SMNE Urges Secretary Kerry to speak out on behalf of freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, independent judiciaries and open political space in Ethiopia.
Open Letter to Secretary of State John Kerry,
May 21, 2013Secretary of State John F. Kerry,
US Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
VIA FACSIMILE
Dear Secretary Kerry,
We
are pleased to know you will be one of the distinguished guests at the
50th anniversary of the African Union. This is a celebration not for
Africans alone,
but for the world. Sadly, the progress made over the last half-century
falls substantially short of what could have been possible.
The
formation of the African Union (AU) followed the liberation of many
African countries from the minority rule exercised during the
colonization of Africa. At the AU’s inception, the hope for Africa was
that it become a continent where freedom of expression, freedom of
belief, freedom of assembly, equality, impartial justice, and the rule
of law would undergird all aspects of African life—just the same as what
America’s founding fathers had envisioned for the United States.
However, if the founders of the AU were alive today, would they be
celebrating?
Today, most African leaders on the continent have not been elected through free
and fair elections and their countries do not allow basic freedoms,
independent judiciaries, open political space and multi-ethnic
governments. Instead, corruption is rampant, the human and civil rights
of the people are violated and ethnic and religious based conflicts have
caused untold suffering in places like Darfur, South Sudan, the Congo,
and Rwanda. The daily struggle for survival, the dislocation of the
people, cronyism, ethnic favoritism and strong-armed leaders trump the
maximization of human potential on the continent for all but a few. Yet,
Africans have not given up their hope for the continent and continue to
strive towards progress despite these obstacles.
The organization I lead, the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE),
is an example of the desire of Ethiopians for such progress. The SMNE
is a non-political, non-violent grassroots social justice movement of
diverse Ethiopians whose mission is to advance the freedom, justice,
human rights, equality, and reconciliation of all the people of
Ethiopia, regardless of ethnicity, religion, political view or other
differences.
The SMNE formed in response to the widespread human
rights violations, injustice and repression perpetrated against the
Ethiopian people by the TPLF/EPRDF an ethnic-based minority regime in
power now for over 20 years. Instead, we seek a New Ethiopia where
humanity comes before ethnicity or any other identity differences that
can diminish the value of another human being. This is one of the SMNE’s
core principles. Although you are celebrating the anniversary of the
African Union at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; ironically,
Ethiopia is one of the most repressive and undemocratic countries on the
African continent. Ethiopia is an example of the failure of the
implementation of the goals of the AU and its partners.
For
example, in the last national election of 2010, the unpopular ruling
party claimed a 99.6% victory after using an assortment of repressive
methods to block political opponents, including imprisonment and misuse
of foreign humanitarian aid to bribe voters and punish those who
resisted. A few blocks away from the front door of the beautiful new
building housing the African Union are journalists, political leaders,
religious leaders and human rights activists who were convicted of
terrorism and other crimes for simply exercising
rights of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of
religion and thought as enshrined in Article 30 of the Ethiopian
Constitution.
As this day is celebrated, there are those who have been
taken away from their families and imprisoned just because they are
asking for their God-given rights. Others have been shot and killed, tortured or driven from the country for doing this.
Mr. Secretary,
You
should be aware that a protest is planned for May 25, 2013. Leaders of
the Semayawi (Blue) Party, the Ethiopian opposition is calling for their
supporters to come out on the anniversary of the AU to peacefully
protest. Some will be wearing black as a symbol of their mourning for
the lack of freedom, the criminalization of political expression,
government interference in religious organizations, government control
of Ethiopian institutions and its control of all aspects of life in the
country—the media, the courts, the economy, the military,
telecommunications, national resources, banking, the educational system
and opportunities.
These protestors seek to show African observers
of the AU’s celebration that they, Ethiopians of diverse ethnicity,
region, gender and religion, are under tyranny. They hope it will
inspire the Obama administration and others present to not overlook what
is going on in reality on the ground. The protestors seek the release
of all political prisoners, the restoration of freedom of expression, an
independent judiciary, opening up of political space, halting the
displacement of the people from their land and the rescinding of the
Charities and Society Proclamation and the Anti-Terrorism laws, which
both are used to silence civil society.
We are unsure about what
the autocratic regime in Ethiopia will do in response. Some, especially
the leaders of the protest, may be beaten, arrested and locked up in
jail. The potential also exists for violence, particularly at the hands
of the current government. This was the case in 2005 when Ethiopian
government security forces shot and killed 197 peaceful protestors and
detained tens of thousands of others. The opposition leaders were then
imprisoned for 18 months.
We in the SMNE support the people and
their demands for freedom, justice and meaningful reforms. We hope that
the U.S., as one of the key donors to the TPLF/EPRDF regime, will not
overlook this cry from the people, but instead will speak out on behalf
of freedom and justice and against the use of any violence or other
punitive repercussions against the people for simply exercising their
God-given rights.
Mr. Secretary,
We understand the
importance the US places on maintaining a relationship with Ethiopia,
but it should be on the side of the people, not in support of a
dictatorship. Following the Arab Spring, the people remained but the
dictators were no longer in power. We call on Obama administration to
side with the Ethiopian people who simply want the same freedoms
Americans enjoy.
Lack of African progress cannot only be blamed on
the dictatorships, but also on those who shore up their power. Some of
the most democratic countries in our world should not settle for
shortsighted goals—advancing their own interests. Instead, they should
seek long-term goals and relationships, which must include the people.
Relationships between countries, like between the US and Ethiopia, will
always be most sustainable when national interests coincide with the
human interests of the people.
Mr. Secretary,
This is not the first time we have approached you. We, the SMNE, sent a letter to you when you were the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. We also sent letters to: President Obama, Robert Gates, as Secretary of Defense, and to Hillary Clinton
when she was Secretary of State. If we want a freer, more vibrant, more
peaceful and stable world, it cannot be done without including Africa.
Our human value should rise above national boundaries for no one is free
until all are free—one of our foundational principles. When this
principle is followed, it will bring greater harmony between people,
communities and nations.
Mr. Secretary,
We should not feed
the African people rhetoric of words while feeding the dictators with
aid money. This kind of thing is unhealthy and will backfire. Will
President Obama now choose to side with the democratic movement of the
Ethiopian people or will he continue with the status quo, supporting a
dictator who has stolen the votes of the people?
If President
Obama wants to work on the side of the Ethiopian people towards peace,
stability and prosperity in Ethiopia and in the Horn of Africa, now is
the time to show such readiness. We are extending our hand to work with
you Mr. Secretary, but leave the decision up to you.
We call on
the Obama administration to speak out about the injustice in Ethiopia.
As for us, we will carry on our struggle until we free ourselves. We are
not asking anyone else to do it—the US, the EU, or others—but, we do
ask the Obama administration to not be a roadblock to our freedom. It is
time for Africa to progress and thrive! That would be cause for real
celebration!
Sincerely yours,
Obang Metho,
Executive Director
Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE)
910- 17th St. NW, Suite 419.
Washington, DC 20006 USA
Email:Obang@solidaritymovement.org.Website:www.solidaritymovement.org
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