nazret.com Merkato Blog

Ethiopia - Washington Update

July 8, 2008

Following the great turnout in Washington, DC for the Ethiopian North American Soccer Tournament, Kinijit International in collaboration with Kinijit North American chapters, will continue updating Ethiopians on the present situation including progress on H.R. 2003.

At a meeting at Howard University’s Blackburn Center Doctor Taye Woldesemiat, the Chairman of Kinijit International, spoke at length about the issues confronting all of us. He reminded everyone of the need for unity.

Doctor Taye then introduced Ato Getchew Alemayehu, who flew in from London, England for this week. Ato Getchew spoke to the audience about the current situation back in Ethiopia including the topics of famine, political repression, and underdevelopment.

Wzro. Nigist then spoke about Ethiopia from women’s point of view. She stressed that all Ethiopian national issues include women’s issues too. She reminded the lisners that women have always been a part of the Ethiopian struggles and were even more important today.

Hailu Shawel, President of Kinijit, spoke via international teleconference from Addis Ababa. He spoke about the meeting in Addis Ababa of the General assembly of Kinijit and of how successful it was in organizing people to continue to work for democracy, human rights, and development in Ethiopia. He then spoke directly to the people of the Ethiopian diaspora and especially the Kinijit members to urge them to continue their efforts to achieve those calls. He particularly stressed the financial needs of Kinijit and the help requested from those of us here in North America.

I, Mesfin Mekonen, also spoke at Howard and at the Debteraw Symposium about H.R. 2003 and its present status in front of the United States Senate. I informed the listeners about the pluses and minuses regarding progress in getting H.R. 2003 reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and sent to the full Senate. As it is an election year I stressed that direct contact with the Senators (particularly those who are members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee) is a necessity. The Capitol Hill newspaper “The Hill” reported on our activities in the issue last week.

This legislation, if passed, will have a big effect on the Ethiopian community as a whole; in Ethiopia and abroad. So, it is essential that our community as a whole provide the support needed to see that it succeeds.

In conclusion: This summer we need to make a point of reaching out to the Senators in every State. Also thanking the members of The House of Representatives for passing H.R. 2003 UNNANIMOUSLY!

Mesfin Mekonen