A regime that ordered firing live bullets on somber Irreechaa pilgrims in Bushoftu have no moral or political claim to stay in power in Finfinne (Addis Ababa)!
We mark with extreme sadness the monstrous harassment, killing and wounding of hundreds of unarmed civilians by the TPLF dictatorial regime at the traditional Irreecha festival in Bushoftu, central Oromia, on 2 October 2016. We send our condolences to the families of those killed and commiserate with the wounded and those otherwise traumatized as a result of lawless and brutal state terror. We also express our admiration and renew our commitment to stand in solidarity with the gallant and selfless people of Oromia, and particularly the youth, who, in spite of abject regime brutality, continuee paying ultimate sacrifices in the struggle to achieve human dignity, freedom and democracy.
The Irreecha celebration is a peaceful thanksgiving festival, marked this year in mourning and sadness on account of the hundreds killed by the TPLF terrorist regime since the uprising last November. The event should not have been interfered with by the unrepresentative dictatorial state and its surrogates under any pretext. We condemn officials and lackeys of the terrorist regime who planned and perpetrated state interference in the celebrations including those who fired live bullets and tear gas on festival participants, all of whom were only exercising their legitimate cultural, civic and political rights. All perpetrators must be held responsible for the loss of life and all the suffering. We shall do all in our power that the regime’s cadres and surrogates be held accountable for their crimes against humanity in violation of local and international laws.
We thank the multitude of members of other nationalities in Oromia who are enduring the same oppression as the Oromo and have joined in the peaceful protest to end TPLF tyrannical repression. We also thank individuals and organizations who expressed their sorrow to Oromo people. We assure them that our joint struggle for freedom is unbreakable bond and guarantor of our free and democratic future. We also owe a debt of gratitude to the people of Amhara, Konso, Gambela, Gedo, Sidama, Ogadenia, and others who have risen primarily to express their rejection of the TPLF tyranny endured over two decades, and in expression of their solidarity with and support for the pioneering Oromia protest. We assure them that these shared endurances and joint struggle is a sure path to victory for all the oppressed and struggling peoples, and bedrock of shared bright future to be built on the graveyard of TPLF tyranny.
To the people of Tigray, we trust that you are aware the TPLF regime top cadres have long betrayed your ideals and sacrifices for freedom, human dignity, brotherhood and democratic rights, and that they have been building a system of family network hailing from Tigray and ductile surrogates from elsewhere who are beholden to them for their livelihood. They have been amassing personal fortunes through misuse of state machinery and resources, embezzlement and robbery of public and private property. They were in the end caught red-handed by the people of Oromia as they were expanding the millionaire class by expropriating farmlands around Finfinnee (Addis Ababa). A large amount of illegally amassed wealth is already transferred overseas for the sole use of corrupt TPLF leaders and dependents. Yet, after doing so much damage to your reputation and trampling your rights and interests, the TPLF leaders are desperately trying to hang on to power claiming to protect you against contrived vengeance of peoples they continue to harass, rob, kill and maim. People of Oromia and others join in the struggle aim to end the TPLF dictatorial rule, and in no way directed against the people of Tigray. The people of Oromia call on you as they call on all others to join in the Ethiopia-wide rising to end TPLF tyranny and injustices. You will have nothing to fear but everything to gain from a common struggle aimed to end tyranny and put in place a democratic transition based on the rule of law.
We call upon members of international community particularly the UN and human rights organizations to launch neutral investigation of the Irreecha October 2, 2016 massacre in addition to all other atrocities since the November 2015 Oromia protest. We also call again on the US Administration, the UK, EU and others propping-up the TPLF dictatorial regime to use their influences with the regime to prosecute perpetrators of most recent and previous atrocities, facilitate neutral investigation of those atrocities, release all political detainees, and open up dialogue immediately with genuine representatives of the people and all other interested parties in order to organize a peaceful democratic transition under the law. Failure to act to restrain and replace this brutal regime is extremely dangerous, as like a mad dog, it will continue biting and spreading political rabies left and right. This will no doubt lead to society descending to catastrophic violence, a repeat of some unfortunate countries near and far, such as Libya. We say, help mend in time to avert an imminent tragedy!
To the TPLF brutal regime high command, even at this late hour, you may still find it to your advantage to come from the brink, have courage to acknowledge the utter failure of the corrupt and sinister system you wished to entrench, accept that you have forfeited all traces of moral and political claim to govern, and that it is time for you to seek a peaceful alternative under the law. Do not be fooled that firing on unarmed civilians will help subdue a united and determined people ready to pay the necessary sacrifices to regain human dignity and freedom. On 2 October 2016, your forces fired live bullets from the back and killed unarmed civilians retreating from burning and blinding poison gas. You shall fail as the Oromo and other oppressed masses are bound to surge not back but forward, whatever weapons your surrogates may bear and use!
The struggle for freedom, democracy and peace shall prevail.
Coordinating committee of allied Oromo Liberation Forces
(OLF, OLF-T, FIO and ODF)
Octamer 8, 2016