| When Dr. Meqdes testified before the House | | | | election dispute brought the country to total crisis. |
| Subcommittee on Africa on March 29, 2006, she was | | | | The United States and the European Union, in an |
| thinking of her father, Professor Mesfin Wolde | | | | effort to resolve the unrest, issued a joint appeal in |
| Mariam. Professor Mesfin, a prominent Ethiopian | | | | November 2005, but the ruling Government of |
| human rights activist, has been incarcerated in | | | | Ethiopia immediately turned it down. The U.S. and E.U. |
| Ethiopia since November of 2005. In thinking of her | | | | called for release of the political prisoners in the joint |
| father and his situation, Dr. Meqdes also wondered | | | | appeal. Such requests fell on deaf ears. At the time, |
| why the United States is not doing more to help | | | | Former Assistant Secretary for Africa, Herman |
| democracy in Ethiopia. As she stated in the hearing, | | | | Cohen said in an interview with the Voice of America, |
| "Honorable Members, for more than three decades, | | | | "the Government of Ethiopia," once considered a |
| my personal and family life has been impacted by | | | | symbol of fledgling democracy, "has become |
| what my father has committed in his faith and belief | | | | authoritarian and even totalitarian". |
| that Government belongs to the people and that | | | | A year after the May 2005 election, the crisis took a |
| these fundamental freedoms that we all seek are a | | | | different turn. The ruling government appointed a |
| necessary element in allowing democracy to flourish | | | | new mayor and council members for the capital city |
| in an environment where the rule of law is supreme." | | | | administration. They replaced the elected |
| Dr. Meqdes believes that the United States has not | | | | representatives who are languishing in prison. Some |
| exerted enough pressure on the Ethiopian | | | | elected legislative members of the opposition party, |
| Government to release prisoners of conscience like | | | | who were not arrested, were coerced to join the |
| her father. She and many others like her have been | | | | Parliament, in an attempt to split CUDP and give |
| speaking out in support of democracy. Dr. Meqdes | | | | misleading image of the opposition's participation. |
| has been engaging actively to let the world know | | | | CUDP formed an international leadership in exile. It |
| about her father's struggle for democracy. She spoke | | | | also joined alliance with several opposition groups, |
| at several gatherings throughout the nation, wrote | | | | some of whom have picked up arms against the |
| papers and led a hunger strike in opposition to the | | | | regime. |
| arrest of the political prisoners. | | | | Dr. Meqdes thinks that the US Government has |
| On June 27, 2006, three months after Dr. Meqdes' | | | | acted in an inconsistent manner in attempting to |
| testimony, a comprehensive bi-partisan bill, H.R. 5680, | | | | resolve the impasse. Although the U.S. called for |
| the Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights | | | | peaceful solution to the crisis, it has not exerted |
| Advancement Act of 2006 sponsored by Rep. Chris | | | | enough pressure on the Ethiopian Government to |
| Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), | | | | meet the appeal it issued jointly with European Union. |
| unanimously passed the International Relations | | | | For many Ethiopians it seems that the US has put |
| Committee and was forwarded to the full House. | | | | aside its democratic principles and seeks closer ties |
| The bill is expected to bring freedom, democracy, | | | | with the autocratic Government of Ethiopia. Dr. |
| human rights and economic development to Ethiopia. | | | | Meqdes believes promotion of democracy in Ethiopia |
| On its passage, Rep. Smith said, "Violence against | | | | has been limited and weakened by U.S. security |
| dissidents has increased significantly and yet there | | | | interests in the Horn of Africa. The U.S. Administration |
| have been no credible accounts for the slaughter of | | | | has employed lenient policies on democracy |
| protestors in the streets of Addis last year." He | | | | promotion not to disappoint its Horn of Africa main |
| added, "We not only call on the Ethiopian | | | | ally in the war against terrorism - the main imperative |
| Government to unconditionally release all political | | | | of U.S. foreign policy post 9/11. |
| prisoners, but establish a program to tangibly assist | | | | Dr. Meqdes would like Ethiopia to remain an ally. But, |
| them." | | | | she does not want to see the United States security |
| In his statement, Rep. Smith was referring to | | | | interest in the horn of Africa trump its stated |
| hundreds of political prisoners like Professor Mesfin. | | | | commitment in supporting liberty and democracy. |
| Professor Mesfin is a 76-year-old retired geography | | | | President Bush has tied the promotion of democracy |
| professor and founding member of the Ethiopian | | | | to U.S. national security interests and indicated that |
| Human Rights Council (EHRCO). He is the winner of | | | | the U.S. would not pay for stability at the price of |
| the 2006 Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights Award and | | | | liberty and democracy. It is her wish to see the |
| among the 10 nominees for the European Parliament's | | | | United States stand with the people of Ethiopia and |
| 2006 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Prof | | | | support free press, an independent judiciary, a sound |
| Mesfin is currently one of the prisoners of conscience | | | | financial system, strong labor unions, as well as a |
| and a senior member of the main opposition party, | | | | vibrant opposition parties, things that Secretary of |
| Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP). | | | | State Condoleeza Rice calls the "essential |
| Along with many others, Professor Mesfin was | | | | components of decent society". |
| imprisoned in November 2005 in connection with | | | | It is Dr. Meqdes' strong belief that lack of democracy |
| opposition demonstration against the Ethiopian | | | | in a country like Ethiopia breeds extremism and |
| Government. He is not alone at Kaliti Prison, where | | | | provokes radicalism. She hopes the U.S. Administration |
| many of the political prisoners are jailed including Dr. | | | | will reconsider its policies and get tough on the |
| Berhanu Negga, an economics professor and the | | | | authoritarian Government of Ethiopia. Dr. Meqdes |
| newly elected Mayor of Addis Ababa; Ms. Birtukan | | | | strongly believes that failure to act timely may lead |
| Mideksa, a former judge and vice chairperson of | | | | to a growing support for the rise of radical elements |
| CUDP; and Dr. Yacob Hailemariam, a former UN | | | | and risk constant instability in a country that is vital to |
| prosecutor in the Rwanda genocide trial in Tanzania. | | | | U.S. strategic interest in the region. |
| During the years leading up to the election, Ethiopia | | | | Citing the lack of democracy as their main concern, |
| was feted to be one of the African nations with | | | | more and more Ethiopians who worked with the |
| emerging democratic systems. Under pressure from | | | | Prime Minister Meles' Government are fleeing. In the |
| the United States and the European Union and in | | | | last few months alone, over sixty diplomats left the |
| exchange for political and economic support, the | | | | Government and defected in Europe and the United |
| 14-year-old Government of Ethiopia held a legislative | | | | States. According to several media reports, in early |
| election on May 15, 2005. This election was | | | | September, a prominent prosecutor, who said the |
| unparalleled in the country's history. Many vibrant | | | | Ethiopian government forced him to pursue |
| opposition parties participated, media access was | | | | opposition leaders has also requested asylum in the |
| given to the opposition, and international observers | | | | United States. "I have been ordered by the |
| were invited for the first time to witness the | | | | Government to institute charges on CUDP leaders," |
| election. As a result, an astounding ninety percent of | | | | said Alemayehu Zemedkun, referring to Ethiopia's |
| eligible voters cast their ballots. Despite some | | | | opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party. "I |
| irregularities, the election was conducted peacefully | | | | have tried to show them the legal impediments. |
| and was commended by the international community. | | | | There is not enough evidence ... but they insisted." |
| Many people hoped that democracy was finally | | | | Members of the Ethiopian military were not immune |
| emerging and bringing a lasting stability to Ethiopia - a | | | | to defection. A high-ranking army General, Kemal |
| prerequisite for social and economic development. | | | | Gelchu, defected to neighboring Eritrea, along with |
| But, the post election period turned out to be tragic. | | | | several ranking officers and over hundred soldiers. In |
| The opposition parties allege that the election was | | | | an interview with the BBC news agency, the General |
| rigged and ballot boxes stolen. The Carter Center, | | | | said his hopes of peace had been dashed after last |
| one of the invited international observers, stated in | | | | year's turmoil that followed disputed elections. He |
| its final report that the handling of the post election | | | | indicated that he would join the Oromo Liberation |
| results was disappointing. European Union observers, | | | | Front, OLF, a rebel group fighting for the right of the |
| in their final report, also concluded that the election | | | | Oromo people, and fight with force in a language |
| did not meet the international standard. | | | | Meles' regime understands. Few weeks after General |
| A critical dispute between the ruling party, Ethiopian | | | | Kemal's defection, two more senior army officers |
| People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and | | | | followed him in a series of defection. |
| the opposition parties gradually escalated and stalled | | | | In few days, H.R. 5680 is expected to be brought to |
| the election process. In an effort to unlock the | | | | the House floor, unless the Ethiopian Government |
| stalemate, CUDP issued an eight-point precondition. | | | | highly paid lobbyists successfully lobby for its delay. |
| Several attempts made by donor countries to | | | | Dr. Meqdes calls all democracy-loving individuals to |
| resolve the impasse failed. | | | | contact their elected representatives and urge them |
| CUDP, the party of Dr. Meqdes' father, boycotted | | | | to support H.R. 5680. When H.R. 5680 becomes public |
| the Parliament and called for a civil disobedience. | | | | law, she hopes it will contribute to the development |
| Supporters of CUDP demonstrated and accused the | | | | of a political environment that will actively seek the |
| ruling party of fraud. The demonstration led to violent | | | | institutionalization of human rights, the rule of law and |
| confrontation. Over eighty people were shot and | | | | democracy in Ethiopia. For now, Dr. Meqdes' primary |
| killed by the federal police in a series of pro-CUDP | | | | wish is to see her ailing father secure his freedom |
| demonstrations, first in June and later in November | | | | and return to what he loves to do --fight for |
| 2005. Children and women were among the dead. | | | | democracy. |
| Seven policemen were also killed at the riot. The | | | | |