Few words on Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 (H. R. 2003)
Gubirmans Publishing - October 2007

Ibsaa Guutama, the writer, is a member of the generation that drew the first Political Program of the OLF.

If one is talking about Human rights on the bases of UN charter and the conventions and covenants, neither democracy nor accountability is to be expected from Ethiopia. Individual rights and liberties are violated not only targeting the individual but also the people to whom the individual belongs. The empire is composed of nations and nationalities in which majority were colonized. The mother country, Habashaa had never had democratic governance. Power is always captured not bestowed through democratic process.

The American legislature is trying to impose a strange practice from the outside. In this paper the writer is trying to follow the process of HR 2003, what it addresses and what it overlooks. The Bill that was sent from the House to the Senate on October 2, 2007 has 8 sections.

The Process

To pass or block a Bill requires great effort from those who are for and against. To initiate and push it through requires courage and perseverance. Even assuming that there are no external pressures obtaining a large enough majority in the House that agrees on the objective of the proposed Bill would be a painstaking endeavor. In the case of HR 2003 Ethiopia, first there are members who believe the theory that each people get a government it deserves. So there is no need to interfere under any pretext. Second, there are those who idolize imperial Ethiopia where the Amaara were politically and socially dominant. That is the Ethiopia they claim to love and so support. They believe that the regime is suppressing supporters of that ideal.

The third know Ethiopia through the present regime alone. They include those who identify themselves with the struggle that brought TPLF to power and those impressed with the approach of Mallas to democracy. The later are easily deceived by the canning Tigrian cadres. What is now tabled in the House is an entirely different picture for them. Fourth and final group include those keen observers for whom it did not take time to understand the deceptive character of the regime and the atrocities being committed by it. Majority of members with different outlook and experience indicated above have to be convinced to pass a Bill. Such presentation has to appeal to the conscience of each and every individual, despite their varied understanding of the Ethiopian human right situation ...