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Ethiopia: Civil society groups urge international investigation into ongoing human rights violations

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(Amnesty International) — A group of civil society organizations are calling for an independent and impartial international investigation into human rights violations in Ethiopia, including the unlawful killing of peaceful protesters and a recent spate of arrests of civil society members documenting this crackdown.

DefendDefenders (East and Horn of African Human Rights Defenders Project), the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE), Amnesty International, the Ethiopia Human Rights Project (EHRP), Front Line Defenders, and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), are concerned about the levels of persecution and detention of civil society members in the country. Since last month, four members of one of Ethiopia’s most prominent human rights organizations, the Human Rights Council (HRCO), were arrested and detained in the Amhara and Oromia regions. HRCO believes these arrests are related to the members’ monitoring and documentation of the crackdown of on-going protests in these regions.

On 14 August, authorities arrested Tesfa Burayu, Chairperson of HRCO’s West Ethiopian Regional Executive Committee at his home in Nekemte, Oromia.  Tesfa, who had been monitoring the protests for the organization, was denied access to his family and his lawyer, and released on 16 August without charge. Two days earlier on 12 August, Abebe Wakene, also a member of HRCO, was arrested and taken to the Diga district police station in Oromia. Abebe Wakene remains in detention with no formal charges against him. In addition, on 13 August, Tesfaye Takele, a human rights monitor in the Amhara region, was arrested in the North Wollo zone and is still detained without charge.

The lack of independent and transparent investigation of human rights violations in Ethiopia strongly implies that the Ethiopian government’s investigation of the ongoing human rights crisis will not be independent, impartial and transparent
Sarah Jackson, Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes

On 8 July, Bulti Tesema -another active member of HRCO – was arrested in Nejo, Oromia. He had been working with HRCO to monitor and document violent repression of the protests. Sources told DefendDefenders that his whereabouts remained unknown for several weeks after his arrest, until they found out that he had been transferred to the capital’s Kilinto prison and charged with terrorist offences.  He has not been given access to either his family or his lawyer. The court has adjourned the hearing to 12 October.

“New levels of violence are being reported in the crackdown on the largely peaceful protests that have taken place across Oromia and Amhara regions in recent weeks,” said Hassan Shire, Executive Director of DefendDefenders. “Instead of investigating and holding accountable those responsible for rights violations, the government is jailing the few independent human rights defenders left working in the country.”

HRCO’s human rights monitors were arrested for attempting to document the large-scale pro-democracy protests and the following violent crackdown by the authorities in the Oromia and Amhara regions, as well as in the capital Addis Ababa on 6 and 7 August. Amnesty International reported that close to 100 protesters were killed and scores more arrested during the largely peaceful protests.

Three journalists were also arrested and detained by Ethiopian security officials for 24 hours on 8 August 2016 in the Shashemene area of the Oromo region. According to the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Ethiopia, Hadra Ahmed, a correspondent with Africa News Agency, was arrested along with Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) reporters Fred de Sam Lazaro and Thomas Adair, despite having proper accreditation. They were reporting on the government’s response to the drought in the Oromia region, where protests have been ongoing since November 2015. Their passports and equipment were confiscated and they were forced to return to Addis Ababa.

“Despite the systematic repression of peaceful protestors, political dissents, journalists and human rights defenders, the absence of efficient and effective grievance redress mechanisms risks plunging the country into further turmoil,” said Yared Hailemariam, Executive Director of AHRE.”

In response to the on-going crackdown, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, has called for “access for independent observers to the country to assess the human rights situation”.  Ethiopia’s government, however, has rejected the call and promised to launch its own investigation.

Ethiopia’s National Human Rights Commission, which has the mandate to investigate rights violations in Ethiopia, has failed to make public its own June report on the Oromo protests, while concluding in its oral report to Parliament that the lethal force used by security forces in Oromia was proportionate to the risk they faced from the protesters. Since November 2015, at least 500 demonstrators have been killed and thousands of others arrested in largely peaceful protests in the Oromia and Amhara regions and other locations across the country.

“The lack of independent and transparent investigation of human rights violations in Ethiopia strongly implies that the Ethiopian government’s investigation of the ongoing human rights crisis will not be independent, impartial and transparent” said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes. “It is time to step up efforts for an international and independent investigation in Ethiopia.”

DefendDefenders, AHRE, Amnesty International, EHRP, Front Line Defenders, and FIDH urge the Ethiopian authorities to (i) immediately and unconditionally release civil society members targeted for their work and (ii) facilitate access for international human rights monitoring bodies including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to conduct thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into the ongoing human rights violations in the Oromia, Amhara and Addis Ababa areas.


Qaanqee Show: Gafii fi Debii Hanan Elemo Qilxuu (Daughter of Oromo Hero)

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Qophii Artist Saalihaa Saami Waliin Taasifame #OMN 2016

SBO August 31, 2016

Oromo Voice Radio (OVR), August 31, 2016

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Ethiopian Police Brutality on Oromo People on August 6, 2016 in Ambo

#OromoProtests- This is a shocking video captured by determined Oromo activist on August 6 2016 from Ambo, West Showa of Oromia on the behaviour of Ethiopian police on Oromo people.
Isolated from the world, Oromo prisoners are at grave risk of torture and being killed in prison.Torture is an everyday reality in Oromia. Detainees are also subjected to cruel and degrading treatment.


Ayyaana Irreechaa akka Wayyaanee moo akka keenyatti Kabjna..?

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Baarentuu Gadaa Irraa

Malkaa Ateetee, Celebration of Irreecha Oromoo

Malkaa Ateetee, Celebration of Irreecha Oromoo

Irreechi Oromoof maali? irreechaa fi ummata Oromoo maaltu walitti hidha jedhee kan gaafatu yoo jiraate inni alagaa aadaa fi duudhaa Oromoo hin beekne ykn kan aadaa fi duudhaa Oromoorraa moggaa galee dha!. Dhugaadha yeroo dheeraaf akka aadaa fi duudhaan Oromoo ifa hin baane, akka Oromoon ani Oromoo dha ofiin hin jenne afaan, seenaa fi aadaan Oromoo gabroonfattoota Habashaatiin ukkaanfamee hunduu mataa gadi qabatee deemaa ture. Har’a garuu galanni kan qabsoo Oromoo ABOn hogganamaa turee fi jiruu, galatni kan sabboontota Oromoo haa ta’uutii Oromoon mataa gadi qabatee deemaa ture ol jedhee deemaa jira. Lafee fi dhiiga gootota qabsaawoota ilmaan Oromootiin weertoonni osoo hin jaalatin dirqamanii akka aadaa, afaan, seenaa fi duudhaa Oromoo kabajan ta’eera.

Gaaffiin ummata Oromoo guutummaa guutuutti kan deebii argatu gaafa Oromoon hiree ofii ofiin murteeffatu ta’us qabsoo ABOn gaggeessaa turee fi jiruun injifannooleen cuccululuqoon laayyootti hin ilaalamne galmeeffamaniiru. Dhiibbaan adda addaa bal’inaan jiraatus Oromiyaa keessatti ummatni Oromoo akka afaan isaatiin baratuu fi hojjetu ta’eera. Guutuu ta’uu baatuus ummanni Oromoo aadaa fi duudhaa isaa sodaa tokkoo fi heyyama halagaa malee dhugeeffachaa fi gaggeeffachaa jira. Qabsoo isaatiin afaan isaatiin barachaa fi barsiisaa jira. Kun injifannoo qabsoon Oromoo argamsiise malee kan alagaan Oromoof kenne miti. Injifannoolee cuccululuqoo fi sabboonummaa eenyuyyuu duubatti deebisuu hin dandeenye kana boodammoo ABOn jiraachuun ifaa dha; kan quba hin qabnes hin jiru. Dhugaa kana ammoo Oromoo mitii alagaanuu ragaa ba’aa jira.

ABOn Oromoon akka Oromummaa isaatti, aadaa, seenaa fi afaan isaatiin boonu godhee jira. Akka duudhaa isaa dhugoomfatu taasiseera. Diinonni Oromoo keessumaa Wayyaaneen har’a impaayeera Itiyoophiyaa afaan qawween qabdee saamaa jirtu guddinni aadaa, afaan, seenaa fi eenyummaa Oromoo akka eebichaa itti hadhaa’ee liqimsuufis, diduufis dhiphattee lafee qoonqootti rakkate akkuma jedhan san itti ta’eera. Wayyaaneen akka mootummoota isii duraa ifatti aadaa Oromoo xureessuu, balaaleeffachuu fi yakkuuf sadarkaan qabsoon Oromoo ABOn hogganamu irra jiru ishiidhaa hayyamuu baatus shiroota adda addaa xaxuu fi gufuulee hedduu uumuun gama ofii barbaaddee fi yaaddeetti micciiruuf hedduu yaalaa turte; yaalii kana har’a yeroo bool’a irra dhaabbattee jirtu kanattillee hin dhiisne.

Haaluma kanaan murni gabroonfattuu fi saamtuun waggoota 25n darbaniif ummata Oromoo saamaa, hidhaa fi ajjeesaa turte Wayyaaneen jibbaa fi tuffii aadaa Oromoof qabdu karaa muldhisuun irreecha bara kanaa jechuunis Onkolooleessa 2016 bacancarsuu fi akka ofii barbaaddutti micciirtee waltajjii siyaasa ishii irratti gaggeessitu godhachuuf karoora bal’aa baafattee jirti. Ayyaanichi akka aadaa fi duudhaa Oromootti akka hin kabajamne taasisuun guyyaa qondaaloonni lukkeelee wayyaanee OPDO /Wayyaanee/ waltajjii qabatanii guddina, nageenyaa fi misooma sobaa gaggeessine jedhan irratti hololan taasisuuf sadarkaa adda addaatti koree ijaaranii amma irraa sochii akka jalqaban ummatni Oromoo beekuu qaba.

Akka karoora wayyaanee kana keessa beektoonni saaxilanitti Wayyaaneen qabsoo ummanni Oromoo gaggeessaa jiruun dhiphuu hamaa keessa seenuun Irreecha baraanaa kan Oromoo fi jaalattoonni aadaa Oromoo biyya keessaa fi addunyaa guutuurraa irratti hirmaatan kana waltajjii ergamtoonni ishii miseensoonni OPDO irraa sirbanii fi holola siyaasaa irratti gaggeessan taasisuuf koreen walii galaa sadarkaa naannootti ergamticha maqaaf Pireezidaantii naannoo Oromiyaa jedhamu Muktaar Kadiriin gaggeeffamu yoo ijaaramu isaa gadittis sadarkaa sadarkaan koreen ayyaana irreechaa baranaa waltajjii OPDO/Wayyaanee taasisuu irratti xiyyeeffate hundeeffamee hojii eegaleera.

Akka kanaan 1ffaa = koreen naannoo ergamticha Wayyaanee Muktaar Kadiriin yoo hogganamu; 2ffaa= Sadarkaa godinaa fi magaalotaatti bulchitoonni godinaa fi kanatiiboonni magaalaa akka koree ayyaana irreechaa kan baranaa waltajjii OPDO/Wayyaanee taasisuuf hundaaye kana gaggeessan ta’eera.
3=ffaa Sadarkaa Onaa fi gandeen baadiyyaattis dabballooni OPDO bulchitoonni gandeenii sabboonummaan Oromummaa irreecharratti muldhatuu akka hanqisaniif gaggeesitoota koree waan kana hojjetu akka ta’an murtaayee hojiitti galaniiru.

Akkaataa raawwii hojii koreelee OPDO/wayyaanee kanaa;

  1. Koreeleen sadarkaa naannootii amma gandeen baadiyyaatti ijaaraman kunneen irreecha birraa akka walii galaatti Hora Arsadiitti kabajamurrattis haa ta’u, irreecha birraa malkaalee Oromoo bakkayyuu jiran irratti akka sabboonummaan hin calaqqifamne hojjetan; akka dubartoota, dargaggoota, manguddootaa fi abbootii Gadaa ajaja isaanii fudhatanii fi afaan isaanii dubbachuu danda’anitti leenjisan, horiin sossoban, kaan ammoo doorsisan qajeelfamni kennamaaf. Kun karoora wayyaaneen OPDOf irreecha ilaalchistee baafteefi dha.Haaluma kanaan baatii Hagayyaa bara 2016 irraa eegalee koreeleen Irreecha baranaa bacancarsuuf ykn danquuf sadarkaa naannootii amma gandeen baadiyyaatti dhaabbatan kunneen turban torbaniin wal gahanii sochii jiru xinxalu. Diddaa ummata Oromoo keessumaa kan dargaggoota Oromoo ukkaamsuuf toftaalee adda addaa hojiirra olchuuf tattaafataa jiru. Iddoo baayyeettis, keessumaa karaa midiyaalee sirnichaa FXG ilaalchisee holola gaggeessaa jiru.
  2. Akka karoora baheetti calqaba baatii Fulbnaanaa bara 2016 irraa kaasee amma guyyaa irreechaatti guyyaa sadi, sadiin wal arguun caalaatti dubratoota, dargaoota, manguddoota, abbootii gadaa fi namoota hawaasa biratti beebbeekamoo ta’an horii fi holola adda addaatiin hawwachuun sabboonummaa bal’eessuu, akka waayee misoomaa, guddinaa fi nageenyaa hololan, sirna wayyaanee nama nyaataa kana faarsan jajjabeessuurratti hojjetama. Kanaafis maallaqni guddaan kan ramadame yoo ta’u, kan kana dide ammoo akkuma baran ukkaamsuuf karoorfataniiru.
  3. Egaa walumaa galatti karoora Wayyaaneen karaa ergamtoota ishii OPDOdhaan diriirsite kanarraa kan ifatti hubachuu fi beekuun danda’amu waa lama. Inni tokko Wayyaaneen qabsoo ummanni Oromoo gaggeessaa jiruun dhiphuu hamaa keessa galuu dha. Inni lammataa ammoo afaaniin aaadaa fi seenaan akkasumas afaan ummatootaa kabajame jettee hololtus qabatamaan garuu jibbaa fi tuffii aadaa Oromoorraa qabdu ifatti muldhisa ykn mirkaneessa.

Ummanni Oromoo erga FXG eegalee baatileen 9 darbaniiru. Ammas itti fufee jira. Amma Wayyaaneen gateettii ummata Oromoorraa buututtis kan dhaabbatuu miti. Kanarraa ka’uunis wayyaaneen karoora akkamiituu baaftee Irreecha ukkaamsuu ykn danquu yaaltus ummanni Oromoo diddaa eegale hin dhiisu. FXGn itti fufa. OPDOn ergaa wayyaanee bakkaan gahuuf Irreecha waltajjii siyaasa ishee kufe irratti geggeeffattu godhachuuf qophooftus gaaffii ummata Oromoof deebii hin ta’u.

Haatu’iitii ukkamsaafis haa ta’u tuffiirraa kaatee Wayyaaneen karoora akkanaa karoora irreecha Oromoo, kan Oromoon aadaa isaa dhugoonfachuuf waggaatti yeroo tokkoo walargee geggeeffatu ergamtoota ishii OPDOta bobbaaftee danquuf karoorfachuun gongumaa kan fudhatama hin qabnee dha. Maddi isaa maaliyyuu haa ta’uu ummanni Oromoo Irreecha isaa, kan aadaa isaa kan ganamaa irratti dhugoonfatu dinaaf dabarsee hin kennu, kennuus hin qabu. Irreechi kun kan kabajamuu qabu akka Oromoon barbaadutti malee akka Wayyaanee fi ergamtootni diinaa fedhanitti miti. Waltajjii dhiiga gootoota sabboontota Oromootiin argame waan ta’eef yoo kun ta’u Oromoon callisee ilaalu hin jiru; ilaaluus hin qabu. Keessumaa dargaoonni sabboontoonni Oromoo mirga abbaa biyyummaa Oromoof qabsaawaa turanii fi jiran, jaalattoonni aadaa Oromoo shira Wayyaaneen aadaa fi duudhaa Oromoorratti karoorfattee socho’aa jirtu kana dursanii harkaa fashalsuuf sochii gama hundaa taasiisuun dubbii fardii dha.

Wayyaaneen yeroo waltajjii dhiigaa fi lafee gootota keenyaatiin dhufe kana kan ofii godhattu, gara baraabbdeetti miciirtu callisanii ilaaluun dhiiga sabboontotaatti bishaan naquu dha. Kan ta’uu qabu Oromoon aadaa fi duudhaa isaa akka barbaadee fi akka isaa toletti akka qopheeffatuu fi dhugoonfatuuf hojjechuu dha. Diddaa gama hundaa jabeessuu dha. Kaayyoo diinaa .. kaayyoo Wayyaanee kana dura dhaabbachuudha. Harkatti fashalsuu dha.

Akka yoo abbaa tuffatan farda jalatti dhaanu jedhamu san akka hin taane dursanii of ittisuun akkaan barbaachisaa dha. Kan Oromoo dha ofiin jennu martuu alaa manatti karoora Wayyaanee kana balaaleeffachuu qabna. Aadaa fi duudhaa keenya akka ofii barbaannetti malee akka diinni nuuf karoorsee fi yaadeetti kabajuun caalaatti of tuffachiisuu fi of xiqqeessuu waan ta’eef, hundi keenya haa balaaleffannu, dura haa dhaabbannu jenna.

Oromos face chilling oppression in Ethiopia as AU & UN watches

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(Northern Frontier Voice) — It is happening again, sadly. The government in Ethiopia is back to its signature of killing, maiming and jailing its own people because they are exercising their chance of rejecting state excesses using the only means available: taking to the streets to protest.

Ethiopia is a country that has effectively obliterated several channels that normally help foster a healthy communication between citizens and the state .The sorry state of independent media and civil society organization is distressing; and every day lived experienced of Ethiopians and their contacts with authorities at any level is alarmingly toxic.
Authorities in Ethiopia should have therefore been the last ones to get started by the idea of citizens taking to the streets to make their grievances heard. Alas, that is not to be.images-1

Hundreds and thousands of students and residents in more than 100 cities and towns in Oromiya Regional State (Oromiya for short), the largest and most populous state in Ethiopia, are in and out of the streets since early Nov. last year. Like every experience when Ethiopians were out on the streets protesting state excesses, every day is bringing heart breaking stories of Ethiopians suffering in the hands of security personnel. Since Nov.12th 2015, when the first protest broke out in Ginchi, a small town 80km west of Addis Ababa, countless households have buried their loved ones; young university students have disappeared without a trace; hundreds have lost limbs and countless others are jailed

Ethiopians are once again killing, miming and jailing Ethiopians.
The immediate trigger factor is the possible implementation of the infamous Addis Ababa and Surrounding Oromiya Special Zone Integrated Development Plan, popularly known as ‘the Addis Abeba Master Plan.’

The federal government claims it is a plan aimed at only creating a better infrastructure link between the capital Addis Abeba and eight towns located within the Oromiya Regional State Special Zone. But the reason why it is having a hard time selling this otherwise fairytale like development plan is the same reason why it is responding heavy handedly to any dissent against it: it is what it wants to do.

The current protest is led by the Oromos, who are the largest ethnic majority in Ethiopia. In all the four corners of the Addis Ababa surrounding localities, Oromos also make up the single largest majority whose way of lives have already been affected by mammoth changes Addis Ababa has been having over the last Century.

images-2They are rejecting the central government’s top down plan because they are informed by a merciless history of eviction and dispossession. Several researches show that over the last 25 years alone about half a million Oromo farmers have unjustly lost their farmlands to give way to an expansion of a city that is xenophobic to their way to being.

Not the first time

Sadly, this is not the first time Ethiopians are pleading with their government to be heard in regards to the so-called ‘Master Plan.’ The first protest erupted in April-May 2014 when mostly Oromo student protesters from universities in Ambo and Jimma in the west, Adama in the east and Medaawalabu in south east Ethiopia, among others, expressed their disapproval of the plan. Like today, they have resorted to communicate with authorities the only way they possibly can: take to the streets to protest. And like today authorities have responded the only way they have so far responded to Ethiopian voices calling for justice: killing tens, maiming hundreds and incarcerating thousands.

As of 1991, when the current regime first came to power, students, mostly Oromo students, have staged several protest rallies calling for justice. Each time the end result has been nothing short of a disaster.

Although the 2014 Oromo students protest marked the first of the largest protest against the central government, a not so distant memory of Oromo students’ protests and subsequent crackdowns reveal a disturbing history of state brutality gone with impunity. To mention just two, in late ’90s Oromo Students at the Addis Ababa University (AAU) protested against a systematic expulsion of hundreds of Oromo students, who, authorities claimed, had links with the then rebel group, Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). But many of those who protested against the dismissal of their dorm mates soon joined the growing list of expulsion; hundreds of were also jailed. Today mothers speak of their kids who have disappeared without a trace since then. And in early 2000 Oromo students have taken to the streets to protest against the federal government’s decision to relocate the capital of the Oromiya regional state from Addis Ababa to Adama. Many of them were killed when police opened fires in several of those protests, including the one here in Addis Ababa.

Although in 2005 the federal government decided to relocate the capital of Oromiya back to Addis Ababa, fifteen years later Ethiopian prisons are hosting hundreds of students who were jailed following their protest against the decision in the first place; hundreds of them have left the country via Kenya and have become homeless in foreign lands. Less mentioned are also the lives that have been altered forever; the hopes that were dashed; the students’ quest to study and change their lives that were cut short; a country that is deprived of its young and brightest; and family fabrics that were shattered.
State impunity and all that

Following the 2014 Oromo students’ protest and the killing spree by the federal and the regional state police, Abadula Gemeda, speaker of the house of people’s representatives and former president of the Oromiya regional state, promised to bring to justice those who were responsible for the killing.

But two outstanding experiences explain why Abadula’s words were mere rhetoric. And the government in Ethiopia should address both if it wants to remain a legitimate representative of the people it claims to govern.

First, so far no one who represents the government has been held accountable for the killings, maiming, disappearances and unjust incarceration for countless Ethiopians following protest crackdowns. No matter how excessive the use of force by its security agents against unarmed protesters is, the government knows (and acts as such) it can simply get away with it, as it did several times in the past. This is wrong. A state that has no mechanism to hold its rogue agents accountable for their excesses is equally guilty.

In addition to that, in what came as a disturbing twist, the government has adopted a new strategy aimed at portraying itself as a victim of public vandalism. It is rushing to clean itself of the crimes committed by its security agents. Using its disproportionate access to state owned and affiliated media currently the government is presiding over the stories of victimhood more than those whose lives have been destroyed by it. In an act of shame and disgrace to the profession, these state owned and affiliated media are providing their helping hands to complete the act of state impunity.

Second, the central government’s first answer to the repeated cries of justice by Ethiopians is to communicate with them through its army. Like in the past, in the ongoing protests by the Oromo, which have largely focused on cities and towns within the Oromiya regional state, protesters are not only facing the regional state’s security apparatus but also the merciless hands of the federal army reserve. This is an act that not only trespasses the country’s constitutionally guaranteed federal arrangement but also makes the horrific crimes committed by necrophiliac security agents against protesters to get lost in unnecessary details, hence go unpunished.

Public protests in the past and the manner by which the current government dealt with them should teach the later a lesson or two. But the first and most urgent one is that it should stop killing, maiming and jailing its people’s questions.

In addition to the unknown numbers of those who have been killed by the police and the army in the wake of the ongoing protest, cities have seen their hospitals crowded with wounded Ethiopians of all ages; hundreds of individuals, including senior members of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), are already thrown into jails without due legal process. In clear violation of the constitution by none other than the state most of them are held incommunicado in places unknown to their loved ones

In the wake of his release after serving four years in prison, Bekele Gerba, the prominent opposition figure, told this magazine in April last year that prison was “not a place one appreciates to be, but I think it is also the other way of life as an Ethiopian.” Sadly, Bekele is once again thrown in to jail because that is Ethiopia does to its people’s questions. But an end to this is long overdue.
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#OromoProtests, August 31, 2016

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War on unarmed people for genuine grievances

 

Human rights abuses in Ethiopia require congressional action

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By Ali Mohamed

leelisa
(The Hill) — Last week, Secretary John Kerry met with the foreign ministers of East African nations in Kenya to discuss the fighting in South Sudan and the U.S.-backed African Union battle against al shabaab militant group in Somalia. But absent from Kerry’s agenda were the human rights abuses and repression that are still plaguing in Ethiopia.

This past November, the Ethiopian security forces mowed down more than 400 people, after the Oromo, the country’s largest ethnic group, protested over the government’s plan to expand the zoning of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. According to Leslie Lefkow, Human Rights Watch Deputy Africa Director, “Ethiopian security forces have fired on and killed hundreds of students, farmers, and other peaceful protesters with blatant disregard for human life.” Moreover, 100 protestors were killed in the Amhara and Oromo regions three weeks ago.

On Aug. 8, even a crew with PBS Television covering how the government responded to the recent drought, was arrested and their equipment confiscated in the south of the capital by the notorious Ethiopian security services.

The Ethiopians are living in systematic fear and repression across the country: Amhara, Oromo, Somali, Gambela and other regions. “’Mass killings, torture, kidnappings, rape, and pillaging”, is the Modus of Operandi of the ruling Tigrean People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) grip on power in Ethiopia.

Despite that, the Obama administration considers Ethiopia as a regional partner for U.S. counter terrorism efforts in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia is part of the African Union troops fighting against al-shabab in Somalia.

America is complicit in the human rights violations and crimes against humanity in Ethiopia by the TPLF regime. The U.S. provides billions in aid including humanitarian, development, training and supplying weapons to the Ethiopian security forces, and those weapons have been used repeatedly to maim and kill its own people. Without U.S. and EU aid, the stranglehold the TPLF has on Ethiopians would diminish.

President Obama is the worst American president Africa had, for the past two decades. Obama has failed to promote human rights, good governance, freedom and the rule of law in Africa. Instead, he sided with African despots in Ethiopia, Uganda, Djibouti and others, in pursuit of Counterterrorism efforts in Africa. The Obama administration like Communist China has turned a blind eye to rampant corruption and the human rights abuses that beset Africa.

For example, last year when Obama visited Ethiopia, the first visit by a sitting U.S. president, he had a chance to address the human rights and crimes against humanity of the TPLF regime. Instead, he chose to praise the regime and even called the repressive government of Ethiopia “democratically elected”, despite the 2015 sham election; in which the TPLF won 98.9% of the parliament.

More troubling, instead of scaling down or even cutting aid to the Ethiopian regime because of abuses, the EU is planning to provide millions of additional aid to the worst human rights abusers in Africa: Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, in a scheme to stop migrants from reaching Europe. Yet these nations through tyranny are the ones enflaming the African migrant crisis.

Time is running out for the merchants of terror and corruption in Addis Ababa and their apologists in the State Department and the EU.

Because after a quarter century of power and human rights abuses, and one faction rule, the Ethiopian people are saying enough is enough. The beleaguered Ethiopians are yearning for freedom from fear and oppression and the right to dissent for a peaceful regime change.

But with the repressive TPLF in the helm, a peaceful regime change through the ballot box is impossible. Ethiopia has never had a history of peaceful regime changes. In fact, the TPLF, former Maoist guerilla fighters, came to power through the barrel of the gun, after the overthrow of the Marxist despot Menghistu Haile Mariam in 1992.

The minority TPLF regime is also not going  to give up its monopoly on power  or reform itself because it is not democratically elected, and has no consent from the majority of the Ethiopian people. And if a free and fair election is held it would lose in a landslide.

So what should we do about the human rights abuses in Ethiopia? America and the EU have tremendous power to end the anguish of the Ethiopian people by holding the vile TPLF regime accountable. We should stop the violence against civilians by the TPLF regime, we should put on travel restrictions and freeze asset of the human rights perpetrators in Ethiopia.

Congress has the power of the purse to stop the massive human right abuses in Ethiopia. Congress should send human rights experts to investigate the atrocities in the Amhara, Oromo and Somali regions by the Ethiopian security forces, and to let the media cover those regions. Secondly, Congress must also act now and cut all non humanitarian aid to the Ethiopian regime until the State Department reassesses U.S. foreign policy in light of the prevailing blatant human rights abuses.

Keeping the status quo would deny the 90 million Ethiopians the right to choose freely a government that has the consent of all of Ethiopia’s multi ethnic and religious society.

This scenario would sow the seeds of ethnic strife, violence and extremism from spreading into the despotic country and region.

And for the west that would mean more migrants crossing the Mediterranean and heading for Europe. The very disaster America and the EU are expending vast resources trying to eliminate now.

Ali Mohamed is the co- founder of the Horn of Africa Freedom Foundation, Lewis Center, Ohio. Contact him at aliadm18@gmail.com


የመንግሥት መሥሪያ ቤቶች በኮንሶ መዘጋታቸውን የክልሉ መንግሥት አመነ

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ኮንሶ

ኮንሶ

በኮንሶ ከልዩ ወረዳነት ወደ ሰገን ዞን መጠቃለላቸውን የተቃወሙ የመንግሥት ሠራተኞችና የህብረተሰቡ ወኪሎች የመንግሥት ሥራ ያቆሙትና ደመወዝም አልቀበልም ያሉት በራሳቸው ፍላጎት እንደሆነ የደቡብ ክልላዊ መንግሥት አስታወቀ።

ዋሽንግተን (VOA Amharic Service) — ነዋሪዎችና ወኪሎቻቸው ከ50 ሺሕ ሰው በላይ ፊርማ አሰባስበው በሕዝብ በተመረጡ ዐሥራ ሁለት የኮሚቴ አባላትን አዋቅረው፣ ከልዩ ወረዳነት ወደ ወረዳ ወርደው በሰገን ዞን ስር እንዲጠቃለሉ መደረጋቸውን ተቃውመው፣ እንዳውም ኮንሶ ራሱን ችሎ ዞን ሊሆን ይገባዋል በሚል ያነሱት ጥያቄ፤ እስካሁን ተገቢውን ምላሽ አለማግኘቱና ለሰብዓዊ መብት ጥሰት እንዳጋለጣቸው ለዝግጅት ክፍላችን ገልጸዋል።

በኮንሶ የመንግሥት መስሪያ ቤቶች አገልግሎት እንደማይሰጡ፣ ጤና ጣቢያዎችም ጭምር መዘጋታቸውን ለደሃ ደሃ የሚሰጠው የምግብ ዋስትና መቋረጡን ጭምር ይገልፃሉ።

የክልሉ መንግስት ቃል አቀባይ በበኩላቸው በዞን እንጠቃለል ለሚለው ጥያቄ ተገቢው ምላሽ መሰጠቱን ገልፀው መንግሥት መስሪያ ቤቶችን አልዘጋም፤ ጥያቄያችን ተቀባይነት ከሌለው አንሰራም ብለው የቀሩት ሠራተኞቹ ናቸው ይላሉ።

የአሜሪካ ድምፅ በጉዳዩ ላይ የሕገ-መንግስት ባለሞያንም አነጋግሯል።

Multiple Obstacles Shall Not Stop Oromo Struggle | Gufuun Baayyatus Qabsoon Oromo Hin Dhaabbatu

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By Ibsaa Guutama  | Gubirmans

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Some fifty years ago few Oromo youth initiated freedom movement that laid down the national Kaayyoo and paid heavy sacrifices but registered significant achievements. The movement is now taken over by legitimate owners, the Oromo people, making the road to its goal shorter than ever. Thus Oromo liberation movement that started rolling almost five decades ago has now accelerated its speed and is shaking the empire system from its roots. The August 6 grand people’s assembly that took place with exemplary discipline in over 200 urban centers including Finfinnee, defying brutal enemy war machine gallantly with crossed hands, is a witness of maturity and viability of Oromo liberation movement. All the assembled carried placards with slogan “Oromiyaa belongs to the Oromo” and demanded for the occupation army to leave Oromiyaa. Oromo plight has started to be taken seriously because of the persistence efforts made by Oromo revolutionaries. The march towards freedom will continue with more vigor. Crossing the hands is a symbol of peaceful intention showing the world that they are not aggressive or expansionist.

Nonviolent and armed struggle are two methods of struggle universally known. This time Oromo protest has chosen the first; many supported it full heart while there are those that have reservations. There is no country that achieved result only with nonviolent struggle. In India there were armed resistances. (Quit India and INA) in addition to Gandhi’s method; In US there were others (Malcom X and the Panthers) opposite Martin Luther king. One side has contributed to success of the other. In Oromiyaa there is OLA opposite to the present peaceful protest and there is no guarantee that more violent struggles are not reactivated if killing the unarmed continues. The Ethiopian government is slaying unarmed children that marched to express their opinion peacefully. It is a time for all Oromo to be in rage and expose and condemn TPLF’s crimes by supporting the protestors. All might have difference of opinion but praising the martyrs and encouraging the remaining heroes have priority over individual preferences and debating on the mode of struggle.

The enemy is identified as TPLF not EPRDF. Except for TPLF all other member organization of EPRDF are taken as fake or make-believe ones by all others. Why didn’t non TPLF members feel ashamed when taken as minions of the Tigrawayi? For how long would they shame themselves and the society from which they sprouted before they could claim their legitimate position? Though they do all the dirty jobs of massacring their people for TPLF, they had never been considered as equals with TPLF but as its running dogs. Can they ever say enough is enough for all that despised them and roar with lion’s heart of their people? Galtuu! Gimgamaa will be after you at all times so that you don’t become over due in their system. Sooner or later you are going to be humiliated and eliminated by a dying organization. Therefore why not die fighting against slavery and injustice with your own people? TPLF is a weak organization led by corrupt individuals not that TPLF youth that fought its way to power long ago; its days in power are now numbered.

The latest mass uprisings are a no confidence vote for the so called government of Oromiyaa and rejection of colonial rule by TPLF. In all places they flew high the resistance flag which scares all Oromo enemies because of what it signifies. Waaqaa willing it will fly over Finfinnee, the bellybutton of Oromiyaa soon. There is no Oromiyaa without Finfinnee and Finfinnee without Oromiyaa is stinky stagnant pond. Those that want to separate Finfinnee from Oromiyaa are those who don’t realize the stench. The initial resistance movement started with clear declaration of relations between Oromiyaa and Ethiopia. The two as separate entities can live side by side in peace and harmony, respecting each other’s rights. No one of them has moral or legal justification to claim owning the other. Forces in open conflict with TPLF are now colonies and Amaaraa people. All have started to declare solidarity for each other’s struggle putting more pressure on TPLF. But that should not be mistaken as implying rolling back old colonial relations, which is already dead. New political relations could be formed only based on freely expressed will of all peoples.

Oromo had never been taken as equal beings with their colonizers. This should not be considered as strange if it reoccurs now. Many, never to be forgotten treacherous instances have passed in their history. Looking back to the life and death of the great General Goobana Daaccee in comparison to his peers from the Amaaraa like Daargee, Waldagorgis, Tasammaa and others is only an example among many. Similar practices are observed even to this day. Despite that, some decadent Oromo activists are failing to learn lessons from their past. They try to misguide the youth by being examples of confusion rather than clarity; vacillation rather than commitment; hesitation rather than determination; and submission rather than rebellion; dependency rather independence. That led to lack of critical understanding of issues in every public forum. Clapping of hands and standing ovation for all side shows lack of principle.

The disparity between treatment of Oromo protest and Amaaraa protest are also rooted in history. The regime had disarmed the Oromo all that was left from past regimes. But Habashaa were not disarmed. Ethiopian laws, be them those concerning culture, language, administration of justice or land holding system or human dignity has never seen Abyssinia and Oromiyaa with one eye. There are those who try to compare apple and orange concerning these disparities. Oromiyaa is a colony to be exploited mercilessly and oppressed for the purpose. Amaaraa are the people that supplied leadership for vanguards of colonial campaign. To be politically correct, Oromo activists must try to compare Amaaraa with Tigrawayi from the colonizing group and Oromo with peoples in the colonized group. Otherwise it leads to blaming the people for own lack of understanding the nature of the empire state. Just like Oromiyaa and Amaaraa are different countries objectives of their struggle are also different. Their similarities may be that they are struggling simultaneously against abuse from the same source. Their difference is that Oromo is struggling for sovereignty and independence lost long ago; Amaaraa are fighting against trespassing and marginalization.

The conflict between Amaaraa and Tigrawayi is traditional; one has to accept supremacy of the other whenever defeated and participate in a subordinate position. Minilik’s moving on his knees in front of Yohannis IV carrying a heavy rock on his back begging for mercy from him is an instance for this. The objectives of cruelty against fellow Habashaa are different and so equal treatment is not to be expected by Oromo. History of their struggle, traditional, moral and religious codes makes Habashaa relations unique. Conflicts had never been solved peaceful but by force for they are ever authoritarians. For this reason TPLF could use all arsenals in its depot to suppress any Amaaraa threat. If what is done to Oromiyaa is repeated in Amaaraa they must watch out TPLF is the cruelest enemy. It punishes not only the present generation but also the next one by culling children who are brilliant in their classes and young men that have potentials to provide leadership to their people. That was not new for the Oromo for all colonial regimes did that.

TPLF is operating with two options; one is to rule the empire as long as it can and the other is to form independent Tigray Tigriny Republic. For the later to annex Wolqayit and the surrounding fertile lands Gondar claims are indispensable. Grudge of feudal past might have also caused the conflict. Referendum could be suggested as possibility for conflict resolution; but TPLF has administered Wolqayit since coming to power and could have settled more Tigaaruu putting Gondoree at disadvantage. Therefore the traditional way to settle scores they started seems the only solution to get back Wolqayit, if they believe it worth the sacrifice.

Oromo struggle is now at a critical point. All those that have interest in Oromiyaa are trying to sabotage it through flattery, deception and open war. Among Oromo elites there are ones that do not understand severity of the situation but see things only from their self-aggrandizement. For this reason they are seen trying to trick and push the youth to colonizers trap. Such distorters are now mushrooming in an amazing rate. Their difference with OPDO is the choice between Habashaa masters. They are feeble minded opportunist saboteurs that run away when their people are on the threshold of victory. Whichever side they join their fate will not be better than Goobanaa’s if not worse; they may end as simple mercenaries. In both Amaaraa and Oromo movements they are losers and opportunist Nafxanyaa and Oromo elites that are making the most cacophony. Oromo can defend themselves from outsiders. They are the insiders that had been obstacle to their freedom and development by inviting enemies from the region and from across the sea.

Baqqala Garbaa and his comrades as well as Oromo that died in thousands and millions that are languishing in prisons and refugee camps are not suffering to hogtie the Oromo and sell them to their colonizers. It is for freedom. It is only the Oromo people that decide on own fate by using the universally recognized right of nations to national self-determination. That is the first and only destination towards which all Oromo organizations worthy of the name have to work. That demands independent Oromo national organizations; though everyone has the right to choose sides it should not be at betrayal of comrades and disadvantage of the nation. Any political relation with aliens that does not have clear national mandate remains individual relation as disgusting as TPLF PDOS.

It is a cardinal principle of Oromo tradition that no right of any human being should be abused. The Amaaraa are protesting against the harm they felt is being inflicted on them by their cousins, the Tigrawayi. They have historically common codes of operation though reneged by TPLF. Therefore the abuse they are protesting for has to be seen in that context. TPLF has of course betrayed them. The Oromo sympathize with them because they are fellow human beings and neighbors. Commotions should not be taken as a chance to create confusion and obscure our focus. Oromiyaa is fighting for independence from empire system the Habashaa created in unison. Because the two components of Habashaa leadership clashed on interest, the kaayyoo of Oromo liberation is not going to change. Because Habashaa media said, “Oromo Ethiopians”, the identity and demand of Oromo and their struggle will not change by strike of a magic wand. For Oromoo and Amaaraa creating understanding, to bring peace and calm for their people is beneficial rather than troubling each other with false history. They are facing a more genocidal enemy than they previously know. So better find a way of tackling together and discuss later how to live as good neighbors. This is to be done people to people not by unelected stray individuals. But neither Oromo nor Amaaraa freedom can be brought up for negotiation.

Oromo protest reflects Oromo aspirations that is why it did not carrying any other symbol except banner with two red borders. As once an Amaaraa person commented, “It has nothing that smells Ethiopian”. Would media or Oromo collaborators’ pungent smelling perfume change the odor? Come what may Oromiyaa has refused to be dominated again. Such deafness to listen to Oromo demands would only aggravate the volatile situation in the region. It does not seem Gondoree masses are shading their blood for lost Nafxanyaa Empire but for their own denied rights, freedom and land. Placard held showed compassion of the people but using it as propaganda tool could distort its message.

The Oromo protest is a part of the liberation struggle. Everyone that stands for justice and peace can support Oromo protest as fellow human beings not as “fellow Ethiopians”. The Oromo need no chauvinist advice on what and how to handle their struggle or be intimidated by their hullabaloo. People fighting for their freedom can cooperate for exchange of information about the common enemy and other matters. But they should not try to meddle in each other’s affairs. Oromiyaans are in rage; any misunderstanding could lead away. Therefore all those who want to form smooth relations, must recognize and respect Oromo rights to own identity as they respect theirs. Unless problems gripping the Ethiopian empire are solved peacefully and amicably, turmoil hoovering over the region can be uncontrollable. Approaching it in good faith by all concerned alone could avert it. Every people have a country that needs consolidation and development. They are those that perform this aspect democratically that can push for pan-Africanism or Horn unity.

For Oromo elites in alien camps and still uphold Oromummaa (if that is possible?), to create solemn understanding on basic elements or safuu of Oromummaa may help. Then only, could there be a distinguishing thread between them and others during the liberation struggle. Wherever they are, there must be certain values that emanates from Oromummaa to be religiously adhered to. The youth that are dying and maiming are crying “Oromiyaa for the Oromo!” not Oromiyaa for anybody else? The truth should not be hidden under demagoguery or distorted to fit alien interest. However multiple our obstacles may be we shall overcome with determination. First the Oromo have to be empowered to decide on their destiny with their free will to enjoy tranquil democratic life. That is the mission of the liberation movement. That is the objective of youth protest. Let us not steer others stew when ours is burning. Long live free Oromiyaa!

Honor and glory for the fallen heroines and heroes; liberty, equality and freedom for the living and nagaa and araaraa for the Ayyaanaa of our forefathers!

Ibsaa Guutama
August, 2016

Waggoota shantamman tokko dura sochiin walabummaa dargaggoo yartuun eegalame kaayyoo sabaa diriirsee wareegama guddaa baasus, jija boonsaa galmeessee. Amma sochichii abbaa saa, ummata Oromoon dhuunfatamuun karaa itt galaa gahu gabaabsee jira. Akkasitt sochiin bilisummaa Oromo kan naannaa kurnan shanii konkolaachuu eegale amma arreeddii saa shaffisiisuun sirna empayeraa hundee raasuutt jira. Yaa’iin ummataa naamusa fakkeenya tahuun magaalota 200 ol kan Finfinnee dabalatu keessatt maashinii diinaa hamaa utuu hin sodaatin jannummaan Hagayya 6 hiriire, raga bilchinaa fi waaraa tahu sochii bilisummaa Oromoo agarsiisa. Hundii hophiyaa dhaadannoo “Oromiyaan kan Oromooti” jedhuu fi waraanni roorrisa Oromiyaa keessaa bahu kan gaafatu qabatee yaa’e. Iyyannoon Oromo galati warraaqxota hin badinii sirinyaan fudhatamuu eegalaa jira. Dhiichi gara walabummaatt tolfamu si’ayinaan ittuma fufa. Harka qaxamursuun mallattoo abaltii nagaa akka namatt hin dabarree fi hin baballanne addunyaaf mirkaneessani.
Qabsoon nagaa fi qabsoon hidhannoo mala qabsoo bakkallett beekamanii. Yero ammaa Oromoon isa jalqabaa filatan; Hedduun garaa qulqulluun yoo deggeran kanneen wakkatan jiru. Biyyi qabsoo nagaa qofaan hobbaatii argamsiise hin jiru. Indiyaa keessa qabsoon hidhannoo, (Quit India fi INA) kan Gaandiin gamatt turani; USA kan Martiin Luther King gamaas (Malkom X fi Panthers) turani. Garri tokko milkii isa kaaniif gumaachee jira. Oromiyaa gama sochii moormii nagaa WBOn kan jiru yoo tahu, yoo ajjeechaan kanneen hin hidhannee itt fufe qabsoon rukuttaa caalaan akka hin geenye iggitiin hin jiru. Motummaa Itophiyaa daa’imman Oromoo harka duwwaa yaada ofii nagaan ifsachuu mormanii bahan qalaa jira. Oromoo hundi aariin bahee yeroo itt mormitoota deggeruun yakka Wayyaanee kan itt saaxiluu fi balaaleffatu. Hundi yaada adda addaa qabaachuu dandaha garuu durfannoo qabu jabduu dabankufoota faaarsuun gootota hafan jajjabeesuu malee, mala qabsoo irratt nokkorroo gaggeessuu miti.Diinni TPLF jedhame malee maqaa EPRDF garagalee kan laale hin jiru. Jarri miseensa TPLF hin taane. yeroo akka galtuu Tigrawayitt fudhataman maaliif qaaniin itt hin dhagahamu? Hanga yoomiitt ofii fi saba keessaa biqilan salphisu? Yoomallee hojii xureessu akka saba ofii fixuu faa TPLFif hojjetan kan ilaalaman akka isaan walqixxeett utuu hin tahin akka saree jala kaattuutt. Gaf tokko, kan tuffatan hundaan “Gahe egaa” jedhanii onnee leencaa ummata saanii keessa jiruun barooduu dandahu laataa? Yaa galtuu! Akka sirna sanii keessatt yeroon sitt hin dabarre gamgamaan yero hundaa si fana jira. Barbaannaan gamgamaa malees si ari’’uu. Dhihoo haa tahu eger salphinaa fi haqamuu jalaa hin baatu. Yoosoo, maliif ummata kee walin garbummaa fi dabaan lolaa hin duutu?Kaka’ii tuutaa dhiheenyaa, mootummaa Oromiyaa isa jedhameen, siyi hin feenuu fi bulcha TPLF koloneessaan nurraa badii jechuuf kan tahe. Bakka Hallett alaabaa diddaa diina Oromoo hunda baaragsu balaliisaa turan. Yoo Waaq jedhe handhuura Oromiyaa Finfinnee irratt balali’uun saa fagoo hin tahu. Oromiyaan Finfinnee malee hin jiraattu; Finfinneen Oromiyaa malee haroo ciisaa ajooftuu dha. Jarri Oromiyaa irraa Finfinnee addatt baasuu fedhan kanneen ajaan sun itt hin dhagahamne. Sochiin diddaa duraa hariiroo Oromiyaa fi Itophiyaa gidduu labsa taliila tolche. Akka ofiinjiroo adda addaatt walcina nagaa fi atoomaan mirga walii kabajanii jiraachuu dandahu jedhe. Isaan keessaa kamuu isa biraan kiyya jechuuf mirga hin qabu. Humnooti gurguddoon TPLFin wal lolaa jiran ummatoota Oromoo fi Amaaraatii. Lachanuu ifsa qabsoo walii deggeruu kennuun TPLFiin dhiibbaa guddaa jala galchaa jiru. Sun, akka hariiroo kolonummaa darbe duubatt deebisuutt yoo fudhatamama tahe dogoggoraa. Hariiroo haaraan barbaachisaa yoo tahu, fedha ummatoota lamaanii bilisummaan ifsame irratt hundaaween tolfamuu dandaha.

Oromoon koloneeffatoo saanii waliin akka walqixeett ilaalamanii hin beekani. Duubaatti deebinee seenaa Abbaa duulaa guddicha Goobana Daaccee hirooyoota saa Amaara tahan akka Daargee, Waldagorgis, Tasammaa fi kanneen biraan walbira qabnee yoo laalle hedduu keessaa fakkenya tokko tahee argina. Haaluma walfakkaataatu hanga hardhaa itt fufee jira. Sun tahees hisatooti Oromoo bososoon tokko tokko, kan darbe irraa barachuu dadhabaa jiru. Fakkeenya, taliilaa irra joonjessaa; dudhamaa irra daddaaqaa; murataa irra mamaa fi didaa irra sarmaa tahanii dargaggoo karaa irraa ceesisuu yaalu. Kanaafi kan yabboo ambaa hunda irratt qayyabannoo qeeqaan kan hin mullanne. Laallibati garbummaa fi birmadummaa gidduu addummaa jiruuf ejjennoo taliila dhabuun gara hundaaf harka rukutu, olkahanii ishooyee jedhu.

Hanqinni mormii Oromoo fi kan Amaaraa gidduu hundeen saa seenaa keessaa ka’a. Bulchichi, Oromoo hidhannoo kan bulcha isa duraarraa hafan hunda hiikkachiise. Habashaan garuu hin hiikkanne. Seeroti Itophiyaa kanneen aadaa, afaan, bulcha qajeeltuu yk qabiyyee lafaa yk ulfina namaa Habashaa fi Oromiyaa ija tokkoon laalanii hin beekan. Namooti hanqina kanaaf “apple fi burtukaana” walbira qabuu yaalan jiru. Oromiyaan kolonii gara laafina malee bolqamuu qabduu, kanaafi hacuucuun barbaachisaa kan tahe. Amaarrii kallacha duula koloneeffataaf hoggansa kan dhiheessani. Walbira qabuun yoo feesise, hisatooti Oromo malbulchaan sirrii tahuuf, kan yaaluu qaban murna koloneeffataa keessaa Amaara, Tigrawayi waliin, Oromoo fi koloneeffamoo kan tahan wal bira qabuu dha. Kana malee ofii uumaa finnaa empayeraa qayabachuu hanqachuun ummata komachuutt geessaa. Akkuma Oromiyaa fi Amaarri biyyoota adda adda tahan akeeki qabsoo saaniis adda adda. Kan itt walfakkaatu roorroo madda tokkoo irra gahaa jiruu, yeroma tokkott mormii keessa jirachuu dha. Garaagarummaan jiru, Oromoon mo’ummaa fi walabummaa bara hedduu sarbameef qabsaawaa jiraa; Amaarri daraboo duriin timjiin itt darbamuu fi aangoo irraa moggeeffamuun wal lolaa jiru.

Wal dhabdeen Tigrawaayi fi Amaara gidduu waan dudhaati; tokko yoo moohamu olhaantummaa isa kaanii bareefii jalummaan qooda fudhata. Minilik dhagaa ulfaataa duddatt baatee Yohaannis VI dura jilbaan deemee araara gaafachuun kanaaf fakkeenya taha. Hammeenyii Habashaa irratt raawwatamu adda waan taheef walqixeett ilaalamuun hin eegamu. Seenaan qabsoo saanii, maqiin dudhaa safuu fi amantee fi hariiroo Habashaa wal keessaa, Habashaa adda tolcha. Ofaangessoo waan tahaniif waldhabdeen humnaan malee nagaan matumaa furamanii hin beekanii. Kanaaf TPLF dorsisa Amaara irraa dhufu gad qabuuf meeshaa kuusaa saa keessa jiru hundatt dhimma bahuu dandaha.

TPLF filmaata lamaan deema; tokko empayeritt hanga dandahutt bulchu yoo tahu inni kaan Republika Tigray Tigriny walaba ijaarrachuu dha. Isa duubaa kanaaf, Wolqayit fi biyyoota naannaa shee Gondor kiyya jedhu sutachuun waan bira hin darbamne. Gadoon fudal darbe waldhabdichas uumee taha. Referendum waldhabdee dhaabuuf akka furmaataatt dhihaachuu ni dandaha; garuu TPLF Walqaayitiin arfacha jaarraa tokkoo caalaa waan bulcheef Tigaaruu hedduu qubsiisuun Gondoree anjaa dhabsiise taha. Wolqaayitiin deebifachuun, wareegama gaafatun wal gitaa amannan furmaati tokkichi jiru karaan dudhaa jalqabame qofa.

Qabsoon Orommo sadarkkaa yaachisaa irra jira. Kanneen Oromiyaa irra fedha qaban hundi yoomuu caalaa saaduu, daguu fi warana banuun hankaaksuu yaalu. Gurguddoo Oromoo keessaa kanneen haalli hammam hamaa akka tahe hin hubatin, akka isaanitt tolu qofaatt waa halle ilaalaa jiru. Kanaaf yoo dargaggoo gowwoomsuu fi kiyyoo koloneeffataatt dhiibuu yaalan argamu. Jarri akkasii hamma nama maalalchiisutt akka commee yaa’aa jiru. OPDO waliin garagarummaan qaban gooftolii Habashaa keessaa filachuu irratt. Gara kamiinuu haa filatanii, hireen saanii caalaa hamaa yoo tahe malee, kan Goobanaa irra wayyaa hin tahu. Sochoota lamaan Oromo fi Amaaraa keessatt waca kan heddummeessan jara dhabduu fi ayyaan laallatuu Nafxanyaa fi gurguddoo Oromootii. Oromoon kan alaa itt dhufu ofirraa facisuu dandaha. Keessa beekettiitu diin godinaa fi gabra gamaa itt harkisuu bilisummaa fi guddina saaniitt gufuu tahaa jiraate.

Baqqala Garbaa fi jaallewwan saa, akkasumas Oromoon kumaan ajjeefamanii fi kumkkummi hidhaa fi mooraa baqataa keessatt gidiraa argaa jiran guraarammi irra gahaa jiru Oromoo futrichoo hidhanii koloneeffataa saaniitt gurgurachuuf miti. Birmadummaafii. Hiree saanii mirga sabootaa ofiin murteeffachuu bakkalleen beekameen murteeffachuu kan dandahan ummata Oromoo qofaa. Dhaabota Oromoo kan jedhamuu dandahan hundi, kan hojjechuu qaban gara gala sanaatti. Sun dhaabota Oromoo sabaawoo walaba tahan gaafata; yoomallee abbaan garee filachuuf mirga qabaate, kan jallewwan ganuu fi sabicha anjaaa dhabsiisuu tahu hin qabu. Hariiroon malbulchaa halaga waliinii kamuu, kan wakkalama sababaawaa ifaa hin qabne hariiroo abba tookee qofaa fi akkuma kan TPLF PDO jibbisiisaa tahe hafa.

Mirgi ilmaan namaa kamu akka itt hin roorrifamne akeeka muummicha dudhaa Oromootii. Amaarrii mormaa kan jiran miiddha eeessumoo saanii Tigrawayiin irra gaheefii. TPLFiin haa dabsamu malee seenaan maqii ittiin hojjetan qabu turani. Kanaaf roorroon isaan mormaa jiran barwalii sana keessatt ilaalamuu qaba. TPLF ganeeraanii. Oromoon mormii saanii kan mararfatu ilmaan namaa fi ollaas waan tahaniifii. Burjaajiin akka carraatt fudhatamee joonjee uumuun xiyyeeffannoo keenya dimimmiseessuu hin qabu. Oromiyaan walabummaaf sirna empayeraa Habashaan waliin uumaniin lolaa jirti. Qabeen lamaan hooggansa Habashaa fedha irratt wal dhabaniif kaayyoon bilisummaa Oromoo hin jijjiiramu. Qubqabsiisoti Habashaa “Oromoo Itophiyaanota” jedhaniif eenyummaa fi gaaffiin Oromoo, akkasumas qabsoon saanii hariirtii ulee falfalaan hin jijjiiramanii. Oromoo fi Amaarri karaa itt ummata saaniif nagaa fi araara buusan faluun, seenaa sobaan wal jeequrra wayyaa; qacefixaa kanaan dura arganii hin beeknetu isan qabe. Kanaaf, ammaaf karaa waliin dura dhaabbatan faluun, booda akkamitt olloota gaarii tahanii jiraachuu akka dandahan mari’achuu dhaa. Garuu dursee bilisummaa Oromoo haa tahu kan Amaaraa, dhoofsisaaf dhihaachuu akka hin qabne beekamu qaba.

Mormiin Oromoo, hawwaa fi fedhii ummata Oromoo waan calaqqisuuf alaabaa mogge lamaan diimtuu malee mallattoo biraa hin qabanne. Akka qeeqa Amaara tokkoott “foolii Itophiyaa, Itophiyaa jedhu hin qabu”. Urgooftuu xiraawaan qubqabsiisotaa fi galtuu Oromo fooliisaa jijjiirsisuu dandahinnaa? Kan fedhe yoo dhufee, Oromiyaan lamuu gadqabaa fudhachuu diddeettii. Gaaffii Oromoo dhaggeeffachuuf duuduun akkasii haala dhoowuu barbaadu godinicha keessa jiru ittuu hammeessuu taha. Tuuti Gondoree mirgoota, bilisummaa fi timjii itt cehameef malee empayera Nafxanyaa baddeef dhiiga ofii lolaasaa kan jiran hin fakkaatu. Hophiyaan qabatanii hiriiran gara laafinaa ummatichaa agarsiisa, garuu akka meesharkaa hololaatt dhimma itt bahamuun akeeka saa irra sigigaachisuu dandaha.

Mormiin Oromoo qaama qabsoo bilisummaatii. Kan qajeeltuu fi nagaaf dhaabbatan hundi “jara Itophiyaa” jechuun utuu hin tahin akka ilmaan namaatt Oromoo deggeruu dandahu. Oromoon maalii fi akkamitt qabsoo ofii akka gaggeeffatuuf gorsa ofirrootaa hin barbaadu waca saaniitiinis hin nawuu. Ummatooti birmadummaa ofiif qabsaawan, waa’ee diina waloo fi dhimma biraa irratt iyaatii wal jijjiiru dandahu. Garuu dhimma keessaa walii seenanii borcuu hin qabani. Oromiyoon aarii irra jiruu; walqayyabachuu dhabuu xiqqaan, walirraa cituu yeroo dheeraa uumuu dandaha. Kanaaf kanneen hariiroo wal hin quuqne barbaadan, Oromoon eenyummaa saatt mirga qabaachuu, akka isaan kan saanii beekaniifitt beekuufii qabu. Yoo rakkooleen empayera Itophiyaa qabatanii jiran nagaa fi jaalalaan xumuramuu baatan burjaajiin godinicha irra marsaa jiru kan too’atamu hin danddeenye tahun ni mala. Kan dubbiin ilaaltu hundaan qulqullummaa garaan yoo itt dhihatame qofa irraa dabarsuun dandahama. Ummatni hundi biyya ijaaruu fi miseessuun irra jiru qabaa. Kanneen sana demokraatummaan tolchantu tokkummaa Afriikaa yk Gaanfaaf dhiibuu dandahani.

Gurguddoon Oromoo, mooraa halagaa keessa jiran yoo ammayyuu Oromummaatt amanaan (dandahaminnaa?) eegalee bu’uuraa yk safuu Oromummaa irratt qayyabannoo waloo uummachuun, ni gargaara taha. Yoo sun tahe qofa kan yeroo qabsoo bilisummaa kana haadi kanneen biraa waliin addaan baaftu jiraattu. Eessayyuu haa jiraatanii seexaan walii ulfeessan Oromummaan irra kaahu hang tokko jiraachuu qaba. Dargaggoon du’aa fi fafataa jiran “Oromiyaan kan Oromooti” jedhanii iyyaa jiru malee Oromiyaan kan eenyuutuu hin jenne. Qaaqa guddachuu yk akka fedha halagaatt galuuf, roga dhabsiisuun dhugaan dhoffamuu hin qabu. Jalqaba, Gufuun nu fulduraa hagam tahanillee kutannoon irra haanna. Oromoon fedha ofii walaba taheen hiree saanii irratt akka murteeffatanii, jireenya gammachuu demokratawaan basha’aa jiraatan aangeffamuu qabu. Ergamsi sochii bilisummaa sanaa. Akeeki mormii dargaggoos sanuma. Hankeenyaa gubataa jiru bulluqa orma sochoosuu haa dhiifnu. Oromiyaa walabi haa jiraattuu!

Kan keenyaa gubataa jiru kan orma sochoosuu haa dhiifnu! Oromiyaa walabi haa jiraattu!

Ulfinaa fi surraan gootota kufaniif; bilisummaa, walqixxummaa fi balchummaan kan lubbuun jiraniif; nagaa fi araarri sabichaa fi Ayyaana abbooliif haa tahu!

Ibsaa Guutama
Hagayya 2016

Ibsaa Guutama
Auguust/ Hagayya 2016

Yaadanoo Ebbisa Addunya (30.8.2016)

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By Alemayehu Kumsa, Ph.D

Ebbisan waggaa digdama harra uttuu innii mana issa siree isaara rafuu, loltuun mootummaa kolonefata Habasha, warra gartuu haarra Tigrai’in gegefamuun rasaassa itti roobsani lubuu isa muchumaati kutan. Biyya akaakile isaati, diini daanga Oromiyya ceete dhufte dhiiga Oromoo hammaa haraati iddoo hundaati dangalaasa jirti.

Akkuma Oromoon hunduu beeku, kan diini kun ajjesu moo beeka, sooresa, artistoota, oladeema/ oladeemtu, kan ta’ani kunis aggaamsaa sanyii duguugu -targeted genocide jedhama. Imaammati gartuu Tigrai (TPLF) saba Oromoo doofaa, iyeesa taasisani achumaan akkuma namichii Waaqayyoo jibe sun Malas Zenawi wa’ee Oromo “saba lakkofsi issa bayyee xiqeesun salphadha” jedhe kakate, oladeemtota Oromo fixaa jiru. Kan TPLF hin beekin garu, akkuma Oromoo ajjecha deemtu, Oromoon tokko ta’ee kibba hamma kabaati dhi’aa hamma ba’aati kuno diina olachisa jira.

Alaaban ABO jaal Elemo Qilxuufa bara 1973 qabatanii diina offira buqisanii Oromiyya Republika taate dhaabuf bosona (Tullu Carcar) seenan kuno dachee Oromiyya hunda irrati Oromoon qabatee “Abban Biyyaa Oromoo dha” “hormii nun bulchitu” Biyya keenya walaba taate nutu bulcha jedhee alaaba isa qabatee yeroo diini saba harqa duwa haqa isaaf falmatu, isaa harka diinati ajjefame, awaalate Alaaba ABO awaala irra dhaaba jira.

Mirgga mulqammaan deebisanii gonfachuuf Haatif ilmi hiriira ba’aani, gaafa loltu’un diina rasaasa itti roobiste mucaase ajjeftu, haati Oromticha sanaa “gumaan ilma kiyya bilisuma Oromiyya hata’u” jettee Oromiyyaati kutanoo ishe dhaamte.

Ebbisan , “siifan lolaa Oromoo narra hingortu?

Jettee kan atti akka gaafiti saba keeti dhi’eesinan diini si nyaate, garuu arra waamichi kee qeerro sibooda dhalataniin kan gegeefamu sabi kee deebisa jira.

Jaali kee, Usmaayyoo Musa waggaa sadeet (1995-2003) mana hidha diina keesati dararammaa ture eega ba’ee, saba durati gaffa as ba’uu sii (Ebbisa Adunya fi Dhugumaa Ayyana) yaadachudhan walisa isa jalqabe.  Kan Usmaayyoo gaafas walise keesa:

Garbummaa manna du’a filane

Saniif finchillee dagala seenne

Seenadhaaf duuna lubbu hinqusannee

Usmaayyoo Musa, darara mana hidha diina keesati irra gayeen lubbun isa dargagummaati qurxame.  Lubuun artistota Oromoo kunif kan isaan fakatan darbuun, hiri’ota isaanif dhalota isaan booda dhufe ibidda sammuu itti naqe.

Isaan booda artistoti dhibaan laqahaman sagallee isaani kan fagoo nama hawatu, ergaan saani ani Oromoo mittii?  maalifan walaabummaa kootif hin lolu? jedhee kan samuu  qirqidu, xiiqii qabachiisu,  tokko ta’ee akkan diina biyyaa isa qabate irraati mormuu kan godhee keesa isa tokko. Artistooni Oromoo wallaansoo walaabummaa Oromiyyaa ta’aa jiruuf aarssaa isaan baasa turan/jiraan seena saba issani keesati bo’oo olaana qaba.

Jaalan: Elemo, Ebbisa, Usmaayyoo fi kan walaabuma Oromoofi kuftanii, sabi keesan akka damaqee waanjjo kolonii ofirra darbatee, biyya bilisa taate (sovereign state) ijaarachuf tarkaanfi xumura irra ga’aa jira. Yoo isin lubuun jiraatani saba keesan arguu baatan ille hojjin keesan Oromoo karaa walabummaati luucessera.  Qeeransi Oromoo diina isa Oromiyyaa irra ari’a jira, akkuma Mulluu Baqqaalaa wallifte.

Jaalan, maqaan keesan bara barran seena Oromoo keesa hajiraatu.

Qabsa’aan hindu’aa qabsoon Oromiyya Walaabuman xumurama.

Ethiopia’s Regime Prioritizes Power Over Reform as Ethnic Protests Continue

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By William Davison

In this June 10, 2005 file photo, Ethiopian soldiers patrol the streets of Addis Ababa, after clashes with protesters (AP photo by Karel Prinsloo).

In this June 10, 2005 file photo, Ethiopian soldiers patrol the streets of Addis Ababa, after clashes with protesters (AP photo by Karel Prinsloo).

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (World Politics Review) — In Ethiopia’s two most populous ethnic regions, anti-government rallies turned into a bloodbath in early August as security forces again used live ammunition against protesters. In the western part of Oromia, the largest of Ethiopia’s nine ethnically based states, the town of Nekempte looked like a “war zone,” according to a protester. An opposition party said almost 100 people were killed and thousands arrested after demonstrations across the sprawling Oromia region, which encircles the capital, Addis Ababa, and borders Kenya in the south and South Sudan in the west. A day later in Bahir Dar, the capital of Amhara state, Amnesty International said police killed as many as 30 people. The government said a protest descended into a riot. Historic Gondar city to the north also saw more demonstrations, vandalism and repression.

The sustained discontent in Oromia, which began after unrest erupted last November, presents a major challenge to the country’s government, which came to power in 1991 when an insurgency led by the minority Tigrayan ethnic group overthrew a military regime. Having been granted autonomy in a federal system, the Oromo, who number around 35 million as Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, are asserting their rights.

The Oromo’s demands have included the scrapping of a greater Addis Ababa strategic plan that threatened Oromo farmers; the introduction of Afaan Oromo as a federal government language; the release of political prisoners; an end to police brutality; and complaints about subservience to Tigrayans in the ruling coalition. Despite the January cancellation of the master plan, the protests continued. And now they have been compounded by vociferous opposition from the Amhara, the country’s second-largest ethnic group, who wielded significant power as rulers, administrators and landlords during Ethiopia’s imperial past.

The Amhara claim parts of their territory were unfairly incorporated into Tigray state during the post-1991 transition. That reflects opposition to a system of ethnically defined federalism, which is portrayed as divisive and facilitating rule by Tigrayans, who make up 6 percent of a population of around 100 million. During recent demonstrations, protesters praised past Amhara emperors and replaced the current federal flag with emblems representing previous unitary constitutions as they also chanted pro-democracy slogans. Protests in various towns have been ongoing this week in the region.

The four-party Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, or EPRDF, has controlled politics since capturing state power in 1991. Its parties represent Ethiopia’s main ethnic groups: the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO), the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), the Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement (SEPDM) and the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). With allied parties, the coalition controls all federal parliament and regional council seats, as well as managing rural areas through farmers’ cells. The resilience and tactics of protesters will be key to the demonstrations’ success, but most critical to how the situation unfolds will be the EPRDF’s cohesion. Even sympathetic observers worry about the bloc’s ability to respond adequately to popular demands.

The current situation increases strains within the ruling coalition, given the legitimacy crisis of its Oromo wing, whose corruption partly led to rising tensions over highly sought-after land on the fringes of booming Addis Ababa. There is also apparent disloyalty within the ranks of the Amhara party, the ANDM, with elements being accused of stoking protests and anti-Tigrayan violence in the city of Gondar. The situation has led to a growing siege mentality within the Tigrayan bloc, the TPLF, which is frequently cast as controlling an authoritarian government.

After last year’s elections, when the only opposition federal lawmaker lost his seat, Daniel Berhane, the founder of the Horn Affairs website, which covers politics in the Horn of Africa, predicted unrest in Ethiopia, as the space for legitimate opposition was all but extinguished. He believes the problems in Gondar and elsewhere in Amhara partly also reflect the contemporary weaknesses of both the ANDM and the ruling EPRDF.

Though the Amhara party is a staunch supporter of federalism, it struggled to sell its philosophy to the region’s old elite, Berhane says. As with other EPRDF parties, its leadership seems to lack the popular legitimacy and ideological unity to sway protesters. Amid this discontent, some ambitious politicians are sensing a chance to assert the ANDM’s influence within the ruling front at the expense of the TPLF.

Such internal discord may partly be a result of the EPRDF increasing its membership eight-fold to around six million people in the past decade. That means there are many members who have not been inculcated into its Marxist-Leninist-influenced doctrines on how collective action and the power of the state will transform Ethiopia into a prosperous, modern nation. Purges are necessary, but Berhane doubts that they will achieve much more than officials rooting out rivals.

An ANDM insider thinks such divisions are overplayed, and that protests stem from outsiders in the Ethiopian diaspora hijacking local discontent. “The area is still underdeveloped in infrastructure, and there is a huge good governance problem,” he says, referring to the Gondar area, where the opposition has been most serious. The region is prone to what he calls “anti-peace forces, both internally and externally.”

Daniel and others think the unrest in Oromia is easier to respond to, as the grievances are articulated within the country’s constitutional framework. But that is countered by the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization’s own internal problems and weakness; the party has changed chairperson three times in six years. Contempt for the party was made clear by Abay Tsehaye, a senior TPLF veteran and now policy adviser to Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, when he blamed the OPDO’s turmoil and poor administration for the crisis.

The government could respond to protesters’ demands and perhaps end the crisis by deepening federalism, allowing more pluralism within government and space for critical voices from the opposition, media and civil society as part of a democratization process. But that’s unlikely. The EPRDF has spent over two decades trying to become a hegemonic force capable of implementing the state-led development model of its chief ideologue, Meles Zenawi. While the absence of the late prime minister from the TPLF is keenly felt in terms of strategic and charismatic leadership, his ideas are still prominent.

In late August, party leaders from the EPRDF gathered to discuss the crisis, but there was no new thinking on display. Instead, the politburo promised to combat political extremism and enact reforms to root out corruption. “The party that has from the very outset decided to build a democratic and developmental government knows the existence of incessant temptation among some people in a transition economy to abuse of power for personal gains,” it said in a statement.

Nahusenay Belay, who is pursuing a doctorate in democratization in Ethiopia at Addis Ababa University’s Institute of Federal Studies, welcomes the Oromo demands, but is critical of what he calls the “chauvinist, expansionist” Amhara agenda. He thinks the government needs to suppress violent protests that he says threaten anarchy—and then embark on an unprecedented program of dialogue, public consultation and reform, including releasing political prisoners.

Yet with the opposition exiled, imprisoned or otherwise neutered, there is a lack of potential partners. “They have to empower the local opposition or anyone willing to participate in the democratic process peacefully,” Belay says of the government. Despite his appreciation of the EPRDF’s federalism and economic achievements, Nahusenay doubts there is enough support within the front for much liberalization, which would jeopardize its political monopoly. But like many, he sees the dangers of the status quo: “If you close all the ventilation mechanisms, at a certain point it will explode.”


William Davison
Bloomberg News
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Eth. Mobile: +251 913 415 322
U.K. Mobile +44 7918 934 226
Skype: william.davison2
Twitter: @wdavison10

Death Toll, Tension Rise Following PM Hailemariam’s Orders for Military to Take Measures in Amhara Region

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Bahir-Dar(Addis Standard) — Several people are reported to have been killed in various parts of the Amhara regional state in Northern Ethiopia, where an ongoing protest by the people is intensifying. The VOA Amharic service quoted a resident in Debarq yesterday that four people were when security officers fired live bullets at protesting civilians.

Over the last few days several reports on social media indicated a rising death toll following security crackdown against a stay-at-home protests in Bahir Dar and Gonder, the region’s capital and a historic city visited by thousands of tourists respectively.  Pictures coming from many cities and towns in the region also show protesting citizens, burning tyres and roadblocks.  reports also indicate that up to 50 civilians were killed in the past one week only.

Tensions are on the rise following a statement given to state owned media by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in which he announced that he has ordered the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) to intervene to control the situation in the region, home to the second largest ethnic group in the country. In his speech PM Hailemariam blamed Ethiopia’s “outside enemies” for being the instigators to disrupt the country by providing “radicals with sacks full of money.” He further stated that the government will use “its full forces to bring the rule of law” into the region.

A day prior to PM Hailemariam’s statement, Sheger FM, a private radio based in Addis Abeba, reported that the regional state has requested a military intervention by the Federal government. Talking to the station, Nigusu Tilahun, the regional government’s Chief spokesperson, conceded that lives were lost in the recent protests but declined to give numbers. As a result of intensifying protests, the regional government requested the intervention of the federal army, Sheger FM quoted the spokesperson.

Accordingly reports indicate that the region is now divided into five zones and is placed under a military command.

Pictures circulating around social media show heavy artillery moving towards the state capital Bahir Dar, 550 North of Addis Abeba, and the nearby town of Gondar where the recent wave of #Amharaprotests originated late last month. Addis Standard could not independently verify the authenticity of those pictures. Internet is shut off in the whole region while locals fear government sanctioned phone call monitoring.

The #Amharaprotests began in late July when security forces tried to arrest leaders of the Wolkayit committee, a committee formed by the people of Wokayit to find solutions related to the border and identity questions of the Wolkayit community.

In the last few days tens of thousands of citizens in several cities and towns in Gojam and Gonder areas of the region have come out to the streets to protest the government. In what many see as the ultimate test of the ruling EPRDF protesters are also showing solidarity with the #Oromoprotests which began in Nov. 2015.

In the weekend of 6-7 August region wide protests both in Amhara and Oromia regions were met by violent crackdown by security forces. It’s reported that more than 100 civilians were killed in that weekend only, according to Amnesty International. In Bahir Dar only, more than 30 people were killed when a security guard opened fire at protesters. The government disputes that number. The stay-at-home protests in Bahir and Gonder followed the deadliest weekend, however in the last few days that too turned violent when security forces began breaking into houses in an attempt to force citizens and businesses to stop the stay-at-home protests.

Bahr Dar

Roadblock in Bahir Dar. Photo: Social Media

Some reports claim that attacks against government institutions and party owned and affiliated businesses were witnessed in some cities and towns. There are also reports that young men and women are being arrested en mass by security forces.

Dutch, Israeli Farms Attacked by Ethiopian Opposition Protesters

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By William Davison

Dutch minister lilanne ploumen (development aid) visits a dutch flower farm outside Addid Abbeba, February 28, 2013

Dutch Minister Lilianne Ploumen (Development Aid) visits a Dutch flower farm outside Addid Abbeba, February 28, 2013

(Bloomberg News) — A Dutch-run flower farm in northern Ethiopia was among a series of foreign-owned plantations attacked by anti-government protesters as unrest in the country spreads.

A “large group” of people invaded Esmeralda Farms Inc.’s farm 13 kilometers (8 miles) south of Bahir Day city in the Amhara region on Aug. 29, causing about 7 million euros ($7.8 million) of damage, country manager Haile Seifu said by phone Thursday. Flower farms in the area owned by Israeli, Italian, Indian and Belgian companies were among nine commercial properties damaged in the protests, which continued on Aug. 30, he said.

“They were so aggressive, there were also soldiers who couldn’t control them, so we just ran away, as it’s life or death,” he said from the capital, Addis Ababa. “They came actually at once through our compound, through our fence, through our main gate, so everybody left.”

The authorities in Ethiopia have killed more than 500 people since June, according to human-rights groups, to suppress protests by the two most populous groups, the Oromo and Amhara. Analysts say the demonstrations present the biggest challenge to the government’s authority since it came to power a quarter of a century ago. The economy grew faster than any other in Africa over the past two years, International Monetary Fund data shows.

TVOMT:Gaafiiif Deebii Atlet Eebbisaa Margaa Waliin Goone


SBO September 2, 2016

Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a warning against visiting Ethiopia

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Foreign Ministry: Avoid Ethiopia

The Foreign Ministry issued a warning against visiting Ethiopia, as regional violence continues to escalate.

Protests in Ethiopia, Reuters

Protests in Ethiopia, Reuters

(Arutz Sheva 7 – Israel National News) — The Foreign Ministry issued a warning on Thursday against traveling to Ethiopia, while skirmishes intensify around Amhara.

From the beginning of August, the Amhara and Oromia regions of Ethiopia have been rife with protests, which led to violent clashes between protesters and security forces. In the cities of Gondar, Bahir Dar, and Debre Tabor, hundreds have been killed and injured.

Yesterday, as the security situation around Ethiopia’s centers continued to worsen, Ethiopia announced a state of emergency in the Amhara province. Officials fear that the regional violence will spread to Oromia.

The Foreign Ministry recommends avoiding the Amhara and Oromia regions entirely.

The ministry’s statement also warned visitors against attending public gatherings and protests, and to remain vigilant. Traffic may be disrupted, as well as telephone and internet services.

The ministry also pleaded with Israeli citizens to not go within ten kilometers of the Ethiopia-Eritrea border, nor the Ethiopia-Sudan, Ethiopia-Kenya, and Ethiopia-South Sudan borders. It emphasized that any such action is a person’s private decision, and there is no Israeli law preventing such a visit.

Oromo TV: Alamu Qixxeessaa fi Urjii Dhaabaatti, Qabsoon Bilisummaa Oromoo Finiinee Itti Fufa !!!

Sagalee Qeerroo Bilisummaa Oromoo (SQ) Qophii Fulbaana 1, 2016

#OromoProtests, September 1, 2016

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IBSA EJJENNOO GUMII TOKKUMMAA ABBOOTII GADAA OROMOO
WALTAJJII MARII ABBOOTII GADAA GODINOOTA OROMIYAA MARA IRRAA WALITTI DHUFAN MARII GUYYAA SADIIF (HAGAYYA 24- 26/2008 A.L.H) Gaggeeffame

BAKKA: – HOTEELA RIZORTII SOODAREE

Nuti Abbootiin Gadaa Oromoo rakkoolee hawaasummaa, dinagdee fi siyaasaa hiikuuf mootummaa fi uummata gidduu taanee hojjechaa turuun keenya ni beekama.

Keessattu rakkoolee nageenyaa biyya keenya keessatti uumame ilaalchisee yaada furmaataa akka mootummaaf dhiyeessinetti guutummaa guutuutti hojiirra oolee hin jiru.
Gaaffilee ummatni qabatee hiriira bahullee abbootiin taayitaa irra jiran gaaffiii uummataa kana seeraan dhiyaatanii deebii kennuurra humna waraanaa qofaan fayyadamuun rakkoo hiikuu hin dandeenye.

Sababuma kanaan yeroo yeroodhaan reebichi, ajjeechaan, hidhaan uummata keenya miidhaa jira. Kanaafuu, shakkii qofaadhaan hidhaa fi reebichi ajjeechaan hammaataa jira. Ammas irra deebinee yaada furmaataa kan kenninu haala armaan gadiitiin ibsa ejjennoo qabxii kudha sadii(13) qabuun ibsina.

  1. Ummatni Oromoo kamiyyuu godiinaan ,aanaan, gandaan, amantiinii fi ilaalcha siyaasaatiin osoo wal hin qoodiin gaaddisa Sirna Gadaa jalatti duudhaa Sirna Gadaa Oromootiin tokkummaa keenyaan Gadaa keenya ni jabeeffanna.
  2. Waraanni mootummaa Fedreraalaa daangaa biyyattii eeguurra taree , seeraan ala daangaa mootummaa naannoo Oromiyaa cabsee seenuun, ,kutaawwan oromiyaa adda addaa irra qubatee jiru, waraanni kunis aadaa , duudhaa fi afaan ummatichaa waan hin beekneef hubaatii fidee jira , akkaata Sirni Gadaa kaa’uun hogganaan waraanaa Abbaa Duulaa jedhamu dhaabbannee isa jalattiimmoo kuusaa, dabballee fi foolleedhaan rakkoowwan naannoo keenyaa kamirrattuu akka ofii keenyaan furannu ummata keenyaaf dhaamsa dabarsaa waraanni kun akka nurraa kahu mootummaa federaalaa ni gaafanna.
  3. Badii fi seera malee namoonni keenya mana hidhaatti guuraman yeroo dhihootti akka gadi lakkifaman sagalee tokkoon gaafanna.
  4. Namoonni dhiiga Oromoo taatanii lammii keessan ajjeestanii fi ajjeesaa turtan, waan hamaaf dabarsitanii kennitan sobaaf raga baatan, guyyaa har’aatii kaasee yaa’ii tokkummaa abbootii gadaa oromoo kun maqaa uummata oromoo kabajamaa fi guddaatiin badii darbeef dhiifama gaafattanii,dhugaa lammii keessaniitiif akka dhaabbatan isinii dhaamaa, kanarra kan darbe kana booda gocha kana irra deebitanii yoo raawwattan lafee fi dhiigni ilmaan oromoo, akka safuu fi safeeffannaa Sirna Gadaatiin kan isin gaafatu taha.
  5. Ilmaan Oromoo naannawaa Finfinnee lafarraa buqqaa’an akka deebi’anii manni jirenyaa kennamuuf ni gaafanna.
  6. Irreechi hora Finfinnee akka nuuf deebi’uuf fulbaana 24/2009 ummatni Oromoo fi Abbootiin Gadaa achirratti argamuun akka kabajannu beeksisaa akka nuuf mirkanaa’u ni gaafanna.
  7. Qotee bulaan sababa baballina masterpilaanii magaalaatiinii fi investimentiitiin uummata keenya lafarraa buqqisaa jiraachuun akka nurraa dhaabbatu ni gaafanna.
  8. Hojii dhabdummaa Naannoo Oromiyaatti babal’ataa jiruufi naannoowwan magaalotaa fi Finfinnee jirurratti dargaggoota yuniversitii fi koollejii irraa eebbifamaniif rakkoo hojiidhabdummaatiin dararaman haalli mijachuun deeggersi barbaachisaa tahe akka
    godhamuuf ni gaafanna.
  9. Nuti uummatni Oromoo sabaa fi sablammiiwwan jiran waliin nagaan jiraachuu barbaadna. Sababa daangaan keenya sharafamaa jiruuf uummatni keenya sabaa fi sablammiiwwan ollaa jiruun walitti bu’aa jira. Kanaafuu ,mootummaaan kara lachanuu ilaaluun furmaata akka kennuuf ni gaafanna.
  10. Sirni Gadaa Oromoo safuu fi safeeffannaa isaa ganamaa eegee caasaa qabuun akka ijaaramuu fi kan ijaaramee jiru jabinaan akka itti fufu imaanaa guddaa saba keenyaaf kallattii hundaan cimsinee haa hojjennu.
  11. Sirni Gadaa Oromoo Sirna Bulchiinsa Oromoo karaa nagaa fi tasgabbii qabuun rakkoowwa hawaasaa hiikuun aadaa fi duudhaa hawasaa babl’isuun abbaa qabeenyummaa dinagdee hawaasichaa kan mirkaneessudha waan taheef sirni kun jabeeffamuu kan qabuu fi kan ittiin bullu tahuu uumata keenyaaf dhaamsa dabarsiina.
  12. Sirni Gadaa Oromoo faajjii mataa isaa:- Gurraacha, Diimaa Fi Adii kan qabu dha.kanaafuu ummatni Oromoo fi ummatni Ayyaana Irreechaa fuuldura keenyaa kamirratuu kabajamu irratti Faajjii kanaan ala alaabaa dhaaba siyaasaa kamiyyuu qabatee akka hin dhufne ni akeekkachiisna.
  13. Afaan Oromoo afaan hojii federaalaa akka tahu ni gaafanna.

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Breaking News,Ethiopia Government Military Helicopters today Sep 1, 2016 Bombing their own citizens in Amhara Region in Gonder.
#OromoProtests
#AmharaProtests
CrSd2RyWcAAitzo

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