Oromia: The next Aleppo in the making!
On Sunday October 2, 2016, the TPLF controlled regime committed one of the worst massacres in Bishoftu, Oromia, in a day even by its deplorable standards, where about 700 Irreecha (Thanksgiving) celebrators got killed.
This is not being an alarmist or overreaction. This is the reality. The history of TPLF’s past actions are evidences of how far TPLF-led government can go to hold onto the levers of power is a clear indication of the looming possibility of Oromia becoming the next Aleppo. However, it must be noted that unlike what is happening in Aleppo, the Oromo youth who are fighting the tyrannical regime in Ethiopia with arms-up are non-violent not tanks, grenades, or rockets.
TPLF’s history of mass massacre:
- It is widely believed that TPLF orchestrated the Hawzen massacre against its own people for political expediency over Derg and gain the support of the Tigray people.
- TPLF-led government of Ethiopia rained bullets and gas-canister on more than two million people peacefully assembled at Ireechaa-2016, an Oromo Thanksgiving celebration, from air and ground resulting in the death of more than 700 people many of whom are women, children, and elderly.
- It is not an accident that more than six prisons are set on blaze and prisoners are gunned down as they run to save their lives by armed security forces.
- TPLF-elites have repeatedly told the world that if their government does not remain in power, Ethiopia will sink into genocide at a scale worse than that of Hutu and Tutsi. This is a code word that TPLF is ready and determined to destroy Ethiopia unless it remains in power.
- TPLF committed massacre against the Anuak people in 2013 (see 4).
- The jailing of Dr. Merrera Gudina, the last non-violent warrior, is a warning shot for the Oromo people by the command post.
Therefore, the evidences are clear to be concerned about a real possibility of another Aleppo on the horizon in Ethiopia.
The Oromo people have a hard and historic choice to make: Unite and stop Oromia from becoming the next Aleppo or risk many Aleppo in Oromia.
War kills people, destroys family, community, and a country. Aleppo is a sad example of our time (The Qubee generation) to this fact. In a free and just society, people choose their government. If they are unhappy with the government they elected, they have a means to change their government without resolving to violence. Any society that follows this bed rock principle assures itself of continuity, prosperity, and coherent society.
When a minority rules over the majority, this basic principle gets compromised. A government by the minority always feels insecure and suffers from a reverse majority-minority syndrome. It never takes responsibility for its short-comings. It blames others for its failures. A government by a minority hallucinates that everybody is out there to get them and that this is the last time they hold the levers of power. Because of these paranoia, a government by minority feels the need to control the life of its citizens by controlling the institutions, the economy, the press, the police, the army to stay in power for as long as it can.
The minority Tigray-led government in Ethiopia, a population of about 6% of the 100 million Ethiopian populations, is a poster child of this episode.
- TPLF elites through Endowment Fund For The Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT) and their associates control the economy of the country directly or indirectly by partnering with foreign investors.
- More than 70% of high ranking commanders from generals to Battalions and the security apparatus are controlled by people from Tigray Ethnic group. (Generals: Tigray=49, Amhara=4, Oromo=8) (see 3)
- The representation of Tigray in the majority of the rank-and-file of the armed forces and securities are made up of people from the minority Tigray ethnic group.
- Immigration offices and airports in the country to embassies and diplomatic posts around the world are filled with hand-picked people from Tigray ethnic group.
- Minority Tigray-led won “The 100% election” of 2015 (see 3) as a testimony to their mastering the art of election rigging and they got so good at it that even the WEST bought into it.
In spite these challenges, the Oromo people and the rest of Ethiopian people have tried everything in the book to change Ethiopia for good.
Fair and free election
This has been tried under very difficult circumstances in TPLF’s Ethiopia starting from 1991 and proved to be a fatal exercise for oppositions.
TPLF has lost elections after elections and still is in power. Mr. Junedin Sado, ex-president of Oromia regional state and high ranking official at different capacities, in his recent interview unequivocally confirmed that EPRDF steels elections and himself was a beneficiary of stolen election. It is to be remembered that in the most recent election TPLF-led EPRDF won 100% of the parliamentary seats.
Call for Western and International community Influence
Burned by the bad experiences of regime changes in the Middle East and elsewhere, the presence of Al Shabaab in Somalia, and the fragile peace in Sudan forced the hands of the West from forcefully pushing TPLF for a meaningful change in Ethiopia. They see TPLF as a stabilizing force in the horn of Africa. TPLF also has done a great con job to present itself as the only viable option in Ethiopia
Most importantly, the West puts its money and support not where its mouth is but where its interest is and with whomever is organized and able to protect their interest.
Change through non-violent resistance
There are many who think that it is possible to bring change to Ethiopia through a non-violence resistance.
First, the Oromo Liberation Front entered into a coalition with the hope of a Federal arrangement with TPLF and played significant role in the writing of the never-implemented Ethiopian Constitution. OLF agreed to unilaterally put its army into camp which was a grave mistake and left a black mark on the ardent advocates of this unwise move.
Secondly, after OLF left the transitional government, Oromo Federal Congress, along many other independent ethnic and multiethnic parties formed with the hope of transforming Ethiopia into a democratic society through fair and free elections. Today, their leaders are either killed, jailed, or in exile. Dr. Merera Gudina is the latest of non-violent warriors to be jailed.
Fast forward, since November 2015, Oromo schoolchildren started a non-violent protest against land-grab policy and injustices. What they got in return is the most draconian “State of Emergence” under which Oromo people are robed at gun point in their homes and on the streets, women are raped, children are randomly killed, houses, markets, and villages are burned to the ground in Oromia and elsewhere. At least six prisons were burned in Oromia and Amhara regional state. Thousands are incarcerated from every village in Oromia and elsewhere. TPLF is draining Oromia of its youths.
The minority TPLF-led government left the Ethiopian people in general and the Oromo people in particular with no choices.
The minority Tigray-led government is maintaining its power by:
- Toying with Amhara-elites with the time proven tactics of Ethiopian unity and one flag whenever convenient. Most emblematic of this is the use Amhara-elites obsession over Finfinee.
- State terrorism through intimidations, arrests, tortures, and killings.
- Turning blind eyes on corruption at every level including by OPDO and ADM officials as a down payment to make it hard for them to turn their back on the regime otherwise risk prison.
- Use Oromo soldiers in Amhara region and Amhara soldiers in Oromia so that they don’t show compassion and join the revolt by their respective people.
What can the Oromo people do at this time?
The Oromo political parties and activists not only have a choice to make but also an obligation to make the right choice; A choice to work together to strengthen the people on the ground in every way possible. Those who choose to defend themselves and their country should be supported accordingly. It is time to form a united front under one grand organization and reach out to the rest of Ethiopian people to work together to force the hands of the minority Tigray-led government in Ethiopia to a negotiation table by weakening and dismantling the military and security apparatus of TPLF.
TPLF elites are not going away with rumors, wishes, spreading hates, and lies. After TPLF, it is up to the peoples to chart a new course that is different from the last 100 plus years. The Ethiopia we have come to know for so long is no longer sustainable!
OLF and the Oromo people should be encouraged by the solidarity shown by the people of Gondar and Gojjam and continue to find ways to work together to free all people of Ethiopia. The Finfinee obsessed Amhara-elites are singing the same old failed song that failed all of us including the all Amharas outside the beltway of Finfinee.
TPLF should not be allowed to turn Ambo, Arsi, Nekemte, Bahar Dar, and Gondar into Aleppo! History will be harsh on the two largest ethnic groups in Ethiopia, about 65% of Ethiopian population, if and when that happens.
- https://www.oaklandinstitute.org/land-deals-africa-ethiopia
- http://www.ethioreference.com/amharic/Revised_Ethnic_Divesity_in_The_Ethiopian_Armed_Forces.pdf
- http://www.journalofdemocracy.org/sites/default/files/Arriola-27-1.pdf
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2005/03/23/ethiopia-crimes-against-humanity-gambella-region
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