Open Letter to President W. George Bush
Mr. President, I am writing this letter to appeal to you to call off your planned meeting with Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the dictatorial regime of the EPRDF that is brutalizing and terrorizing the people of Ethiopia since its seizure of power in mid 199l.
Mr. President, the great majority of the Ethiopian people have very deep Love to the People of the United States of America. Ethiopians are very much indebted to the American People who extended their support in time of their need. The Ethio-America relationship in time of peace and war has been a record in World history that amplifies exemplary to all peace-loving nations.
Under the guise of Collective Security American and Ethiopian Soldiers shaded their blood in defense of world peace right after the World War II. This gallant move is a living demonstration to the People of the World that Ethiopia and the US firmly stand together in time of crisis.
To day, because Ethiopia is in political crisis the United States has become a home for millions of Ethiopian refugees who are given shelter against the tyranny of Meles Zenawi. On the other hand the Ethiopian People have demonstrated their grief and annoyance on the terrorist attack against the people of the United States that occurred on September 2001. The people of Ethiopia also appreciate the effort being exerted by you, Mr. President, to sustain a world free of terrorists & tyranny.
Mr. President, whilst such astounding relationship, the centenary of which is underway to be celebrated in December 2003, remain firm and unshakable between the people of Ethiopia and the United States, what pains Ethiopians in the Diaspora and at home is the reception about to be accorded to Meles Zenawi at the White House this week. Zenawi is a tyrant. Thousands of Ethiopians have perished in his rule. War, ethnic conflicts, assassinations, diseases, mal-nutrition, famine, starvation & excessive human right violations are the foundation of Zenawi's rule in Ethiopia.
These have been demonstrated time and time again in the past 12 years of his tyranny. Only last year in April, Meles Zenawi's Police Force brutally murdered 41 students at the Addis Ababa University followed by mass killings of hundreds of innocent peasants in Awasa and Teipei in the subsequent months.
Mr. President, I would like to turn your attention for a moment to one of your speeches last year in which you promised the American People to fight tyranny wherever it maybe. That was a magnificent speech that gave hope and comfort to most Ethiopians as victims of tyranny. It is heart-breaking news to us Ethiopians that today tyranny is coming to the White House in the Person of Meles Zenawi who by defaults of fake election was named Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Meles Zenawi terrorized, imprisoned, tortured and killed opposition leaders. Among his victims is the acclaimed Professor Asrat Woldeyes, a noted Scholar who was denied of access to medication in the sanitary lacking prison of Meles Zenawi that led to his death. Scholars trained by American Universities like Dr. Taye Wolde Semayat, President of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association were tortured and suffered in an Italian made 2nd World War Prison in Addis Ababa for a number of years.
Millions of young Ethiopians are forced to live as refugees in the US and elsewhere in Europe trying to escape from the atrocities of Meles Zenawi. Most regretting of all nearly 18,000.000 of Ethiopians are on the verge of death due to starvation patented largely by mal-administration.
Mr. President, you as a leader of a democratic nation, the number one person of the home of the brave and the land of the free are a friend of the Ethiopian people and not the dictator individual Meles Zenawi. You as president of the People of the US who firmly stand for respect of human rights cannot shake the bloodstained hands of Meles Zenawi. How can the worst dictator of the Word enter the historic White House where the foundation of American Democracy has been laid during your presidency?
I am afraid that history will have no mercy on any one that meets the enemy of the people of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi in the House where the great people of the United States of America, the bad- days- friends of the People of Ethiopia are represented.
I therefore strongly appeal to you, Mr. President, to call off your scheduled meeting with the notorious dictator whose visit to the White House causes damage to the profound honor & dignity that the people of Ethiopia confer upon you as a leader of their friends.
Respectfully yours, Zenebe G. Tamirat, Ex-Central Committee Member of the now updated AAPO Los Angeles, Ca. Cc: The Department of State of the U.S.A Fax #202 647 0810 Back to main page! |