SOLDIARITY COMMITTEE FOR ETHIOPIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS (SOCEPP)

POSTFACH 51213, BERLIN 13372,GERMANY

P.O.BOX 413, STATION E,TORONTO,ONT. M6H 4E3,CANADA

P.O.BOX 21526, WASHINGTON DC, 20009, U.S.A.

SOCEPP@AOL.COM

WWW.SOCEPP.DE

October 1/2004

MR PRIME MINISTER,

The Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP), a non partisan human rights organization, would like to bring to the attention of your government the need to correct British policy vis a vis the EPRDF regime of Prime Minster Meles Zenawi.

As you prepare to visit Ethiopia, we would like to call upon you, Prime Minster, to take a clear stand on the violation of human rights by the EPRDF, a violation condemned by very many international human rights bodies. We are sure Your Excellency knows quite well that the regime of Meles Zenawi has been cited one of the worst predators of the free press in the world. British policy towards the EPRDF has not been commendable. The official consideration of the regime as "democratic", the backing given to the repressive police, the all around aid accorded it, the refusal to grant asylum to Ethiopian refugees on the ground that the regime is a "safe country", etc are to be mentioned. The opportunistic position by the regime in support of the anti-terror war should not cover up the fact that Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, demagogy aside, is heading a repressive minority regime that has denied the people their basic rights.

Mr. Prime Minster,

SOCEPP would like to ask you to demand that Prime Minster Meles releases all the political prisoners at Kaliti and other hell holes all over the country. He must be asked to account for the very many "disappeared", to drop the draft (and repressive) press law, to end the control of the economy through TPLF/EPRDF owned companies, to amend the election law and accept the demand by the opposition to establish a neutral electoral board. The reality on the ground belies the claims of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and there is no justification in continuing the comparison with the previous totalitarian regime and asserting this one is "better". Better for whom? Why should our people's desire for democracy and human rights be always curtailed by such- "it is better" - arguments when they clearly see and feel that the violations have not ceased at all?

Mr. Prime Minster, SOCEPP calls upon you to raise your voice in support of human rights in Ethiopia. After all the basic tenets of your Labor Party go against tolerating human rights violators such as the regime in Ethiopia.

respectfully

Ezra Nathaniel]

SOCEPP (Berlin)

socepp@aol.com