I am writing as a constituent in your district to urge you to support H.R.861 “Supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia.” introduced by Rep. Christopher Smith  (R-NJ) and co-sponsored by Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Al Green (D-TX) and Mike Coffman (R-CO)

H.R. 861 condemns the killing of peaceful protesters and excessive use of force by Ethiopian security forces; the arrest and detention of journalists, students, activists, and political leaders who exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and expression through peaceful protests; and abuse of the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation to stifle political and civil dissent and journalistic freedoms;

Calls on the Government of Ethiopia to end the use of excessive force by security forces; conduct a full, credible, and transparent investigation into the killings in the Oromia and Amhara regions and hold security forces accountable for wrongdoing  respect the right to freedom of peace1ful assembly and guarantee the freedom of the press and mass media, in keeping with Articles 30 and 29 of the Ethiopian constitution;; allow a rapporteur appointed by the United Nations to conduct an independent examination of the state of human rights in Ethiopia; repeal proclamations that—can be used as a political tool to harass or prohibit funding for civil society organizations and investigate the circumstances surrounding the September 3, 2016, shootings and fire at Qilinto Prison and publically release the report in an expedient manner;

Calls on the Secretary of State to conduct a review of security assistance to Ethiopia in light of recent developments and to improve transparency with respect to the purposes of such assistance to the people of Ethiopia; calls on the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to immediately lead efforts to develop a comprehensive strategy to support improved democracy and governance in Ethiopia;

Calls on the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, to improve oversight and accountability of United States assistance to Ethiopia, pursuant to the expectations established in the United States Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa.

We urge you to contact your U.S. representative and ask him or her to co-sponsor H.Res.861

• If you do not seeyour U.S. representative as a co-sponsor above, please contact his/her office today.
• Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Foreign Affairs Legislative Assistant.
• Advise them you are a constituent, calling from [city or town] and that you’d like the representative’s support by co-sponsoring R.861
• Advise the Congressional staff person to contact Congressman/woman xxxs office to sign on as a co-sponsor.
• If you do seeyour legislator as a co-sponsor, please contact him or her to offer your thanks.

Atrocities of the TPLF Minority Regime on the Ethiopian People

A young girl in Gondar (Amhara Region) tortured and killed because she gave water and refreshments to people marching against government atrocities.

Peaceful demonstrators and a young girl going to school who were shot and killed point blank by government troops, by the notorious “Agazi” and “Leyu police”

Peaceful Protestors put in Remote Concentration Camps

Ethiopian youth who were participating in peaceful demonstrations protesting the regimes plan to annex their land, were picked up from all over the Amhara Region their heads shaved off and have been sent to the far west into the jungle of western Ethiopia, Beni Shangul where no human beings live and are forced to break rocks all day. They have little food and water. They are getting sick and in danger of starving to death and disease. They work until they pass out.

Even if they try to break loose or are set free, the jungle is surrounded by tall grass which is inhabited by lions and poisons snakes. Their situation is very critical at this time. The number is estimated to be between 1,500-2,400.

Crimes Against Children in Oromya.
Hanna Doja, seven years of age and a first grade student. She was attacked by in Kombolcha town, Horroo Gudurru, in Oromia region, Ethiopia by TPLF forces (Agazi) on December  31^st 2015.

TPLF’s barbarism against the Surma (the Suri, the Mursi and the Mekan) people of Lower Omo basin in Southern Ethiopia. TPLF’s Agazi forces are conducting mass eviction against the indigenous minority Surmas to clear their ancestral land for sugar plantations, owned by Tigreans.