its 2005 Country Reports on Human Rights Prac-
tices, noted a myriad of human rights abuses by the 
Government of Ethiopia. Moreover, journalists and 
editors of the independent press have been and con-
tinue to face harassment and prosecution for alleged 
violations of press laws in Ethiopia. Dozens of jour-
nalists have fled the country, and some are currently 
in exile fearing prosecution or harassment. 
(9) In June 2005, more than 35 demonstrators 
were killed by Ethiopian Government security per-
sonnel and in November 2005 an estimated 53 peo-
ple were killed, including 7 policemen, according to 
Human Rights Watch and several other reports. The 
violence against these victims occurred after pro-op-
position groups went to the streets of the capital to 
protest government actions in handling the elections 
results of May 2005. Tens of thousands of people 
suspected of being opposition supporters were de-
tained over the past months, although many of these 
detainees were released. Nonetheless, government se-
curity forces continue to abuse opposition leaders, 
supporters, and family members. 
(10) An estimated 112 political leaders, human 
rights activists, community leaders, and journalists, 
including the chairman of the CUD (Hailu Shawel), 
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the newly elected Mayor of Addis Ababa (Berhanu 
Nega), and the founder of the Ethiopian Human 
Rights Council (Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam), 
were imprisoned and charged with treason and geno-
cide. These measures were deliberately taken to sti-
fle and criminalize opposition party activity in the 
country. The measures also were intended to intimi-
date and silence independent press and civil society, 
raising serious question about the Ethiopian Govern-
ment’s commitment to democracy and good govern-
ance. 
(11) According to Department of State’s 2006 
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, 
‘‘human rights abuses [in Ethiopia] reported during 
the year included: limitation on citizens’ right to 
change their government during the most recent 
elections; unlawful killings, and beating, abuse, and 
mistreatment of detainees and opposition supporters 
by security forces; poor prison conditions; arbitrary 
arrest and detention . . .’’. 
(12) Whereas the Ethiopian Parliament estab-
lished an 11-member Commission of Inquiry to ‘‘in-
vestigate the disorder and report to the House of 
People’s Representatives in order to take the nec-
essary measure’’. The Commission was tasked to in-
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vestigate whether government security forces used 
excessive force, caused damage to life and property, 
or showed a lack of respect for human rights. The 
Commission was mandated to investigate the June 
8, 2005, and November 1–10, 2005, violence in dif-
ferent parts of the country. 
(13) Whereas members of the Commission of 
Inquiry visited several regions, reviewed police re-
ports, met with prisoners and government officials, 
made 122 radio and TV announcements to the pub-
lic, examined 16,990 documents, and took testi-
monies from 1,300 people. 
(14) Whereas the Commission of Inquiry con-
cluded that 763 civilians were injured and 193 
killed. The Commission also reported that 71 police 
officers were injured and 6 killed. Damage to prop-
erty was estimated at $512,588. The Commission 
also reported that more than 30,000 civilians were 
detained, some were tortured, and prisoners in Kaliti 
were killed. 
(15) Whereas the Commission of Inquiry re-
ported that security forces fired 1,500 bullets at 
prisoners, killing 17 and injuring 53. The Commis-
sion stated that civilians did not use weapons and 
reported bank robberies by demonstrators did not 
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take place. The Commission’s deliberations were 
video-taped and votes were taken on key findings on 
July 3, 2006. 
(16) Whereas shortly after the Commission of 
Inquiry reached its decision, the Ethiopian Govern-
ment reportedly began to put pressure on Commis-
sion members to change their report. The Chairman 
of the Commission, a former Supreme Court Presi-
dent of the Southern Region of Ethiopia, was told 
by a senior advisor of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi 
to call for an emergency meeting of the Commission 
in order to change the Commission’s report. 
(17) Whereas the Commission of Inquiry was 
scheduled to give its report to the Ethiopian Par-
liament on July 7, 2006, but the Parliament was ad-
journed a day early. Several Commission members, 
including the Chairman and the Deputy Chair, left 
the country with the final report, other documents 
relevant to the investigation, and several video tapes 
of the Commission deliberations. 
(18) Whereas in November 2006, the Chairman 
of the Commission of Inquiry and another Commis-
sion member presented the Commission’s report and 
briefed Members of the United State Congress. 
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(19) Whereas in November 2006, at a congres-
sional briefing with members of the Commission of 
Inquiry, a young women named Alemzuria submitted 
her testimony about what happened to her mother, 
Etenesh Yemam. Alemzuria’s father was elected in 
May 2005 as Council Member of in Addis Ababa. 
Subsequently security personnel came to arrest him 
at his home and then shot Etenesh Yemam as she 
pleaded for her husband’s release. 
(20) Whereas the Commission of Inquiry inves-
tigated the killing of Etenesh Yemam and confirmed 
beyond doubt what happened on that dreadful day. 
Etenesh Yemam’s husband still languishes in prison 
while Alemzuria remains a refugee in another Afri-
can country. 
SEC. 4. SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN ETHIOPIA. 
The Secretary of State shall— 
(1) establish a mechanism to provide financial 
support to local and national human rights groups 
and other relevant civil society organizations to help 
strengthen human rights monitoring and regular re-
porting on human rights conditions in Ethiopia; 
(2) establish a victims support network to pro-
vide legal support for political prisoners and pris-
oners of conscience and to assist local groups or 
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