Humanitarian Campaign Against H.R. 1061 Bill

Ethiopian-American/Ethiopian Humanitarian Campaign Committee Against H.R. 1061 Bill
P.O. Box 822973
Dallas, TX 75382 (EC)

April 11, 2005


Att. Mr. Tom Delay, Majority Leader
Mrs. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader
Congressman Henry J. Hyde
Chairman Committee on International Relation
Overseas Private Investment Corporation


We, the undersigned Ethiopian-Americans/Ethiopian citizens in the United States, are writing to express our deep concern and regret over the series of actions taken by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (Advisor and a member of the Committee on International Relation). Undeniably, H.R. 1061, if approved, will deprive Ethiopia and its people all types of US economic and humanitarian support, including the one from OPIC and the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. As such, the actions of the Honorable Congressman, also deprive the rights of American citizens who would otherwise benefit from the services of OPIC in their endeavor to make use of the investment opportunity in Ethiopia. It is regrettable that such actions are pursued in the interest of a single Eritrean-American "friend" of the Honorable Congressman who does not seem to agree with the decision of the Ethiopian Privatization Agency on the settlement of his claims for properties that were nationalized in 1975, by the previous Government in Ethiopia. We believe that such individual claims need to be settled through the domestic legal recourse available within Ethiopia and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which are contrary to the interests of Americans and Ethiopia's 70 million people.

It is also contrary to the foreign policy objectives of the United States, as it failed to take into account the prevailing strategic partnership between the United States and Ethiopia in the global war against terrorism. We know that Ethiopia's strategic partnership includes active participation in the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

We are, hereby, requesting your noble and indispensable support to stand firm with us against draft bill H.R. 1061 introduced by the Honorable Congressman and to urge OPIC to resume providing funds to Ethiopian-Americans and other US citizens who wish to invest in Ethiopia without any further delay. Thank you in advance for your support. For more information call at 972-517-0916.

To show your support against the H.R. 1061 Bill, Call

Majority Leader, Tom Delay, 202-225-59
Congressman Dana Rohradacher 202-225-2415.
Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi, 202-225-4965.
Congressman Henry J. Hyde 202-224-3121


Thank you in advance for your support


Yeharerwerk Gashaw
Campaign Coordinator/Humanitarian Activist