I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5321

To urge the Government of Ethiopia to hold orderly, peaceful, and free 

and fair national elections in May 2005 and to authorize United States 

assistance for elections-related activities to monitor the Ethiopian national elections. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 8, 2004

Mr. HONDA (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, and Mr. ROYCE) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations 

A BILL

To urge the Government of Ethiopia to hold orderly, peaceful, and free and fair national elections in May 2005 

and to authorize United States assistance for electionsrelated activities to monitor the Ethiopian national elections.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Free and Fair Elec5 tions in Ethiopia Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress makes the following findings: 
2

•HR 5321 IH 

1 (1) Relations between the United States and 

2 Ethiopia have improved significantly over the past 

3 decade, although human rights concerns in Ethiopia 

4 remain. The Government of the Federal Democratic 

5 Republic of Ethiopia has cooperated with the United 

6 States on a range of efforts, including combating 

7 global terrorism. 

8 (2) In 1995 and 2000, the Government of Ethi9 opia organized and conducted local, regional, and 

10 national elections. In 1995, some opposition parties 

11 boycotted the elections, despite offers and support by 

12 donor governments, including the United States, to 

13 help ensure free and fair elections. Opposition par14 ties, including those outside of Ethiopia, have a re15 sponsibility and duty to play a constructive role in 

16 building democracy in Ethiopia and to engage the 

17 Government of Ethiopia in peaceful dialogue. 

18 (3) The Department of State, in its most recent 

19 country reports on human rights practices, deter20 mined that ‘‘the 2000 national elections and the 

21 2001 regional elections [in Ethiopia] were generally 

22 free and fair in most areas but were marred by seri23 ous irregularities, including killings, disappearances, 

24 voter intimidation and harassment, and unlawful de-
3

•HR 5321 IH 

1 tentions of opposition party supporters, particularly 

2 in the southern region. 

3 (4) The Government of Ethiopia demonstrated 

4 its commitment to holding democratic elections in 

5 the 2000 parliamentary elections because of its will6 ingness to re-run parliamentary elections in 14 con7 stituencies in which elections irregularities were re8 ported. 

9 (5) It is critical that the Government of Ethi10 opia, donor countries, and civil society offer an ex11 tensive and comprehensive civic education in order 

12 to prepare and educate the people of Ethiopia about 

13 their democratic rights and duties. 

14 (6) The Government of Ethiopia should ensure 

15 the safety and security of opposition party officials 

16 and prosecute and punish those local and regional 

17 officials engaged in harassment and intimidation of 

18 opposition party officials. 

19 (7) Mass media, including radio and television, 

20 remain under the control of the Government of Ethi21 opia. The decision of the Government of Ethiopia to 

22 issue radio broadcast licenses to private entre23 preneurs is encouraging. Independent and private 

24 press, especially radio and television, are key to de25 mocracy and transparency. The decision by the Gov-
4

•HR 5321 IH 

1 ernment of Ethiopia to engage the opposition in a 

2 constructive dialogue to resolve issues related to the 

3 upcoming elections, including access to the media by 

4 the opposition and reform of the electoral board, 

5 should be commended. 

6 (8) The decision by the Government of Ethiopia 

7 to allow international elections observers contributes 

8 to a more free and fair elections process and should 

9 be commended. 

10 SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

11 It is the sense of Congress that—

12 (1) the Government of the Federal Democratic 

13 Republic of Ethiopia should hold orderly, peaceful, 

14 and free and fair national elections in May 2005 in 

15 order to ensure the long-term growth and stability of 

16 the country; 

17 (2) it is critical that the elections are deemed 

18 by the people of Ethiopia as free and fair and pro19 vide the winner of the election a clear mandate to 

20 govern the country; and 

21 (3) the Government of Ethiopia and opposition 

22 parties should continue their constructive dialog to23 ward resolving elections-related issues. 
5

•HR 5321 IH 

1 SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE TO MONITOR THE 2005 NATIONAL 

2 ELECTIONS IN ETHIOPIA. 

3 The President, acting through the Administrator of 

4 the United States Agency for International Development, 

5 is authorized to provide assistance on a grant basis to non6 governmental organizations for elections-related activities 

7 in order to monitor the May 2005 national elections in 

8 the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and assess 

9 whether or not these elections are held on a free and fair 

10 basis. 

11 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro13 priated to the President to carry out this Act $10,000,000 

14 for fiscal year 2005. 

15 (b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pursuant 

16 to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) 

17 are authorized to remain available until expended.

Æ