Much to the surprise of many observers, the United States (US) House of People’s Representatives unanimously voted last Tuesday to pass to the Senate a piece of legislation that critics of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s Administration hope would hold the latter accountable and responsible for alleged human rights violations.
 

Two opposition leaders, Brehanu Nega (PhD) and Bertukan Mideksa, testified on the same day before Congress supporting the bill, while Jendayi E. Frazer (Prof), assistant secretary for African Affairs in the State Department, defended the US Administration’s policy toward Ethiopia. It did little to persuade members of the House to change their mind.
 

“There was a feeling that Ethiopia, being an ally of the US, should have an opportunity to correct some of the wrongdoing, and that has not happened,” Congressman Donald Payne (D-NJ), a main sponsor of the bill told BBC after the House vote. “Two years later, people are still being imprisoned. There are still problems in the Ogaden region. People are having food kept away from them. That is why we finally said we need to move forward with it.”
 

But this is a move characterised by Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the US, Samuel Assefa (PhD), as an “irresponsible” act, while senior government officials in Addis describe the decision by American lawmakers not only as interference in the business of a “sovereign country with a proud independent history”, but also an act motivated by “personal grudges”. PLEASE SEE THE FULL STORY