A senior Ethiopian official says hisgovernment has a responsibility to maintain law and order and would not beswayed by outside criticism. The official, Bereket Simon, an advisor to PrimeMinister Meles Zenawi, was responding to a letter from four influential U.S.senators to the Ethiopian prime minister.
In their letter, the four senators,including Russell Feingold, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommitteeon Africa, warned that U.S.-Ethiopian relations could become more difficultbecause of the Ethiopian government's actions against its opposition.
Thesenators said they were concerned about the re-arrest of opposition leaderBirtukan Midekssa and the passage of a law restricting civil society groups.
BereketSimon, advisor to the Ethiopian prime minister told VOA the U.S. senators' criticism andaccusations are unwarranted.
"Ifanyone is breaking the law, it's their problem and not our problem. Ethiopiangovernment believes government has a mandate and an obligation to ensure therule of law in Ethiopia. So it's an unwarranted accusation and criticism," hesaid.
Thesenators said in their letter that they were concerned about the re-arrest ofopposition leader Birtukan Midekssa. Simon said the opposition leader broke therules of her conditional pardon.
"Firstthese opposition leaders had been tried and sentenced, and they asked forconditional pardon. Government granted them a conditional pardon whichliterally means if this person once again transgresses the law of the land, itwould be a breach of the pardon, and that's what she did. We don't acceptdouble standard here. We believe citizens who don't have the backing of (U.S.)senators are equal to those who don't have the backing of senators wherever.She has made mistakes and she has to account for it. Why should we becriticized by the senators?" Simon said.
Theletter, dated January 16, was signed by Senator Russell Feingold,chair of the Senate's subcommittee on African Affairs. Other signatories areSenator Patrick Leahy, Richard Durbin, and Johnny Isakson.
Thesenators criticized Ethiopia's recent law restricting civil society groups. Simonsaid foreigners do not have the same political rights as Ethiopian citizens toparticipate in Ethiopian affairs.
"Thelaw differentiates between citizens and foreign-based NGO. Citizens have everyright to participate in Ethiopian politics. In fact it is mandated by EthiopianConstitution. So government cannot put a limit. On the other hand, thoseforeign-based NGOs who are here because of the privilege that is given to themby the government do not have the political rights to participate in Ethiopianaffairs," Simon said.
Hesaid Ethiopia is not worried about the U.S. Senators' criticism of the MelesZenawi government, especially at a time when a new U.S. administration led byBarack Obama is about to take over the leadership of the U.S. government.
"Nomatter what the times might be, these Congressmen are telling us not to enactlaws that are useful to Ethiopia. They are going to put pressure on us becausewe enacted our own laws. This Ethiopia; it's a sovereign state. I don't thinkany Congressman can tell us what to do," Simon said.