Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, today issued the following statement on recent confirmed reports of the slaughter of over 400 ethnic Amhara by the Oromo People’s Liberation Army last month in the Oromia region of Ethiopia:

                        “Ethnic-based violence in Ethiopia must stop.

                        We cannot scapegoat one group as each group has both victims and victimizers.

                        The bloodshed must end—and those who commit atrocities must be held to account, including government forces as well as ethnic militias. 

                        The cycle of recrimination must be broken.”

            Smith, the author of legislation to promote democracy and human rights in Ethiopia, has chaired eight hearings on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.

###