The Petition of Ethiopian refugees resident in Britain,

Declares that more than one third of Ethiopia’s budget consists of foreign aid; notes that Ethiopia has made progress towards achieving some of the UN Millennium Development Goals; notes that the Petitioners believe that there is a systemic disregard for human rights by the Ethiopian Government; and notes with concern the systemic violation of civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights enshrined in the Ethiopian constitution and guaranteed in UN conventions to which Ethiopia is signatory, in particular: detention without fair trial of political opponents and critics of the Government; politically motivated extra-judicial killings; routine torture and rape of detainees; crimes against humanity committed by Ethiopian forces in the Somali region and in Gambella, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region; discriminatory distribution of state assistance, including internationally-funded aid; forced relocation of farmers and pastoralists for the benefit of local and foreign investors; restriction on the activities of civil society, and surveillance and harassment of refugees in the diaspora.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to withdraw unconditional political and financial support to the Ethiopian Government and to exert effective diplomatic pressure on the Ethiopian Government to: release or subject to fair trial by independent judiciary all political detainees; investigate and punish those responsible for the killing, torture and rape of perceived political opponents, and repeal or amend the Charities and Societies Proclamation and take positive steps to encourage independent civil society, democratic pluralism and a culture of respect for human rights in Ethiopia.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Malcolm Bruce.]

[P000950]