H.R. 2003 is a bill introduced by Congressman Donald Payne to encourage and facilitate the consolidation of peace and security, respect for human rights, democracy, and economic freedom in Ethiopia.

Professor Alemayehu, a lead member of the Coalition for H.R.2003 affirms that Prof Ephrem has been lobbying to block full congressional action against the Zenawi regime.

Professor Ephrem is a renown scholar and is leading the Ethiopian elders (Shemageles) who were engaged in commendable mediation efforts. The elder group who paid several visits to PM Zenawi and the then jailed CUD leaders, were reportedly instrumental in securing the release of the oppostion leaders. Prof Ephrem argues that the bill can jeopardize the liberation of further political prisoners on which he is currently working on. He further stresses that the bill "enslaves" and threatens the sovereignty our nation and that Ethiopians should strive to solve their problems among themselves without foreign interventions.

Listen to Prof. Al Mariam and Prof. Ephrem discussing over H.R. 2003 on VOA (July 30th) and on Addis Voice (July 28th). Abebe Belew, Addis Voice Editor, has published an open letter to Professor Ephrem Issac .

More importantly, take action now in the campaign for H.R. 2003 - Call and Fax .  

A unique entertainment event organized by Kinijit Support Organization in Switzerland was held in Zurich, Switzerland on Saturday, 21 July 2007.

Seven Artists namely Alemtsehay Wedajo, Tamagn Beyene, Tesfaye Sima, Alemayehu Tadesse, Tewodros Legesse, Tigist Negatu and Comedian Meskerem Bekele delighted the crowd with their extraordinary performance on the stage. Artist Tamagn Beyene was a special guest and his performance can be watched on YouTube .

Pepu Fidel Mado is the work of the late Laureate Tsegaye Gebremedhin.

Free at Last! Hailu Shawul, Chairman of CUD (picture from archive)

The pardoning of 38 people by the Ethiopian government does not mean that all the cases stemming from the 2005 election protests have been resolved.

 For example, the NGO ActionAid says Daniel Bekele, its policy manager in Ethiopia, and Netsanet Demissie, general manager of the Organization for Social Justice in Ethiopia, are still on trial. They refused to sign a document admitting wrongdoing.

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