Nov 4, 2016 Press Release
Washington, DC — U.S. Representative Mike Coffman (CO-06) today sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging “bold” action to address issues associated with the Ethiopian government’s excessive use of force on anti-government protesters in the Oromia and Amhara regions of Ethiopia.
“On behalf of the Ethiopian-American community in Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, we are deeply concerned over the continued violence in the Oromia and Amhara regions of Ethiopia,” Coffman said. “The Ethiopian government’s excessive use of force during early protests against the government has led to a much broader response as a large number of Ethiopian citizens question their diminishing freedoms under what the State Department has indicated is an increasingly authoritarian Ethiopian government.”
“It is clearly in the best interests of the United States and the Ethiopian people to work to ensure the Ethiopian government promotes basic freedoms and does not sponsor, condone, or tolerate the excessive use of force against peaceful protesters,” Coffman continued. “I also urge the State Department to closely scrutinize U.S. humanitarian and economic aid provided to Ethiopia.”
According to Human Rights Watch, more than 500 Ethiopians have died at the hands of Ethiopian security forces.
Coffman’s full letter to Secretary Kerry is available here.