Subcommittee on Human Rights
DROI(2016)1012_1
DRAFT AGENDA
Meeting
Wednesday 12 October 2016, 9.00 – 12.30 and 15.00 – 18.30
Brussels
Room: Altiero Spinelli (3G-3)

12 October 2016, 9.00 – 9.45

In camera

Jointly with the Committee on Development

1.  Follow-up of the EP urgency resolution on Ethiopia (killings of Oromos)

12 October 2016, 9.45 – 10.30

2.  Adoption of agenda

3.  Chair’s announcements

Jointly with the Committee on Development

4.  Exchange of views on the human rights situation in Ethiopia

12 October 2016, 10.30 – 12.30

Jointly with the Committee on Foreign Affairs and in association with the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee

Hearing

5.  Turkey and the rule of law

12 October 2016, 15.00 – 15.45

6.  Exchange of views with a delegation from the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)

12 October 2016, 15.45 – 16.20

In camera

Jointly with the Committee on Foreign Affairs and in association with the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly

7.  Exchange of views with the EEAS on EU-Cuba Relations, with a focus on the human rights situation

12 October 2016, 16.20 – 18.30

Jointly with the Committee on Foreign Affairs and in association with the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly

8.  Exchange of views on EU-Cuba Relations, with a focus on the human rights situation

In association with the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly and with the Delegation for relations with Mercosur

9.  Exchange of views on the human rights situation in Venezuela

10.  Any other business

11.  Next meetings

·9 November 2016, 9.00 – 12.30 and 15.00 – 18.30 (Brussels)

Photo published on EthioTube page titled “Pictures from Oromo Protest – Winter 2015″. No attribution or further context appears on the site.

(Global Voices) — All mobile internet services have been shut down in Ethiopia for the last seven days, amid increasingly violent protest scenes and a recently declared a “state of emergency”.

Demonstrations have taken place with regular frequency in Ethiopia’s Oromia region since November 2015, with protesters demanding greater self-rule, freedom and respect for the ethnic identity of the Oromo people, who have experienced systematic marginalization and persecution over the last quarter century. Authorities have used deadly force against the protesters on more than one occasion. On October 2 alone, 52 people were killed. The Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), an opposition party, has reported a death toll of nearly 600 people.

While select social media and messaging platforms such as WhatsApp have been shut down sporadically as protests have grown more intense, in Addis Ababa, the capital, this is the longest sustained mobile Internet service shutdown that has taken place since they began.

The sudden silence of the protests on social media has left those tracking the movement over Facebook and Twitter worried.

The mobile Internet blackout is also likely resulting in a decrease in online news about the protests. Activists fear that the protest movement, which has relied on social media both for coordination and for circulating their message to international audiences, will be severed from their primary means of communication. Despite low Internet penetration in Ethiopia, social media are becoming essential —especially for the protest movements in Oromia and Amhara regional states. Newsfeeds from Facebook pages and Twitter feeds from Ethiopia are not showing the same abundance of posts as they were a week ago.

View image on Twitter

Follow

Moses Karanja @Mose_Karanja

How #Ethiopia censors Facebook. With a state of emergency now in place, expect more #Internetshutdowns and #surveillance.#KeepItOn

10:24 AM – 9 Oct 2016

• 6161 Retweets

• 1717 likes

The government has been cutting off connectivity and blocking social media in Oromia and Amhara regions over the past 12 months. In June they blocked social media in the name of preventing exams leaks, but now it is not clear whether te government is switching off all mobile internet services as a precursor to the ongoing protest, or if the measure is intended as a reaction to protests. Those close to the situation fear this may be the beginning of a dangerous new phase after 12 months of protests.

Merkel visits Addis as prime minister warns of forceful response to ‘violent’ activists

Ethiopians chant slogans against the government during a march in Bishoftu © AP

Following months of increasingly violent protests, the Ethiopian government has declared a six-month state of emergency. CNN’s Farai Sevenzo explains.Source: CNN

Ethiopia is facing its biggest anti-government unrest in a decade, with tension among the majority Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups which feel marginalized by a minority-led government ©Zacharias Abubeker (AFP/File)

(Business Standard) — The United States warned its African ally Ethiopia not to abuse the state of emergency it declared this week to suppress dissent and welcomed talk of political reform.

Ethiopia declared an emergency on Sunday after six months of anti-government protests, but yesterday Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn promised that opposition voices would be heard.

US State Department spokesman John Kirby welcomed this offer from the government “to address some of the grievances raised by protesters such as land rights and electoral reform.”

But he urged President Mulatu Teshome’s administration to “clarify” how it intends to implement a state of emergency which authorized “detention without a warrant, limitations on free speech, prohibitions on public gatherings and the imposition of curfews.”

“Even if these measures are intended to restore order, silencing independent voices and interfering with the rights of Ethiopians is a self-defeating tactic that exacerbates rather than address those grievances,” he argued.

Ethiopia is facing its biggest anti-government unrest in a decade, with unrest among the majority Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups which feel marginalized by a minority-led government.

Tensions have been rising since an Oromo religious festival last week ended in tragedy when police fired tear gas on protesters, triggering a stampede that left more than 50 dead.

The declaration of a six-month state of emergency is unprecedented in the 25 years the current Ethiopian government has been in charge.

The United States regards Ethiopia as its key partner in the Horn of Africa, and works with it in its efforts to resolve crises in neighboring South Sudan and Somalia.

ABOn ilmaan Oromoo Humnoota Waraanaa fi tikaa mootummaa keessa jiranii fi bifa adda addaatin diinaan hidhachiifaman gara mooraa qabsoo bilisummaa Oromootti makamuun akka humna qabsichaa ta’aniif irra deddeebiin waamicha dhiyeessaa turuun ni beekkama. Ilmaan Oromoo kunneen ummata isaanii balaa mootummaan faashistiin irraan gahurraa ittisuu fi roorroo saba isaaniirra gahaa jirutti xumura gochuu keessatti dirqama lammummaa akka bahataniif marii fi qunnamtii yeroo dheeraa taasisaa turuus ibsa jidduu dabre baaseen beeksise.

Akka kanaanis ilmaan Oromoo sabboonoon waamicha dhaaba kallacha qabsoo Oromoo, ABOf owwaatudhaaf murteessan qindoomina tolfameen mooraa QBO ABOn hogganamuutti makamanii ummata cinaa dhaabbachuun tarkaanfilee diinarratti fudhataniin humna QBO tahuu mirkaneessanii jiru. Haaluma kanaan qindoomina tolfamee fi qajeelfama dhaabarraa kennamuun humni QBOtti makame kun Onkoloolessa 03 hanga 09 bara 2016 tarkaanfilee armaan gadii diinarratti fudhachuun injifannoo cululuqaa galmeessee jira.

Onkoloolessa 3 bara 2016

1. Kibba Oromiyaa Godina Gujii keessatti sabboontonni Oromoo waraanaa fi poolisa wayyaanee keessa turan aantummaa ummataaf qaban agarsiisuun humna QBOtti makamuudhaan tarkaanfii fudhataniin loltoonni amanamtoota wayyaanee 8 fi Agaaziin 5 ajjeefamuun 2 ammoo madeeffamaniiru. Tarkaanfii humni QBOtti dabalame fudhate kanaan Kilaashiin 10, Boombiin F1 Afuri fi rasaasni 267 diinarraa booji’amee dantaa qabsoo bilisummaa Oromoo ABOn durfamuuf oolfameera. Qunnamtii fi qindoomina jiruun poolisoonni mana hidhaa Bulee Horaa eegan dhiisanii deemurraa hidhamtoonni guututmmaatti akka bahan taheera.
2. Baha Oromiyaa Kaampii Addeellee keessatti marii bal’aa taasifamee fi murtii kennameen waraanni wayyaanee sirnicha jalaa bahee QBOf tumsuuf sagalee guutuudhaan murteesse. Aashaa Dawwallee, Shiniillee, Harargee Dhihaa fi Dirree Dhawaa dabalatee bakkoota hedduutti aangawoota mootummaa wayyaanee fi waraana amanamaa sirnichaa ta’e irratti haxxee hidhuu fi tarkaanfilee fudhachuufis murannoo qabu ifatti agarsiisee jira.
3. Godina Shawaa Bahaa Bishooftuu keessatti ilmaan oromoo waraana Agaazii fi Poolisa Oromiyaa keessa turan gara mooraa QBOtti makamuun tarkaanfii waraana wayyaaneerratti fudhataniin loltoota 38 ajjeesaniiru. Humna QBOtti makame keessaas Sadi wareegamanii jiru. Kunis waraana wayyaanee Shawaa Bahaa keessatti argamu jidduutti sochiin bal’aan akka taasifamu godhe. Godinuma kana Aqaaqiittis tarkaanfii Kaampii Kuusaa meeshaa waraanaa irratti fudhatameen qawween 200 booji’amuun milkiin gonfatameera.

4. Tarkaanfiin humna QBOtin fudhatamu Godina Arsii Lixaattis cehuun, Kaampii waraana wayyaanee Shaashamanneetti argamu keessatti amanamtoota TPLF fi ajajoota wayyaanee haleeluun kaampicha keessaa baasan. Arsii Lixaa naannawa Meexamaattis ilmaan Oromoo waraanaa fi Poolisa keessa turan waamicha lammummaaf owwaachuu itti fufuun, poolisoonni 7 qawwee Kilaashii harkaa qaban waliin mooraa QBOtti makaman. Ummanni naannichaa humnoota diinaa ofirraa ari’ee alaabaa ABO balaliisuun bulchiinsa Ummataa dhaabbatee jira.

Onkoloolessa 04 bara 2016

5. Godina Shawaa Bahaa Ona Boosat keessatti lolli jabaan ummataa fi waraana wayyaanee jidduutti gaggeeffameera. Ilmaan oromoo Poolisa Oromiyaa turan 90 ta’an gara mooraa QBOtti makamuun ummata faana dhaabbatan. Achuma Shawaa Bahaa naannoo Dooniitti ammoo tarkaanfii fudhatameen qawween 200 harka ummataa galeera. Humni Poolisa Oromiyaa keessaa QBOtti makame dargaggoota Oromoof leenjii kennuu fi waraana wayyaanee haleeluun qawwee hiikkachuunis barameera. Agaaziin tarkaanfii irratti fudhatameen ari’amee naannichi ummataa fi waraana gara QBO seeneen dhuunfatamee tikfamaa jira.
   Shawaa Bahaa magaalaa Wanjiitti kan argamu Warshaan Sukkaaraa Wanjiis tarkaanfii humni gara QBOtti makame fudhateen barbadeeffamee mootummaan wayyaanee miliyoonaan akka kasaaru taasifame.

Onkoloolessa 05 bara 2016

6. Onkoloolessa 5 bara 2016 tattaaffiin waraanni Agaazii Kaampii Shaashamannee dhuunfachuuf Dodolaa keessatti daandiirra fiiguun taasise Poolisoonni Dodolaa QBOtti makaman dura dhaabbachuurraa kan fashalsan yoo tahu, kilaashii 16s QBOf gumaachan.

Onkoloolessa 6 abra 2016

7. Mootummaan wayyaanee diddaa humnoota waraanaa, poolisaa, Tikaa fi Agaazii dabalatee hidhattoota isaa keessaa irratti jabaachaa jiru irra aanuu akeekkatuun Godina Arsii Lixaa Ona Qoree keessatti lola banus kasaaraa haguuggate.

Humni QBO waraana wayyaanee haleeluun Agaazii 18 ajjeesuun, 7 madeessee, kilaashii 14 fi Matrayyasii 6 dhuunfachuun akeeka bobbaa diinaa hoongessee, injifannoo galmeesse.

8. Shawaa Bahaa Liiban Cuqqaalaa keessatti lola jabaa gaggeeffameen ammoo loltoonni Agaazii 32 qabsaawota bilisummaa Oromootin ajjeefamanii, 18 madoo taasifaman. Loltoonni Agaazii 12 ammoo mooraa QBOtti makamanii jiru. Lola kanaan qawween Kilaashii 8 kan booji’ame wayta ta’u konkolaattooni waraanni wayyaanee itti gargaaramaa ture 7 daareffamaniiru. Gama qabsaawotaatii 4 wareegamuun, 3 madeeffaman.
9. Meettaa Roobii keessattis lola jabaa gaggeeffameen Agaaziin 11 ajjeefamuu fi 8 madeeffamuun, Kilaashiin 22 booji’ameera. Loltoonni Agaazii 7 ummata faana hiriiruuf murteeffatuun mooraa QBOtti makaman.

Onkoloolessa 07 bara 2016

10. Mootummaan wayyaanee diddaa humni waraanaa isaa Kaampii Awaash keessa jiru irratti kaase dhaamsuuf Onkoloolessa 7 bara 2016 humna dabalataa wayta ergetti, Shawaa Bahaa Ona Fantaallee magaalaa Matahaaraatti haxxee itti hidhamee tarkaanfii fudhatameen Agaaziin 32 ajjeefamuun reeffi loltoota isaas achuma akka bulu taasifame. Ona Fantaallee keessatti qindoomina ummataa fi humna mooraa QBOtti makame waliin tolfameen lolli jabaan gaggeeffamee diinarra kasaaraan guddaan dhaqqabeera.
11. Baha Oromiyaa Awwadaay keessatti sabboontotni Oromoo waraana wayyaanee keessaa diddaa jabaa agarsiisan. Waraanni Kaampii Awwadaay yeroo bahus Kaampicha keessatti alaabaa ABO fannisuun akka bobba’etu ibsame. Humni QBOtti makame hogganootaa fi amanamtoota wayyaanee ummata Oromoo miidhaa turan irratti tarkaanfii fudhateera.

Onkoloollessa 08 bara 2016

12. Godina Shawaa Bahaa Ona Boosat keessatti Onkoloolessa 8 bara 2016 waraanni wayyaanee gandeen sirnicha jalaa baafamuun ummataan dhuunfataman harkatti galfachuuf lola banerratti hidhattoota Federaalaa irraa 7 ajjeefamuun 3 madeeffamanii, qawween Kilaashii 9 erga irraa booji’amee kasaaraa haguuggatanii booda of duuba deebi’aniiru. Qabsaawotarraas 1 wareegameera.

Ona Fantaalleetti ammoo Humni QBOtti makame ummata waliin tahuudhaan qindoominaa fi qajeelfama tolfameen waraana wayyaanee bakka Dheebitii jedhamutti dursee haleeluun Agaazii 38 ajjeesee 24 ammoo madeessudhaan diinarratti injifannoo galmeesse.

13. Shawaa Kibba-Lixaa Waliso keessatti tarkaanfii fudhatameen ammoo waraana wayyaaneerraa ajajootni 3 fi miseensonni 5 mooraadhuma waraanaa keessatti ajjeefamaniiru.

Onkoloolessa 09 bara 2016

14. Ilmaan oromoo wayyaaneef qawwee baatan diina saba isaanii fixaa jirutti akka naannessaniif hojii hojjetamaa tureen, kanneen waraana keessaa mooraa QBOtti dabalaman Awwadaay keessatti qawwee hidhatan diinatti naannessuun haleellaa raawwataniin qondaala wayyaanee ol’aanaa Ajajaa Kumaa Atsbahaa Asgadoom jedhamu kan waraana Agaazii Dirree Dhawaa, Hararii fi Haramaayaa ajajuu fi waraana Agaazii 17 ajjeesuun seenaa boonsaa galmeessan. Kana malees sabboontotni Agaazii keessaa QBOtti dabalaman kilaashii 7 ummataaf gumaachudhaanis aantummaa qaban agarsiisan. Guyyuma kana Waraanni wayyaanee weerartummaaf Baha Oromiyaa Ciro, Hirnaatti bobb’aa ture tarkaanfii irratti fudhatameen ergamni isaa fashaleera; Waraana Awaash tiksu 2 irrattis tarkaanfiin fudhatameera.

Tarkaanfilee Onkoloolessa 3 hanga 9 bara 2016tti fudhataman kanneeniinis: Ajajaa Kumaa Atsbahaa Asgadoom dabalatee ajajootni waraanaa 4 fi loltoonni amanamoo wayyaanee Agaaziin 211 ajjeefamanii, 62 ammoo madeeffamanii jiru. Kana malees Qawween Kilaashii 493, Matrayyasiin 6, Boombiin F1 Afuri fi Rasaasni 267 diinarraa booji’ameera; konkolaattotni waraanaa wayyaanee 7 daareffamaniiru. Gama kaaniin ammoo ilmaan oromoo Waraana Agaazii fi Poolisa wayyaanee keessa turan 116 mooraa QBO ABOn hogganamuutti makamuudhaan falmaa finiinsaa jiru.

Walumaagalatti ilmaan oromoo Humna Waraanaa, Poolisaa, Agaazii fi milishaa keessa jiranii fi bifa adda adaati hidhachiifaman qunnamtii fi qindoomina tolfamaa tureen gara mooraa QBOtti makamuudhaan tarkaanfilee seena-qabeessa mootummaa wayyaaneerratti fudhataa jiran.

Tarkaanfilee fakkaatoon karaa Dhiha Oromiyaa jiraatanis rakkina qunnamtii yeroodhaaf bal’inni isaa ibsamuuf rakkisaa tahuus kanuma waliin hubachiifna.

Waamicha:

Ilmaan Oromoo Kutaalee Waraanaa Ittisa Biyyaa, Humna Polisa Federaala, poolisa Oromiyaa, Agaazii, tikaa fi milishaa gandaa tahuudhaan akkasumas bifa adda addaatin wayyaaneen hidhachiifamuun diina tajaajilaa turtan gara mooraa QBOtti makamuudhaan balaa diinaan ummata keessanirra gahu ittisuu fi gabrummaatti xumura gochuuf waamicha isinii dhiyaateef deebii kennaa jirtaniif ABOn bakka ummata Oromoo bu’ee isin galateeffata. Galanni keessanis bilisummaa Oromoofi walabummaa Oromiyaati!

Kanneen caasaalee waraanaa fi tikaa armaan olii bakkoota biroo jiran keessa jirtanis murtii boonsaa fi seena-qabeessa obbolaan keessan mooraa QBO ABOn hogganamuutti makaman fudhatan hordofuun mootummaa abbaa irree ummata Oromoo jumlaan duguugaa jiruu fi maqaa labsii yeroo hatattamaatin duguuggii sanyummaa caaluuf nutti aggaamee jirutti xumura gochuuf akka ummata keessan cinaa dhaabbattanii fi mooraa QBOtti makamtan waamicha maayii yeroon gaafattu kana isiniif dabarsina.
Ummanni Oromootis bakka jiru maraa tokkummaa fi murannoo irra jabaadhaan socho’uun dhumaatii diinni nutti labse masheensuuf akkasumas qabsoo wareegama ilmaan isaatin bilisummaa ulaa isaatin gahetti xumura gochuuf akka sossohu waamicha goona.

Maayiirrattis ilmaan dhalattoota saboota biyyattii kan kutaalee Waraanaa Ittisa Biyyaa, Humna Poolisa Federaalaa, poolisa Oromiyaa, Agaazii, tikaa fi milishaa gandaa tahuun akkasumas bifa adda addaatin wayyaaneen hidhachiifamuun diina tajaajilaa turtan marti, QBO kan xiyyeeffatu mootummaa wayyaanee/TPLF dhiiga Ummata Oromoo lolaasaa jiru irratti malee, isin ilmaan ummatoota cunqurfamoos tahee nam-tokkee ykn garee kamirrattuu akka hin taane hubatuun sirnicha faana hiriiruun dhiiga ummata Oromoo dhangalaasuu irraa akka of qusattan. Kana gochuu hanqatuudhaan dhiiga ummata Oromoo dhangalaasuu itti fufuun seeraanis tahee seenaan kan isin gaafachiisu tahuurra dabree, tarkaanfii adabbii isinirratti fudhatamuuf gaafatamni mataa keessanirra akka jiru gadi jabeessinee hubachiisna.

Ummata Oromoo wayyaanedhaan duguuggiin sanyii irratti raawwatamaa jiruu fi waliigala ummatoota biyyattii cunqursaa hamaa jala jiraniif aantummaa keessan agarsiisuudhaan sirna farra-ummatootaa tahe, TPLF/EPRDF dhabamsiisuun haqa, dimokraasii, bilisummaa fi mirga namummaa ummatootaa biyyattii keessa jiran hundaa dhugoomsuuf qooda keessan akka gumaachitan ABOn irra deebiin dhaamsa isiniif dabarsa.

Injifannoo Ummata Oromoof!
Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo
Onkoloolessa 12 bara 2016

የኦነግ ወታደራዊ መግለጫ

የኦሮሞ ነጻነት ግንባር በመንግስት የጦርና የደህንነት ሃይሎች ውስጥ ላሉ እንዲሁም በተለያየ መልኩ እንዲታጠቁ ተደርገው ጠላትን በማገልገል ላይ ያሉ የኦሮሞ ልጆች፡ ወደ ኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል ጎራ በመቀላቀል የትግሉ ሃይል እንዲሆኑ በተደጋጋሚ ጥሪ ሲያቀርብ እንደነበር ይታወሳል። እነዚህ የኦሮሞ ልጆች ህዝባቸውን በፋሽስቱ የወያኔ መንግስት ከሚደስርበት ኣደጋ ለመከላከልና በወገናቸው ላይ እያተፈጸመ ላለው ጭቆና ፍጻሜ በማበጀቱ ውስጥ የዜግነት ግዴታቸውን እንዲወጡ ለረጅም ጊዜ ውይይትና ግንኙነት ሲያደርግ እንደነበርም ሰሞኑን ባወጣው መግለጫ ኣስታውቋል።

በዚሁ መሰረት ከነጻነት መሪ ድርጅታቸው የኦሮሞ ነጻነት ግንባር ለቀረበላቸው ጥሪ ምላሽ ለመስጠት የወሰኑ ብሄርተኛ የኦሮሞ ልጆች በተፈጠረው ቅንጅት በኦነግ ወደሚመራው የኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል ጎራ ተቀላቅለው ከህዝቡ ጎን በመቆም በጠላት ላይ በወሰዷቸው እርምጃዎች የኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል ሃይል መሆናቸውን ኣስመስክረዋል። በተፈጠረው ቅንጅትና ከኦነግ በሚሰጥ መመሪያ ይህ ወደ ኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል የተቀላቀለው ሃይል ከጥቅምት 3 እስከ 9 ቀን 2016ዓም ከዚህ በታች ያሉትን እርምጃዎች በጠላት ላይ በመውሰድ ኣንጸባራቂ ድል ኣስመዝግቧል።

ጥቅምት 3 ቀን 2016ዓም

1. በደቡብ ኦሮሚያ ጉጂ ዞን ውስጥ በወያኔ ጦርና ፖሊስ ሃይል ውስጥ የነበሩ የኦሮሞ ብሄርተኞች ለህዝቡ ያላቸውን ወገንተኝነት በማሳየት ወደ ነጻነት ትግሉ በመቀላቀል በሰነዘሩት ጥቃት የወያኔ ታማኝ የሆኑ 8 ወታደሮችና 5 የኣጋዚ ጦር ኣባላትን ገድለው 2ቱን ኣቁስለዋል። በዚህ እርምጃ 19 ክላሽ ጠመንጃ፣ 4 ኤፍ.ዋን. ቦምብና 267 ጥይቶች ከጠላት ተማርከው በኦነግ ለሚመራው የነጻነት ትግል ውለዋል። ባለው ግንኙነትና ቅንጅት የቡሌ ሆራ እስር ቤትን ሲጠብቁ የነበሩ ፖሊሶች ትተው በመሄዳቸው እስረኞች ሙሉ በሙሉ እንዲወጡ ሆኗል።
2. በምስራቅ ኦሮሚያ ኣዴሌ ወታደራዊ ካምፕ ውስጥ በተካሄደ ሰፊ ውይይትና በተሰጠ ውሳኔ የወይኔ ጦር ከስርዓቱ ቁጥጥር ስር ወጥቶ የኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል ኣጋር ለመሆን በሙሉ ድምጽ ወስኗል። ኣሻ ደወሌ፣ ሺኒሌ፣ ምዕራብ ሐረርጌና ድሬደዋን ጨምሮ በበርካታ ቦታዎች በወያኔ መንግስት ባለስልጣናትና የስርዓቱ ታማኝ ጦር ላይ የደፈጣ ጥቃት ለመሰንዘርና እርምጃ ለመውሰድ ያለውን ቆራጥነት በግልጽ ኣሳይቷል።በምስራቅ ሸዋ ዞን ቢሾፍቱ ውስጥ በወያኔ ኣጋዚ ጦርና የኦሮሚያ ፖሊስ ውስጥ የነበሩ የኦሮሞ ልጆች ወደ ነጻነት ትግሉ ጎራ በመቀላቀል በወያኔ ጦር ላይ በሰነዘሩት ጥቃት 38 ወታደሮችን ገድለዋል። ወደ ነጻነት ትግሉ ከተቀላቀለው ሃይልም 3 ተሰውተዋል። ይህም በምስራቅ ሸዋ ዞን በሚገኘው የወያኔ ጦር መካከል ሰፊ እንቅስቃሴ እንዲካሄድ ኣድርጓል። በዚሁ ዞን ኣቃቂ ኣካባቢም የወታደራዊ ካምፕ የመሳሪያ ማከማቻ መጋዘን ላይ በተወሰደ እርምጃ 200 ጠመንጃ በመማረክ ድል ተመዝግቧል።በነጻነት ሃይሎ የሚወሰደው እርምጃ ወደ ምዕራብ ኣርሲ ዞንም በመሸጋገር በሻሸመኔ በሚገኘው የወያኔ የጦር ካምፕ ውስጥ የወያኔ ታማኞችና ኣዛዦችን በማጥቃት ከካምፑ እንዲወጡ ተደርገዋል። በምዕራብ ኣርሲ ሜጠማ ኣካባቢም የጦርና ፖሊስ ሃይል ውስጥ የነበሩ የኦሮሞ ልጆች ለወገናዊ ጥሪ ምላሽ መስጠታቸውን በመቀጠል 7 ፖሊሶች በእጃቸው ከሚገኝ ክላሽ ጠመንጃ ጋር ወደ ኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል ጎራ ተቀላቅለዋል። የኣካባቢው ህዝብ ጠላትን በማባረር የኦሮሞ ነጻነት ግንባር ባንዲራን ኣውለብልቦ የህዝብ ኣስተዳደር ኣቋቁሟል።

ጥቅምት 04 ቀን 2016ዓም

5. በምስራቅ ሸዋ ዞን ቦሰት ወረዳ ውስጥ በህዝቡና በወያኔ ጦር መካከል ከባድ ውጊያ ተካሂዷል። የኦሮሚያ ፖሊስ ውስጥ የነበሩ 90 የሚሆኑ የኦሮሞ ልጆች ወደ ኦሮሞ የነጻነት ትግል ጎራ በመቀላቀል ከህዝቡ ጎን ቆመዋል። እዚያው ምስራቅ ሸዋ ዞን ዶኒ ኣካባቢ ደግሞ በተወሰደ እርምጃ 200 ጠመንጃ ከህዝቡ እጅ ገብቷል። ከኦሮሚያ ፖሊስ ወደ ነጻነት ትግሉ የተቀላቀለው ሃይል ለኦሮሞ ወጣቶች ስልጠና መስጠትና የወያኔ ጦር ሃይልን በማጥቃት ትጥቅ ማስፈታቱ ታውቋል። ኣጋዚ በተወሰደበት እርምጃ ተባርሮ ኣካባቢው በህዝቡና ወደ ኦሮሞ የነጻነት ትግል በተቀላቀለው ሃይል ቁጥጥር ስር ገብቶ ጥበቃ እየተደረለት ይገኛል።በምስራቅ ሸዋ ዞን ወንጂ ከተማ የሚገኘው የወንጂ ስኳር ፋብሪካ ወደ ነጻነት ትግሉ በገባው ሃይል በተሰነዘረበት ጥቃት በመውደም የወያኔ መንግስት በሚሊዮኖች እንዲከስር ተደርጓል።

ጥቅምት 05 ቀን 2016ዓም

6. ጥቅምት 5 ቀን 2016ዓም የወያኔ ኣጋዚ ጦር በሻሸመኔ የሚገኘውን ወታደራዊ ካምፕ ለመቆጣጠር በዶዶላ ውስጥ በየመንገዱ በመሯሯጥ ያደረገው ጥረት ወደ ነጻነት ትግሉ ጎራ የተቀላቀሉ የዶዶላ ፖሊሶች ተጋፍጠው ያከሸፉት ሲሆን፡ ፖሊሶቹ 16 ክላሽ ጠመንጃም ለኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል ኣበርክተዋል።

ጥቅምት 06 ቀን 2016ዓም

7. የወያኔ መንግስት በጦር፣ ፖሊስ፣ ደህንነትና ኣጋዚን ጨምሮ ከታጠቁ ሃይሎቹ እየበረታበት የመጣውን ተቃውሞ ለማክሰም በማለም በምዕራብ ኣርሲ ዞን ቆሬ ወረዳ ውስጥ ውጊያ ቢከፍትም ኪሳራ ተከናንቧል። የኦሮሞ የነጻነት ትግል ሃይል የወያኔን ጦር በማጥቃት 18 ኣጋዚን ሲገድል 7ቱን ኣቁስሎ፣ 14 ክላሽና 6 መትረየስ በመማረክ የጠላትን የስምሪት እቅድ በማክሸፍ ድል ተጉናጽፏል።
8. ምስራቅ ሸዋ ዞን ሊበን ጩቃላ ውስጥ በተካሄደ ጠንካራ ውጊያ ደግሞ 32 የኣጋዚ ወታደሮች በኦሮሞ የነጻነት ታጋዮች ተገድለው 18ቱ ቁስለኛ ተደርገዋል። 12 የኣጋዚ ወታደሮች ደግሞ ወደ ኦሮሞ የነጻነት ትግል ተቀላቅለዋል። በዚህ ውጊያ 8 ክላሽ ጠመንጃዎች የተማሪኩ ሲሆን የወያኔ ወታደሮች ሲገለገሉባቸው የነበሩ 7 ተሽከርካሪዎች ወድመዋል። ከታጋዮች 4ቱ ተሰውተው 3 ቆስለዋል።
9. በሜታ ሮቢ ውስጥ በተካሄደ ከባድ ውጊያ 11 የኣጋዚ ጦር ኣባላት ሲገደሉ 11 ቆስለው 22 ክላሽ ተማርኳል። 7 የኣጋዚ ወታደሮች ከህዝቡ ጎን ለመሰለፍ በመወሰን ወደ ነጻነት ትግሉ ጎራ ተቀላቅለዋል።

ጥቅምት 07 ቀን 2016ዓም

10. የወያኔ መንግስት በኣዋሽ ካምፕ ውስጥ የሚገኘው ጦር ሃይሉ የቀሰቀሰበትን ተቃውሞ ለማክሰም ጥቅምት 7 ቀን 2016ዓም ተጨማሪ ሃይል ወደ ስፍራው በላከበት ወቅት ምስራቅ ሸዋ ዞን ፈንታሌ ወረዳ መተሃራ ከተማ ውስጥ የደፈጣ ጥቃት ተወስዶበት 32 የኣጋዚ ወታደሮች ተገድለው የስርዓቱ ወታደሮች ኣስክሬንም እዚያው እንዲያድር ተደርጓል። ፈንታሌ ወረዳ ውስጥ በህዝቡና ወደ ነጻነት ትግሉ ጎራ በተቀላቀለው ሃይል መካከል በተመሰረተው ቅንጅት ከጠላት ጋር ከባድ ውጊያ በማካሄድ በጠላት ላይ ከፍተኛ ኪሳራ ደርሷል።
11. በምስራቅ ኦሮሚያ ኣወዳይ ውስጥ በወያኔ ጦር ውስጥ የሚገኙ የኦሮሞ ብሄርተኞች ጠንካራ ተቃውሞ ኣሳይተዋል። በኣወዳይ ካምፕ የሚገኘው ጦር ሲወጣም በካምፑ ውስጥ የኦነግን ባንዲራ በመስቀል እንደተሰማራ ተገልጿል። ወደ ኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል የተቀላቀለው ሃይል የኦሮሞ ህዝብን ለሰቆቃ ሲዳርጉ በነበሩ የወያኔ ሹማምንትና ታማኞች ላይ እርምጃ ወስዷል።

ጥቅምት 08 ቀን 2016ዓም

12. በምስራቅ ሸዋ ዞን ቦሰት ወረዳ ውስጥ ጥቅምት 8 ቀን 2016ዓም የወያኔ ጦር ከስርዓቱ ኣገዛዝ ውጪ ተደርገው በህዝቡ ቁጥጥር ስር ያሉ ቀበሌዎችን መልሶ በእጁ ለማስገባት በከፈተው ውጊያ 7 የፌዴራል ታጣቂዎች ተገድለው 3ቱ በመቁሰል 9 ክላሽ ጠመንጃዎች ከተማረኩ በኋላ ኪሳራና ሃፍረት ተከናንቦ ወደኋላ ተመልሷል። ከታጋዮችም ኣንድ ሰው ተሰውቷል።
    በፈንታሌ ወረዳ ደግሞ ወደ ነጻነት ትግሉ የተቀላቀለው ሃይል ከህዝቡ ጋር በመሆን በተበጀው ቅንጅትና መመሪያ የወያኔን ጦር ዴቢቲ በሚባል ቦታ ቀድሞ በማጥቃት 38 ኣጋዚን ገድሎ 24ቱን በማቁሰል በጠላት ላይ ድል ተጎናጽፏል።
13. በደቡብ-ምዕራብ ሸዋ ዞን ወሊሶ ውስጥ በተሰነዘረ ጥቃት ደግሞ ከወያኔ ጦር 3 ኣዛዦች እና 5 የጦር ሃይሉ ኣባላት በወታደራዊ ካምፑ ውስጥ ተገድለዋል።

ጥቅምት 09 ቀን 2016ዓም

14. ለወያኔ መንግስት መሳሪያ ኣንግተው ስርዓቱን የሚያገለግሉ የኦሮሞ ዜጎች የያዙትን መሳሪያ ኣፈሙዝ ህዝባቸውን እየፈጀ ወዳለው ጠላት እንዲመልሱ ሲሰራ በነበረው ስራ ከጦር ሃይሉ ወደ ኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል ጎራ የተቀላቀሉት፡ በኣወዳይ ውስጥ ያነገቡትን መሳሪያ ወደ ጠላት በማዞር በወሰዱት እርምጃ ሻለቃ ኣጽበሃ ኣስገዶም የተባለውን ከፍተኛ የወያኔ መኮንንና 17 የኣጋዚ ወታደሮችን በመግደል ኣኩሪ ድልና ታሪክ ኣስመዝግበዋል። ከዚህም በተጨማሪ ከኣጋዚ ጦር ወደ ነጻነት ትግሉ ጎራ የገቡ ብሄርተኞች 7 ክላሽ ጠመንጃ ለህዝቡ በማበርከትም ያላቸውን ወገንተኝነት ኣሳይተዋል።በዚሁ ዕለት ለወረራ ተግባር ወደ ምስራቅ ኦሮሚያ ጭሮ፡ ሂርና የተሰማራው የወያኔ ጦር በተወሰደበት እርምጃ ተልዕኮው ከሽፏል፥ ኣዋሽ በጥበቃ ላይ ከሚገኘው የወያኔ ጦር መካከልም በ2ቱ ላይ ጥቃት ተሰንዝሯል።

ከጥቅምት 3 እስከ 9 ቀን 2016ዓም በተወሰዱት በነዚህ እርምጃዎችም ሻለቃ ኣጽበሃ ኣስገዶምን ጨምሮ 4 የወያኔ የጦር ኣዛዦችና 211 የስርዓቱ ታማኝ የኣጋዚ ወታደሮች ሲገድሉ፣ 62ቱ ደግሞ ቀስለዋል። ከዚህም ሌላ 493 ክላሽ ጠመንጃዎች፣ 6 መትረየስ፣ 4 ኤፍ.ዋን. ቦምብና 267 ጥይቶች ከጠላት ተማርከዋል፥ የወያኔ ወታደሮች ሲጠቀሙበት የነበሩ 7 ተሽከርካሪዎችም ጋይተዋል። በሌላ በኩል ደግሞ በወያኔ የኣጋዚ ጦር ሃይልና ፖሊሲ ውስጥ የነበሩ 116 የኦሮሞ ልጆች በኦነግ ወደሚመራው የኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል ጎራ በመቀላቀል ፍልሚያውን በማፋፋም ላይ ይገኛሉ።

ባጠቃላይ በወያኔ ጦር፣ ፖሊስ፣ ኣጋዚና ሚሊሻ ውስጥ ያሉና በተለያየ መልኩ በጠላት እንዲታጠቁ የተደረጉ የኦሮሞ ልጆች ሲፈጠር በነበረው ግንኙነትና ቅንጅት ወደ ኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል ጎራ በመቀላቀል በወያኔ መንግስት ላይ ኣኩሪ እርምጃ በመውሰድ ላይ ናቸው። ተመሳሳይ እርምጃዎች በምዕራብ ኦሮሚያ በኩልም እንዲሁ ቢኖሩም በመገናኛ ችግር ምክንያት ለጊዜው በስፋት ለመግለጽ ኣስቸጋሪ መሆኑንም ከዚሁ ጋር እናሳስባለን።

ጥሪ:

በሃገሪቷ የመከላከያ ክፍለ ጦሮች፣ የፌዴራል ፖሊስ፣ የኦሮምያ ፖሊስ፣ ኣጋዚ፣ ደህንነትና የቀበሌ ሚሊሻ በመሆን እንዲሁም በተለያየ መልኩ ታጥቃቸሁ ወያኔን በማገልገል ላይ ያላችሁ የኦሮሞ ዜጎች ወደ ኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል ጎራ በመቀላቀል ጠላት በህዝባችሁ ላይ እያደረሰ ያለውን ኣደጋ ለመከላከልና ለጭቆና ፍጻሜ ለማበጀት ለቀረበላችሁ ጥሪ እየሰጣችሁ ላላችሁት ምላሽ ኦነግ በኦሮሞ ህዝብ ስም ምስጋናውን ለመግለጽ ይወዳል። ምስጋናችሁም የኦሮሞ ህዝብ ነጻነትና የኦሮሚያ ሉዓላዊነት ነው!

በሌሎችም ኣካባቢዎች በሚገኙ ከላይ የተጠቀሱት የጦርና የደህንነት መዋቅር ውስጥ ያላችሁ ሁሉም በኦነግ ወደሚመራው የነጻነት ትግል የተቀላቀሉት ወንድሞቻችሁ የወሰዱትን ኣኩሪና ታሪካዊ ውሳኔ በመከተል የኦሮሞን ህዝብ በጅምላ እየፈጀ ያለውንና በኣስቸኳይ ጊዜ ኣዋጅ ስም ለበለጠ የዘር ፍጅት ላነጣጠረብን ኣምባገነን መንግስት ፍጻሜ ለማበጀት ከህዝባችሁ ጎን እንድትቆሙና ወደ ነጻነት ትግሉ ጎራ እንድትቀላቀሉ ወቅቱ የሚጠይቀውን ይህንን የመጨረሻ ጥሪ እናስተላልፍላችኋለን። የኦሮሞ ህዝብ ከያለበት ሁሉ በላቀ ኣንድነትና ቆራጥነት በመንቀሳቀስ ጠላት ያወጀብንን እልቂት ለመመከት እንዲሁም በኦሮሞ ልጆች መስዋዕትነት ከደጃፋችን ለደረሰው ነጻነት ፍጻሜ በማበጀት ለመጎናጸፍ እንድንንቀሳቀስ ጥሪ እናቀርባለን።

በመጨረሻም በሃገሪቷ የመከላከያ ክፍለ ጦሮች፣ የፌዴራል ፖሊስ፣ የኦሮምያ ፖሊስ፣ ኣጋዚ፣ ደህንነትና የቀበሌ ሚሊሻ በመሆን እንዲሁም በተለያየ መልኩ ታጥቃቸሁ ወያኔን በማገልገል ላይ ያላችሁ የሃገሪቷ ብሄር ብሄረሰብ ተወላጆች ሁሉ የኦሮሞ ህዝብ የነጻነት ትግል የሚያነጣጥረው የኦሮሞን ህዝብ ደም እያፈሰሰ ባለው የወያኔ/ሕወሃት መንግስት ላይ እንጂ በናንተ የተጨቋኝ ብሄር ልጆች ላይም ይሁን በማናቸውም ግለሰብ ኣልያም ቡድን ላይ ኣለመሆኑም ተገንዝባችሁ ከስርዓቱ ጋር ተሰልፋችሁ የኦሮሞን ህዝብ ደም ከማፍሰስ እንድትቆጠቡ። ይህን ባለማድረግ የኦሮሞን ህዝብ ደም ማፍሰሱን ለመቀጠል መወሰን በህግም ይሁን በታሪክ የሚያስጠይቅ ከመሆኑም ባሻገር ለሚወሰድባችሁ የቅጣት እርምጃ ተጠያቂው እራሳችሁ መሆናችሁን ኣጥብቀን እናሳስባለን።

በወያኔ መንግስት የዘር-ፍጅት ተግባር እየተፈጸመበት ላለው የኦሮሞ ህዝብና ባጠቃላይ የከፋ ጭቆና ስር ላሉ የሃገሪቷ ህዝቦች ያላችሁን ኣጋርነትና ወገንተኝነት በማሳየት ጸረ-ህዝብ የሆነውን የሕወሃት/ኢህኣዴግ ስርዓት በማስወገድ ፍትህ፣ ዲሞክራሲ፣ ነጻነትና ሰብዓዊ መብት በሃገሪቷ ውስጥ ላሉ ሁሉም ህዝቦች እውን እንዲሆን ድርሻችሁን እንድታበረክቱ ኦነግ በድጋሚ መልዕክቱን ያስተላልፋል።
ድል ለኦሮሞ ህዝብ!
የኦሮሞ ነጻነት ግንባር
ጥቅምት 12 ቀን 2016ዓም

Yaadannoo Irreecha 2016 – Billisoomnu Malee **New Oromo Music 2016**

Galaanaa fi Naahilii Uuu Uu Jettii Oromo Music 2016 New By Raya Studio

Oct 12, William Davison

(Bloomberg) –Ethiopia’s six-month state of emergency could be called off before that period is over, allowing the economy to recover quickly after months of violent protests and attacks on businesses, said Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

“I think it can quickly settle down and we don’t even need six months of the emergency period that’s been set,” Hailemariam said in an interview Tuesday in the capital, Addis Ababa. “We are pretty sure that we can regain it very quickly because Ethiopia has a solid ground, a solid foundation, it cannot be shaken by these kind of things.”

Ethiopia’s authorities declared a state of emergency Oct. 9 after a series of attacks on foreign-owned businesses by anti-government demonstrators. More than 700 people have been killed by security forces in the Oromia and Amhara regions since protests began in November, according to the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia. The demonstrations began with people from the Oromo ethnic group alleging unfair expropriation of farms, state repression and the economic and political marginalization of the community.

The Ethiopian government is using a proportionate amount of force to disperse protesters and will investigate claims that security agents are taking excessive measures, Hailemariam told reporters earlier during a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is in the Horn of Africa nation as part of a three-day tour of the continent.

Reform System

Germany is prepared to support Ethiopia on its “road toward democratization,” Merkel told reporters. “When you have a vibrant democracy, you need an opposition, you need a free media,” she said. “You have to see to it there’s a proper debate on the different views.”

The government, which alleges that Egyptian elements may be backing the protesters, will begin talks with protesters, opposition parties and civil society organizations during the state of emergency, Hailemariam said.

“That engagement will avoid whatever conspiracy they have outside,” he said during the interview. The government is also considering change to a first-past-the-post voting system, the premier said. “We want to reform the electoral system where the voices of those who are not represented can also be heard in the parliament,” he said during the press conference with Merkel.

Multi-Ethnic

Ethiopia’s multi-ethnic ruling coalition won all seats in parliamentary elections last year, while one opposition lawmaker was voted into the 547-member federal chamber in 2010. The U.S., the United Nations and rights groups including Amnesty International have criticized the government for violating constitutionally protected civil rights, such as criminalizing legitimate dissent and jailing opponents.

Opponents of the government argue that Ethiopia’s economic gains haven’t been matched by increased political freedoms since the ruling party cracked down on the opposition in 2005, after losses in that year’s elections.

Press release – Human rights − 12-10-2016 – 13:08

Deteriorating human rights situation in Ethiopia, killings of Oromos and the country-wide six-month state of emergency declared on Sunday 9 October by the Ethiopian government were amongst the main issues raised by Human Rights subcommittee and Development committee Members in a joint meeting on Wednesday morning.

MEPs expressed their concerns as regards the worsening human rights situation in Ethiopia during a debate with various experts and representatives from the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Commission, and the Ethiopian Embassy. They are worried by continuous public arrests, waves of violence and by the country-wide six-month state of emergency declared by the Ethiopian authorities on Sunday 9 October after months of anti-government protests.

MEPs were critical against the EU policy vis-à-vis Ethiopia arguing it is “falling a long way behind its own standards regarding human rights”. “Maintain the dialogue with Ethiopia” is the priority said representatives of the EEAS adding that the good governance and human rights dialogue will be the first to be activated.

In the first part of the meeting, in camera, MEPs followed up the European Parliament urgency resolution on Ethiopia (killings of Oromos) adopted in January this year.

You can watch the video recording of the (second part of the) meeting.

(NewsWeek) — Ethiopia’s prime minister has pledged to reform the country’s one-party electoral system after pressure from German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Merkel visited the Horn of Africa country on Tuesday at the conclusion of a three-legged Africa tour, which also included Mali and Niger. The visit came at a tense period in Ethiopia, where the government declared a six-month state of emergencyon Sunday following months of deadly protests by members of the country’s two largest ethnic groups.

The country’s parliament is completely dominated by a coalition headed by the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, which controls all 524 parliamentary seats along with a coalition partner.

“We want to reform the electoral system so the voices of those who are not represented can also be heard in parliament,” said Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn at a joint conference with Merkel, AFP reported. “Our democratization process is still nascent. It’s fledgling…We want to go further in opening up political space and engagement with civil society groups.”

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn (L) speaks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on October 11. Desalegn has pledged to give opposition groups a voice in Ethiopia’s one-party parliament.ZACHARIAS ABUBEKER/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Merkel had told Hailemariam that a “vibrant democracy needs opposition, it needs free media.” Internet access has reportedly been blocked across many parts of the country and Ethiopia’s press is severely restricted, with the country ranked 142 out of 180 in the 2016 Press Freedom Index of international NGO Reporters Without Borders.

The German chancellor also touched on anti-government protests that have rocked Ethiopia in recent months. Demonstrations began in November 2015 among members of the Oromo ethnic group, the country’s largest tribe, in relation to plans to expand the capital Addis Ababa and potentially evict Oromo farmers living on the fringes of the capital.

Protesters cross their wrists as a symbol for the Oromo anti-government movement in Ethiopia during the Oromo new year holiday Irreecha in Bishoftu on October 2. More than 50 people died in a stampede at the festival, which protesters blamed on police firing tear gas during the festival.ZACHARIAS ABUBEKER/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

The Ethiopian government abandoned the plans in January, but the protests have snowballed into opposition towards brutality by the security forces. Human Rights Watch said in June that security forces had killed more than 400 people during the protests, and there have been further incidents since then.

Amnesty International stated that almost 100 people died when Ethiopian security forces used live bullets on protesters in Bahir Dar, capital of the Amhara region and home to the country’s second-largest ethnic group. Earlier in October, more than 50 people died in a stampede at a religious festival in Oromia, which protesters blamed on heavy-handedness by security forces but which the government said was due to unspecified “violent forces.”

Merkel said that the Ethiopian government should hold “open talks” with protesters and offered Ethiopian police training from the German interior ministry on the use of appropriate force in dealing with demonstrations.

Hailemariam, who admitted on Tuesday that the death toll from the protests “could be more than 500,” promised the government would do “everything in its disposal” to investigate police brutality. But he added that the country had a right to “engage with extremist violent groups in a proportionate manner,” the BBC reported.

Following the declaration of a state of emergency, Ethiopia’s government accused foreign actors including groups in Egypt and Eritrea of backing the protests, claims denied by both countries.

(QZ) — A state of emergency has gone into effect in Ethiopia as the ruling party attempts to put down the biggest display of anti-government sentiment it has faced since taking power 25 years ago.

Roads in and out of the capital, Addis Ababa, have been blocked. Internet access is shaky and mobile data has been shut off, according to local activists. Under the decree, authorities will be able to search homes and detain suspects without prior authorization. Federal troops, who were only to enter regions like Oromia at the request of the local government, can now be deployed across the country.

The Oromia region is home to the country’s largest ethnic group. Protests that started in the region last year have since spread across the country and now include members of Ethiopia’s second largest ethnic group, the Amhara. The Oromo and the Amhara are protesting the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, dominated by a small ethnic group called the Tigray, for what they say have been decades of marginalization and violation of their rights and freedoms.

Curfews have not yet been issued, but a command post headed by the prime minister has been assembled to judge where and when they should be put in place “should the need arise,” Ethiopia’s attorney general Getachew Ambaye said on state-run television when the state of emergency was announced Oct. 9. Communicating, writing, and disseminating information that “could incite chaos” has also been banned.

“For the sake of maintaining public order the government believes that [the] temporary suspension of certain expression rights is warranted,” the country’s information minister Getachew Reda told the BBC.

That likely includes one of the anti-government movement’s most potent tools, the now famous protest gesture of raised arms, crossed at the wrist. It’s meant to symbolize being arrested by authorities.

“He did not specify the protest gesture in his words, but I am sure he is referring to the popular protest gesture. Plus, he said all kinds of communications might be banned,” Endalkachew Hilemiakel Chala, a doctoral student at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism, from Ethiopia, told Quartz.

Anti-government protests erupted in Ethiopia in November [Tiksa Negeri/Reuters]

Ethiopia’s heavy-handed response to the protests has incited more protests. A protest last weekend turned into a stampede when security fired tear gas onto the crowd. At least 55 people died from drowning in the nearby lake or were crushed to death. In the week that followed, protesters burned cars, and destroyed businesses and government properties.

Men walk past a bus that was torched during protests in the town of Sebeta, Oromia region, Ethiopia.

Men walk past a bus that was torched during protests in the town of Sebeta, Oromia region, Ethiopia, October 8, 2016. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri – RTSRD9J

Communications have been cut off periodically over the last few months in attempt to prevent protesters from mobilizing. Human Rights Watch estimates that 500 people have been killed in the violence since last November, a figure that the government says is exaggerated.

After declaring a state of emergency, government representatives blamed the chaos on outside forces and “organized gangs” whose intent is to dismantle the Ethiopian state entirely.

“There are countries which are directly involved in arming, financing and training these elements,” Reda told a news conference today (Oct 10), naming Egypt and Eritrea, which are both involved in border disputes with Ethiopia.

Statement of the Central Leadership of Oromian Youth Movement (a.k.a. Qeerroo Bilisummaa)

(Qeerroo.org) — It has now been a clear that the heroic sacrifices Qeerroo Bilisummaa Oromiyaa has been making since its formation in 2011 has resulted in shortening the date of the freedom of the Oromo people and independence of our homeland Oromia. The current declaration of “State of Emergency” is a clear evidence that the TPLF led regime is crumbling and is existing in a state of hopelessness. Due to the bitter struggle of Oromian youth led byQeerroo Bilisummaa, the minority Tigrean elite which has been boasting of its political superiority for a long time has started disintegrating and collapsing by the day. The heroism displayed by Qeerroo has been a nightmare to the TPLF leaders.

It is important to note that the declaration of the so called “State of Emergency” will only fuel our struggle. Qeerroo Bilisummaa would like to make it clear to all of our friends and enemies that the current desperate ‘declaration’ will never deter the struggle of Oromo people led by Qeerroo Bilisummaa. It will rather bolster our strength and fuel the struggle. Hereafter, any futile exercise made by the TPLF regime will only result in shortening the date of its demise. In its bitter struggle, Qeerroo Bilisummaa succeeded in stripping the mask of TPLF covered with lies and has shown its true color of dictatorship and racist nature to the entire world.  The current ‘declaration’ corroborates that the TPLF regime is shaky, that it is hated by the Oromo people and entire peoples of Ethiopia, that it doesn’t have the capacity to protect the peace and stability of the country, and that it does not have the trust and confidence of the people it supposedly govern. The date of the death of the TPLF regime is not far. 

It is close to a year since Qeerroo Bilisummaa Oromoo has made its main objectiveResistance to Culminate Subjugation (Fincila Xumura Gabrummaa). With determination, Qeerroo Bilisummaa has changed the political landscape of the entire country. Qeerroo has exposed that the TPLF regime is on a shaky and precarious foundation. It has revealed that our people are strong, that they are the political center of the country and that they are the main factor for the establishment of peace and security of the East African region.  Qeeroos movement has demonstrated to the world that any government that plans to marginalize the Oromo nation cannot any longer maintain peace and security in the country. Qeerroo is able to achieve a historical political victory for the Oromo people by awakening, organizing, and dispatching the young Oromo generation. By fighting the enemy which is armed to the teeth barehanded, Qeerroo has boosted the morale of our people to determine their destiny.

It is the responsibility of the peoples of the country and particularly of the Oromo people and activists to make the TPLF regime the last dictatorial regime in Ethiopia. Unless this group leading a regime which has targeted our people as the main enemy is removed from its foundation, we cannot obtain the freedom of our people and independence of our homeland. We have to get organized in all spheres for the realization of the right to self-determination of our country Oromia. We have to coordinate our human and economic resources and defend an enemy which has no remorse to do anything in its power to eradicate us from the face of the earth. The Oromo people in and out of the country should coordinate their activities and support the struggle with everything they can.

In our movement to achieve our rights, it is very important to be alert about the infiltration of the enemy in our movement. The enemy will do everything in its power to infiltrate the revolutionary camp by giving our own people small benefits and trying to divide and rule us. Oromo activists should not stand with the enemy being deceived by little benefits they may get. We cannot bargain the bloods of our brothers and sisters by having inappropriate relationship with the killers of our young generation. Especially,Qeerroo Bilisummaa would like to remind our activists in the diaspora that the TPLF regime will do anything to sabotage our struggle by assigning its surrogates. We strongly suggest that activists in the diaspora take extra care in dealing with such people.

It is well known that Oromo people are sacrificing the lives of their children in order to gain their freedom. However, it is being observed recently that some are attempting to take away the fruits of the struggle by signing agreements with the enemy through the back door. Qeerroo Bilisummaa would like to warn such people to take off their dirty hand from the fruits of the struggle of our nation for which the blood of our young generation has been spilled. Such kind of activity filled with sabotage is considered as an act of treason and individuals or groups involved in such activities will not be seen differently from the enemy. Qeerroo Bilisummaa would like to reiterate that any agreement that is signed or agreed upon with any entity by the name of Qeerroo without formal assignment from our organization will be null and void.

At this historical juncture the Oromo people are waging a bitter struggle to get their freedom by directly facing the enemy in Oromia and paying the ultimate sacrifice. The Oromo people at home, the owner and beneficiary of the struggle, are not waiting for their freedom to come to them from Atlanta,Oslo or Berlin. Qeerroo Bilisummaa would like to advise those who are attempting to gain popularity by twisting the popular struggle from the center of Oromia to the Diaspora, for them to refrain from such shameful and selfish behavior of seeking fame and prominence at the expense of the lives of our sons and daughters.

In conclusion, we call on the Oromo people to stand shoulder to shoulder, defend the fruits of the struggle, and contribute to the struggle with every capacity you have and pay the necessary sacrifice when necessary and move forward until we gain our independence. By avoiding unnecessary controversy and conflict in the revolutionary camp, developing the culture of listening to each other and supporting one another, we should work hand in hand for the success of the struggle. Our freedom depends on the totality of the contributions we all make for the struggle. The end of the existence the TPLF in Finfinne (Addis Ababa) is not far. Qeerroo Bilisummaa would like to affirm that it will intensify the struggle until our people gain their freedom.

Freedom to the Oromo people!

Qeerroo Bilisummaa Oromoo

October 11, 2016

Adama, Oromia

The following work is in Swedish and English (mix). Starring: Martin Schibbye, Editor Blank Spot Project; Chala Hailu Abate, poet; Nasreen Aljanabi Larsson, dancer, actor and media activist; Andrea Bodekull, Amnesty International and Eva-Maria Dahlin

The followings videos are not part of the above project, but to introduce you to the abuse of innocent people in Kality prison (attached by Ayyantuu Editor)

by Mark P. Fancher

“We are all Oromo.”

Ethiopia’s authoritarian regime, dominated by elites of the Tigrayan ethnic group, faces growing protest by the Oromo and Amhara people, who together make up the majority of the population. Even the U.S. admits that the regime is a serious violator of human rights, yet the U.S. is Ethiopia’s main military ally. Given the glaring contradictions, it is fair to ask: “Will U.S. troops be called into Ethiopia to do battle with civilian protesters?”

(Black Agenda Report) — The government of Ethiopia recently declared a state of emergency in response to a wave of massive protests by that country’s Oromo people. For decades the Oromo have been the targets of government oppression and political repression even though they represent more than a third of Ethiopia’s population. The frequency and intensity of Oromo resistance has increased in recent months, and it was highlighted by a cross-armed gesture made during the Olympics by Feyisa Lilesa, an Oromo who ran the marathon for Ethiopia. (Holding the arms above the head to form an “x” is a gesture of Oromo resistance.)

The most recent crisis follows accusations that Ethiopian security forces fired bullets and teargas into a crowd of an estimated two million Oromo gathered for a holy festival. The Ethiopian government says there were 55 deaths, but activists claim more than 500 people died in the resulting stampede. In addition, by at least one account the government’s recent confiscation of Oromo farmland for purposes of commercial development for foreign businesses sparked protests around the country.

Perhaps of even greater concern to the government is emerging solidarity between the Oromo and Ethiopia’s Amhara people. The current Ethiopian government, dominated by elites of the Tigray people, has encouraged hostility between the Oromo and the Amhara in order to preserve government hegemony. However, the government has reacted violently to the protests of both the Oromo and the Amhara, and the two groups have begun to make common cause. At rallies, Amhara activists have proclaimed: “I am not Oromo but I stand with my Oromo brothers.”  “We are all Oromo.”

“The government has reacted violently to the protests of both the Oromo and the Amhara, and the two groups have begun to make common cause.”

Lurking in the shadows of the upheaval is the United States of America. Ethiopia is among the top ten African recipients of U.S. military financing, notwithstanding complaints that the Ethiopian government has used this support to violate human rights. Even the U.S. State Department has complained about “restrictions on freedom of expression…restrictions on freedom of association, including through arrests; politically motivated trials, and harassment and intimidation of opposition members and journalists.” Nevertheless, in March the U.S. and Ethiopia signed a new security partnership agreement. While the U.S. apparently believes this relationship is necessary because of the supposed role Ethiopia can play in combating terrorism in the region, evolving U.S. military operations in the Horn of Africa make Ethiopia a place to watch carefully in coming months.

Of particular concern is the fact that “Task Force Hurricane,” a U.S. military unit that will work out of Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, was recently launched. This unit is designed to carry out the mission of the East African Response Force (EARF) which, because of the attack on the U.S. embassy in Libya, is focused heavily on protecting diplomatic personnel. An EARF company commander explained: “The EARF is a rifle infantry company that is on standby for a short notification to deploy rapidly in response to a crisis in a permissive environment.” One of the unit’s private first class soldiers was more plain-spoken. He said: “…if anything was to ever go down, we need to be prepared, we need to be ready to go. The purpose of the EARF is that we are supposed to be ready if we ever get called to go to an embassy or if anything ever goes down, we are ready to fight.”

“Ethiopia is among the top ten African recipients of U.S. military financing.”

What does all of this mean if at any time protesters are perceived to be threats to foreign embassies or U.S. citizens? Already the U.S. embassy has blamed the death of a post-doctoral biology researcher from the University of California-Davis on protesters who allegedly threw stones at her vehicle while she was in Ethiopia for a meeting. Protesters in Ethiopia have also been blamed for damaging a Turkish textile firm’s factory and a Turkish owned cable plant. When commenting on the state of emergency, Ethiopia’s prime minister said: “We want to put an end to the damage that is being carried out against infrastructure projects, health centers, administration and justice buildings.” Will U.S. troops be called into Ethiopia to do battle with civilian protesters?

At the time of the signing of the new security partnership agreement with the U.S., Ethiopian Defense Minister Siraj Fegessa said: “I look forward to continuing the close cooperation of our two defense forces. I have no doubts that we will turn that into a truly successful endeavor.” Speaking for the U.S., AFRICOM’s Commander David Rodriguez said: “Support between the Ethiopians and the U.S. will continue to be broad ranging, and will include equipment, training, advisory support, information sharing, and logistics support.” While visiting Ethiopia last year, President Obama called Ethiopia an “outstanding partner” in the fight against terrorists.

The protests against the Ethiopian government are likely to continue, and there is potential for revolution. The U.S. may ultimately face the hard choice of deciding whether its friendship with the Ethiopian government is worth sending U.S. troops into a country in turmoil to suppress civilians who fight for the most basic human rights.

Mark P. Fancher is an attorney who writes frequently about the U.S. military presence in Africa. He can be contacted at mfancher@comcast.net.

Ethiopia has declared a state of emergency following a year of deadly, anti-government protests. This is the first time since the ruling party came to power 25 years ago that a state of emergency has been put in place in Ethiopia.

Sometimes it’s hard to be #workingfordk ! Briefing by Ethiopian min. for communication Reda: No promises to allow mobile data social media

ከዚህ በታች ያለው መረጃ በውስጥ መስመር የመጣ ነው። በጣም ከሚታመን የፌዴራል ፖሊስ የተገኘ ስለሆነ መረጃውን ለማካፈል ወድጃለሁ። እነሆ፦

“ወዳጄ እንዴት ከርመሃል? እኛ እንደምታውቀው ሸገርን እያመስናት እንገኛለን። ከቻልክ ይህችን መልእክት ለህብረተሰቡ እንዲደርስ አድርግልኝ። በአዱገነት በድሬዳዋ በአዳማ በባህርዳር በጎንደር በሻሸመኔ በአሰላ በአምቦ በጅማና በሌሎች ከተሞች ድንገተኛ ፍተሻዎች እንዲደረጉ መመሪያ ወርዷል። ሸገር ከእሁድ ጀምሮ ፍተሻ እየተደረገ ነው። በእነዚህ ፍተሻዎች ላይ የተሰማሩት የእኛና የደህንነት ሰዎች አስፈላጊ የተባለ ማናቸውንም እርምጃ መውሰድ እንችላለን። እነዚህ ፍተሻዎች የሚደረጉት ጨለማን ተገን ተደርገው ነው። ለፍተሻ በተመረጡባቸው አካባቢዎች አስቀድሞ መብራት እንዲጠፋ ይደረጋል። ከላይ የወረደው መመሪያ ህገወጥ መሳሪያ እንድንፈትሽ ቢሆንም በፍተሻ ወቅት የተገኘ ገንዘብ በተለይ ዶላር ዩሮ ምናምን ሁሉ ላይ እርምጃ እየወሰደ ነው። ከእሁድ ማታ ጀምሮ በተደረገው ፍተሻ ብቻ ከተለያዩ ሰዎች በጣም ብዙ ገንዘብ የተወሰደ ቢሆንም እስካሁን ማንም ገቢ ያደረገ ሰው ግን የለም። አባሉ እርስ በርሱ ተከፋፍሏል። በተለይ ዶላር ቤት ውስጥ ይዘው የተገኙ ሰዎች ገንዘባቸውን መወረስ ብቻ ሳይሆን ለእስራትም እየተዳረጉ ናቸው። ወጣቶች ደግሞ ስልኮቻቸው ላይ በዋትሳፕና ቫይበር በኢሞ መልእክቶችን ተጻጽፈው ከተገኘ ትኩረት እንድናደርግ ተነግሮናል። መልእክቶቹ ምንም አይነት ቢሆኑ ችግር የለም። የፍቅርና የሰላምታ መልእክቶች ኮድ ሊሆኑ ይችላሉ ተብለናል። የውጭ ሀገር የስልክ ቁጥሮች በስልክ አድራሻ የመዘገቡ ካሉ ከጸረ ሰላም ሀይሎች ጋር ግንኙነት ያላቸው ሊሆኑ ስለሚችሉ ጥብቅ እርምጃ እንድንወስድ ተነግሮናል። ስለዚህ ሰዎች የወዳጅ ዘመዶቻቸው እንኳን ቢሆን በውጭ ሀገር የሚኖር ሰው ስልክ ቁጥር በስልክ አድራሻ እንዳይዙ ለሰው ቢነገር ጥሩ ነው። ወደሌላ ቦታ ግዳጅ ሳልሄድ አልቀርም። መሄዴ ቁርጥ ከሆነ ምልክት አደርግልሃለሁ ሰላም ሁን” Via Beekan Gulummaa Irranaa

#OromoRevolution Gamtaan Awurooppaa Itoophiyaa irratti tankaarfii cimaa fudhachuu qaba jedhu Miseensonni Paarlaamaa Awurooppaa

Marii guyyaa har’aa taasisaniin Miseensonni Paarlaamaa Awurooppaa Gamtaa Awurooppaa balaaleffatan; Imaammata Itoophiyaa irratti qabus hatattamaan akka sirreeffatu gaafatan.
Miseensonni Paarlaamaa kuni Gamataa Awurooppaa kan balaaleffataniif mootummaan Itoophiyaa yeroo dheeraadhaaf ajjeechaa geggeessaa turus hanga ammaatti Gamtaa Awurooppaa irraa tankaarfiin cimaan mootummaa Itoophiyaa irratti fudhatamuu dhabuu fi gamtichi Itoophiyaa keessatti mirga namoomaa kabajsiisuu dadhabuu isaatiif. Miseensonni Paarlaamaa kunniin mootummaa Woyyaanees sagalee cimaadhaan balaaleffataniiru.
Kanas cuqaasaa

ODUU DHANGALA’A
Hubachiisa / Akeekachiisa:
Onkololessa 12, 6, 410 ykn 12, 2016.
Faashistootni wayyaanee humna biyya Somaaliyaa irraa fi bakka biroo irraa waliitti qaban qindeesuun humna guddaa naannoo fincilli xumura gabrummaa itti jabaate hundatti humna ishii bobbaasuuf deemti.
Naannoo lixa shaggar fi Wallaggaa bahaa, bahaa, Kibbaa , kibba bahaa, baha Finfinnee fi Gidduu galaa Kaaba Shawaa dabalatee bobba’uuf karoora ishii yoo ta’eef xumuratee jirti.Yoo kan dandeesuu ta’ee Dargaggoo, qotee bulaa, daldaalttoota fi Warreen waraanaa fi pooliisa keessaa FXG keessaa qooda qaban jedhan bataluumatti ajjeesuu ykn waliitti qabannii bakka tohatan ( concentration camp ) waliitti qabuuf adeemu. Kana keessa Warreen Xalayaa enyumaa hin qabne addaati akka I laalannii fi garee hidhannoo falmuus humna qabaniin furuuf murteesu ishii oduun dhangala’saan isaan keessaa dhangalaase mirkaneesuu dandeerra. Kanaaf, Oromoon sanyii isa irratti karoorfatamee kana dura bu’uun of qopheesuu qaba.
Qophii illeen tuni bifa hedduu qabaachuu dandeesi. Isa uummata Oromoof dhiisana. Waan guddaan waliin yaadannuu tokko yoo jiraate garuu kaakkiilee fi abbaabileen keenya Lola GAADDUUN beekamoo akka turan seenaan Oromoo ni mirkanneessa. Kanaaf, humna faashistoota TPLF hanga funyaati hidhatee bara dheeraaf waan amma gochaa jiru kana akka isa dandeesiisu itti qophaawwe kana lola dhaabataattin dura dhaabane ittin falminaa ofiirraa dhiisuun gara lola GAADUU ti karoorfachuun murteessa ta’uu isaa waliif dhaamuun barbaachiisaa dha.
Saraara quunnamtii murtii gara bara dukkanaatti waan ofii fi nuus deebbiisteef quunnamtiin rakkiisaa ta’uu hubatannii akka waliif raabsitan yoo ta’ee dhaamsi kun lubbuu gootowwan Oromoo hedduu fi Oromoo kumaatamaan lakkaawwaman baraaruu danda’a.
Abadan faashistootni TPLF yertuu beneeyiin tuni Oromoo jilbifachiistee Impaayyeera ishii jalatti Oromoo hin bulchiitu. Abbaa miidhamuuf jiraatuus ni ilaala.
Eergamtoota ishii of keessaa qulqulleesuun hojii Yeroo hatattamaa ti. Oromoon afaan tokkoo fi qalbii tokkoon tokkummaan waliif birmatuu qaba malee hilliima faashistoota TPLF guguufuun miila wal jalaa dhawwuun faashistoota gargaara. Oromoo hancuufa liqimsaan jedha.
Waaqayyoon Oromoo Ebbisee. Haqa qabnnaa ni moona.
LOLA GAADUU, Lola GAADUU. Via Ibsaa Nagawoo

#OromoRevolution HUBACHIISA: Gabaasni godinaalee hundarraa dhufu akka garsiisutti Wayyaaneen marsaa kana abbootii qabeenyaa Oromoo dhabamsiisuu irratti fuulleffattee jirti. Akkuma beekamu qabeenyi Oromiyaa guddaa ta;us hacuccaa diinaatiin kan ka’e Oromoonni diinaggeen wayyaa ta’an qubaan lakkaayaman. Kunuu baay’ate jetteti jaruma hammasii kanaa dhabamsiisuu heddi. Kana ammoo caldhifnee laaluu hin qabnu. Tarkaaanfii walmadaalaa fudhachuun ofirraa dhoowwuu barbaachisa. Gabaasota dhufaa jiran walitti qindeessinee erga xiinxallinee booda tarsiimoo hordofamuu qabuufi tarkaanfii fudhatamuu maluun walitti deebina. Hammasittuu maqaafi magaalaa abbootii qabeenyaa hidhamaa jiranii ggara inbox nuun gahuu akka itti fuftan isin gaafanna. Via Baatii Bilisummaa

“Maaloo waan qabdanuun nuuf birmadhaa jetti qeerroon Gujii Aanaa Gooroo Doolaa
Magaalaa Jiddoolaa.

*****************
Meeshaa hin dhabne ilmoolee(rasaasa)tti nu hanqate jetti qeerroo. Dafaa waan dandeettanuun nu bira dhaabadhaa jechaa jiru .

#OromoRevolution The Agazi army today killed 11 people in Jawi village, Roobe district in East Arsi. Most of the victims are said to be women who tried to intervened using the traditional siinqee stick to prevent a clash between the soldiers and protesters. The soldiers sprayed bullet on them despite the women clearly showing them the stick and white sheet as sign of peace. Well I am not shocked since Irreechaa we know whats most sacred to us is scary to them. Via Jawar Mohammed

Zerihun Wadaajoo

#OromoRevolution

“Arsii Diida’aa Magaalaa Saddiiqa Lola Ummata Agaazi jiddutti tayeen Ummatarra namni 3 yoo du’u lama Rasaasan dhayamanii jiru. Kan ajjeefamee Usleeyman Sheekaa Manguddoo Umrii 80 yoo tayu lama maqaa isaanii Adda nuuf hin baane. Kan rasaasan dhayame 1. Umar Junuu 2.Birquu Gannuuti. ammas Lola hamatu deema jira. Ummanni Akka dirmatuuf.” Via Oromoo Protest

አሳዛኝ ዜና

ሙሉቀን ተስፋው

50 የሚሆኑ ዐማሮች በአፋር ክልል ፖሊስ ተገደሉ፤

Press Statement

(US Department of State) — The United States takes note of the Government of Ethiopia’s October 8 declaration of a State of Emergency in response to recent protests and violence in the Oromia and Amhara regions.  We are troubled by the potential impact of the decision to authorize detention without a warrant and to further limit freedom of expression, including by blocking Internet access, prohibiting public gatherings, and imposing curfews.  This declaration, if implemented in these ways, would further enshrine the type of response that has failed to ameliorate the recent political crisis.

Political pluralism and respect for fundamental freedoms are essential to addressing the legitimate grievances of protesters and other Ethiopians.  We reiterate our longstanding call for the Government of Ethiopia to respect its citizens’ constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms of expression and association, and to release those detained for peacefully exercising those rights.  Arresting and silencing independent and critical voices is self-defeating and will lead to greater polarization, and makes it harder to find a solution acceptable to all Ethiopians.

We strongly encourage everyone to refrain from committing further acts of violence in Ethiopia.  Peaceful dialogue is the path to resolution of Ethiopia’s need for reform.  Too many innocent lives have already been lost and too much destruction has already taken place.

We welcome President Mulatu’s October 10 address to Parliament committing the government to addressing some of these grievances – such as land rights, electoral reform, and recognition of the special interest of the Oromia region in the city of Addis Ababa.  We encourage the government to act on these commitments decisively and quickly, and urge it to undertake further comprehensive reforms with the goal of opening political space and ensuring respect for fundamental freedoms and the democratic rights enshrined in the Constitution of Ethiopia.  We also note the Prime Minister’s commitment that the state of emergency will not breach human rights protected by the Ethiopian constitution.