Police brutality in Addis Abbaba,How Oromo’s are Mistreated

90 deaths in Oromia and Amhara regions must be investigated by international observers, UN human rights chief says.

Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration over what they say is unfair distribution of wealth in the country at Meskel Square in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, on August 6, 2016. (REUTERS/TIKSA NEGERI)

(Aljazeera) — The UN human rights chief has urged Ethiopia to allow international observers to investigate the killings of 90 protesters in restive regions at the weekend.

Zeid Raad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Wednesday that allegations of excessive use of force across the Oromia and Amhara regions must be probed and that his office was in discussions with Ethiopian authorities.

“The use of live ammunition against protesters in Oromia and Amhara, the towns there of course would be a very serious concern for us,” Zeid told the Reuters news agency in an interview in Geneva.

He also said that his office had “not seen any genuine attempt at investigation and accountability” since January when the killings of protesters first began.

READ MORE: The ‘Ethiopia rising’ narrative and the Oromo protests

Unrest continued in Oromia for several months until early this year over plans to allocate farmland surrounding the regional capital for development.

Authorities in the Horn of Africa state scrapped the scheme in January, but protests flared again over the continued detention of opposition demonstrators.

At the weekend, protesters chanted anti-government slogans and waved dissident flags.

Some demanded the release of jailed opposition politicians. Information on the reported killings has been difficult to obtain, Zeid said.

Zeid said that any detainee, who had been peacefully protesting, should be released promptly.

The state-run Ethiopian News Agency said on Monday that “illegal protests” by “anti-peace forces” had been brought under control. It did not mention casualties.

Ethiopia must allow in observers after killings: U.N. rights boss

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein gestures during an interview with Reuters in Geneva, Switzerland, August 10, 2016. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy

(Reuters) — The U.N. human rights chief urged Ethiopia on Wednesday to allow international observers into restive regions where residents and opposition officials say 90 protesters were shot dead by security forces at the weekend.

In his first comments on the incident, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that allegations of excessive use of force across the Oromiya and Amhara regions must be investigated and that his office was in discussions with Ethiopian authorities.

Since January, when he said the killings of protesters first began, his office had “not seen seen any genuine attempt at investigation and accountability”.

“The use of live ammunition against protesters in Oromiya and Amhara, the towns there of course would be a very serious concern for us,” Zeid told Reuters in an interview in Geneva.

Unrest flared in Oromiya for several months until early this year over plans to allocate farmland surrounding the regional capital for development. Authorities in the Horn of Africa state scrapped the scheme in January, but protests flared again over the continued detention of opposition demonstrators.

At the weekend, protesters chanted anti-government slogans and waved dissident flags. Some demanded the release of jailed opposition politicians. Information on the reported killings has been difficult to obtain, Zeid said.

“So I do urge the government to allow access for international observers into the Amhara and Oromiya regions so that we can establish what has happened and that the security forces, if it is the case that they have been using excessive force, that they do not do so and promptly investigate of course these allegations.”

Zeid said that any detainee who had been peacefully protesting should be released promptly.

The state-run Ethiopian News Agency said on Monday that “illegal protests” by “anti-peace forces” had been brought under control. It did not mention casualties.

As in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which Zeid visited last month, it is vital that security forces employ non-lethal means during peaceful protests, he said.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; editing by Mark Heinrich)

NPR: August 10, 2016

NPR: August 9, 2016

Protesters chant slogans at a demonstration in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on Aug. 6. Demonstrations took place last weekend across the country, and Amnesty International says dozens of peaceful protesters were shot dead. Tiksa Negeri/Reuters

This video showed thousands of people in the streets of the northern Ethiopian town of Gondar. The size of the crowd was significant in a country where civil protests are usually banned.

Even more significant? The location o f this anti-government protest.

For the last nine months, protests have erupted further south, in Oromiya, home to Ethiopia’s largest but historically marginalized ethnic group, the Oromo. But now the protests have spread north to a second region, the Amhara.

The different protesters have different grievances, but they share a growing frustration with the rule of a third, minority ethnic group — the Tigrayans. They say the Tigrayan elite has a cartel-like grip on the government, military and the fast-growing economy.

The response by the Ethiopian military to the protesters was swift and brutal. Amnesty International says that nearly 100 people were killed over the weekend when soldiers fired directly on demonstrators.

The U.N. human rights chief has “urge[d] the government to allow access for international observers” to investigate what happened.

Even after those weekend confrontations, witness reports were still filtering back to Addis Ababa, the capital. “We’re hearing who’s been wounded, who’s in hospital, who’s been killed, not to mention those who’ve disappeared without a trace,” said Tsedale Lemma, editor in chief of Addis Standard, one of the few Ethiopian magazines that risks open critiques of the government.

She described an Orwellian spectacle on state-run television, with “ferocious PR work” to discredit the protests. “People are being paraded in the TV, being made to denounce the protests. People denouncing even the use of Facebook.”

For years, Ethiopia’s government has warned against a social media-fueled uprising like the one that happened just north, in Egypt, in 2011.

If you watch Ethiopia’s state TV broadcasts, what you’ll be told is that the country’s protests are fueled by ethnic separatists — or even ethnic terrorists.

Tsedale disputes this explanation, saying the protesters’ beef is with the government, not with any particular ethnic group. “I don’t see that people are deliberately orchestrating ethnic violence in the country,” she says. “Of course, the government is eager to identify it as such.”

In Ethiopia, politics is ethnicity, and ethnicity is geography. The country is formally divided into autonomous ethnic states, each with its own ethnic government. It’s a controversial system called “ethnic federalism” that was instituted by the current regime. Political parties are organized along ethnic lines. Thus any critique of the central government will automatically take on ethnic dimensions.

The protesters impugn the Tigrayan elite — the government officials and army generals — who, they say, have a choke-hold on the country. The government accuses the protesters of fomenting ethnic war on all Tigrayans, rich and poor. And in the fragile ethnic balance that is Ethiopia, the battle to claim the narrative is just as important as the battle in the streets.

Protesters demonstrate over what they say is unfair distribution of wealth in Ethi­o­pia at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa on Aug. 6. (Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)

By Editorial Board

(The Washington Post) — OVER THE weekend, Ethiopia reminded the world of how it treats those who dare demonstrate against the government. At least 90 protesters were shot and killed by Ethiopian security forces in the regions of Oromia and Amhara. As demonstrations unusually reached into the capital of Addis Ababa, the regime censored social media posts and blocked Internet access.

This fresh outburst of repression follows months of unrest in the Oromia region over government plans to expand the Addis Ababa capital territory into the lands of the Oromo, the country’s largest ethnic group. According to Human Rights Watch, Ethiopian security officers have killed more than 400 people in clashes over the Oromia land dispute since protests broke out in November. Tens of thousands more have been detained. The clashes represent the worst ethnic violence that Ethiopia has seen in years. That the unrest is spreading to regions beyond Oromia underscores the depth of anger against the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front party.

The weekend’s bloodshed should prompt the West to reconsider its aid to the regime. Ethiopia has been hailed as a model of economic development and touts its progress on global anti-poverty indicators as proof that its “developmental democratic” style is working. But the repeated use of force to silence dissent threatens development by sowing seeds of future unrest.

The United States has long relied on Ethiopia as a partner in the fight against al-Shabab’s terrorism in Somalia and sends the country tens of millions of dollars in development assistance, tiptoeing around Ethiopia’s human rights abuses and resistance to democratic reforms. On Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa remarked that it was “deeply concerned” and expressed its “deep condolences to those who suffered as a result” but stopped short of explicitly urging the Ethiopian government to refrain from using excessive force against its citizens. The Obama administration should encourage a credible investigation into the killings and publicly make clear that Ethiopia’s continued crackdowns are unacceptable.

Europe is on the verge of helping to provide Ethiopia with even more aid. Ethiopia is one of the key countries to which the European Union is offering “cash for cooperation,” meaning aid and trade incentives in exchange for helping to keep refugees and migrants from reaching Europe. Now Ethiopia is providing a litmus test of the stated E.U. commitment to human rights. If Ethiopia continues its pattern of abusing its citizens and stifling dissent, and if it fails to credibly investigate the recent killings, the European Union should make clear to the regime that it risks being dropped from the migrant agreements.

Ethio­pian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said in response to criticism of the regime’s human rights record that “building democratic culture will take some time. But we are on the right track. It’s improving.” That’s hard to square with the continued killing and jailing of protesters.

Ethiopia video shows security forces beating protesters

The government’s plan to improve football infrastructure is getting locals offside

(The Economist) — BROKEN windows; fraying nets; chairs with missing legs: the Yidnekachew Tessema Stadium in Addis Ababa has seen better days. Rehabilitated by Emperor Haile Selassie after his return from exile in 1941, it was once a proud monument to Ethiopia’s restored independence following five years of Italian occupation. In 1962 it hosted the African Cup of Nations (Afcon); the national football team—known as the ‘Walias’—won. But the Walias, like their stadium, have struggled since. In 2012 they ended a 31-year stretch in the wilderness by qualifying for Afcon; in 2013 they duly crashed out in the first round.

Enough is enough, says the government. Ethiopians are proud of their sporting heritage: the country’s long-distance runners are among the best in the world. “We were the founders of African football,” says Juneydi Basha, the president of the Ethiopian Football Federation. Addis Ababa hosts the African Union; the government wants it to host Afcon, too.

In every major town, new football stands are going up. The federal government, which is paying, says eight “world-class” stadiums—each with a capacity of at least 30,000—are being built. Six smaller ones are also under way in the capital. The flagship is a 60,000-seater (as big as Arsenal’s Emirates stadium in London) in the centre of Addis Ababa, being built by the Chinese State Construction and Engineering Corporation at a projected cost of at least $110m.

Ordinary Ethiopians scent folly. The ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), has a solid reputation for managing the country’s infrastructure, but the stadium programme has people talking. The claim that it is simply responding to popular demand seems doubtful. “It makes no sense,” says Leoul Tadesse, a local sports journalist. “Building stadiums won’t solve our problems.” Football enthusiasts cramming into bars underneath the old stadium to watch European football matches point out that state-of-the-art infrastructure is no substitute for skills. Just look at England, which has a rich, fabled league but a poor national team.

Is the EPRDF, which has governed Ethiopia since winning power in 1991 after a decade of armed struggle, scoring an own goal? The country’s revered former prime minister of 17 years, Meles Zenawi, would probably not have let the programme kick off. The stern veteran of the EPRDF’s bush war, who died in 2012, is said to have remarked once that Ethiopia needs fertilisers, not stadiums. With the country only just starting to recover from drought, and this week wracked by widespread anti-government protests, in some of which the government is accused of having fired into crowds, his words sound prescient.

FILE – Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, Aug. 6, 2016.

By Salem Solomon

The deadly protests that rocked Ethiopia in the past week stem from a diverse host of regional grievances but they reflect a shared sense of marginalization that may be bringing two of the country’s largest ethnic groups together, analysts say, warning that there could be more unrest on the horizon.

Nearly 100 people were killed as security forces crushed the demonstrations over the weekend, according to opposition political parties and Amnesty International. Security forces opened fire on protesters, activists say.

The Ethiopian government blames the opposition in and outside the country for organizing what it calls “unauthorized protests by anti-peace forces.” According to a statement by the government communications office, some protesters were carrying lethal weapons, including explosives. Opposition leaders deny the allegations, stating that the protesters were peaceful and unarmed.

The dispute in central Ethiopia dates back to November 2015. Demonstrators opposed a government plan to expand the municipal boundaries of the capital, Addis Ababa, into the Oromia Region. Farmers in the region were particularly upset, worrying that it could mean an end to their livelihood. The protests claimed the lives of more than 400 people, according to Human Rights Watch. Video showed security forces beating unarmed protesters and using live ammunition.

The government put the capital expansion on hold, and protests quieted down — but the grievance did not go away.

FILE – Protesters are seen gathered in Gonder, in the Amhara region.

In early July, another wave of protests began, this time farther north in the city of Gonder, in the Amhara region.

The main complaint by people in Amhara is that they want three districts — Welkait, Telemt and Tsegede — to be reintegrated into the Amhara Regional State. Currently, the three districts are under the Tigray Regional State. The people living in those zones identify as ethnic Amhara and want to be part of the Amhara Region administration, protesters say.

Decades-old dispute in Gonder

Last month in Gonder, members of a group known as the Welkait committee were arrested. Residents took to the streets demanding their release, resulting in clashes with police and destruction of property.

The Welkait committee is demanding the reversal of the 1991 decision to place Welkait, Telemt and Tsegede in the Tigray Region, said committee leader Colonel Demeke Zewdu, in an interview with VOA Tigrigna Service prior to his arrest.

“The people have been opposing this in different forms until now,” he said. “Under the Tigray Region administration, the people didn’t gain any benefits. Land has been taken away from them and they don’t have socio-economic advantages. The society feels like it is regarded as second-class citizens.”

Since the 15th century, the region known as Begemeder, which includes modern-day Gonder, had been autonomous and separate from the Tigray Region, said Alemante Gebre-Selassie, professor of law emeritus at the College of William & Mary in the U.S. state of Virginia.

FILE – A protest is held in the Tigray Region, April 25, 2016.

Gebre-Selassie believes the move was an effort by Ethiopia’s post-1991 leaders, who were from the minority Tigrayan ethnic group, to expand their homeland, an accusation echoed by protesters.

“The whole purpose of annexing this region into Tigray was for their economic benefit. In other words, these lands are fertile,” he said. “They wanted these fertile lands to be incorporated into Tigray. They brought thousands of people from Tigray and settled them without any consultation of people. … The people of Welkait were displaced as a result of this settlement.”

Oromia, Amhara solidarity

Decades of rivalry between the Oromo and Amhara may be giving way to solidarity, said Awol Allo, a fellow in human rights at the London School of Economics.

At rallies in the city of Bahir Dar, protesters were seen carrying signs that read “Stop Killing Oromo People” and “Free Bekele Gerba.” Gerba is the deputy chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress, an opposition party whose leaders are currently in prison.

Youth are key to this movement, Allo said. “[This is] a generation that would say it doesn’t matter what force is used, I am determined to make my demands and to make my voice heard.”

Ethiopia’s Constitution states that regional borders can be redrawn.

“The constitution gives the basic rights of people for self-administration and where they can identify themselves as a home,” said Soleyana S. Gebremichael, an Ethiopian lawyer and human rights advocate. “So the question of Welkait is directly related with that. People identify themselves as Amharas and they consider themselves as Amharas. They wanted to be administered by the region with their own language and promote their culture accordingly.”

Government response

The government has defended its use of the military and police force and restricted access to the internet, in particular social media.

“People have already learned how to go around that using proxies, using VPN. So the initial batch of videos came in using proxies and VPN. It seems to me that when authorities noticed that the information is still getting out, that’s when they moved to shut down the entire internet,” said Mohammed Ademo, a journalist with Al Jazeera and the editor of Opride.com, a news website that focuses on Oromo issues.

Organizers continue to work the old-fashioned way, by word of mouth, said Gebremichael.

“The organizing had been done at the grass-roots level, so with or without the internet,” she said. “People already had the urgency of going out to protest and then presenting their question and petitioning the government. That’s what we saw in the past weekend because the internet was down for 48 hours and the protests happened anyway.

Salem Solomon is a journalist and web producer at Voice of America’s Horn of Africa Service, where she reports in English, Amharic and Tigrigna. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Poynter.org, Reuters and The Tampa Bay Times. Salem researches trends in analytics and digital journalism, and her data-driven work has been featured in VOA’s special projects collection.

Grand ‪#‎OromoProtests‬ Ijoolleen Oromoo sambata duraa (Sabtii) dabree Finfinnee keessatti hiriira nagayaa bahanii Alaabaa Oromoo waggoota 25niin booda handhura Finfinneetirratti mirmirsan hundi gocha seenaa qabeessa ta’e dalagan. Gocha ilmaan Oromoo cufaan kabajamu godhan. Ijoolleen kunniin hedduun isaanii hidhamanii hanga ammaatitti hidhaa akka jiran ni beekama. Dararama hamaa keessas akka jiranis ni yaadama. Mee keessattuu ijoollee Alaabaa qabatanii bahan kanniin asirratti mul’atan kun haala isaani akka hordofnee (jala buunee) addunyaafii ummata keenyattis iyyannu warri isaan beektan nu gargaaraa. Maqaaf eenyummaa isaanii akkasumas amma eessatti akka hidhamanii jiran odeeffannoo qabdan sarara keessaatiin nuuf dabarsaa. Galatoomaa!
_
The protesters seen on these pics did great history by coming out while bravely waving the Oromo resistance flag, which the international media called a “dissident flag”, in Oromia’s heart land of Finfinne-a settler mega city very much hostile still to the Oromo people in the face of TPLF police brutality. We know that many of these peaceful protesters are detained and being tortured by the TPLF security agents as we speak. But what ever the conditions they could be in currently, we would like to probe up their conditions further to let the international community & Oromo people know. And hence, please send us what you know about these brave souls, esp those who are shown waving the flag in these pictures. Thank you. Via Hassan Ismail

የመለስ ዜናዊ ራዕይ የኦሮሞ ተቋውሞ አስመልክቶ

For those who can listen to Swedish language

Warra afaan Arabaa dhagahaniif

‪#‎OromoProtests‬– Wayyaaneen yaadaa fi qalbii ummata keenya jijjiiruuf shira qopheessaa jirti. Waayee nageenyaa osoo yaaddoo irra jirruu, Biiroon Aadaa fi Turizimii Oromiyaa kabaja ayyaana irreechaa bara 2016 irratti ibsa kennaa oole harra. Achirratti waan akka akeekkachiisaa dubbataa turan.

Innis ummanni faayaa, huccuu, t-shirt, barreeffamoota, sirbootaafi faaruulee dhaaba siyaasaa kamiyyuu (paartii biyya bulchaa jiru dabalatee) uffachuu, qabachuu fi sirbuun dhorkaadha.
Yoo kana ta’e mootummaan tarkaanfii fudhachuuf dirqama jedha.
Inni biraa:godinooti ittigaafatamummaa fudhachuun ummanni naannawa isaanii wayyaa, faayaa fi dha’annaa rifeensaa godina isaanii uffatanii akka dhufan gochuun godina godinaan addaan qoodamanii gara Harsadeetti deemuu qabu malee hundu akka arge uffatee, tokkummaan hiriira guddaadhaan deemuu hinqabu jedha. Kunimmoo humnoonni isaanii ummata gidduu haala salphaan akka seenaniifi ummata immoo haala salphaan adda baasuuf akka danda’an tooftaa ka’atanidha.

What does the deadly response to the Oromo and Amhara demonstrations mean for the country’s future?

Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration over what they say is unfair distribution of wealth in the country at Meskel Square in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, on August 6, 2016. (REUTERS/TIKSA NEGERI)

(Aljazeera)– Dozens are dead and many more injured in Ethiopia after security forces opened fire on anti-government protesters last weekend. In the latest round of protests, thousands took to the streets across Ethiopia’s Oromia and Amhara regions to fight against what they say is the marginalisation of the two largest ethnic groups in the country, the Oromo and Amhara.

The Oromo protests first began in November 2015 after the Ethiopian government introduced the “Addis Ababa Integrated Development Master Plan.” Officials say it was an economic and infrastructure initiative, but activists argue it would have displaced many Oromos living in towns and villages close to the capital city. Over the course of the next several months at least 400 people were killed and thousands arrested for their involvement in anti-government demonstrations, according to Human Rights Watch. The government eventually cancelled the Master Plan, but the movement continues. And last month, the country’s second largest ethnic group, the Amhara, joined the protests in solidarity with the Oromos. They are calling on the government to address similar political and economic grievances that they have.

Tension between the Ethiopian government and the Oromos and the Amhara has been growing. In the run up to this weekend’s demonstrations Prime Minister Haile Mariam Dessalegn announced a ban on the protests saying they “threaten national unity”. But critics say the government’s moves are intended to control dissent. Dessalegn says his government will continue to make efforts to address the concerns of the protesters.

Join us as we discuss the latest developments.

What do you think? Record a 30-second video comment.

File – View from the back: A Kereyu Oromo shows off his elaborate dayta hairstyle, which is created using a long stick to make the curls that are held in place using butter.

On the last Saturday 08/06/2016 the Kereyu Oromo youth stood behind the Oromo movement in every parts of the region. And they were with their slogans (Free Oromo prisoners, we need Free Oromia, Stop killing of innocent Oromo children etc).In response the forces of TPLF (Police, Agazi and National defense forces) jointly dispersed the demonstration and arrest more than 30 youths. Accordingly,

1. Roba Said Utale
2. Jilo Roba Bulga
3. Umar Dadi Elemo
4. Hussein Bulga Tuke
5. Efa Gudeta Bariyo
6. Mohammed Bashare Hawas
7. Ali Asebot Abdi
8. Fentale Kumbi Jilo
9. Hussein Rare
10. Gada Fentale Bulga
11. Said Mohammed Tuto were those youths who are still in prison with their fellow Oromo nationalists and accused by TPLF agents as the opponent of the government by siding with the terrorist forces. But these youths are innocent Oromo Children who demand their human and democratic rights which were/are denied by the TPLF oppressive rule.

N.B Said Aliyi and Hussein were tortured and under treatment in Adama Hospital

Lists of TPLF agents who were reporting these youths to the TPLF forces:

1. Hawas Nure
2. Fentale Haldago
3. Boru Jilo
4. Kedir Roba Chirisa

The hero Kereyu Oromo request this personalities to stand with their fathers and brothers who are dying for the freedom of Oromo people unless they will be brought before justice when TPLF back to their former place.

By Dr. B.K.DERESSA

Adjusted Copy to:

• Secretary-general united nations Mr. Ban ki moon
• Secretary of state John F. Kerry
• President of the European Commission Mr.  Jean Claude Juncker

In medical terminology Cancer, also called malignancy, is an abnormal growth of cells. There are multiple types of cancer, including breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma. Symptoms vary depending on the type. Cancer treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery and also the most common causes of death worldwide.

Today, I am not going to discuss about the cancer that originate from the abnormal growth of cells but I would like to discuss about the leading cause of death worldwide the man made cancer . That is absence of freedom, democracy and peace.

According to the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START project), based at the University of Maryland: “For evidence that authoritarian states create an enabling environment for terrorism, one has only to look at the location and origins of the major terrorist groups active today. The Islamic State, for example, metastasized amid the Syrian dictatorship’s war with opposition rebels and the sectarian divisions sown by increasingly authoritarian Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki. An affiliate of the group has emerged in Egypt, where coup leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is cracking down on all forms of dissent. And Boko Haram has radicalized and expanded its reach amid extrajudicial killings and other ineffective tactics by the corruption-plagued Nigerian security forces. Given this reality, the most effective way for democracies to combat terrorism at home over the long term is to foster democratic governance abroad.”

If the reality is promoting peace democracy and freedom in order to fight the burning global issues like terrorism why the USA, Europe and UN support the barbaric Ethiopia TPLF government and minority rule with full act of state terrorism ????

Concomitantly with my question I would like to congratulate the powerful western nations, world leaders and international institutions by announcing the remedies to cure world cancer. The remedies called Oromumma. The name of the therapy originate from the root of the truth called Oromo nations.

Most minor problems can be handled easily under democratic rule However, when the problems get worse rule of law overcome all the complex issues under democratic law. But under dictatorial rule (rule of gun) minor problems leads to torture, unlawful imprisonment and death. When the problems getting worse under rule of gun (like TPLF government) leads to genocide (currently ongoing open and silent genocide against Oromo nations by TPLF government) Despite all unhuman atrocities against Oromo nations for more than 120years the Oromo peoples still persistent in keeping intact and exercising daily the truth (nation of peace, nation of love, nation of freedom, nation of democratic belief, nation of generosity, nation of respect for all creatures and nation of equality). In order to clarify the facts let us look the issues deeply:

Oromo people are egalitarian society. Historically their democratic system of government known as “Gadaa” governed the social, economic political affairs of the Oromo people. Under Gadaa, Oromo women developed their own unique institution known as “Siiqee”. Oromo women used Siiqee institution to defend their rights, promote their interests and challenge male domination.

What happen to this Oromo nations with holistic approach of humanity:

After the Oromo people are colonized in 1880s all Oromo institutions are either totally banned or incapacitated. Since then the Oromo people are denied the right to determine on their social, economic, political and cultural affairs. For example, banning or incapacitating  Siiqee hindered the Oromo women defending their rights. The colonial power is not only banned and incapacitated Oromo institutions but also introduced and widened discriminatory social practices (changing Oromo name to colonized names and gave order to the city administration to change the  Oromo cites to be called in the colonized language and declare psychological war among Oromo’s in order to hate their identity and find jobs with their Oromo names).

What kinds of action has been taken by Oromo nations to defend the truth

• Raya and Azebo during 1928-30
• Bale revolt led by hero of the Oromo people general Waqo Guutu in 1960^th
• Mecha-Tulema movement led by hero of the Oromo people general Tadesse Biru in 1965
• OLF leadership with popular mass movement and imprinting Oromummaa. Oromo liberation front (OLF) is the heart and mind of all Oromo people which confronts the colonization by all kinds of means namely (diplomatic and military approach) and works in multiple ways with international community and leaders to end the colonization.
• Qube generations supported by Qeerroo leadership with historic mobilization of the Oromo people to eradicate the colonization (December 2015-2016) resulted with European parliament resolution.
• Grand Oromia protestors (more than 200 Oromo cites) to end ones and for all the colonization (august 2016)

Why the USA, Europe and UN support the barbaric Ethiopia TPLF government

During recent protests from December 2015 until now the TPLF government committed serious atrocities against Oromo peoples, namely  more than 700 Oromo’s are dead, countless were unlawfully imprisoned and tortured. The atrocities were documented by international organization and agencies, namely (HRW, AI, UN, former USA president and European union). Despite diverse tangible evidences of the holistic side of Oromo people and documented evidences of TPLF government atrocities the powerful western nations remain supporting the barbaric Ethiopia TPLF government. Let us look some facts:

In 2014 the Ethiopian Government receive around 30 million euro for the financing of multiple projects while the innocent Oromo civilians are slaughtered by TPLF soldiers in Ambo town 125km (80 miles) west of Addis Ababa (according to BBC reports in 2014, 47 were killed by the security forces) The protestors demanding respect of their constitutional rights and halting brutal act of TPLF soldiers (Agazi commando):their detail demands were:

• Stop land grapping
• Stop killings of Oromo children
• Stop killings of Oromo students
• Stop raping of Oromo Women’s
• Respect rule of law and reject rule of gun
• Abide by real definition of democracy and stop TPLF defined democracy (rule of gun, death, torture imprisonment, rape and harassment).

In 2015  The USA president  Barack Obama visit Ethiopia and shows his appreciation for the contributions of troops to an AU peacekeeping force battling al-Shabaab in Somalia  Again he mentioned also “The Ethiopian government has made extraordinary progress in bringing greater development and opportunity to its citizens,” he said, “but there are very significant restrictions that are not consistent with the universal values that we stand up for, for instance the need for a free press and we’ve seen too much intimidation, and even imprisonment of journalists, and the need for a viable space for civil society and political opposition in the country. So the president will be certainly raising issues related to human rights in Ethiopia”

In the same year of President Barack Obama visit the Oromo people’s in general (child, man, women, young, old, students, intellectuals, farmers,  sick or health) were hunted down like fox in their own country, backyard and home. All those atrocities led to the mass protest of Oromo nations in December 2015 and still in august 2016 going on.

In 2016 I myself wrote a letter to the European parliament regarding the open and silent genocide against Oromo people: Here is the essential part of their reaction:

“The European union are closely following reports on the situation in Oromia, but also in the other parts of Ethiopia. The EU delegation and EU member states present in Addis have carried out field monitoring visits to the Oromia region and continue to monitor the situation. Since its December 2015 statement on the events in Oromia, the EU has raised its concerns on several occasions with the Ethiopian authorities, for example: with prime minster Hailemariam Desalgn and Minster Tedro’s A We have called for independent investigations on the events, and for accountability for all acts of violence and abuses perpetrated against protestors”.

From this 3 tangible evidences my analysis as follows: The western powers fail to understand the brutal and barbaric nature of the Ethiopia TPLF government and the total absence of knowledge about Oromumma vision (yes in january 2016 the European parliament passed resolution by condemning the Ethiopia government military action against Oromo people). But what still missing is the translation of that resolution to action.

The OLF is working very hard in order to enhance the translation of that resolution into action but the Oromo intellectuals and Oromo people’s especially Oromo living in diaspora has to do their part through individual actions or by supporting OLF initiative through multiple ways:

• The Western powers defending their interest. So we have to show them that we are able to protect their interests better than TPLF Mafia government by further promoting Oromo nations through Oromummaa agenda and vision.
• Misunderstanding of the nature of the Ethiopia TPLF government and absence of knowledge about Oromummaa vision. That shows us our colonizers like TPLF government is able to sell false issues to the world body and we are unable to tell the truth to the world body. The solution is be able to expand the value and importance of Oromummaa on the international arena.
• The evidence of the century long humiliation, subjugation, and inequalities against Oromo peoples by colonizers and deafening of international bodies, it encourage us in order to redouble our abilities to install Oromummaa. Oromummaa Advocates for democracy, freedom, peace, equality, respect of human right and rule of law.

Action taken by Oromo intellectuals, Oromo political leaders, and Oromo voices reflects the truth:

Oromo peoples are now colonized for more than a century. During those long period of time they scarify enormous lives and properties to eradicate colonization and to regain their freedom in order to exercise their god given right.

For this freedom and human right realization the Oromo leaders and intellectuals always follow the path of truth, democratic road and humanity (the exact definition of their root called Oromo nations).

The actions taken by our leaders  and intellectuals  shows the powerfulness of the truth (Oromo nations) and commitment of Oromummaa for peace, freedom democracy, equality, respect of human right and rule of law. But Our colonizers are always choose to follow the path of destruction, non-democratic road map and path of anti-peace. Let us look some evidences from countless examples:

• The Ethiopian Emperor Hailesilasse fail to defeat Bale Oromo revolt and demand peace deal with Our hero General Waaqoo Guutu. General Waaqoo Guutuu accept the peace plan in order to solve all issues peacefully. Our colonizers as their habit after they made peace agreement and disarm the Oromo people they start to kill, torture, imprisonment and humiliation of the Oromo people to the level of dog.

2-   In 1991 the Oromo people under leadership of their vanguard Organization OLF form a transitional government with the current barbaric TPLF government. OLF accept to disarm and put his soldiers in temporary military camp for the sake of peace and democracy in order to foster new Era in the Ethiopian empire to bring eternal peace for all oppressed nations. Again our colonizers with anti-peace and anti-democracy gene code  in their DNA force OLF to leave the transitional government, and declare total war on Oromo people (start to kill Oromo civilians and start to kill and torture the disarmed soldiers in the peace camp).

• Bekele Gerba the vice chairman of OFC and the university teacher is unlawfully imprisoned, humiliated and denied any medical care for promoting peace, equality and democracy to everybody (inclusive our enemy). Mr. Bekele Gerba and his fellow innocent Oromo peoples are still languishing in prison camp without any criminal charge. This reflects also the exact character of our colonizers for more than a century (they are allergic for peace, freedom and democracy).
• Leenco Lataa the former founder of the OLF and the current president of ODF accept all humiliation for the sake of peace and travel to Ethiopia to explore peaceful solution. But the TPLF government force him to leave his own country and his own people (while they are the colonizers and occupiers). This episode also clarify that our colonizers are suffering from metastases of the world cancer (anti-peace, anti-democracy and violators of human rights).
• Oromo TV, TVOMT, OMN, qaanqee show, gadisa dhuga , Simbirtu radio, OVR, seife nebelbal radio, sagale afura biyya radio,Gadaa website, Ayyantuu news, Qeerroo website, Bilisummaa website, Oromia times, Advocating for Oromia website….etc are working hard to promote the truth (Oromo nations) through Oromummaa road map. But still we are fail to liquidate the traitors and opportunistic individuals, fail to promote the organization or movement which fight the ultimately battle for our nations, fail to bring our truth under world attention. So I would like to thank you for the job that all of you have done for our nation and we have to move step further together to glorify our nations.

My people as I have mentioned above our enemies understand very well that Oromo peoples are nation of peace. To implement their destructive policies and to dismantle the Oromo uprisings for freedom and democracy they use the word Peace and they use rule of gun instead of rule of law for implementation.

Secondly they sell false information and incorrect messages to the international community about their promises and vision while they are blackmailing the real facts and truth “Oromo nation”.

Call to Oromo people and international community:

Oromo people are nation of peace, nation of democratic rule, nation of justice and equality, nation of heroes, nation of generosity, nation of rich in culture, tradition and nature. I am proud to be born from this holistic and collective quality of nations. My people the task in front of us is enormous in order to build our nations. Our tasks are not only defeating the current barbaric TPLF government. It is also about our future that faces our nations like I have mentioned in my previous article “Nation-building is the product of conscious statecraft, not happenstance.  Nation-building is always a work-in-progress; a dynamic process in constant need of nurturing and re-invention. Nation-building never stops and true nation-builder never rest because all nations are constantly facing up to new challenges. Nation-building is therefore about building the tangible and intangible threads that hold a political entity together and gives it a sense of purpose.” 

Dear brothers and sisters

• wake up and ask yourself about your contribution in this historical national issues,
• take your responsibility to deliver your parts in order to defeat our enemies and glorify our nations,
• dedicate yourself to continue our struggle against humiliation and colonization,
• prepare yourself for ultimate scarifies to liberate your people from century long voice-less-ness and colonization,
• be ready to give all necessary support (information, material and financial).

International community: Especially the powerful states and world body (USA, European union and UN). Supporting and assisting the Oromo people in their struggle for peace, freedom  and democracy  would have enormous contribution for international community policies. Namely:

• Eradicating fundamentalist ideology and terrorism through encouraging Oromummaa vision the promotor of peace, freedom and democracy. Oromummaa Vision will bring eternal peace in Ethiopian empire, horn of Africa and Africa in general.
• Protecting and promoting western nation interest: There is no any other concrete, stable and trustful solution than Working with Oromo people in order to safeguard the western interest. The concrete evidence for this realities are as follows:
• For centuries long the pillar of economic power of the Ethiopian empire is Oromia.
• Rich in agricultural products like Teff (medically also essential)
• Rich in natural resources like Gold, mercury, marmar…etc
• The exporter of the best coffee in the world
• The heart of business arena
• The host of international organization like African Union and international embassies.
• It is also an international obligation and essential time before too late to look carefully the lies and character of Ethiopia TPLF government and assessing and analyzing the truth of Oromo people in order to safe all nations in Ethiopian empire, the horn of Africa and keeping in place the strategical aspect of Oromia.

Conclusion:

Dear brother and sister, For Oromo peoples there is only one way. That is promoting the truth (Oromo nations) through Oromummaa vision and strengthen our vanguard organization OLF. If we need to destroy our enemies and eradicate the chain of colonization we have to redouble our duties as a patriotic citizens. Supporting and strengthen OLF in all aspects (through corrective idea’s, diplomatically, militarily and financially)will lead to enhance our victories, strengthen our position on the world stage and promote our truth.

I hope the international community will look all the facts carefully and seriously in order to stand with Oromo people. It is also the essential time to translate in to action the January 2016  resolution by European parliament against barbaric act of TPLF government in order to punish the Ethiopia TPLF junta and support Oromummaa vision to bring the lasting peace, freedom and democracy in order to cure the world cancer.

Victory to the Oromo people!

Dr. B.K.DERESSA, Medical degree in internal medicine, specialized in Gastro-Hepatology diseases. University Hospital of Brussels-Belgium

Taammanaa Bitimaa irraa

Kunoo, erga Fincilli Xummura Gabrummaa inni otoo walirraa hin cintin, ji’oota sagal guutuu lakkoofsifate kun amma caalayyuu jabatee itti-fufee jira. Fincilli baranaa kun gaafa 12. 11. 15 magaalaa Oromiyaa Waltajjii keessatti argamu, Giincii irraa ka’uun Oromiyaa guutuu dhuunfatee muldhata. Fincilli kun kaabaa-kibba, bahaa-lixa, mandaroota fi magaalaawwan bira kutuun gandeen Oromiyaa cufa waliin gayee argama. Fincilli seena-qabeesichi kun Dhaloota Qabeetiin yoo jalqabamellee amma dargaggeeyyii fi shamarran, ijoollee fi magnuddoolee, dhiiraa-dubartii, quteebulaa fi hojjateebulaa, barataa/ barattuu fi barsiisaa/ barsiiftuu, sheekii fi qeesii, abbootii gadaa fi ayyaantuuwwan hunda nagaan nagaaf hiriirsisee ammas garuma fuulduraatti tarkaanfachaa jira. Uummanni Oromoo guddichi abbaan nagaa, nagaaf nagaan ka’ee warra nagaa booressuun kumaatamaan galaafatemee argama. Barana dhiigni Oromoo akka galaanaatti gad-lolayee, lafeen Oromoo akka qoraaniitti urreefamee jira. Kun marti Oromoon akka mirgaa fi haqa isaa isa uumaan qabuuf waltahuun tarkaanafatu taasise malee, waan tokkollee isa duubatti hin deebifne. Barana Oromoon waan sodaa jedhamu boolla qotee awwaaluun, bilisummaa fi walabummaa ofiitiif garuma fuulduraatti tarkaanfachaa jira!

Baatiiwwan saglan dabran kana keessa wanneen suukanneessoon ginni-bittee Tigraay kan Wayyaanee jedhamu uummata Oromoo irratti gara-jabeessummaa fi bineessummaan raawwate, kan lakkaawamee dhumuu miti. Barana Oromoota fi uummatoota biyyoota alaa irraa dureewwan Wayyaanee fi loltuuwwan isaanii kunneen: “namoota moo bineeyyii dhaa?“, jechuun akka qotee (jirraa) walqabatan taasisee argama. Warri Wayyaanee yaada akkanaa kanatti nama geessan jechaa dha. Oromoonni fi namoonni biroo otoo waan akkanaa wal-gaafachaa jiranuu, kunoo “hiriirri Oromiyaa guutuu” keessatti, gaafa 06. 08. 2016 fiixan bayee oole. Hiriira seena-qabeessicha kan magaalaawwan Oromiyaa 200 keessatti adeemsifame kana irratti namoota kitila (miliyoona) sadii oliitu hirmate. Hiriirri kun magaalaawwan guguddoo kanneen akka Finfinnee, Dirree Dhawaa, Adaamaa fi Jimmaa faa irraa hamma magaalaawwan xixiqoolee kanneen akka Awadaay, Dheeraa, Caancoo fi Mooyalee faa kan hammate ture. Oromoon akkanatti dursee otoo walirraa hin citin baatiiwwan sagal guutuu fincila, ittaansees gaafa tokkicha magaalaawwan 200 keessatti olka-ka’a jedhee namni yaade tokkollee hin turre. Amma karaa kanaan Oromiyaan teenya, guyyaa Bilisummaa fi walabummaa-tti dhiyaattee jirti jechuu dandeenya.

Hiriira nagaaf, Oromoon keenya nagaan buqqayee mana baye kana irratti warri nagaa Oromoo fi Oromiyaa booressuuf qawween biyya keenya qabate, guyyaa tokkicha keessatti lubbuu Oromoota 75 galaafatee jira. Kanneen kuma hedduun lakkaawaman immoo madayaanii jiru. Manneen hidhaa impaayerittii kan durii caalaa hidhamtoota Oromootiin dhipphachaa jiru. Yaadachuuf, ji’oota saglan dabran kanneen keessatti dhiigni Oromoo akka galaanaatti loloyee, lafeen dhalawwan Oromoo akka qoraaniitti hurraawee argama. Ji’oota saglan kanneen keessa dhalawwan Oromoo 750-ni faashistoota Wayyaaneetiin galaafatamani. Kan biraa hafee dubartiin Oromoo ulfi baatii saddeetii, mucaan waggaa sadiyii fi jaarsi waggaa 80 loltuu Wayyaanee kan Agaazii jedhamuun galaafatamanii jiru. Baatiiwwan saglan kanneen keessa Wayyaaneen nama hiriiraa fi fincilaaf baye callaa otoo hin taane: nama gabaadhaa galu, hamaamoota cidhaaf deemu, ijoollee horii tiksitu, daa’imman oddoo (dhayii) keessaa taphattu faa itti-dhukaasuun galaaffattee jirti. Bineessummaa fi gara-jabina dureewwanii fi loltuuwwan Wayyaanee kana arguu dhiisiitii, dubbachuufillee kan hedduu nama suukanneessu. Mee yaa Waaq ilmi namaa akkanatti gara bineensaatti of-geeddaraa? Akkanatti sammuu isaa kan Waaqni akka ittiin-yaaduuf isa badhaase kana gara horii sammu-maleeyyii tahaniitti jijjiirrataa? Amma jarreen kun akkanatti: Oromoos, Somaalees, Amaaras, Anyuwaakis, uummatoota Laga Omoo fi uummata Sidaamaa faas gorra’aa, dhiiga isaanii lolaasaa “wajjin jiraanna”  nuun jedhuu?

Dur, eeyyee waggaalee 130 dura naazichi gurraachi kan Minilik Lammaffaa jedhamu, meeshaa waraanaa kan ammayyaa humnoota Oroppaa oggaa sanii: Biritaaniyaa Guddoo, Faransaa, Ixaaliyaa fi Rusiyaa irraa tuullaa-tuullaan argachuun, dabalees leenjiftoota fi gorsituuwwan Faranjii fidachuun waraana ofirraa-ittisaa Oromoon waggaalee 30 guutuu adeemsise booda biyya keenya qabachuu dandaye. San booda lafa lafee Oromoo tahe, uummata keenya irraa sarbachuun Oromoo fi uummatoota kibbaa gabbaarii taasifate. Gabbaarii fi gabrummaan obbolaa lakkuu tahani. Kan nama dhibu warri Wayyaanee kun hardhaa lafa lafee keenya tahe kana fudhachuun bulguuwwan addunyaa kanneen inbastaroota jedhamaniif hiree, kaan ofiif fudhachuun uummata keenya gabbaarummaa warra Minilik sanallee dhoowwate. Gabbaartichi durii sun lafa abbaa ofiirraa hin buqqifamuu, achuma irraa taa’etoo nafxanyooota gabbara. Amma garuu, Oromoon qawween araddaa ofirraa buqqifameeti hariyama. Kana malees, hardha laggeen, haroolee fi harawwan Oromiyaa summeeffamaa jiru. Daggallii fi bosanni Oromiyaa ciramanii mancaafamuun biyyi Abbaa Gadaa fi Haadha Siiqqee lalisaa fi jiidhaan sun gara adaala-tti (“desert“) geeddaramuuf deema. Uummanni Oromoo fi kanneen biroo isaan magaalaawwan Oromiyaa keessa jiraatan gixaananii, dhamayanii manneen isaan ijaarratan buldozaraan daakamanii argamu. Ginni-bittee Tigraay kun isaan akkanaa kanaan misooma jidha. Impaayerittii uummanni kitila 20 (20 000 000) tahuu beelaan harcawu keessatti: “guddina dhibbayyaa 11 (11%) galmeessine” jechuun addunyaa sobaa jira. Biyya warra Wayyaanee kanatti sobatu, misooma fi guddinaa tahuun dhibbayyaa hedduun guddachaa jira jechaa dha!

Uummanni Oromoo abbaan firaa fi abbaan nagaa kun daangaa ofiirra tarkaanfachuun biyya namaa hin qabanne. Mirgaa fi haqa namaa hin sarbine. Yeroo ginni-bittee Habashaa uummata Tigraay beelaan ficcisiisu san Oromoo keenya afaan ofii irraa fuudhuun waan qabuun isaan gargaaraa ture. Yommuu faashitichi Habashaa kan Mangistuu Hayila-Maaram jedhamu uummata Tigraay beelaa fi waraanaan lafarra harcaasaa: “wanni Tigraay irraa argamu chookii takkallee nuuf bituu hin dandayu” jechuun, uummata Tigraay arraba isaa addaggee saniin madeessuyyu uummanni Oromoo aariin waxalamaa waan qabuun Tigroota deegaraa ture. Maarree, hardha dubbiin garagalchoo taatee, dureewwan Tigraay waciitii itti-nyaatan caccabsaa, harka laateef san nyaachaa jiru. Obsis daangaa qabaa, uummanni Oromoo obsa-qabeessi fi abbaan keessummaa kun dhiibamee, dhiibamee hallayyaatti darbatamnaan karaa nagaatiin oljechuun baatiiwwan sagal guutuu fincilaan dachee sochoosaa jira. Qabsoo bilisummaa fi walabummaa isaa karaa nagaatiin adeemsisuun addunyaa irratti of-beeksisee argama. Qeerrolee fi qeerrantiileen Oromoo harka ishii lamaan addaa ofiirra kaawuun, qoma ofii diriirsitee qawwee agaazii dura dhaabbattee jirti. Maali Oromtittii baddaa Barentuu (Harargee) san, ishii agaazicha ishiitti afaan qawwee qabe san quba-ofii itti-qabaa: “yoo dhiira taate, lappheen tiyya kunootii xiyyiitii-tee itti-roobsi” jetteen san agarree mitii! Intala Oromoo-woo ishii muka-mooyyetiin rukuttee agaazii irraa kilaash hiikkatte san ni beeknaa mitii? Kunoo, onneen Biiftuu Hamoosaa fi onneen Warqituu Liiban faa deebiyaa jirti. Baatiiwwan saglan guutuu qabsoo isa karaa nagaa adeemsisuun biyya-lafaa irratti of-beeksifnullee, dhumaatiin namoota keenyaa inni gaafa 06. 08. 16 tahe kun, akka qabsoodhuma isa karaa nagaa callaa adeemsisuun nu hin baafne sirriitti ifa nuuf taasisee argama.

Warri Wayyaanee sammu-dhabeeyyii fi gara-bineeyyiiwwan kun dirqiidhumaan gara qabsoo hidhannootti nu dhiibaa jiru. Erga isaan qawwee fi eeboo barbaadanii sabni Oromoo kana isaan badhaasuu malee, filmaata biraa hin qabu. Kana jechuun garuu, qabsoo keenya isa karaa nagaatiin adeemsisaa jirru ni dhaabna jechuu miti. Qabsooleen karaa lamaaniin adeemsifaman kun wal-jajjabeessu malee, kan wal-laaffisanii miti. Amma uummanni Oromoo waan sodaa jedhamu san boolla qotuun awwaallatee jira. Karaa maraan walgargaaruu fi walirratti du’uuf kakuu waliif seenee jira. Addaan-qoodamuu fi walitti-ka’uu biyya irraa hariyatee argama. Maarree, amma nuti bosonaa fi daggala Oromiyaa cufa manneen hin taasifannuu-ree? Leencotaa fi qeerransoota Oromiyaa hiriyoota hin godhannuu-ree? Kakuu dhaa; laguu dhaa otoo nuti lubbuun jirruu Oromiyaan: biyyi Bakar Waaree fi biyyi Leenjisoo Diigaa, biyyi Ilaansoo Halloo fi biyyi Abbishee Garbaa, biyyi Waaqoo Guutuu fi biyyi Taaddoo Birruu, biyyi Maammoo Mazammirii fi biyyi Magarsaa Barii, biyyi Elmoo Qilxuu fi biyyi Garasuu Dhukii faa warra waayee qawwee callaa yaadaa buluu kanaan hin fudhatamu. Tokkummaa keenya alaa-manaa akka sibiilaatti cimsachaa, Oromummaa keenya akka odaatti lalifachaa, kan ammaa caalaa ijaaramnee wal-ijaaraa, hidhannee wal-hidhachiisaa karaa qabsoo bilisummaa keenyaa sirriitti qabannee garum fuulduraatti xuruurra! Akkuma jagnichi keenya Jaarraa Abbaa Gadaa jedhe san: bilisummaa fi walabummaan Oromiyaa “akka du’aa waan ooluu dandayuu mitii“, gaaraa dakaaa oljechuun haa sochoonu!

Spokesman tells Al Jazeera government is responsible for safety of its own citizens.

Amnesty International says 67 people were killed in Oromia and 30 in Amhara [Reuters]

Getachew Reda, a government spokesman, told Al Jazeera on Thursday that the UN was entitled to its opinion but the government of Ethiopia was responsible for the safety of its own people.

Reda’s comments came after the UN urged the government to allow observers to investigate the killings of at least 90 protesters in the Oromia and Amhara regions over the weekend.

Zeid Raad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said allegations of excessive use of force must should be investigated and that his office was in discussions with Ethiopian authorities.

Reda, however, told Al Jazeera that it was not necessary to send observers to specific parts of the country since the UN already had a “massive” presence in Ethiopia.

He said the government would launch its own investigation into whether security forces had used excessive force and would do so in consultation with local people.

He blamed what he called “terrorist elements” for stoking the violence from abroad, without giving further detail.

At the weekend, an opposition leader told the AFP news agency that up to 50 people were killed as security forces suppressed the protests. Amnesty International put the death toll at 97.

Oromia, an area which surrounds the capital Addis Ababa, has seen several months of protests, sparked by plans to allocate farmland in the region for development.

Authorities scrapped the land scheme in January, but protests have flared again over the continued detention of opposition demonstrators.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

(SBO/VOL – Hagayya 11,2016) Tumsa FXGf hiriirri nagaa biyyoota alaa bakka ummatni Oromoo argamutti geggeeffamuuf saganteeffamee qophiin isaa geggeeffamaa akka jiru barame.

Warraaqsa Biyyaalessaa Oromiyaa FXG guutummaa Oromiyaa keessaa belbelaa baatiilee 9ffaa qabatee jiru tumsuu, ummata Oromoo hamilee itti horuu fi jajjabeessuuf, akkasumas gocha faashistummaa mootummaa wayyaanee caalaatti addunyaatti saaxiluu fi haala biyyattii keessa jiru addunyaatti agarsiisuuf Torbee Tumsa FXG mata dure jedhu jalatti ummata Oromoo biyyoota ambaatti argamu kan hirmaachisu hiriirri nagaa guddaan Hagayya 15 – 21,2016tti biyyoota alaa adda addaa keessatti bakka ummatni Oromoo argamutti kan geggeeffamu ta’uu qindeessitootni hiriira kanaa beeksisaa jiran.

Guyyoota kana keessatti ummatni Oromoo biyyoota ambaa garagaraatti argaman hiriira nagagaa kan Torbee Tumsa FXG jedhuun geggeeffamuuf saganteeffamee jiru kana irratti akka argamanii fi biyya jiranitti haala walfakkaataan ba’anii sagalee isaanii dhageessisuun ummata isaanii biyya keessaaf akka tumsan yaamichi darbeefii jira.

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#‎Oromoprotest‬

Guyyaa har’aa Hagayya 11, 2016 Mootummaan Wayyaanee humna waraana meeshaa gurguddaa hidhatee fi taankiilee 24 Gambeellaa irraa gara Oromiyaa galchaa jiraachuu gabaasni Magaalaa Goree fi Mattuu irraa nu gaye ni addeessa.  Kanaaf ilmaan Oromoo Oromiyaa mara keessaa tooftaalee qabsoo fooyya’aadhaan of qopheessuun of eeggannoo barbaachisu akka godhan dhaamsa dabarsuu barbaanna. ‪#‎shere‬ shere Via Mohammednur Guye

 

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daawwadhu akkatti nama hawwatu qeerroon oromiyaa
seenaa hin dagatamne falmataa abbaa biyyaa

Mogor biyya Badhadha Dilgaasaa
falfadhu qeerrookoo
gumaa dhiigaatu baasaa

biyya sanyii Iddoosaa
sabni callisee hin teenyee
awwaalee ilmoosaa

biyya Baqqalaa sabbooqaa
daawwadhu mogor keenya
biyya dhiiraa biyya gootaa…..

 

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Abbaay Tsahayyee, Samooraa Yuunusii fi hogganoonni TPLF biroon guyyoota lamaaf Ameerikaa turanii biyyatti deebi’an jedha odeessi tokko. Balaa jara mudatte kana irratti qondaalota Ameerikaa waliin mariyatanii deebi’uutu himama. Oromoo fi Amaarri walitti dhidhihaachuu irraa rifaatuu guddaa keessa jiraachuun isaaniis dhokataa miti. Gorsa akkamii akka fudhatanii galan garuu ammaaf ifaa miti tahuyyuu, ammas taanaan Amerikaan naannoo sanatti dantaa ofii eegsifachuuf hanga Wayyaanee kan abdattu akka hin qabne beekamee jira. Sochiin ummatni keenya geggeessaa jiru seena qabeessa tahus dhaaba siyaasaa jabaa fi maqaa dhahamee beekamu (officially recognized) taheen kan durfamu waan hin tahiniif ”sochii abbaa hin qabne” jedhamee waamamuu jalaa hin baraaramne. Warri State Department illeen kanuma hubachuu irraa ammaaf ifatti Wayyaaneef looguu filachuu isaanii ibsa baasaa jiraniin nutti himaa jiran. Itti haa yaadamu. Via Beekan Gulummaa Irranaa

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‪#‎OromoProtests‬ Update about Bekele Gerba et al court case
በጸረ ሽብር ህጉ ተከሶ፣በዛሬዉ ዕለት የዕምነት ቃላቸዉን እንዲሰጡ የተቀጠሩት እነ ጉርሜሳ አያኔ በሀገሪቱ የህግ የበላይነት ብሎ ነገር እንደሌለና የኢትዮጵያን ፍርድ ቤት የወያኔ የገደል ማሚቶ መሆናቸዉን በሚያረጋግጥ መልኩ ቃላቸዉን ሳይሰጡ ከፍርድ ቤት ቅጥር ግቢ ወጥቷል፡፡
ሁሉንም የተከሾች ክርክር በዚህ ገጽ ማቅረብ እጅግ አዳጋች ስለሆነ፡፡ጥቂቶቹን ብቻ ለማካፈል ተገደናል፡፡
ጥፋቱን ፈፅመዋል ወይስ አልፈጸሙም? ተብለዉ መጀመሪያ በመሃል ዳኛ የተጠየቁት ‘’ኦቦ ጉርሜሳ አያኖ’’ ነበሩ፣ኦቦ ጉርሜሳም ሲመልሱ ‘’ክሱ ግልፅ አልሆነልኝም እኔ ፖለቲከኛ ስሆን የመድረክ ፓርቲ-አባል ነኝ፡፡የእኛ ፓርቲ ህገመንግስቱን ተከትሎ የተቋቋመ ህጋዊ ፓርቲ ነዉ፡፡የተከሰስኩት ግን የኦነግ አባል ነህ በሚል ነዉ፣እኔ እስከማዉቀዉ አንድ ሰዉ የሁለት ድርጅት አባል መሆን አይችልም፡፡ይሄ ክስ መንግስት መሬቴን አሳልፌ አልሰጥም ያለዉን የኦሮሞን ህዝብ በጅምላ አሸባሪ ብሎ እየከሰሰ ነዉ ያለዉ ስለዚህ ቃሌን ለዚህ ፍ/ቤት አልሰጥም’’፡፡ቀጠለ ኦቦ ደጀኔ ጣፋ ‘’የኢትዮጵያ ፍ/ቤት በግልፅ ህገመንግስቱን እያፈረሰ ያለ ተቋም ስለሆነ ለዚህ ፍ/ቤት ቃሌን አልሰጥም፣ከአሁን ወዲህም ወደዚህ ፍ/ቤት መምጣት አልፈልግም፣ዉሳኔዉም ግልጽ ስለሆነ ባለሁበት ሆኜ ይድረሰኝ!የኢትዮያ ህዝብ ግን እኛ ላይ የተፈጠመዉን በደል እንዲያዉቅልን እፈልጋለሁ’’፡፡
‘’አዲሱ ቡላላም’’ በተራዉ ‹‹የደረሰኝ ክስ የሚመስል ድርሰት ግራ አጋብቶኛል፡፡እኔ የመድረክ ፓርቲ እንጂ የኦነግ አባል አይደለሁም፣ለህዝቤ ብዬ በአደረግኩት ነገር በሙሉ ደስተኛ ነኝ፣በእ በአዲሱ ስም የተመሰረተዉ ክስ በኦሮሞ ላይ የተመሰረተ ክስ መሆኑን መሆኑን ሁሉም ሰዉ እንዲያዉቅልኝ እፈልጋለሁ፤ እኔ ለዚህ ፍትህ አልባ ፍ/ቤት ቃሌን መስጠት አልፈልግም ተመካክራችሁ ዉሳኔዉን ባለሁበት አድርሱኝ››!
‘’በቀለ ገርባ’’ ሲናገር ‹‹ባለፈዉ ቀጠሮ የክስ መቃወሚያችን ላይ ወንጀሉ ተፈጸመ የተባለዉ ኦሮሚያ ክልል ሆኖ ሳለ ለምን በፌዴራል መንግስት እንዳኛለን?! በክልላችን በቋንቋችን እንዳኝ ብለን አቤቱታ አቅርበን ነበር ቢሆንም የሰማን የለም፡፡እኛን ግን ገብቶናል ለምን ክሳችን በፌዴራል እንዲታይ እንደተደረገ፣ፍ/ቤቱ በተጻፈለት መሰረት ሊፈርድብን ነዉ፡፡ይሄ ፍ/ቤት ታዞ እንደሚሰራ ከዚህን በፊት ስምንት አመት ያለጥፋቴ ተፈርዶብኝ እኔ በራሴ ህይዎት ችግሩ ደርሶብኝ አይቻለሁ ስለዚህ ለዚህ ፍ/ቤት ቃሌን አልሰጥም››
ቀጠሉ ከኦሮሚያ ክልል የመጡ እሳት የላሱ የእዉነት አምደኞች፡፡አንዱ ‹‹ጨለማ ዉስጥ ሆኜ ምንም ማዉረት አልፈልግም››
ሌላዉ ‹‹የህግ የበላይነት ባልተረጋገጠበት ሀገር ላይ ሆኜ ለባስልጣናት ለሚታዘዝ ፍ/ቤት ቃሌን አልሰጥም››፡፡አንዱም እንዲሁ ተጠራና ተነሳ ‹‹እኛ ላይ የታወጀዉ የዘርማጥፋት ወንጀል ነዉ ስለዚህ ለዚህ ፍ/ቤት ቃሌን መስጠት አልችልም››
፣ሌላዉም ቀጠለ ‹‹የተከሰስኩት ኦሮሞ በመሆኔ ብቻ ነዉ››፡፡አሁንም ሌላኛዉ ሲጠየቅ አለ ‹‹የዘረኝነት በሽታ ያለባቸዉ ሰዎች ናቸዉ ያለትፋቴ የከሰሱኝ ቃሌን አልሰጥም››!ፍ/ቤቱ በዚህና በመሰል ከበባድ የእዉነት ቃሎች ልክ-ልኩ ተነግሮት ችሎቱ ተጠናቀቀ! Via Naf-tanan Gaadullo

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#OromoProtests Uummati gaafa gabrummaa toobbatu rasaasni gadi isa hinqabu. Kun uummata Holotaa ti. Waraana amma funyaaniitti hidhatee isaan ajjeesuuf qawwee nyaachifate of fuula duratti ilaalaa alaabaa mul’ata isaanii qabatanii sodaa malee daandii cufanii deemu. Gootummaa daangaa hinqabne. Obsi sodaa miti. Via Fooziiyaa Oromoo

August 6, 2016, Oromo Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration in Holota town close to Finfinne

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FXG Oromiyaa Keessatti Itti Fufe Naannoon Amaaraa Deggeruun Itti Fufeera. Galmee Namoota Ajjeefaman Haga Amaatti Beekaman Godinaale Irraa Gabaafameera.

FXG oromiyaa keessatti daran jabaatee kan jiru naanno Amaarattis fincilli uummata naannichaan jabaatee kan jiru hiriira mormii guddaa walii galaa oromiyaa magaalota gurguddoo oromiyatti itti fufeen naannoo Amaaraatti haaluma kana fakkaatuun fincilli ummataa naannoo Amaaraa magaalaa Bahardar keessatti itti fufuudhaan humna waraana wayyaanee 8 ol hojiin ala taasisuun caasaan naannichaa gabaasee jira.
uummata keessaas namootni 7 ol wareegamuu fi humna poolisii naannoo fi federaalaa fi agaazii jedhaman irratti uummanni tarkaanfiii fudhateen
hojiidhaan ala taasisuun gabaafamee jira.
Magaalaa Bahardar Hagayya 7/2016 ganama irraa kaasuudhaan
tarkaanfiiwwan adda addaa uummatichi fudhataa baheera. Konkolaataan
diinaas hojiidhaan ala tahee jira. Ajjechaan uummata oromoo irra
gahaa jiru haa dhaabbatu jechuunis uummati naanno Amaaraa dhaadannoo
dhageesisaa jira. Gabaasa dhufeen magaaluma kana ganda Zalzalmaa,
Abbaay Maadoo,ganda 13 fi naannoo Hospitaala Bahardaritti ammallee
daandiin cufamuun gabaafamee jira.
Oromiyaatti FXG sadarkaa olaanaatti ol guddatee jiruuf mootummaan
ammas taanan ilmaan oromoo irratti tarkaanfii suukkanneessaa fudhataa
jiruun Hagayya 4 asitti qofa mootummaan wayyaanee humna qabuun ilmaan
oromoo 100 ol ajjeesisee jira. Kun eenyuufis ifa tahu hidhaanii fi
ajjechaan amma uummata oromoo irratti akeekamee jiru FXG kana duubatti
kan deebisu osoo hin taanee ammallee iti fufuudhaan uummanni baadiyaa
fi magaalatti wareegama kana hunda dandamatee finiinsuun itti fufee
jira.
Sadarkaan amma FXG kun irra jiru mootummaa abbaa irree wayyaanee kan
yaaddesse tahee kumaatama guddaadhaan mana hidhaatti ilmaan oromoo kan
guuuraa jiruu fi naannoo Gammoojjii Affaaritti FXG guddicha
oromiyaatti guyyaa lama dura taasifameen yoo xiqqaate ilmaan oromoo
5500 ol gara gammoojjii kanaatti fe’amanii jiru. Namootni hedduun
maanguddooleenis bakka buuteen isanii kan dhabameedha. Kanumaan
naannoowwan biroo olla oromiyaa jiran keessatti uummanni fincila kana
deggeruudhaan itti fufanii jiraachuun kan gabaafamee jiruudha.
Oromiyaa keessatti FXG guddicha godhame kanaan namootni hedduun
lubbuun isaanii akka darbe gabaasuun keenya ni yaadatama. Isaan
keessaa baayinaa fi bakkoota adda addaatti kan xuqnu
1. Shaggar lixaatti namoota 3
2. Harargee lixaatti namoota 3
3. Baaletti namoota 3
4. Naannoo Hararge Bahaatti magaalotaa fi baadiyaalee garagaraatti namoota 26
5. Arsii lixaatti namoota 13
6. Arsii bahaatti namoota 2
7. Wallagga bahaatti nama 32
8. Wallagga lixaatti nama 4
9. Horro guduruu wallaggaatti nama 1
10. Qellem irratti nama 3
Ifatti walumaa gala gara nama 90 olii tahuun galmeen wareegamtoota kan
godinaalee oromiyaa irraa gabaasee jira.
Oromiyaan ni bilisoomti Via Oromo Sinbon

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Ergaa Harargee Lixaa Baddeessaa irraa
“‪#‎OromoProtests‬ Akkam Najiib? Eda galgala magaalaa Baddeeysaa kessatti nama enyummaan isaa hin bekkamin hanga sadarkaa gaaga’amni irra ga’utti cafaqaa turan. Dhiigni akka horii qalametti irra ya’e. Iddoon kun itti raawwatame masgidul Towfiq Kara jalaati.
Iccitiidhaan itti gafatamtoonni OPDO Namoota 4 ol kantahu, akka barametti gaara kaartotti awwaalan. Kalee fi dheengadda halkan guyyaa 11/8/2016 itti fufeet jira. Warri hidhaman akka wal quba qabaattan,akkasumas maatiin isaanii fi manguddoonni hubatuu fi ilaaluu qaban.” Via  Najiib Zannuun

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Mormii FXG aannaa Booseeti godina shawaa bahaa Magaalaa Dooniiti gootowwan ilmaan Oromoo aannichaatiin gaggeeffame. FXG itti fufee jira.‪#‎WarraaqsiOromohaajiraatu‬ ‪#‎TPLFoutofOromia‬ ‪#‎StopGenocide‬‪#‎Oromoprotests‬ ‪#‎AmaharaProtests‬ ‪#‎Ethiopiaprotests‬ Via Ibsaa Nagawoo

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FXG aannaa Booseeti godina shawaa bahaa Magaalaa Dooniiti gootowwan ilmaan Oromoo aannichaatiin gaggeeffame. FXG itti fufee jira.‪#‎WarraaqsiOromohaajiraatu‬ ‪#‎TPLFoutofOromia‬ ‪#‎StopGenocide‬‪#‎Oromoprotests‬ ‪#‎AmaharaProtests‬ ‪#‎Ethiopiaprotests‬Grand ‪#‎OromoProtests‬ ”Lukkeen Tigree OPDOn kaleeysa hagayya 11/8/2016 ilmaan Oromoo 20 gahuu ajjeesaniifii ajjeesísanii kan dhibbaan lakkaawaman madeeysaniifii qaama irrisanii arra gandoota magaalaa awwadaay keeysa daddeemanii walgahii bahaa jachuun nama dorsisuun baga isin ajjeefne jachuun ummata garaan booyatti jirutti dhaadachuuf tahuun beekkamaadha ummanni oromoos akkuma ammaas bahuufii didaa jirtanitti diddaa jabeeysuun karoora afeerraa walgayii wayyaanee kana irraa hafuun fashalsuun barbaachisaadha” Via Hassan Ismail

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ETV ወይስ ትግራይTV
1.ተመስገን በየነ-ትግሬ- ETV ዜና አንባቢ
2. ክብሮም ወልደ ስላሴ-ትግሬ..አማራ ክልል TV ዜና አንባቢ
3.. ኤደን ገብረህይወት-ትግሬ-ETV ልዩ ለዩ መዝናኛ አቅራቢ
4. ለዓለም ደስታ-ትግሬ–Addis TV አዘጋጅ
5..አርሜላ ገብረ ኪዳን-ትግሬ- ETV ዜና አንባቢ
6. ሕሊና መንራቱ- ትግሬ-አማራ ክልል tv ዜና አንባቢ
7.አልጋነሽ ተካ-ትግሬ-ፕሮግራም አዘጋጅ /Correspondent
8. ሰለሞ ንገብረ መድህን ትግሬ -ETV የደቡብ ክልል Correspondent
9. ኤደን ብርሀነ-ትግሬ- ETVየቤተ መንግስት /Correspondent
10. አብረኸት አደም-ትግሬ-ETV ካሜራ /ፊልም ቀራጭ
11.ዳኔኤል ገ / እግዚአብሄር -ትግሬ-የደቡብ ክልል ዜና አንባቢ
12.ሂሩት ገብረ አምላክ -ትግሬ-የስፖርት ዜና አንባቢ
13. መታሰቢያ ለገሠ-ትግሬ–Correspondent
14. ክብካብ ታደሰ-ትግሬ–correspondent
15. አታክልቲ ገብረ መስቀል-ትግሬ-ምስል ቀራጭ /Pothographer.
16. ፀጋልኡል ወልደጻዲቅ ትግሬ-ፕሮግራም አዘጋጅ
17. ራሄል ተክለ ዮሀንስ -ትግሬ-እንግሊዝኛ ዜና አንባቢ
18.ሳራ ፍሳሀዬ-ትግሬ-ፕሮግራም አዘጋጅ
19. አለማየሁ ገብረ ሕይወት-ትግሬ–ፕሮግራም አዘጋጅ
20. ሴይፉ አሰግድ-ትግሬ–ሮግራም አዘጋጅ
21. ገብረ ሚካኤል ገብረመድሕን-ትግሬ-ልዩ ልዩ ፕሮግራም አዘጋጅ
22. ተስፋዬ መሀሪ -ትግሬ-የአማራ ክልል correspondent
23. ኪሮስ ጸጋ-ትግሬ-የአማራ ክልልCorrespondent
24.ፍሬሕይወት ዘሚካኤል-ትግሬ-የኮምፒዩተር ፕሮግራም አንባቢ
25.አፈውርቂ ካህሳይ -ትግሬ-ልዩ ልዩ ፕሮግራም አዝጋጅ.
26-ye SPORT azegajoche bemulu Tegery
27-ye HETEMET DASESA akerabiwoch bemulu Tegery
28-WANA HALAFEWOCHE bemulu Tegery
29ጠበቃዎች በሙሉ ትግሬ ናቸው
መክሸፍ እንደ ኢቲቪ ፔጅ
ድል ለሰፊው ህዝብ !!!
____
Source:Daniel Daba’s page. Via Naf-tanan Gaadullo

 

Note: Tigrai Online endores massacre of the Oromo and Amhara peaceful protesters

By Tesfai Hailu

Tigrai Online, Ethiopian News, August 10, 2016

“There’s a lot of bleeding hearts around who don’t like to see people with helmets and guns. All I can say is ‘go ahead and bleed’ but it’s more important to keep law and order in this society than to be worried about weak-kneed people who don’t like the looks of …”

(The late PM Pierre Elliott Trudeau)

In 1970, Canada “plunged into its worst crisis since the Second World War” in what eventually became known as the October Crisis. A provincial cabinet minister from Quebec was kidnapped and murdered, while a British  diplomat  was also kidnapped, later released, by a radical separatist group called Front de libération du Québec (FLQ).

In the name of freedom and sovereignty for the French-speaking province, the FLQ, resorted to political violence unprecedented in Canada’s contemporary history.

Subsequently, the then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau (the father of Canada’s current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) “invoked the only peacetime use of the War Measures Act in Canada’s history … Civil liberties were suspended and Canadian armed forces were deployed throughout Quebec. The police were enabled with far-reaching powers, and they arrested and detained, without bail, 497 individuals, all but 62 of whom were later released without charges”.

From this crisis, Trudeau emerged as one of Canada’s greatest political figures, particularly after a defining moment wherein a reporter ambushed him with questions, yet the late PM “displayed an iron resolve” (link below):

Reporter: “Sir what is it with all these men with guns around here?”

Trudeau: “There’s a lot of bleeding hearts around who don’t like to see people with helmets and guns. All I can say is ‘go ahead and bleed’ but it’s more important to keep law and order in this society than to be worried about weak-kneed people who don’t like the looks of …”

Reporter: “At what cost? How far would you go? To what extent?”

Trudeau: “Well, just watch me!”

As promised, the Trudeau Government quelled the violence soon after. Not surprisingly, the action taken – particularly the suspension of civil liberties – were criticized as ‘excessive and dangerous’ by opposition groups and other critics. But there is no doubt that it ultimately saved Canada from further violence, and the country’s conceivable disintegration.

Of course the situation in Ethiopia is more complex and delicate than it was the case for Canada. Indeed, while Canada had to deal with only one specific challenge from a group of separatists, multiethnic Ethiopia is confronted with multiple political, ethnic and sectarian problems. While the North American country was already a mature democracy at the time of crisis, Ethiopia is still an emerging African democracy. Trudeau’s Liberal government had “the full support of the Premier and the Provincial Liberal Government of Quebec”, while that is not necessarily the case – at least not evident – in Ethiopia, particularly when it comes to the Amhara Regional Government that appears unable or unwilling to live up to its responsibility of putting an end to violence and lawlessness in its front and back yards.

Nonetheless, before the loss of lives of law enforcement officers and private citizens becomes the new normal, the country has to learn from Canada that it’s certainly “more important to keep law and order in this society than to be worried about”:

1. The media’s negative spin and reporting of any necessary action, especially in this information age and the era of social media when just about everyone has become a self-appointed reporter, talking head and/or political analyst.
2. Special interests that view public violence as the best available means to an end.
3. Opposition party leaders who put their partisan political interests and lust for power ahead of the country they confess to love and people they claim to represent.
4. ‘Weak-kneed’ political allies that may be reluctant to be part of any action against violence and lawlessness.
5. The ‘bleeding heart’ groups in the ‘rights business’ – such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch – that cherry-pick in their all-too-familiar condemnation of violence in developing countries, but are conspicuously silent when it comes to similar use of force in the West.
6. The ‘international community’, aka Western countries, that typically go as far as they want to stop any form of violence in their home turf, yet hypocritically feel obligated to rebuke and lecture developing countries on ‘excessive use of force’, while paradoxically providing a safe haven to propagators of hate and agents of violence.

To reiterate, the Ethiopian Prime Minister does not have the luxury of dealing with only one public crisis at this point in Ethiopia’s history. Still, if there is one important lesson for Hailemariam Desalegn to learn from Trudeau, it is that a leader cannot and should not appease or try to sugarcoat any form of violence as that could send the wrong message that the government is besieged, and in retreat, which of course is a recipe for disaster.

In his recent interview with the media, PM Hailemariam appeared to grapple with trying to make sense of the insensible current violence by bringing up economic hardship and the growing pains of development the country is going through. Nevertheless, while the concern that the unemployed, underemployed and the economically deprived segments of society are being used as cannon fodder is definitely valid, caution should be exercised not to inadvertently give a socioeconomic ‘root cause’ spin to the violence.

Instead, the primary factor behind the violence and lawlessness ought to be identified for what it really is: a shortcut to power by any means unnecessary, including the use of violence, hence should be condemned in no uncertain terms, backed with unwavering action.

BY SALLY HAYDEN

Anti-government protests in Addis Ababa, August 6, 2016

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Mass street protests that saw dozens of people shot by Ethiopian security forces over the weekend could spill into civil war if the government fails to reform land use policies, a veteran Ethiopian opposition politician has warned.

Merera Gudina, leader of the Oromo People’s Congress, said the East African country was at a “crossroads”.

“People are demanding their rights,” he said. “People are fed up with what the regime has been doing for a quarter of a century. They’re protesting against land grabs, reparations, stolen elections, the rising cost of living, many things.

“If the government continue to repress while the people are demanding their rights in the millions that (civil war) is one of the likely scenarios,” Gudina said in an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation from Washington DC.

More than 90 people were shot dead by security forces in protests across Ethiopia’s central-western Oromiya and northern Amhara regions at the weekend, according to opposition officials and residents.

Gudina said thousands of people were arrested in Addis Ababa, after the government used “massive and excessive force” to shut down demonstrations that had spread there. Other activists estimated that 3,000 protesters had been detained.

“There have been no attempts at negotiation from the government, no engagement with the opposition or the people. So far, their only response is bullets,” Gudina said.

U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein urged Ethiopia on Wednesday to allow international observers into Oromiya and Amhara. He also said allegations of excessive use of force across the two restive regions must be investigated and that his office was in discussions with Ethiopian authorities.

POLL IGNITES FIRST FLAMES

Protests began in November in the town of Ginchi in Oromiya over a government plan to allocate farmland to Addis Ababa for development, potentially displacing large numbers of Oromo farmers, the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia.

The plan was scrapped but protests flared again over the continued detention of opposition demonstrators.

On May 24 the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) government had won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections, which critics and the opposition said were rigged.

Human Rights Watch estimated that 400 demonstrators were killed by security forces between November and June. Several prominent figures were arrested during that period, including the Oromo activist Bekele Gerba, who was taken from his home in December.

The protests have spread to other areas and people were now organizing and co-operating across ethnic lines,” Gudina said.

“That is what we have been waiting for,” he said.

“The regime could not contain the protests to only one region: all along, we have been expecting that others have their own issues.”

Government officials did not respond to requests for comment.

The state-owned Ethiopian News Agency reported that “illegal protests” by “anti-peace forces” had been brought under control. It did not mention casualties.

Gudina, who was part of the student movement involved in overthrowing Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974 and subsequently spent seven years in prison under the communist Derg government, said he has no power to stop the demonstrations.

“How on earth do you tell people not to demand their rights? The only advice I give is to make their protests as much as possible peacefully and legally.”

He said land policies needed to be reformed to ensure that land acquisition was fair, transparent and properly managed.

“When land is taken for real development, there needs to be proper compensation, [an] alternative livelihood should be arranged for the farmers,” he said.

Many farmers who have been moved from their land already are now living in poverty, with some women forced to turn to prostitution, Gudina said.

In a statement released on Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa said it was “deeply concerned with the extensive violence that occurred during protests across Ethiopia” at the weekend.

It said it had noted that protesters and security officials had been killed but that confirmed numbers were not available.

Gudina also criticized foreign investors in Ethiopia. “Investing when such governments are at war with their people is not helping. There’s no guarantee, no security for their investment until the politics is getting better and the country is stabilized,” he said.

“They know that the country is going in a bad direction.”

(Reporting by Sally Hayden, Editing by Paola Totaro and Jo Griffin. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women’s rights, trafficking, property rights and climate change. Visit news.trust.org)

By William Davison

• Ethiopian government seen unlikely to make concessions
• Demonstrations involved country’s two largest ethnic groups

(Blommberg News): Ethiopia, a key U.S. ally in the fight against Islamist militants in East Africa, faces the prospect of further unrest after a crackdown on anti-government demonstrations held by its two largest communities over the weekend that Amnesty International said left 97 people dead.

Security forces opened fire on protesters in the country’s Amhara region, with the worst bloodshed in the northern city of Bahir Dar where at least 30 people were killed in a day, the London-based rights group said Monday. Deaths were reported in at least nine towns in the Oromia region, where demonstrations by Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group began in November, according to Amnesty. Communications Minister Getachew Reda acknowledged there’d been fatalities, without being specific, and said the protests were illegal.

The unrest signals an increasing challenge to the government in Ethiopia, which the U.S. considers a bulwark in the Horn of Africa, a region troubled by failing states, and has used as a base for military drones. With Africa’s fastest-growing economy, Ethiopia is part of an internationally funded African force battling al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia and also has peacekeeping troops in South Sudan and Sudan.

“This is a precarious time for the ruling party,” Michael Woldemariam, an assistant professor of political science at Boston University, said, citing the size and spread of the protests and the violence that has accompanied them.

Farmer Evictions

Under the ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front, security forces have killed more than 400 people and arrested tens of thousands in Oromia since protests began in November over the eviction of farmers for infrastructure and investment, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in June. Oromo complaints include the killings and arrests of demonstrators and federal control of the region’s security.

The government is unlikely to change its strategy, according to Harry Verhoeven, who teaches African politics at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar. “Many inside the cabinet and security services fear reforms would encourage even more radical protests aiming to overthrow the regime,” he said by phone from Doha.

The U.S. Embassy in the country on Monday expressed concernover the crackdown, urging the government to respect the rights of citizens to gather peacefully.

‘Excessive Force’

Mulatu Gemechu, the deputy chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress, said that the government’s actions may worsen the violence. His organization said 86 Oromo protesters were killed by security forces on Aug. 6.

“If the government goes on like this and uses excessive force, to defend themselves people will probably take another action,” he said by phone from the capital, Addis Ababa. No deaths were reported in that city, although videos show police beating protesters with batons in the main square, Amnesty said.

Under the EPRDF, a former rebel movement that took power in 1991 after overthrowing a military regime, Ethiopia is a federal state designed to give autonomy to ethnic groups. The Oromo and Amhara communities together make up more than half of Ethiopia’s 100 million population, Africa’s second-largest after Nigeria. Activists from both groups claim that ethnic Tigrayans, who comprise 6 percent, dominate an authoritarian government.
Government officials say that four regional parties jointly run a ruling coalition, which controls all 547 parliamentary seats along with allied groups, while cabinet positions are apportioned on population size. Ethiopia’s last major political crisis was in 2005 after an opposition coalition claimed victory in a disputed election and police shot dead almost 200 protesters in the capital.

Businesses Attacked

Tigrayans and their businesses were attacked on Friday and Saturday in Gondar city and people from that group were told to leave Amhara, said Berhe Hagos, a resident.

“They think if you’re from that ethnic group you benefit from the government,” he said. “People are being humiliated based on race.”

Protests spurred by claims from activists that Tigray state annexed Amhara territory over two decades ago are a threat to the federal system, according to Verhoeven. Wolkait district became part of Tigray when boundaries were drawn along ethno-linguistic lines for a 1994 constitution.

“It’s quite explosive as the perception risks being that of a Tigrayan elite abusing its power,” Verhoeven said. “Claiming the bankruptcy of ethnic federalism is potentially a banner under which many Ethiopians can unite.”