Ethiopian American Civic Advocacy (EACA): letter to Richard K. Armey

Date: May 14, 2007
Richard K. Armey,
DLP Piper
1200 Nineteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC, 20036-2412
United States

Re: Lobbying for the Ethiopian government

Dear Richard K. Armey,

On Thursday May 10, 2007 the Joint commission for Human Rights chaired by Honorable Congressman Bill Delahunt Chairman, Subcommittee of International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, had a hearing to discuss the deteriorating Human Rights condition, lack of democracy in Ethiopia and the relationship of the United States with the Ethiopia government.

During the hearing, one of the ranking Congressman suggested to invite your firm to a hearing in order to testify about “the blood money” paid by the Ethiopian government.

The political support of DLA Piper and its Advisors is resulting in the extension of the life of a brutal dictatorship; contributing to the pillage of Ethiopia and for the subjugation of millions of Ethiopians.

Your lobbying firm’s role is no less crucial than the role of the arm dealers in helping Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s regime to continue to brutalize and suppress its very own people.

We urge you to go over the documentation we provided with our previous letter to you, as well as conduct your independent research on this matter.

We also humbly request your firm again to reconsider your association with the Ethiopian Government immediately, and hope the good name of your firm will not continue to be associated with a regime that has blood on its hands and is responsible for the plight of millions of its citizens and instability in the Horn region.

Those that have interests with the present government of Ethiopia will by extension be perceived as being insensitive to the brutalization of innocent civilians.

We plan to voice our concern to the world community about those involved directly or indirectly by supporting the government of Ethiopia to conduct state-sponsored terrorism, mass killings, and brutalize its very own people.

We are very confident that after carefully weighing the evidences you will clearly cease from being associated with such a brutal Regime.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kassa Ayalew (Acting Chair)
Ethiopian American Civic Advocacy (EACA)
Phone: +1 (703) 665-4042
PO.Box 1292
Lorton, Virginia 22199-1292
USA
eacadvocacy@gmail.com
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Also see:
-War on terror gets Ethiopia a pass on human rights: (Nov/9/2006 ) "Mr. Armey, a Texas Republican, argued on Capitol Hill that Ethiopia's leader, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, is "on our side" in the war against terrorism and should not be punished with a reduction in aid or the withholding of visas from some of his key officials.

Both Mr. Armey and DLA Piper have registered with the Justice Department as lobbyists under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, listing Ethiopia as a client. Calls to DLA Piper requesting comment from Mr. Armey were not returned."
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