Declaration of Unity of the OLF.

June 28, 2014 (Oromo Liberation Front) — It is with great pleasure that we announce to our people and the supporters of our struggle for freedom the good news that, based on the accord they made in Kampala, Uganda, in November 2012, the two organizations of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) known as OLF Shanee Gumii (”OLF National Council”) and OLF Qaama Ce’umsaa (”OLF Transitional Authority”) have resolved our differences and agreed to combine our two leaderships, unify our members, merge our organizational structures and inaugurate a reunified OLF. Although OLF has encountered many obstacles during the last forty years, there was no time when it has stopped the struggle that it was established to lead. No one can deny the fact that the national struggle led by the OLF has scored many victories and made many significant achievements that have taken the Oromo people a long way toward the national goal of independence. Among these great achievements is the level of political awareness of our people.

At the same time, we witness that the Oromo people are being targeted for extinction more than any time before. Oppression has reached intolerable levels making our people to rise up in defiance of tyranny, protesting peacefully in all corners of Oromia. But, as witnessed in the killings of students and others in many places in Oromia, the TPLF regime is responding violently to their lawful demands. Defying enemy atrocities, imprisonment, and torture the young Oromo generation are making it known to the world that they will not tolerate humiliation and oppression anymore and that they will make the necessary sacrifices to liberate their people and homeland from alien oppressors. The OLF extends its condolences to families who lost their beloved sons daughters and expresses its admiration for the courage and bravery they have shown by the young Oromo generation to defend their people’s legitimate rights. As the vanguard of the Oromo struggle for freedom, we re-iterate our determination to continue the struggle until our people become masters of their destiny.

The re-unification of the two organizations of the OLF is a great step that will strengthen the Oromo struggle for freedom. United under one leadership, we are resolute to realize the principal objective of our struggle, namely the liberation of our people and the independence of our homeland Oromia. There is no question about the popularity of the goal of OLF-led liberation struggle among the Oromo people. Therefore, it is with determination that we pledge to make the necessary sacrifices, withstand the challenges ahead and carry through the Oromo national struggle to the ultimate goal of independence.

We are well aware that there are Oromo nationals who are organized separately under other names to advance our people’s legitimate rights. We will do all we can to coordinate our efforts with them to achieve the common goal. The OLF leadership states its decision and commitment to continue to work and conclude the ongoing talks with other forces committed to the same goal. Hence we call on all Oromo organizations that uphold our people’s right to self-determination and independence to join us in carrying out this sacred mission.

We also take this opportunity to express our solidarity with the oppressed nations, nationalities and peoples who are struggling for justice against the same tyrannical regime, and call upon them to join us in the common struggle for basic human and democratic rights.

The TPLF-led regime’s violence against the Oromo people is abetted by military, political and economic assistance from external powers. The OLF appeals again to governments, both in the West and East to strike a balance between their national interests and their international obligation of protecting human rights and stop giving economic, military and political support to a brutal regime that is evicting our people and others from their land and killing innocent civilian who are peacefully demanding their legitimate rights.

Victory to the Oromo People!

Oromo Liberation Front

June 28, 2014

Ethiopian Security Forces Arrest Dozens of Civilians in Degahbur.

 Ahmed Abdi | June 26, 2014

Ethiopian Security Forces arrested dozens of civilians in Dehehbur, about 135 kilometers southeast of the regional Capital city of Jigjiga on Wednesday, following after ONLF insurgency killed 10 Ethiopian Security forces and regional administrators on Monday. Local sources said that the Ethiopian-appointed regional President Abdi Mohamoud Omar better known as Abdi Iley ordered the arrest and killing of anyone suspected of aiding ONLF in part of security swoop.

Abdi Iley reappointed infamous Omar Gamble as the Police commissioner immediately after the administration had been sustained heavy assaults by the ONLF in a bid to strike the town residents with an iron fist.

“I have seen at least 50 people that the security forces arrested and loaded on pickup trucks,” said an eyewitness who asked not to be identified.

The source added that 20 civilians that have been transferred to Guna’gado another town near Degehbur, went missing since yesterday and their fate remains unknown.’

ONLF has been fighting against Ethiopian regimes since 1984 and wants its oil and gas-rich Ogaden region to gain full Independence from Ethiopian highlanders. Peace-talk between ONLF and Ethiopia stalled in Oct 17, 2012, after the ONLF refused to accept Ethiopian constitution which it says it says the Ethiopian constitution does not concern the Somalis in Ogaden.

Mootummaan Wayyaanee Gaazexeessitoota STVO 16 Oduu fi Dokumentarii Dharaa Dubbisuu,Dhiyeessuu Dhabuu Irraa Kan Ka’e Qorannaa Hamaan Booda Hojii Irraa Dhorke.

Waxabajjii 26, 2014, Finfinnee (Qeerroo) — Mootummaan Wayyaanee bara dhufaa darbu mara Olola dharaa keessumaa ammo Raadiyoo fi Television mataa isaaf dhaabbateen dhimma bahuun ilmaan Oromoo afaanfaajjessaa, Ololaa fi Dokumentarii dharaa qopheessuudhaan bittaa Umrii isaa dheeressuuf hojjechaa ture. Gaazexeessitootni Raadiyoo fi Televiizyinii Itoophiyaas tahe Oromiyaa dhugaa argan Uummataaf himuu irra dhugaa irraa dabsuun oduu dharaa Uummataaf gabaasuu dirqamu. Sagantaan Raadiyoo fi Televiizyinii Oromiyaa dhimma Uummata Oromoo, aadaa fi duudhaa Oromoo guddisuuf dhaabbate jedhamee lallabamaa ture dhugaa Uummataa dhaloota isaa irraa kaasee osoo hin baasiin as gahe.Hojjettootni Dhaabbata kanaa yeroo mara oduu dharaa dubbisuun seenaa xuraawaa dibachuu hin barbaadne, Kan seenaan uummata Oromoo akka ukkaamamu hin barbaadne gaazexeessitootni STVO hedduumminaan Mormii dhageessisuu fi oduu dharaa hin dubbisnu jechuun wayita gaafatanitti mootummaan Wayyaanee dirqama isinitti kenname hojjettu malee kaan dubbachuu mirga hin qabdan jechuun gaazexeessitoota ilmaan Oromoo qorannaan rakkisaa turuu irraan darbee hojii irraa arii’ee jira. Gaazexeessitootni kunneen Fincila keessatti hirmaannaa qabdu, Uffata gaddaa uffattanii jirtan, dirqama keessan seeraan bahaa hin jirtan jedhamuun kan hojii irraa dhorkaman yoommuu tahu isaanis

1. Gaazexeessaa Abdiisaa Fufaa
2. Gaazexeessaa Yusuuf Warqeessaa
3. Gaazexeessaa Abdii Gadaa
4. Gaazexeessaa Darajjee Gonfaa
5. Gaazexeessaa Olaansaa Waaqumaa
6. Gaazexeessaa Baqqalaa Atoomaa
7. Gaazexeessaa Isqaa’el Aragaaw
8. Gaazexeessaa Bosonaa Dheeressaa
9. Gaazexeessaa Margaa Angaasoo
10. Gaazexeessaa Anuwaar Sirriisaa
11. Gaazexeessaa Xilahuun Magarsaa
12. Gaazexeessaa Birraa Laggasaa
13. Gaazexeessaa Zallaqaa oljirraa
14. Gaazexeessaa Abdiisaa Taganyii
15. Gaazexeessaa Ayyaanaa Cimdeessaa
16. Gaazexeessaa Kibabaw Obsaa

Yoommuu tahan Gaazexeessitootni kunneen Oduu dharaa fi olola sobaa Uummata Oromoo irratti gaggeeffamu akkasumas Dokumentarii dharaa Uummata Oromoo fi Qabsoo Oromoo irratti gaggeeffamu keessatti akkaataa dirqamni kennameen bahachuu diddan jedhamuun kan qorannoo hamaan booda hojii irraa kan arii’aman yoommuu tahu Uummata Oromoof dhugaa dubbachuuf kutannaan diina dura dhaabbachuun dirqama Oromummaa bahachuun gahee hundaa tahuu Qeerroon Bilisummaa waamicha dabarsa!

በዓለም አቀፉ የሠላም ደረጃ ኢትዮጵያ ከ162 ሀገራት 139ኛ ደረጃን ያዘች..

በፀጋው መላኩ

በየዓመቱ የየሀገራትን የሠላም ይዞታ በማጥናት ደረጃን የሚያወጣው ኢኒስቲትዩት ፎር ኢኮኖሚክስ ኤንድ ፒስ የተባለ ዓለም አቀፍ ተቋም የ2014 የዓለም ሀገራት የሰላም ደረጃ ከሰሞኑ የለቀቀ ሲሆን በዚህም ጥናቱ ከ162 ሀገራት ኢትዮጵያን በ139ኛ ደረጃ ላይ አስቀምጧል። ተቋሙ የአንድን ሀገር የሠላም ደረጃ ለማውጣት በርካታ የስኬት ማሳያዎች (Indicators) ግምት ውስጥ ያስገባል። ለዚሁ ልኬት ግብዓትነት ከሚውሉት መመዘኛዎች መካከል የውስጥና የውጭ ግጭቶች፣ አንድ ሀገር ከጎሬበቶቹ ጋር ያለው የግንኙነት ሁኔታ፣ የፖለቲካ አለመረጋጋት፣ የሽብር ተጋላጭነት፣ የወንጀል መስፋፋት እንዲሁም በእያንዳንድ አንድ መቶ ሺ ሰው በአንድ ሀገር ውስጥ ያለውን የእስረኛ ብዛትንም በመውሰድ ደረጃውን ለማውጣት በልኬትነት ይጠቀማል። ከዚህም በተጨማሪ ከአጠቃላይ ብሄራዊው ምርት አንፃር ለሚሊተሪው ዘርፍ የሚወጣውንም የገንዘብ መጠን ታሳቢ ያደርጋል። እነዚህንና ሌሎች ተጨማሪ ግብዓቶችን በማካተት ነው መረጃዎቹ ተተንትነው ደረጃ ወደ ማውጣቱ ስራ የሚካሄደው።

የየሀገራቱ ደረጃ ወጥቶ በድርጅቱ ድረገፅ እንዲሁም በዘ ኢኮኖሚስት መፅሄት ለህትመት የሚበቃ ሲሆን የዘንድሮውም ሪፖርት የ162 ሀገራትን መረጃ በመውሰድ ሰፊ ትንታኔ ከሰጠ በኋላ ኢትዮጵያ በ139ኛ ደረጃ አስቀምጧል። ተቋሙ በኤርትራና በኢትዮጵያ መካከል ሰላምም ሆነ ጦርነት የሌለበት ሁኔታ በመግለፅም በይደር የተቀመጠ ጉዳይ መሆኑንም አመልክቷል። ኢትዮጵያ ከፀጥታ ጋር በተያያዘም ከፍተኛ ገንዘብ የምታወጣ መሆኑን መረጃው ጨምሮ አመልክቷል። በዚህ የሀገራት የሰላም ደረጃ አይስላንድ የመጀመሪያውን ደረጃ በመያዝ በዓለም እጅግ ሰላም የሰፈነባት ሀገር ተብላለች። ዴንማርክ ሁለተኛ ስትሆን ኦስትሪያ የሶስተኝነትን ደረጃን ይዛለች።

ከ162ቱ ሀገራት 162ኛን ደረጃ በመያዝ በደረጃው ግርጌ ላይ የተቀመጠችው ሶርያ ናት። አፍጋስታን፣ ደቡብ ሱዳን፣ ሱዳን፣ ኢራቅ፣ ማዕከላዊ አፍሪካ ሪፐብሊክ ፣ ዲሞክራቲክ ሪፐብሊክ ኮንጎም በደረጃው የመጨረሻ ግርጌ ላይ የተቀመጡ ሀገራት ናቸው። ግብፅ 148ኛ ደረጃን ይዛለች።

ዓለም አቀፍ የሀገራት የሠላም ስኬት ደረጃ (Global peace Index) በኢንስቲትዩት ፎር ኢኮኖሚክስ ኤንድ ፒስ ተቋም በየዓመቱ ይፋ የሚሆን ሲሆን መረጃውን በማሰባሰቡ በኩል በርካታ ዓለም አቀፍ ተቋማት ሰፊ ትብብርና ተሳትፎን ያደርጋሉ። ከዓለም አቀፍ ተቋማቱ መካከል የተለያዩ የተባበሩት መንግስታት አካላትም ይገኙበታል። እንደ ኮፊ አናን እና ሊቀጳጳስ ዴዝሞንድ ቱቱን የመሳሰሉና በተለያዩ ጊዜያት ሀገራትን ከመሩ በኋላ የስልጣን ጊዜያቸውን ያጠናቀቁ መሪዎችም የሙያ አስተዋፅዖችን የሚያበረክቱበት ተቋም ነው። ተቋሙ የሀገራትን የሠላም ደረጃ የሚያወጣው 22 መስፈርቶችን አስቀምጦ በዚያ ልኬት መሰረት ነው።

ምንጭ – ሰንደቅ ጋዜጣ (በአዲስ አበባ የሚታተም)

Ethiopians In South Africa Protest Rights Abuses Back Home.

June 24, 2014 (Haberler) — About two thousand Ethiopian nationals protested in Pretoria on Tuesday to demand the South African government intervene to stop alleged human rights violations in Ethiopia.

“We the Oromo community in the Republic of South Africa humbly request the South African government, the African Union and European Union to use their good office to persuade the Ethiopian government to stop violations of human rights and killing of peaceful demonstrators,” organizer Abdurrahman Musa Jibro told the protesters.

According to Jibro, the Tigrean Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), a party that comes from the Tigrean ethnic group, has ruled Ethiopia for two decades.

He claimed that the TPLF had denied basic human rights and fundamental freedoms to the Oromo and other communities in Ethiopia.

“Their unwillingness to address basic demands of the people has recently caused popular uprising all over the country,” he said.

Jibro claimed that under the TPLF rule, human rights violations have intensified against the Oromo who make up about 45 percent of Ethiopia’s total population.

“Don’t kill Oromo People, Don’t kill Ogaden People,” protesters chanted as the convener spoke.

Jibro also questioned the agenda of the controversial “Addis Ababa master plan expansion”, which recently sparked protests by university students in Oromia regional state.

“The Ethiopian government’s response to these peaceful demonstrations and strikes has been brutal, marked with unwarranted cruelty,” he alleged.

He went on to say that many peaceful demonstrators were killed and thousands arrested across Oromia.

“We are gathered here today to condemn the killings of innocent civilians, and the detention of thousands of our compatriots by the Ethiopian regime simply for peaceful protesting against the violation of their human rights and suppressing of democratic rights” Jibro told the crowd.

Most of the Protesters carried placards which read, “Oromia not for sale”, “Stop killing Oromo students” and “Ogaden Darfur of Ethiopia”.

Protesters also handed over a memorandum to Melisizwe Bleki, an official from the office of President Jacob Zuma in which they called on the South African government and the international community to press the Ethiopian government to stop relocation of residents from their own lands and villages.

The memo also wants the international community to bring those responsible for the death of civilians to justice.

“Release all detained demonstrators and political prisoners immediately and unconditionally” the memo reads.

-Ogaden solidarity-

The Oromo protesters were joined in solidarity by their counterparts from the Ogaden region of Ethiopia, whose people are ethnic Somalis who claim they are similarly oppressed by the Ethiopian government.

For over 100 years, the Ogaden region has remained a center of conflict, as Somalis there have fought to secede from Ethiopia and establish their own country.

“Our people joined the protest to support our Oromo brothers and sisters, because we face a similar problem in Ethiopia,” Mohamed Dahir, chairman of South Africa’s Ogaden community, told Anadolu Agency.

Hajji Swaib, an elderly protester, also called for international intervention to stop what his described as Ethiopian violations against his people.

“We hope the international community will help us to stop what the Ethiopia government is doing to its own citizens,” he said.

He said he had fled from his home in Ogaden because of alleged abuses meted on his people and family by Ethiopian government troops.

“We want Justice that’s all we are asking for,” he said.

By Hassan Isilow

Wayyaaneen Shira Marsaa 3ffaa Magaalaa Amboo Irratti Gaggeessuuf Yaaleen Uummata Oromoo magaalaa Amboo fi dargaggoota Oromoon Fashale.

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Waxabajjii 22,2014 (qeerroo) - Mootummaan Wayyaanee olola afaan faajjii uumuun gaaffii mirga abbaa biyyummaa uummaanni Oromoo gaafachaa ture dhabamsiisuuf ykn sagaleen uumata cunqurfamaa akka hin dhagahameef jecha meeshaa waraanaa fi human waraanaan uumata nagaa goolaa fi jeeqaa jira.

Haala kanaan guyyaa har’aa FDG Lixa Shawaa Amboo gara dabarsuuf jecha uumata humnaan dirqisiisee karaa dabballoota isaa hiriira deggersa mootummaa wayyaanee akka bahamu yaalii gochaa ture. Hiriira humnaan dirqisiisee uummataa fi dabballoota isaa baasuun shira dalaguuf baajata guddaa fi humna waraanaa guddaa bobbaasuun shirri diinummaa magaalaa Amboo irratti gaggeeffamuuf sochii guddaa godhee ture sun  diddaa uummataa fi dura dhaabbannaa dargaggoota Oromootiin waan Wayyaanee fi aangawoonni isaanii barbaadan jalaa fashalee jira.

Wayyaaneen dabballoota garaaf bitamanii fi kanneen afaan Oromoo dubbachuu malee dhalootan Oromoo hin ta’iin walitti qabuun namoota baay’inaan 100 hin callee of dura qabuun shira abdii kutannaa uummata keenya irratti gaggeessuun hubatamera. Keessaattuu uummaanni Oromoo jiraattootni magaalaa Amboo fi dargaggoonni Oromoo guutummaatti shira diinaa kana irraa qooda fudhachuun hojii dhabuun waammicha Wayyaanee irraa qooda kan fudhatu diina uummata Oromooti jechuun jibbinsa wayyaaneef qaban ibsataniru.

Gochaa Fashistummaa Wayyaanee kana balaaleffachuu fi dura dhaabbachuuf dargaaggootni oromoo fi uummaatni Oromoo Magaalaa Amboo ganda 03 naannoo M/B Sadarkaa tokkoffaa Cariitti walitti qabamuun uummaata warraaqsa gaggeessuuf jiru homaan waraanaa magaalaa Amboo irra qubsiifameen bitineeffaman, dargaggootni Oromoo 6 humna waraanaan qabamanii mana hidhaa wajjiraa poolisii Godina lixa shawaatti darbataman.

Sochii Mootummaan Wayyaanee gaggeesite kana keessatti hoomaan waraanaa uffata of irraa baasee uummata fakkachuun akka hiriira Wayyaanee irraa qooda fudhatu dirqisifaamee, humnootni milishaa fi poolisaa illee haaluma kanaan akka ba’an qajeelfama wayyaanee hojirra olchuuf dirqaman illee gochaa kana rawwachuu irra fedhii akka hin qabnee odeessii keessa isanii ba’aa jiru ifa godhee jira. Kana malees Wayyaaneen abdii kutatee waan qabee gadhiisuu wallaale kun sabaa fi sablammoota biyyaatti jiraattoota baadiyaa fi dabbaloota Wayyaanee garaa qofaaf jiraattan baadiyaa irraa walitti qabuun xaa’oo fudhattanii galtu jechuun uummata gowwomsaa ture, Uummaanni Oromoo baadiyaa Magaalaa shira wayyaanee irratti dammaqee gaafa dura dhaabbatuu, saboota kanneen gowwomsuun olola isaa oofuuf yaalii akka godhee hubachuun danda’amera.
Qondalootni Wayyaaneef ergamanii jiraatan walga’ii maqaa hiriira baha nu deeggara Wayyaanee kana gaggeessuuf wareegaman biro bishanii fi albuudaaf energy Oromiyaatti nama Mootummaa Maqaasaa jedhamuu fi bulchiinsa Godina Lixa Shawaa wayyaaneedhaan doorsifamaa jiru nama maqaan isaa jedhamuu fi dabbaloota ilmaan TPLF maqaa isaanii dhoksuun waltajjichaa gaggeessuuf bobbaafaman yoo ta’uun, haaluma kanaan dabballootni kunneen namoota miseensota,:Waraanaa, milishaa, poolisa, sabaaf sablamoota Oromiyaa Lixa shawaa naannawaa Amboo jiraattan fi dabbaloota humnaan dirqisiifaman dabalatee namootni lakkofsaan 100 hin caallee Isteediyeemii Ambootti humna waraanaa guddaan marfamanii ololaa afaan faajjii wayyaaneen uummata Oromoo irratti gaggeessuun saaxilamee jira. Haala kana irraa Wayyaaneen Ololaa TV olola kijibaaf tolu waan waraabdu dhabdee dabballoota godinaa dorsisaa turuun ni yaadatama. Sochii kanaan walqabatee Magaalaan Amboo humna waraanaa guddaan marfamtee eegamaa jirti. Haala kanaarraa uummaanni oromoo magaalaa amboo fi nannawaa ishee gochaa diinummaa dhiiga namaadanfisuu kanatti aaruun wareegama qaalii kan faluuf qopha’aa jiraachuun sochii uummataa irraa hubatamee jira. Wayyaaneen diddaa uummata Magaalaa Amboo fi dargaggoota kanatti waan haalan yaaddoofteef dabbaloota fi garaaf bultoota, akkasumaas ilmaan saboota biroo walitti qabdee kanaan callisanii gargar bittinna’uun gara mana isaanitti akka galaan goochuun soda jiruu dabballootuma meeshaa diinaa kanaaf saaxiluun illee hubatamera.

Uummaanni Oromoo godina lixa shawaa fi Magaalaa Amboo fi naannawaa ishee sagantaa wayyaaneen fuldratti gootu kamuu dura dhaabbachuu fi lagannoo (boycotts) gochuuf dhaamsa waliif dabarsaa jiraachuun hubatamera.

UN Special Procedures Urged to Visit Ethiopia to Investigate Crackdown on Oromo Protests.

June 20, 2014 (The Advocates Post) — Today, The Advocates for Human Rights, along with Human Rights First, the International Oromo Youth Association, Oromia Support Group Australia, the Oromo Community of Minnesota, the Oromo Studies Association, and World Without Genocide at William Mitchell College of Law, sent a letter to six of the United Nations’ special procedure mandate-holders, urging them to request and conduct country visits to Ethiopia to investigate actions taken by the Ethiopian Government in response to student-led protests in the state of Oromia.

The request comes on the heels of last month’s Universal Periodic Review of Ethiopia at the United Nations Human Rights Council, where the Government of Ethiopia agreed to “grant full access to Special Rapporteurs and Special Procedures Mandate holders to visit the country, notably the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education,” and to “accept the outstanding requests for visits from the special procedures” of the United Nations.

The letter, addressed to the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, and theSpecial Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, notes that country visits from these independent UN experts “are urgently needed because no entities in Ethiopia are able to conduct independent fact-finding.”

“Moreover,” the letter notes, “the situation is grave. The June 1 death of a student in custody suggests that demonstrators are being subject to torture and other forms of ill-treatment while in custody.”

Click here to read the full letter.

More posts about the crisis in Ethiopia:

Oromo Diaspora Mobilizes to Shine Spotlight on Student Protests in Ethiopia

Ethiopian Government Faces Grilling at UN

“Little Oromia” Unites to Advocate for Justice and Human Rights in Ethiopia

Diaspora Speaks for Deliberately Silenced Oromos; Ethiopian Government Responds to UN Review

Ambo Protests: A Personal Account (reposted from Jen & Josh in Ethiopia: A Chronicle of Our Peace Corps Experience)

Ambo Protests: Spying the Spy? (reposted from Jen & Josh in Ethiopia: A Chronicle of Our Peace Corps Experience)

Ambo Protests: Going Back (reposted from Jen & Josh in Ethiopia: A Chronicle of Our Peace Corps Experience)

The Torture and Brutal Murder of Alsan Hassen by Ethiopian Police Will Shock Your Conscience (by Amane Badhasso at Opride)

#OromoProtests in Perspective (by Ayantu Tibeso at Twin Cities Daily Planet)

Ethiopia: Gross Violations of Human Rights and an intractable conflict.

Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA)

26^th Session of United Nations Human Rights Council

Geneva, Palais des Nations,

Presented By :Garoma B. Wakessa : Executive Director of HRLHA

June 19, 2014

Introduction:  It is common in democratic countries around the world for people to express their grievances/ dissatisfactions and complaints against their governments by peaceful demonstrations and assemblies.  When such nonviolent civil rallies take place, it should always be the state’s responsibility to respect and guard their citizens’ freedom to peacefully assemble and demonstrate. These responsibilities should apply even during times of political protests, when a state’s own power is questioned, challenged, or perhaps undermined by assemblies of citizens practicing in nonviolent resistance. If a government responds to peaceful protests improperly, a peaceful protest might lead to a violent protest- that could then become an intractable conflict. Government agents, most of all the police, must respect the local and international standards of democratic rights of the citizens during peaceful assemblies or demonstrations.

The Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1995), articles 29 and 30, grants democratic rights to Ethiopian citizens without distinction[1].  Under these articles, the right of thought, opinion and expression, the right of assembly, demonstration and petition are the legitimate rights of Ethiopians through which they can express their opinions and dissatisfactions with the performances and activities of their government. The UN Human Rights council 19^th Session (A/HRC/19/L.17),  on March  19, 2012 and 25^{th      Session}   (A/HRC/25/L.20,)  on  March 24,  2014   Resolutions #2 calls upon  governments to uphold their responsibilities to promote and protect human rights in the context of peaceful protests  “ States have the responsibility, including in the context of peaceful protests, to promote and protect human rights and to prevent human rights violations, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, arbitrary arrest and detention, enforced disappearances, and torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and calls upon States to avoid the abuse of criminal and civil proceedings or threats of such acts at all times;”

Full Presentation – Click HERE

ነውረኛዋና ሰላይዋ ዝማም (ኢየሩሳሌም አርአያ)

ዝማም ትባላለች፤ የሕወሐት ታጋይ ናት። ባለቤቷ አቶ ቢተው በላይ ይባላሉ። ቢተው እስከ1993 ዓ.ም የደቡብን ክልል በበላይነት ሲያሽከረክሩና ሲመሩ የቆዩ ናቸው። በመጋቢት 93 ከአቶ መለስ ጋር በተፈጠረ የፖለቲካ ውዝግብ ከሌሎች ጋር ተነጥለው ወጡ። ከዚያም ከደቡብ ክልል ፕ/ት አባተ ኪሾ ጋር በሙስና ተከሰው ዘብጥያ ወረዱ። ፍ/ቤት መቅረብ እንደጀመሩ ከጋዜጠኛ ሰርካለም ፋሲል ጋር ለዜና ዘገባ ስንመላለስ የቢተውን ባለቤት ዝማምን ተዋወቅኳት። በክልል 14 ቢሮ ተመድባ ነበር የምትሰራው። ባለቤትዋ ከታሰረ በኋላ ግን ዝቅ ተደርጋ በቀበሌ ደረጃ ተመደበች። ዝማም በርካታ ምስጢሮችን ታውቃለች። አርከበ ወደ ከንቲባነት ሊመጡ እንደሆነና ሌሎች ቁልፍ መረጃዎችን አቀብላኝ በኢትኦጵ ጋዜጣ ሰርቼዋለሁ።

..ዝማምን ዛሬ እስር ቤት የሚገኘው የደህንነት ሹም ወ/ስላሴና አየር መንገድ ያለው ሃይሌ አጠመዷት። የሕወሐት ነወረኛ ደህንነቶች ጋር መጠጥ እየተጋተች አንሶላ እንደተጋፈፈች ስገልጽ ከልብ እያዘንኩና ይህን ዘገባ ለምታነበው ሴት ልጇ እየተሸማቀቅኩ ነው። ነገር ግን ይህን ነውረኛ ድርጊቷን ባልዋ አቶ ቢተው እስር ቤት ሆኖ ያውቅ ነበር። እቤቱ ውስጥ በፓርቲው አንጃዎች ይካሄድ የነበረ ስብሰባ እየተቀረጸ አቶ መለስ ዘንድ ተልኳል። ይህ ሁሉ በዝማም የተከናወነ ነበር።… ሳይታወቅ የቆየውን “ኢየሩሳሌም አ..” የብእር ስም በመጠቆምና ለነወ/ስላሴ አሳልፋ በመስጠት የግድያ ሙከራ እንዲፈጸምብኝ ያደረገችው ዝማም ናት።

ንጉሴ የተባለ መቶ/አለቃ ተገድሎ ሬሳው ጅብ እንዲበላው የተደረገው በዝማም የሴራ ተባባሪነት ነው። (ታሪኩ ረጅም ሲሆን ይህን ጠንቅቀው የሚያውቁት መጽሃፍ ጽፈው ሲያበቁ ይህን ታሪክ አለማካተታቸው ያሳዝናል) ..እንደ ዝማም ሁሉ ባለቤትዋ ከ6 አመት እስር በኋላ ሲፈታ ያሳየው መገለባበጥ አሳፋሪ ነበር። ከአቶ መለስ ተጠግቶ የአፋር ክልል ባለስልጣን ሆነ። ከዚያም ወደ መከላከያ ኢንጂነሪንግ አመራ።ጭራሽ በዚህ ዓመት በሕወሐት የተፈጠረው ቀውስ “አስታራቂ” ሽማግሌ ሆኖ ተሰየመ። የስብሃት ተከታይነቱንም አረጋገጠ። ባልና ሚስት እጅግ የለየለት ርካሽ ቁማር የተጫወቱ ናቸው። …ባለፈው ሳምንት አንድ ወጣት ልጃቸው በሞት መለየቱን ሰማሁ። ከነርሱ ተግባር ጋር ልጁ የሚያገናኘው ነገር ስለሌለ በመሞቱ ከልብ አዝኛለሁ። ፈጣሪ ነፍስ ይማር!!

Flare-Up in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region.

June 13, 2014 (Early Warning Project) – Our statistical risk assessments continue to identify Ethiopia as one of the world’s countries at greatest risk of state-led mass killing, and recent reports of violent repression in Ethiopia’s Oromia region suggest one pathway by which that dismal but still unlikely outcome could happen.

In mid-May, Amnesty International issued a public statement calling out the use of deadly force by Ethiopian security forces against a series of nonviolent protests in Oromia that began in late April. The protesters are objecting to the part of a new development plan that envisions the expansion of the national capital region into parts of Oromia. The central government claims this change will help bring city services to remote areas, but many Oromos fear it will only lead to land grabs and evictions. According to Amnesty,

Numerous reports from witnesses, local residents and other sources indicate that the security forces have responded with excessive force against peaceful protesters. Forces comprised of the federal police and military special forces known as ‘Agazi’, have fired live ammunition at unarmed protesters in a number of locations including in Wallega and Madawalabu universities and Ambo and Guder towns, resulting in deaths in each location.

Amnesty also reported that scores of protesters have been beaten during and after protests in numerous towns in the region, and that hundreds and possibly thousands of members of the main Oromo opposition party, the Oromo Federalist Congress, have been taken to unofficial detention sites and kept there indefinitely without due process. In an official communique, the Ethiopian government acknowledged deaths in some of the towns where Amnesty reported killings but claimed it was not responsible and blamed them instead on rogue “anti-peace” forces.

This crisis is really just the latest manifestation of a deep and long-running conflict. As one Ethiopia-focused researcher sympathetic to the Oromo protesters described in a recent post on the Warscapes blog,

The brutal crackdown on the Oromo people is not new. The Ethiopian state itself has been predicated upon the expropriation of Oromo lands and held together through violent assimilationist policies, the destruction of the identity of conquered and resistant people, and economic and political exploitation of groups who are not represented in government. With each changing regime state power has been retained in the hands of minority rulers and the Oromos, who are the largest group living on the richest land, have remained the main targets of Ethiopian state repression, terrorism and discrimination. Over the last two decades alone multiple human rights organizations have released reports documenting the extent of extrajudicial killings, mass imprisonment, and torture on a massive scale, mutilations and disappearances.

Of course, most flare-ups of protest and repression like this one pass without producing episodes of mass killing in which more than 1,000 noncombatant civilians are killed. A similar eruption occurred in Oromia 10 years ago in response to another unilateral decision by the central government, that time to relocate the regional capital. Only a small number of protesters—mostly students then, too—were killed, but hundreds were detained for long periods and suspended or expelled from university. And, in a cynical sense, the repression worked; the regional capital was moved, and the wave of public protest eventually ebbed.

So far, our pool of forecasters hasn’t budged in response to these events. Since we opened a question on our opinion pool about the risk of a state-led mass killing in Ethiopia before 2015, the small number of forecasters who have weighed in on this one have pegged the risk under 10 percent, among the lowest for the (higher-risk) cases about which we ask this question, and that has barely moved in the past few months. What’s unclear is whether that’s because they expect things to follow a course similar to 2004, or because they simply aren’t aware of the recent developments.

አባ ዱላና ከንቲባ ድሪባ የቁም እስረኛ ሆኑ፣ ፓስፖርታቸው ተቀማ “የኢህአዴግ በርዕዮተ ዓለም መበላላት ይፋ እየሆነ ነው”

  አባ ዱላ ገመዳና የአዲስ አበባ ከንቲባ ድሪባ ኩማ ፓስፖርታቸውን ተነጥቀው የቁም እስረኞች መሆናቸው ከተለያዩ ምንጮች እየወጡ ያሉ መረጃዎች አመልከተዋል። የጎልጉል ምንጮች ግን ኦህዴድ ውስጥ በከፍተኛ አመራሮች ደረጃ እየተካሄደ ያለው ግምገማ ሲጠናቀቅ በርካታ ባለስልጣኖች ክስ እንደሚመሰርትባቸው ተናግረዋል።

በቀድሞው የኦሮሚያ ፕሬዚዳንት አባ ዱላ ገመዳና በአቶ ድሪባ ላይ ይህ ውሳኔ የተላለፈው አገር ጥለው እንዳይወጡ በሚል ነው። ጎልጉል በቅርቡ ካገር መውጣት የማይችሉ ባለሥልጣኖች እንዳሉ ጠቅሶ መዘገቡ ይታወሳል። ውሳኔው የተላለፈው ሰሞኑን የአዲስ አበባን አዲስ ማስተር ፕላን ለመተግበር የኦሮሚያ ክልል ከተሞች መካተታቸው ይፋ መሆኑን ተከትሎ ከተነሳው ተቃውሞ ጋር በተያያዘ ነው። ከሁለቱ ባለስልጣናት በተጨማሪ ከፍተኛ የክልልና የዞን የኦህዴድ አመራሮችም በደህንነት ቅርብ ክትትል እየተደረገባቸው መሆኑ ተሰምቷል። ካገር መውጣት የማይችሉም አሉ።

አባ ዱላ /ጃርሳው/

ሙክታር

አባ ዱላ ኦሮሚያን ሲረከቡ በማክረር አካሄድ የሚታወቁት አቶ ጁነዲን ያዋቀሩትን ካቢኔ በመበተን ሥራቸውን አንድ ብለው ጀመሩ። አዲስ ካቢኔ ሲገነቡ የመረጡት አዲስ የዩኒቨርስቲ ተመራቂዎችንና በክልሉ ውስጥ የሚንቀሳቀሱ የተቀናቃኝ (የተቃዋሚ) ፓርቲ አባላትን በማስኮብለል ነበር። ህወሃት ለሁለት በተበረገደበት ወቅት ለአቶ መለስ ቡድን ድጋፍ በመስጠት ቅድሚያ የያዙት አባ ዱላ ባስቀመጡት ውለታ መሰረት ኦሮሚያ ላይ ያሻቸውን እንዲያደርጉ የሟቹ መለስ ድጋፍ ነበራቸው። በዚህም ድጋፍ ሳቢያ ኦሮሚያ ላይ የሚፈልጉትን ሲያደርጉ ከተባረሩት መካከል የአሁኑ ፕሬዚዳንት ሙክታር ከዲር ይገኙበታል።

“አትደግፉን ነገር ግን የክልሉን ልማት አታደናቅፉ” በማለት አዲስ የመለመሏቸው የተለያየ አመለካከት ያላቸው አዳዲስ የኦህአዴድ አባላት ኦሮሚያን ከአባ ዱላ እጅ ተረከቡ። አባ ዱላ ፍጹም ነጻነት ይሰጡ ስለነበር ካድሬው ወደዳቸው። ስማቸው ተቀይሮ መለያ ተሰጣቸው፤ “ብራንድ” ሆኑ – “ጃርሳው” ተባሉ። በካቢኔያቸውና በሳቸው መካከል የነበረው ፍቅር በነደደበት ወቅት አባ ዱላ ክልሉን እንደሚለቁ ተሰማ። ባለፈው ምርጫ አባ ዱላ ለፌዴራል እንጂ ለክልል እንደማይወዳደሩ ይፋ ሲደረግ ካድሬው ገነፈለ። “የኢህአዴግ ምክር ቤትን ውሳኔ አንቀበልም” በማለት ተቃወመ። ከአንዴም ሁለት ጊዜ ስብሰባ ቢካሄድም ከስምምነት ላይ ሊደረስ ባለመቻሉ ተበተነ። በመጨረሻም ራሳቸው አባ ዱላ በመሩት ስብሳባ ካድሬውን ተማጽነው ነገሩ ረገበ። ይሁን እንጂ ቅርሾ ግን ነበር። ይህንኑ አስመልክቶ “ኦህዴድ/ኢህአዴግ በመደብ ትግል መተላለቅ ጀመረ” በማለት ዘግበን ነበር።

አባ ዱላ ኦሮሚያን ሲመሩ ቆይተው ሲመሻሸ “ይህንን ቤት ይዤ ለመታገል አይመቸኝም” በማለት ቦሌ ያስገነቡትን አስገራሚ ህንጻ ለኦህዴድ አስረከቡ። በከፍተኛ ሙስና ይታሙ ስለነበር ተናዘውና ገብረው ታለፉ። ለፌዴራል ተወዳድረው አፈ ጉባኤ ለመሆን በቁ። በወቅቱ የወ/ሮ አዜብ ድጋፍ ቢኖራቸውም የሼኽ መሐመድ ሁሴን አላሙዲን የቀኝ እጅ የሆኑ ባለስልጣኖች ግን ጠምደዋቸው ነበር። ሙክታር አህመድ አንዱና ዋናው ነበሩ። ከላይ በረከት ስምዖንና አዲሱ ለገሰ አባ ዱላን ከሚቃወሙ መካከል በግንባር ቀደምትነት የሚቀመጡ ናቸው።

በዚህ አጣብቂኝ ውስጥ አልፈው እዚህ የደረሱት አባ ዱላ ሰፊ ቁጥር ያላቸውን ተማሪዎች ህይወት የቀጠፈውን የአዲስ አበባ ማስተር ፕላን አስመልክቶ አምቦ ዩኒቨርሲቲ ተገኝተው ተማሪዎችን ከወ/ሮ አስቴር ማሞ ጋር በመሆን አነጋግረው ነበር። በወቅቱ የተማሪዎቹ ጥያቄ ፍትሃዊ እንደሆነ ሲመሰክሩ፣ ይህንኑ ምስክርነታቸውን ለተለያዩ የአገር ውስጥና የውጪ አገር ሚዲያዎች አሳውቀውም ነበር። አያይዘውም ነፍስ ያለ አግባብ ያጠፉ እንደሚጠየቁ ቃል ገቡ።

የጎልጉል ምንጮች እንዳሉት አባ ዱላ ይህንን ከተናገሩ በኋላ ከፍተኛ ወቀሳ ተሰንዝሮባቸዋል። “ረብሻውን ያስነሱት ራሳቸው የኦህዴድ ካድሬዎች ናቸው” ከሚል ድምዳሜ የደረሰው ኢህአዴግ ችግሩ ከተፈጠረ በኋላ ሰፊ የስለላ ስራ አከናውኗል። “ጥፋተኞቹን ለህግ እናቀርባለን” በማለት መግለጫ ያወጣው ኢህአዴግ በቀጣይ የሚያስራቸውና የሚከሳቸው ባለስልጣኖች አሉ። ምንጮቹ በተለይ አባዱላና የአዲስ አበባ ከንቲባ የሆኑት አቶ ድሪባ ኩማ ላይ ስለሚወሰደው ርምጃ ያሉት ነገር ግን የለም። ክስ ከተመሰረተባቸውና ምርመራው በሰንሰለት ታች ድረስ ከዘለቀ የኦህአዴድ የታችኛው መዋቅር ሊናጋ እንደሚችል ግን ግምታቸውን አኑረዋል። ለምሳሌ ያነሱት ሽፈራው ሽጉጤን ነው። ሽፈራው ሽጉጤ በሙስና እንዲከሰሱ ከተወሰነ በኋላ የታለፉት “የሲዳማ ብሔረሰብ ይነሳል” በሚል እንደሆነ ያወሱት ምንጮች “ክስ ተመስርቶ ምርመራው ቢካሄድባቸው ወ/ሮ አዜብም አሉበት ሲሉ አስቀድመው በምክር ቤት ይፋ በማድረጋቸው ዝምታ ተመርጧል”።

ኦህዴድን ወደ ታች ማዘዝ እንደ ቀድሞው አይቀልም

አዲስ አበባን የሚያሰፋው አዲሱ ማስተር ፕላን ተግባራዊ እንዲሆን ሀሳብ ሲቀርብ ድፍን የኦህዴድ ምክር ቤትና ካቢኔ ተቃውሞ አሰምቷል። በክልሉ ምክር ቤት ደረጃም የተያዘው አቋም ተመሳሳይ ነው። ይህንን እውነት የሚያነሱ ክፍሎች ኢህአዴግ/ህወሃት ስንቱን አስሮና ለፍርድ አቅርቦ ይችለዋል ሲሉ ጥያቄ ይሰነዝራሉ” ቀደም ሲል በምርኮኞች ስብስብ የተቋቋመው ኦህዴድና አሁን ያለው ኦህዴድ የተለያዩ መሆናቸውን ኢህዴግ ችግር ሊገጥመው እንደሚችልም ግምታቸውን ያስቀድማሉ።

አሁን ያለው ኦህአዴድ ከምርኮ አስተሳሰብ የተላቀቀ። አዲስ ትውልድ የተካተተበት፣ በጎሳ አስተሳሰብ የተቃኙ፣ ህወሃት በሚፈልገው መጠን ከመታዘዝ በላይ ወደ ራሳቸው ደምና ጎሳ የተሳቡ፣ ይህንኑ አስተሳሰብ እስከ ቀበሌ መዋቅር ድረስ የተከሉ በመሆናቸው የተወሰኑ የበላይ አመራሮችን በማሰር ችገሩ ሊፈታ እንደማይችል ሰፊ አስተያየት እየተሰጠ ነው። ለዚህም ይመስላል ኢህአዴግ በመደብ መተላላቅ መጀመሩ ይፋ እየሆነ የመጣው።

የመጨረሻው መጀመሪያ

ለጊዜው ይፋ ሆኑ መረጃዎች እንደሚያመክቱት አባዱላና አቶ ድሪባ ኩማ ካገር መውጣት አይችሉም። የተጀመረው ግምገማ ተጠናቆ የሚሆነው ሳይታወቅ በቅርብ ክትትል ስር ናቸው። የጎልጉል ምንጮች እንደጠቆሙት የዞንና ወረዳ መዋቅሮች ላይ ርምጃ ለመውሰድ  ስጋት አለ። ካድሬው ዘንድም መደናገጥ ተፈጥሯል። ህወሃት ውስጥም የአቋም መለያየት ተከስቷል፡፡ በአንድ ወገን ካድሬው እንዳይሸፍትና በቀጣዩ ምርጫ ኢህአዴግን አሳልፎ እንዳይሰጠው ርምጃው የተለሳለሰ መሆን አለበት እየተባለ ነው። በሌላ በኩል ደግሞ ግለ ሂስ በማካሄድ ነገሩን የማርገብና ምርጫውን የማለፍ ስልታዊ አካሄድ አለ። ይሁን እንጂ ኦህዴድ እየተለማመደ ያለው አካሄድ ሌሎችን ትምህርት በሚሰጥ መልኩ ካልታረመ ወደ ፊት ችግሩን ያገዝፈዋል የሚል አቋም የሚያራምዱ መኖራቸው ታውቋል። ህወሃት በዚህ ደረጃ አቋም ለመያዝ አለመቻሉና በርዕዮተ ዓለም መከፋፈል መጀመሩ ለዓመታት በኢትዮጵያ ውስጥ የዘራው መርዝ መልሶ ራሱን ሊያጠፋው አፉን መክፈቱ የሚጠቁም ነው፡፡ በመሆኑም በአሁኑ ወቅት “ኢህአዴግ በርዕዮተ ዓለም መበላላት መጀመሩ ይፋ እየሆነ ነው” የሚለው ከተለያዩ አቅጣጫዎች የሚነሳ ዓቢይ ጉዳይ ሆኗል፡፡