The Week in review plus weekend updates

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Also:
- Weekend News and Updates
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Urgent!!! The Coalition for H.R. 2003 is asking Ethiopians to Send Fax letters to Speaker Nancy Pelosi IMMEDIATELY
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The Week in review

TOP STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK

• Reactions from the Diaspora on the release of the CUDP leadership
• First Press Release from CUDP leadership since freedom (pdf)
• Bipartisan Duo of Ex-Congressional Heavyweights Blocking Action Against Ethiopia
• Ethiopia turns its critics into untouchables
• AMNESTY: Forcible return/Fear of torture - Ethiopians in Sudan (pdf)
• SOCEPP: Ethiopians facing an involuntary repatriation from Sudan (pdf)
• Ethiopia tells Red Cross to leave the Ogaden region within Seven days
• Press Release from the Red Cross on expulsion from ogaden
• More civilians fleeing Mogadishu violence
• Exiled Somali MPs reject call to peace talks
• Eritrea asks China to help break Ethiopia border deadlock

Weekend News and Updates

KIL exits gracefully

Yesterday, July 27, 2007, in a press conference, the leadership of KIL announced the disbandment of the organization. The need that called for the existence of such an organization has been fulfilled with the release of kinijit's leaders, they said, it was now time to confer with the leadership in Addis on how to restructure dispora groups.

Kinijit via press release from its chairman Hailu Shawel has announced the end of Diaspora political leadership organizations. On its website, the other diaspora political entity (council), is also telling readers that it is ending its political leadership responsibilities. Aside from that however, all indications are the group wishes to continue functioning as is. This, many believe, could hinder diaspora reconciliation efforts in addition to being a potential source of constant headache for Kinijit’s leaders in Ethiopia.

Many Kinijit supporters in the diaspora are hoping for a fresh start. They are looking forward to closing that part of their history, which they admit they are not too proud of, and moving on to bigger and better things.

Press releases
-Kinijt dissolves Diaspora political leadership organizations
-Final press release from KIL
-Waiting on KIC’s final press release....

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[AUDIO] -- Addis dimts: Ephrem Issac and Al Mariam discuss H.R. 2003 (Via EMF)
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Press release from the coalition for H.R. 2003

Congressman Lantos directed not to mark up H.R. 2003

Meles buys Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer
Ephrem Isaac lobbied hard against H.R. 2003

The Coalition for HR 2003 has learned that Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Tom Lantos was directed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (San Francisco) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Maryland) not to mark-up H.R. 2003 on July 31, 2007. The reasons for the directive are not clear.

Preliminary investigations suggest that neither Chairman Tom Lantos nor Chairman Donald Payne were consulted prior to issuance of the directive.

The Coalition is informed and believes that over the past few days, Meles Zenawi’s lobbyists from DLA Piper, State Department officials and others were engaged in intense lobbying of Pelosi and Hoyer.

Recent reports in national newspapers and magazines in the United States have documented the involvement of DLA Piper lobbyists to defeat H.R. 2003.

The Coalition has further learned that Prof. Ephrem Isaac, who has recently been masquerading as a “shimagle”, has been engaged in intense lobbying efforts against H.R. 2003 in Congress. He was observed visiting various congressional offices today chaperoned and accompanied by Congressman Gary Ackerman of New York. The Coalition is investigating information that Ephrem Isaac is mobilizing powerful Jewish leaders and groups in the United States against H.R. 2003.

The Coalition respectfully notifies Ethiopian Americans in California and Maryland, particularly in the congressional districts of Pelosi and Hoyer, to prepare for vigorous and intense advocacy in the coming days.

The Coalition will provide further statement on these developments shortly. The Coalition will prepare an advocacy action plan in the near future.

http://www.hr2003.org
E-mail: passhr2003@hr2003.org
Tel: 323-988-5688 Fax: 323-924-5563
URGENT! For Immediate Release
July 27, 2007


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