From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Tue Feb 02 2010 - 15:28:07 EST
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iSvxPiQzeL4hjdUy2DYiRA-0sfIA
US envoy pledges to press Ethiopia on rights
(AFP) – 2 hours ago
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's nominee to be the next US ambassador
to Ethiopia pledged on Tuesday to press the government in Addis Ababa to
improve human rights, free political prisoners and make upcoming elections
fair.
Donald Booth said the United States had "complex interests" in Ethiopia, and
that the two nations, while differing in tactics, saw largely eye-to-eye on
the need to bring stability and prevent an Islamist takeover of Somalia.
"We need to try to work with Ethiopia across the board, preserving the
cooperation where we share interests such as regional security," Booth, a
former ambassador to Liberia and Zambia, said at his Senate confirmation
hearing.
But he warned that Ethiopia's "limitations on political expression and
economic activities as well as shortcomings in respect to basic human rights
run counter to American principles and risk becoming the seeds of future
instability."
Under questioning by Senator Russ Feingold, who heads the Foreign Relations
subcommittee on Africa, Booth pledged to take up the case of prisoners such
as Birtukan Mideksa, leader of the largest opposition party.
Ethiopia sentenced Birtukan to life in prison for treason after she alleged
that the government rigged 2005 elections. She received a pardon two years
later but the life term was re-imposed a month ago.
Booth said the US embassy in Addis Ababa has been seeking access to
Birtukan, 36.
"I think we need to find a way to convince them (Ethiopian leaders) that
it's in their own interest not to hold people simply because they hold
opposing political views," Booth said.
Booth said he would urge Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government to ensure
the fairness of elections due in May, including by allowing opposition
candidates to run and have access to the media.
Booth also called for domestic and international observers to monitor the
election.
The nominee promised Feingold also to look into allegations of human rights
abuses in the southern Ogaden region, where Muslim, ethnic Somali rebels are
waging an insurgency for independence.
"Clearly the Ogaden is an area that has created great instability and
threats to the security of the Ethiopian state over time," he said.
"We need to work with the Ethiopians ... to try to figure out a way that
they can not only protect their territorial integrity but also respect the
human rights of all their citizens including the Ogadense," he said.
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