OPINION ROUNDUP

Selective Enforcement of the Neutrality Act: Tax-free Terrorism in the United States

The Washington Post reported on January 6, 2015 that “two U.S. citizens have been charged with taking part in a failed coup last month to overthrow the Gambian government that ended with some of the attackers being killed and others fleeing the small West African country.” US Attorney General Eric Holder, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, US Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard T. Thorton of the Minnesota Division announced a criminal complaint against Cherno Njie and Papa Faal for their recent role in an attempted coup in the Gambia. According to the US Department of Justice, both men are being held in custody.

According to Attorney General Eric Holder, “These defendants stand accused of conspiracy to carry out the violent overthrow of a foreign government in violation of US law. The United States strongly condemns such conspiracies. With these serious charges, the United States is holding them fully responsible for their actions.”

In the complaint filed against Njie and Faal, the United States Government charges the two Gambian Americans with violating the Neutrality Act, which states:

Whoever within the United States, knowingly begins or sets on foot or provides or prepares a means for or furnishes the money for, or takes part in any military or naval expedition or enterprise to be carried on from thence against the territory or dominion of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district or people with whom the United States is at peace , shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

From a US foreign policy perspective, the Neutrality Act prohibits individuals to make foreign policy separate from the US Congress and Executive Branch. Those powers are irrefutably vested in the Government of the United States. It is a crime in the United States to attempt to overthrow a sovereign government at peace with the US.

Clear? No. There seems to be selective enforcement of this law by the US government. Ginbot 7, formally established in 2006 and registered as a non-profit 501(c)(3) in the United States in 2008, has clearly and unequivocally called for the overthrow of the Ethiopian Government by whatever means necessary. The chairman, Birhanu Nega, a professor at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, has stated both verbally and in print that these means include violence, diplomacy and public insurrection. Ginbot 7 is funded by the Government of Eritrea, a country on the US list of state-sponsors of terrorism. These are the facts.

So then, the US Government is prosecuting two people of Gambian descent who have violated the terms of the Neutrality Act for attempting to overthrow the Gambian Government. In the case of Ginbot 7, however, the US is not prosecuting a professor raising funds for the overthrow of the Ethiopian Government and allows it tax-free status to raise those funds.

Confused? You should be. Ethiopia is a staunch ally of the US. Why should the American people subsidize a small group of extremists living in the United States who seek the violent overthrow of a US ally? It doesn’t make any sense.

Parambir Singh

Read more about Ginot 7 http://www.strathink.net/ethiopia/why-are-we-not-listening-to-andargechaw-tsige-ginbot-7-leader-held-by-ethiopian-government/

Stayed tuned for an update.