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Ethiopia - Opposition MPs divided on H.R. 2003
By Kirubel Tadesse
Capital
H.R. 2003, Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007, which its supporters claim helps to encourage and facilitate the consolidation of peace and security, respect for human rights, democracy, and economic freedom in Ethiopia, can’t gain the full support of Ethiopian opposition Members of Parliament as it did in the US House of Representatives.
MPs Capital talked to expressed varying positions on the bill, one even saying that it is impractical. Temesgen Zewdie (MP) explained that H.R.2003 is a bill through which American tax payers have expressed their concern for their sisterly nation of Ethiopia. He said that he supported the bill totally and believes that it will be passed by the Senate. “Despite one’s right to support any agenda, those standing in favor of the bill are targets of the government’s propaganda and accusations,” stated Temesgen. He added that continuous accusations and ‘inappropriate name calling’ by the Prime Minster will not make much of a difference to his full support of the bill. Temesgen stated that rather than the view of the Bush administration, it is the Congress that reflects the voice of the American people. He said, “Simply considering the 20 million USD, which is set as a score card, for the things any democratic government should do anyway, we find it very hard not to support the bill.”
Professor Beyene Petros told Capital that conflicts over H.R 2003 are worthless since the bill is hardly to become law. Professor Beyene explained that the bill is yet to find a sponsor in the US Senate and the recent denouncement of the bill by Secretary Rice proves that. “Personally, as an Ethiopian parliamentary member, I don’t feel proud that Ethiopian related issues are discussed in the US as if we are not capable of solving our problems. This shows that we still lack mutual respect and common ground for dialog in order to narrow our differences and solve problems on our own,” said Professor Beyene. He feared that H.R 2003 is just another issue where Ethiopians get in to conflicts taking supporters and opposition roles instead of toning down and listening to each other. Professor Beyene expressed the bill as “something which isn’t practical.”
Lidetu Ayalew (MP) told Capital that the bill in its nature shouldn’t gain the full support or opposition of any Ethiopian since it has useful ideas on one hand and unacceptable proposals on the other. He explained “For us, whether it is supported by the current administration or not is not a key question, the bill has important ideas which the US and other parts of the international community should continue pressuring on the Ethiopian government, but at the same time it contains proposals which will hurt Ethiopia if it becomes law, so we believe that the bill should be carefully studied and corrected before it goes any other step.”
On Oct 2, 2007, H.R 2003 was passed in the US House of Representatives by voice vote and the Senate on Oct 3, 2007 received and referred it to the Committee on Foreign Relations. H.R 2003 is sponsored by a New Jersey Democrat Congressman Donald Payne.
“You asked the stupidest question, if whether or not I read it…I don’t think that is the prime issue here.”Wow, so you don’t even have a clue what we’re talking about. Please read the bill and point out what it is you disagree about. That would show you’re making an informed choice. Or, you’ve the right to blindly decide and I still think you’re qualified to be an Ethiopian.
“if the bill becomes into law {which it won’t} Ethiopian gov’t won’t accept it… So what is the U.S going to do?”You see, if you read the bill, you wouldn’t be asking such questions.
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