Ethiopia Hearing: Frustrated Amb. Slings Mud At Rep Smith

02 April 2006

Frustrated by his inability to defend the indefensible and in a futile attempt to make up for his miserable performance in front of US House Hearing on “Ethiopia’s Troubled Internal Situation” on 28 March 2006, the Charge d’Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Fessseha Asghedom Tessema put out a letter dated 31 March 2006 slinging mud at representative Christopher Smith, chairman of the hearing.

Ambassador Tessema, who was peppered with tough questions, accuses chairman Smith, inter alia, of entertaining unfavorable audience reactions to his outright lies and surreal remarks during the hearing.

“There are occasions, during the career of any diplomat, when one must express unpleasant truths for the benefit of the greater good. Today is one of those occasions, because I must express my displeasure at the way in which, in your capacity as chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations, you conducted the March 28 hearing entitled “Ethiopia’s Troubled Internal Situation.” So opens the Ambassador his letter to chairman Smith. Translation: During the career of any diplomat, there are times when the diplomat is left with nothing but exposing his whiner-face when things don't go his way.

“It has also been my expectation that oversight hearings are conducted with the same decorum as a court of law: respect shown to all participants, with appropriate solemnity on the part of observers. In every other proceeding of this sort that I have observed, when the audience becomes demonstrative (whether through cheers and applause or through boos and catcalls), it has been the responsibility of the chair to gavel the room to order. I was shocked that, when the hearing audience reacted audibly to the speakers, you not only chose not to call for order, you seemed to encourage the disorder among the crowd.” And so yammers ambassador Tessema. Translation: Chairman Smith should have issued an order to blindfold, duck-tape the mouth, tie the hands, and plug the ears of the audience during ambassador Tessema's testimony?Or at best, Tessema's testimony should have been conducted in secret?

Ambassador Tessema's reaction is no aberration here. It is perfectly consistent with the ruling Woyané regime's now well-known modus operandi of blaming others whenever things don't go its way:

· Boundary decision, they blamed it on the independent commission (EEBC) which they themselves put together

· When the people of Ethiopia rose up in protest of vote-rigging, they accused Eritrea of inciting the protest

· When Addis was shaken and rocked by bomb blasts, they again accused Eritrea of involvement

· And now, when Ambassador Tessema's testimony falls apart, they blame it on the chairman of the hearing. And more of the same must be expected.

For more of the Ambassadors yammer-letter please click on the following link:

http://www.ethiopianembassy.org/lhcs.pdf

Source: www.eritreadaily.net/News0406/article040622.htm