Ethiopian Americans “Meles Zenawi belongs at The Hague, Not at Camp David”

Thursday, May 17th, 2012

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For Immediate Release, May 17, 2012
We Condemn President Obama’s Invite of the Brutal Dictator of Ethiopia.
President Obama is now in the business of propping and supporting African dictators. Obama’s victory raised great excitement, hope and pride for the people of Africa. Unfortunately, his invitation of one of Africa’s worst dictators, Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, to Camp David on May 18, 2012 has dashed hopes for Obama’s redemption as a friend of Africa and declared commitment for freedom and democracy to triumph in the continent. As a Nobel Peace Prize winner, he was supposed to stand with the oppressed not with the oppressors and killers.

Like previous U.S. presidents, Obama has decided to turn a blind eye towards African dictators. Many entrenched African dictators are terrorizing their own people; in particular, Dictator Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia has been known to engage in extra-judicial killings, torture and egregious human rights abuses according to credible reports by many rights groups including our own State Department of Bureau of Human Rights. Meles stands accused of genocide against the Anuaks in Gambella and war crimes in the Ogaden. The illegal imprisonment of journalists like Eskinder Nega and hundreds of political activists o trumped-up charges remain unabated.
By monopolizing all land, Internet, and major industries, Dictator Zenawi and his minority ethnic party, the TPLF, literally own the country. President Obama has decided to wine and dine with African dictators, while opposing other dictators in Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea and other countries in the name of democracy. Besides giving moral support by this action, President Obama is also funneling billions of U.S. taxpayer’s funds to prop Dictator Meles Zenawi.
We, Ethiopians, unequivocally condemn this policy of duplicity, wining and fraternizing with such brute African dictators. The Obama Administration should immediately cease aiding and abetting Dictator Zenawi and an end to his dictatorial rule. We ask all freedom loving people of America to raise their voices in support of democracy, human rights and respect for the rule of law. We demand the release of Eskinder Nega, winners of the 2012 PEN award Reeyot Alemu recipient of the International Women’s Media Foundation 2012 Courage in Journalism Award and all political prisoners in Meles Zenawi’s torture chambers.
On the April 18th Senate Sub-Committee on Africa hearing “Examining US Policy Response to Entrenched African Leadership, “Ambassador Johnnie Carson stated that “ our overarching Africa policy goal is to nurture the development of stable and democratic partners who are committed to the rule of law, human rights, transparent governance and the welfare of their citizens.” These lofty goals are all alien concepts to Meles Zenawi, one of the entrenched African strongmen who abhors strong institutions.
Mr. President it is time to translate these lofty goals into concrete actions. We, Ethiopian-Americans, therefore, ask you to be on the right side of history and to stand with the people of Ethiopia, not with the bloody dictator who is clinging to power through brute force.

Ethiopian American will protest the presence of Meles Zenawi at Reagan Building.
14 St and Pennsylvania NW,
Washington DC, Friday, May 18, 2012 at 7:00 AM
Contact information: 703-216-8459