the State of Democracy: Effects on Human Rights and Humanitarian Conditions in the Ogaden and Somalia - Panel 1

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

REP. JOHN BOOZMAN (R-AR): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Very quickly, in the past you've said that the United States is considering declaring Eritrea a state sponsor of terrorism. One of the groups that they are sponsoring is the ONLF. Do you consider the ONLF a terrorist organization?

MS. FRAZER: We have not made that determination. I think that we really looked at the ONLF differently after the killing of the Chinese workers in the Ogaden, but we haven't declared it a terrorist organization. I think that the Ethiopian ambassador has raised concerns about double standards, and when this group is attacking and killing Ethiopians, it's ignored.

But to your specific question, no, we have not --

REP. BOOZMAN: So we haven't really done that, but that is -- that's something that you're very definitely watching and considering that perhaps that designation might fit?

MS. FRAZER: I think that the ONLF should really take a moment to pursue the track that Congressman Payne set out, which is to renounce violence, to try, through negotiations and political dialogue, to address the concerns of the people of the Ogaden, the marginalization, you know, the humanitarian concerns and human rights concerns, that they're at a critical juncture and that a utilitarian effort to get resources from any old group, including AIAI and Al-Shabab, will put them in a very dangerous path. So certainly I think this is a critical moment for the ONLF.

REP. BOOZMAN: Thank you, Madame Secretary.

MS. FRAZER: Thank you.

REP. BOOZMAN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source