August 15, 2016
For Immediate Release
Oromo Communities in Diaspora Condemn the killings in Ethiopia
We, the leaders of the Oromo communities in Diaspora, strongly condemn the continued brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in Ethiopia. Since November 12, 2015, the Ethiopian government has killed over 600 peaceful Oromos who were protesting against political repression, eviction from land, arrests, torture and death of their relatives. Lately, this violence has spread to the Amhara region as well where scores of protesters were also killed. The government of Ethiopia has escalated its violence on peaceful protesters to a new level. In a single weekend on August 6 and 7, 2016, government security agents and its notorious Agazi, Tigryan ethnic militia, have reportedly killed over 150 protesters. Such killings, mass arrests and tortures are still taking place throughout Oromia and other parts of the country.
The Oromo communities in Diaspora are extremely concerned by the government’s senseless actions. Oromo communities in Diaspora are puzzled and frustrated by the silence of democratic nations and their generous financial and military aid to a repressive regime in Ethiopia. While suppressing dissent and killing citizens, the Ethiopian government is receiving generous assistance from the Unites States government and European Union and its member countries. International financial and philanthropic agencies such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) continue to support this repressive regime.
Ethiopia is at crossroads. Hundreds of people have died already; thousands are languishing in jail for crimes they did not commit; and still thousands are evicted from their lands, internally displaced or exiled. Unless the international community pays a serious attention and helps the innocent victims in Ethiopia, we warn that, unimaginable human tragedy and dangerous regional crises will occur. We urge immediate action to avert the situation.
For ten days, starting on August, 16, 2016, Oromo communities in Diaspora will protest against the brutal crackdown in Ethiopia and stand in solidarity with their relatives in Oromia. In their protests they will highlight the atrocities of the Ethiopian government and appeal to democratic governments, international agencies, and tax payers to stop the carnage immediately. They particularly appeal to the European Parliament and governments of member countries, to the United States government — to the White House, the State Department and Congress — to stop funding a brutal regime. Oromo communities also appeal to the United Nations and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in particular, to investigate the atrocities in Oromia and in Ethiopia in general, and bring the criminal actors to justice immediately.
United we stand, divided we fall!!!
Oromo Communities Association of North America (OCA-NA)
Oromo Communities in Europe
Oromo Communities in Australia
Oromo Communities in Canada