Petition to US Congress to Support H.R. 4423 & to Expedite its Passage to Stop Large-Scale Massacre

Dear Congressman/woman:

We, the undersigned, do hereby petition Congress of the United States of America to support bill H.R. 4423 introduced by Christopher Smith, Chairman of Subcommittee for Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations. The passage of this bill is crucial to the rescue of more than eighty thousands of people detained in Ethiopian camps, with their only hope being the international community.

The current situation in Ethiopia leaves little time for deliberation, as a day’s delay means that a lot of people can be shot, starved in concentration camps or infected by HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Yellow fever and Cholera. The political unrest started after the government of Meles Zenawi forged the results of the election in which the opposition party CUD obviously won. The police used force on an unprecedented scale in suppressing the peaceful demonstrations of the opposition supporters, later throwing more than eighty thousands into prisons and camps. Atrocities, rivaling those committed by Hitler in Europe, target innocent civilians, many of whom were not involved in any riots. In this way Meles Zenawi has failed the trust of the world community that saw him as guarantor of the democratic reforms and will continue to abuse prisoners, barring international observers from seeing what is going on in the camps.

The passage of bill H.R. 4423 means greater chances of survival for those who are every day shot,starved, infected or suffocated in the camps. In our view, the bill also needs an amendment clause demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all opposition leaders, journalists, and thousands of others detained in connection with the post-election protests. These people can be soon charged with treason, which will mean sure death for them through capital punishment, unless they are killed by the security forces without a trial. The bill would also mean that the removal of the leader like Meles Zenawi will pave the way for democratic development in Ethiopia that can soon achieve independence from international aid by introducing advanced agricultural technologies. For the sake of those suffering in captivity, the time to act is now.

We would like to alert you to the danger to be influenced by the individuals loyal to Zenawi’s government, those that use funds distributed through international programs to lobby against the bill. These people are circulating blatantly false accusation of the opposition leaders, insinuating that they staged armed protests in order to seize power. This is blatantly wrong since the opposition invariably upholds democratic principles and support peaceful struggle, while Mr. Zenawi, although preaching democracy, will not even allow independent inspection of the detainee camps.

We respectfully petition US Congress to take this opportunity to save thousands of people from sure death and to help Ethiopia to become a truly democratic nation in which human dignity and life are respected.

May God bless those who will help the innocent people in Ethiopia and stop the atrocities.

Respectfully & truly,

Concerned Citizens around the World