Friday, December 31, 2021
Saturday, December 25, 2021
Monday, December 20, 2021
Breaking News: Tigray forces withdraw from Afar and Amhara to ‘open window for peace’
Breaking News: Tigray forces withdraw from Afar and Amhara to ‘open window for peace’: In a letter to the UN sent yesterday, Tigray president Debretsion Gebremichael said he had ordered
Breaking News: Ethiopia’s multiple fresh airstrikes over three towns in Tigray kill 18 civilians while Tigray eyes for peace
Breaking News: Ethiopia’s multiple fresh airstrikes over three towns in Tigray kill 18 civilians while Tigray eyes for peace: Ethiopia conducts yet another airstrikes with armed drones and fighter jets in Tigray’s capital,
Saturday, December 18, 2021
Friday, December 17, 2021
Reports of Mass Detentions, Killings, and Forced Expulsions in Western Tigray
PRESS STATEMENT
The United States is gravely concerned by unconfirmed new reports alleging mass detentions, killings, and forced expulsions of ethnic Tigrayans in western Tigray by Amhara security forces. The UN reports that 1.2 million people have been forcibly displaced from western Tigray since the beginning of the conflict in November 2020. We call on Amhara leaders to renounce violence against civilians. We also reiterate our call on Eritrea to remove its forces from Ethiopia. We urge the Ethiopian authorities to investigate these reports to determine their veracity and to commit to inclusive, transparent processes to hold responsible those accountable.
We call on all armed actors in Ethiopia to renounce and end violence against civilians. We also reiterate our call for a cessation of hostilities, an immediate end to human rights abuses and violations, negotiations without preconditions, unhindered humanitarian access, and the start to an inclusive national dialogue.
ABBA GADAA UNION SAYS MISSING MEMBER OF KARRAYYU GADAA LEADERSHIP DEAD, DOZENS UNDER CUSTODY
https://addisstandard.com/news-abba-gadaa-union-says-missing-member-of-karrayyu-gadaa-leadership-dead-dozens-under-custody/?fbclid=IwAR1PZwtJj99XQmjNjAwOMxiwvj2JzhW33kBLoXdAvWGfYZFvqvQgOhCSTug
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Abiy Ahmed can’t deceive Africa in the name of ‘Pan-Africanism’
Abiy Ahmed can’t deceive Africa in the name of ‘Pan-Africanism’: By Mark
We commonly hear these days the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, his supporters and propagand
UN: Drivers of Humanitarian Aids Trucks Held by Hijackers
UN: Drivers of Humanitarian Aids Trucks Held by Hijackers: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that drivers of eighteen trucks of humanitaria
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
UN Human Rights Council set to convene on Ethiopia for the 17th December; furious Ethiopia calls it ‘regrettable’
UN Human Rights Council set to convene on Ethiopia for the 17th December; furious Ethiopia calls it ‘regrettable’: The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) this Friday will hold a special session to address "the grave hum
Monday, December 13, 2021
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Thursday, December 9, 2021
#AbiyMustGo
#Ethiopia CPJ says 'Ethiopia biggest setback for media freedom in Sub-Saharan Africa'; Two journalists shot dead, a dozen remain behind bars in 2021
In its 2021 report on the global status of press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists ranked Ethiopia among the worst jailers of journalists in Sub-Saharan Africa after Eritrea. The report that was released today revealed that in Ethiopia in 2021, one journalist was killed and nine remain in prison.
An earlier report that released yesterday and focused on Ethiopia, the CPJ also noted the suspension of Addis Standard in July 2021, assaults and intimidation on members of the press, the expulsion of at least one foreign journalist for war coverage and an internet disruption among the setbacks for the media.
The CPJ detailed that numerous journalists have been arrested in the country since the start of the war in Tigray a year ago where nine reporters were still in custody on December 1. “Six were arrested in November as the conflict escalated and the government imposed harsh emergency laws. CPJ documented multiple other press freedom violations throughout the year,” the report read.
Monday, December 6, 2021
Sunday, December 5, 2021
Saturday, December 4, 2021
Monday, November 29, 2021
US voices concern over military escalation in Ethiopia
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/110325/US-voices-concern-over-military-escalation-in-Ethiopia?fbclid=IwAR2og_VjUtinrMRPn54SrdjTuPRtTm8JjUVQvKe38H9vXFeFfa55oApE05g
Sunday, November 28, 2021
‘I just need to know these people are OK’: CNN’s Nima Elbagir on frontline reporting
‘I just need to know these people are OK’: CNN’s Nima Elbagir on frontline reporting: The award-winning journalist is this year's Peter Stursberg Foreign Correspondents Lecturer
CBC
Saturday, November 27, 2021
Statement by the Oromo Community of Minnesota - On the situation of Oromo political prisoners in Ethiopia
Statement by the Oromo Community of Minnesota - On the situation of Oromo political prisoners in Ethiopia.
************************************************************
Ethiopia is currently embroiled in a fully-fledged civil war. Years-long deadly fighting started in the northern part of the country between the Ethiopian government led by Abiy Ahmed and the allied forces, TPLF, and the Oromo Liberation Army are fast approaching Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa. The international media, such as the BBC world, CNN, are reporting on the situation unfolding in Ethiopia citing the crisis looming large. Fearing imminent military showdown over the capital and ensuing chaos, the United States has called on its citizens to leave Ethiopia immediately. The US has decided to repatriate non-essential staff of the US embassy in Addis Ababa and also dispatched the Horn of Africa Special Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman in a bid to facilitate a negotiated settlement to the conflict. So far, the Ethiopian government has turned down a peaceful approach and continues to pursue the military path despite sustaining significant battlefield loss against advancing rebel forces. As a last desperate attempt to hold off the advancement of rebel forces, the Ethiopian government has called upon all able civilian citizens to take the arm and fight the rebel forces. We members of the Oromo community of Minnesota are deeply concerned by the escalating military conflict and irresponsible move of militarizing the society on the side of the Ethiopian government.
While we appreciate the diplomatic effort of the US government to end the conflict through dialogue and negotiation, we are dismayed by the lack of attention and concern to release detained Oromo political prisoners including Jawar Mohammed, a long-time resident of Minnesota. As per the account of family members of political prisoners, recently (November 18, 2021) there has been an attempt to make unlawful intrusion into their prison cell by federal police forces without prior notice to prison guards in what could be considered an assassination attempt. We feared some rogue elements within the government who wanted to exploit the current security crisis, owing to ongoing civil war that may cause harm to our political leaders.
As the fighting is approaching the capital, we are concerned that the life and safety of Oromo political prisoners are at stake. We have a well-founded fear that either the government or individuals who have animosity emanating from political and ideological differences could harm the political prisoners. We want to bring to your attention at this juncture that these political prisoners received credible life-threatening threats from their political adversaries before and after their arrests. Against this background, we are pleading with the US government to take action to ensure the safety and security of Oromo political prisoners. Importantly, we request the US government to call for the immediate release of Oromo political prisoners and participate in a post-Abiy Ahmed political settlement.
Therefore, we ask the US government
1. To issue a public statement calling for the release and safety of the Oromo political prisoners.
2. To call on the International Humanitarian Organizations such as the ICRC to ensure the safety and wellness of the Oromo political prisoners.
3. In collaboration with like-minded international actors to ratchet up pressure on the Ethiopian government to release Oromo political prisoners.
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Friday, November 12, 2021
Ethiopia’s Tigray is under a ‘systematic’ blockade: WHO chief
Ethiopia’s Tigray is under a ‘systematic’ blockade: WHO chief
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also said Tigrayans across the country were being profiled and arrested by the thousands.
Monday, November 8, 2021
Saturday, November 6, 2021
Thursday, November 4, 2021
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
#AbiyMustGo
OLF Press Release on the Mobilization of Peoples of Ethiopia into Senseless War
OLF Press Release – November 3, 2021
It is distressing to see the Ethiopian peoples in general and the Oromo people in particular are unwillingly trapped into endless war and conflicts for more than a century. Since the formation of Ethiopian empire, the country remained the home of internal conflicts. In these vicious circles of conflicts, the majority of Ethiopia peoples were victims of war for more than a century long. Particularly the Oromia people, which is peace-loving society, having deep-rooted tradition of solving any sort of conflicts peacefully, had been the most victimized society under the endless war of the Ethiopian ruling system. The selfish nature of consecutive dictators of the Ethiopian ruling regimes, who mostly come to power by the armed military force, had plunged the Oromia citizens and other Ethiopians into war and conflicts from generation to generation. This Authoritarian type of political system packed with elements of dictatorial regimes had put the Ethiopian peoples into continuous war and conflict and left the country without shred of civilization and economic development.
The Oromo people had been persistently resisting these conflict- driven ruling system for more than a century. Particularly since the OLF started consolidating the Oromo national struggle for self-determination 50 years ago, huge sacrifices had been made to change the dictatorial and conflict-driven system into democratic governance. In this journey, the Oromia citizens, particularly the Oromo youth, has paid heavy sacrifices to change the empire system into peaceful and democratic governance.
However, the consecutive Ethiopian regimes, particularly the current Prosperity Party has chosen the war line and continued reproducing conflicts after conflicts and trapping the Ethiopian peoples in endless war. OLF denounces this repeated extension of war. In this regard, the OLF seriously denounces the recent call of the Oromia Regional Government (aka Oromia Prosperity Party) to intensify war against opposition groups. This last minute’s call of ‘every able body to fight’ has no contribution to the peace and security of the country but designed to keep the Prosperity Party officials in power at the expense of human lives. The OLF believes that sending innocent youngsters to the senseless war is committing crime against this generation. We strongly denounce this generational crime and believe the mobilization of civilians for this dangerous war has no positive outcome but will be additional loss of people’s lives and destruction of country’s resources.
We would strongly advise the citizens of Oromia to reject the recent call- to- fight issued by Oromia Regional Government and instead ask the Oromia citizens to focus on building their regional governance and defending their regional territory. In this regard, we call the Oromia citizen to strengthen their regional governance and solidify the structure of the Oromia National Regional State Transitional Government and protect themselves. Every citizen of Oromia must clearly understand that the widespread conflicts orchestrated by PP ruling group may engulf into Oromia regional state whereby the defenders must be only the Oromia citizens and its armed forces, nobody else. We also call upon the Oromia citizens to maintain and strengthen peaceful co-existence with its neighboring regions and peoples.
The OLF want to use this opportunity to remind the TPLF and its force TDF to respect the sovereignty of the Oromo People and refrain itself not to enter into Oromia territory militarily. We hope the reason of our reminder will be understood.
We would like to advise the Ethiopian peoples to denounce any call that intensify conflicts among peoples and instead focus your attention to peaceful way of reestablishing Federal Republic Governance involving multi-nation societies and work together for peace and stability and organize free and fair election that reflect the long aspirations of Ethiopian peoples.
We urge the international communities to step up for seeking genuine and all involving peaceful solution to multifaceted crisis in Ethiopia and pressure all the stakeholders for peace and security and to establish a transitional system that paves the way for all-inclusive political dialogue.
Victory to the Masses!
Oromo Liberation Front
November 3, 2021
Finfinnee
Sunday, October 31, 2021
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Monday, October 18, 2021
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Monday, October 4, 2021
Sunday, October 3, 2021
Saturday, October 2, 2021
Sunday, September 26, 2021
#Ethiopia: Travel: Illubabor, a land of unimaginable beauty that is unknown, underdeveloped
#Ethiopia: Travel: Illubabor, a land of unimaginable beauty that is unknown, underdeveloped
By: Etenesh Abera
The evergreen and dense Yayo coffee forest has more than 450 plant species including wild coffee, spices alongside different indigionous trees. The forest is also home for 50 mammals, 30 bird species and 20 amphibians. Researchers also revealed that more than 100 endemic species of plants, birds and mammals are found in Yayo.
Sadly, 40 plant species, two mammals and two bird species are under the threat of extinction. The biosphere contains small rivers like Geba, Dogi, Saki and Sese which discharge to the Baro River, the main tributaries of the White Nile after joining Phibor in east South Sudan and becoming the main tributary for the Sobat River in Northeastern South Sudan.
According to a research paper reviewed by Addis Standard, Yayo coffee forest is unique, having the highest number of wild coffee trees in Ethiopia, being the most intact and undisturbed forest, its coffee breed being genetically diverse and related to other wild coffee breeds across Ethiopia, and having direct link to ancient Arabica type C breed.
Yayo forest coffee biosphere is surrounded by seven woredas. As of research the local community surrounding the forest are residing in the transitional zone of the forest. Semi forest coffee production areas, small coffee plantations, garden coffee and grazeland are the main sources of income for the local community. Production of honey and spices are other sources of income.
Monday, September 13, 2021
Saturday, September 4, 2021
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Saturday, August 28, 2021
#OromoLibrationFront
OLF is Troubled to Believe the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission Reports
OLF Press Release – August 27, 2021
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) claims to be an independent agency charged with promoting human rights and investigating human rights abuses in Ethiopia. However, we repeatedly observed that some of the reports and press releases are biased, and politically motivated. We believe that an autonomous human right organization must conduct independent, professional, and unbiased human rights duties and excel its public responsibility in fair and impartial manner. We also believe that it is good practice to corroborate investigation from various sources including field data in relevant regions, gathering information from sources that may include “families of victims, eyewitnesses, and residents of the places of violation”, from government authorities as well as referring to national and international human rights laws to verify atrocities.
But unfortunately, we see lack of appropriate investigation methodology, independence, and professionalism from the top leader of the EHRC and its staff. It is obvious that the EHRC is government affiliated body and the leadership at the top have their own political motives and ethnic preferences that influence their practices in excelling their responsibilities in a professional way. From careful observation of past reports, we see that some statements are biased, mostly where the conflict hotspots were between Amhara and other nations and nationalities such as Oromo, Benishangul -Gumuz, and Tigray. According to the information we received from residents (that can be verified by consulting people in the local areas), the facts incorporated into some EHRC reports were compiled based on consultation with the government authorities who carry out the atrocious themselves. The investigations ignore accounts of actual victims in some areas. This lack of data corroboration, unfairness and lack of professionalism had been demonstrated in many investigations and reports of the commission. Most of the reports were either biased or misleading the public about the facts on the ground. Also, sometimes, the commission ignores reporting major human rights abuses that took place in some areas that might not attract the interest the officials of the commission. Also, we observe that, at times, there were lack of keeping confidentiality and anonymity of informants that might expose some individuals to further atrocities by the government agents. In general, it appears that the Chief Commissioner of EHRC and his personnel are intentionally producing politically and ethnically motivated reports.
Although we saw many biased and misinforming reports in the past, the Press Release issued yesterday, August 26, 2021, has particularly grabbed our attention. The report clearly shows that the EHRC has implicitly concealed the merciless atrocities of the Amhara militias and government forces on Oromo civilians and exaggerated / highlighted the Amhara victims. The report stated that the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) has killed 150 Amhara residents in East Wallaga Zone, Gidda Kiramu Woreda. The report also highlighted that the killing was ethnically motivated against Amhara people. However, as we verified from the actual victims and residents in the areas, the EHRC press release issued on 26 August 2021 fails to mention the political drama that took place few days before the incident. As it had been done several times in the past, the government agents and allied forces had organized a political drama few days before the fight started. The aim was to campaign against the OLA operating in the area. Two days before the incidents, armed Amhara Special Forces from Amhara region crossed the Abbay river and deployed to the places known as Gidda Ayana, Kiramu, Hagamsa and Amuru-Jartee -Woredas. The first-round of their mission was to evacuate Amhara women and children from these areas. In the meantime, the Government cut telephone lines and networks in the area to block communication and information leakage and to prepare for the hidden massacre. The second mission was to conduct the actual war and to kill as many civilians as possible in the area and to spread false propaganda on the media for political gain by labelling the OLA as if they conducted ethnic targeted killings. After the children and women had been evacuated, the Amhara militias, in collaboration with government forces, come back in large number armed with heavy weapons and opened fire on Oromo residents in places known as Wast, Siredoro, Hagamsa, and Haroo/ Lalisee towns. The fight continued for three days, and they killed a large number of Oromo civilians. This massacre was not mentioned in the EHRC report, but the Amhara killings were highlighted in the report and put to various media outlets to blackmail the OLA. Therefore, OLF consider that the press release issued on 26 August 2021 stating the killings of 150 Amharas in East Wallaga was biased, incomplete and untrue.
OLF express its condolence for civilians and their families that might have been affected in this conflict. In addition, we want to make clear that our information on the actual number of people killed in the conflict is to be verified as it is difficult to identify figures in the short period of time as the conflict in the areas still escalates.
Therefore, we call for independent investigation into this incident report of EHRC issued of 26 August 2021 regarding the OLA and Oromo people in stated regions so that it will be clear to the Oromo and Ethiopian peoples as well as to the international community.
We would like to inform all media including BBC Oromo program to be cautious reporting this biased report of the EHRC and refrain from misinforming the public. Instead, we advise them to verify the facts from the victims themselves.
We ask the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and related human rights watch groups to monitor the activities of the EHRC and scrutiny its credibility so that the institution will be able to function according to the UN Human Rights Council standards and Human Rights guiding principles and practices. The UNHRC must confirm that the EHRC demonstrate their professionalism, fairness, and equitable campaign for all Ethiopia peoples.
Finally, we advise the EHRC to carry out its public duties according to the UNHRC standards and guiding principles and free itself from biases of ideology, political views, and ethnic preferences.
Victory to the Masses!
Oromo Liberation Front.
August 27, 2021
Finfinne, Oromia
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Monday, August 16, 2021
Thursday, August 12, 2021
#AbiyMustGoEthiopi
Circumstances around the death of Attorney Abduljebar Hussien:
1. Abdulajabar is a fearless and selfless attorney who currently co-represents (along other attorneys) high profile political prisoners including Jawar Mohammed, Bekele Gerba, Hamza Borena et al.
Abduljabar’s recent case was that of Lidetu Ayalew (a non-Oromo political prisoner). He represented Lidetu and fought for him before Supreme Court of Oromia. Lidetu managed to get released after so many political interferences from Abiy Ahmed’s administrations.
2. Today, we heard news of Abdulajabar Hussien’s body found dead. Autopsy isn’t done yet. However, here is what we know so far.
A. Two strangers (a male and female) called the phone of Abduljabar’s wife. They called her to tell her the news. They said “We found the body of your husband.” The wife doesn’t recognize the strangers and their phone number.
Possibly, they might have had access to his phone contact list; or this could be a premeditated act in which they have already dug her number from external sources!
B. Abduljabar’s phone is always on strict security lock. He uses a highly secured and complex pattern to unlock his phone. This is a matter of fact.
C. The strangers’ phone was off forthwith. Any attempt to call back didn’t go through.
D. About a week ago, Abduljabar’s wife received a death threat from stranger via phone call. “Atis Abbaan manaa kee ni argattu.” Translation: “you and your husband will get it one of these days” was the threat message.
E. Abduljabar spent the afternoon before his death at one of his closest friend, who is a professor. When Abduljabar left his friend’s house in the evening.
F. His body was found dead on a route he never uses to get to his house in Adama.
G. His body was taken to Rift Valley university hospital. Nothing is visibly seen on his body, according to the hospital’s doctors.
H. His body is now en route to government operated St. Paul hospital in Addis Ababa.
Abduljabar is a brilliant Oromo person, a friend, former colleague who served as Judicial Trainer at Oromia judicial training center and also Supreme Court Judge of Oromia before starting his own solo practice, where he represents high profile Oromo and non-Oromo political prisoners.
Rest In Peace Jabboo!
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
Saturday, July 31, 2021
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Saturday, July 24, 2021
Oromo Liberation Front
Using Children for War is A futile but Criminal Act by Desperate Remnant PP Group
OLF Presse Release- July 23, 2021
The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) was repeatedly raising its gravest concerns about the Ethiopian ruling group declaring war on its own citizens. We were stressing that it is not only unconstitutional but also the war that cannot be won. Instead, the OLF was demanding peaceful settlement of the conflicts to the political crises. However, sadly, the outlawed Prosperity Party (PP) ruling group continued fighting Ethiopian peoples and opposition parties for the last three years. The PP ruling group kept on thinking that the war would produce a solution to the existing crises in the country.
It is obvious that the Government of Dr. Abiy Ahmed has been defeated in all internal wars in Oromia, Benishangul-Gumuz and Tigray regions. This led to the weakening of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and deteriorated its warring capacities. Also, the manpower supply for the army is depleted as most of the Ethiopian peoples believe that the war declared on the citizens is unjustified and meaningless. At this juncture, it became crystal clear that anyone in Ethiopia with normal conscience does believe that the conventional war undergoing against the Ethiopian peoples is totally unacceptable. It is not only the civil population who do believe that the war is meaningless but also the ENDF members themselves and associated Militias who went to the war front are regretting about their actions in this unjust war. However, the PP ruling group is still determined to the war effort against peoples’ need.
As a last resort for their survival, the PP group turned to children who don’t understand anything about the war and its consequences. According to tangible information we receive from different parts of the country, the PP group is forcing most underaged children below 15 years old for military training and preparing them for war. Most of the children they are conscripting are from poor sector of our society who are shoe polishers, daily laborers and those looking for manual labor work to earn their daily bread. They forcefully recruit these children by giving them false and misleading information promising them job. As we speak the PP armed forces are conscripting several children from Ambo prison, Dalattii (Sabbata) prison, Sululta, Burayyu and different locations including from streets and individual homes. Also, we are receiving reliable information that similar recruitments of child soldiers are taking place in other parts of the country.
Currently many of these children enlisted from central Oromia are kept in concentration camp at Sandafa College from where they will be transferred to Military training Centers. After they have been taken to the military training camps, they don’t have option to escape as they will be thwarted by armed forces.
The OLF would like to stress that this act of forced recruitment of underaged children for war is not only morally wrong, but it is also against the national and international laws. For example, the convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (2002) all forbid armed forces and non-state armed groups from using children under the age of 15 directly in armed conflict (technically "hostilities"). Other regional and international laws prohibit child soldiers as children are vulnerable victims of the society and suffer a broad range of human rights violations and abuses, including their right to life and subject to warring zone violence and other forms of torture.
We, therefore, condemn this act and call up on the Oromia citizens, other Ethiopian peoples and the international community do their best to stop this criminal act. We observe that parents, different community groups and political organizations are making efforts to protect the children from these hostilities. However, it may be difficult for them as the child conscription is enforced by the PP armed groups.
Therefore, we urge citizens of Oromia and other Ethiopian peoples to organize themselves, strengthen their unities and defend the children from this evil act of the PP ruling group. Particularly, we ask the political parties’ structure, Oromo Youth (Qerroo/Qarree) structure, and the administration of the Oromia Regional National Transitional Government (ORNTG) to work hard to protect these children. We also appeal to the international communities to do their best in their capacities to investigate and prosecute those who recruit and use children for war as this is now recognized as a war under international laws.
Finally, we would call up on the Oromia citizens and other Ethiopian peoples stand in unison to avoid the current wide spectrum devastative acts of the PP group that would lead the country to more irreparable crises.
Victory to the Masses!
Using Children for War is A futile but Criminal Act by Desperate Remnant PP Group
OLF Presse Release- July 23, 2021
The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) was repeatedly raising its gravest concerns about the Ethiopian ruling group declaring war on its own citizens. We were stressing that it is not only unconstitutional but also the war that cannot be won. Instead, the OLF was demanding peaceful settlement of the conflicts to the political crises. However, sadly, the outlawed Prosperity Party (PP) ruling group continued fighting Ethiopian peoples and opposition parties for the last three years. The PP ruling group kept on thinking that the war would produce a solution to the existing crises in the country.
It is obvious that the Government of Dr. Abiy Ahmed has been defeated in all internal wars in Oromia, Benishangul-Gumuz and Tigray regions. This led to the weakening of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and deteriorated its warring capacities. Also, the manpower supply for the army is depleted as most of the Ethiopian peoples believe that the war declared on the citizens is unjustified and meaningless. At this juncture, it became crystal clear that anyone in Ethiopia with normal conscience does believe that the conventional war undergoing against the Ethiopian peoples is totally unacceptable. It is not only the civil population who do believe that the war is meaningless but also the ENDF members themselves and associated Militias who went to the war front are regretting about their actions in this unjust war. However, the PP ruling group is still determined to the war effort against peoples’ need.
As a last resort for their survival, the PP group turned to children who don’t understand anything about the war and its consequences. According to tangible information we receive from different parts of the country, the PP group is forcing most underaged children below 15 years old for military training and preparing them for war. Most of the children they are conscripting are from poor sector of our society who are shoe polishers, daily laborers and those looking for manual labor work to earn their daily bread. They forcefully recruit these children by giving them false and misleading information promising them job. As we speak the PP armed forces are conscripting several children from Ambo prison, Dalattii (Sabbata) prison, Sululta, Burayyu and different locations including from streets and individual homes. Also, we are receiving reliable information that similar recruitments of child soldiers are taking place in other parts of the country.
Currently many of these children enlisted from central Oromia are kept in concentration camp at Sandafa College from where they will be transferred to Military training Centers. After they have been taken to the military training camps, they don’t have option to escape as they will be thwarted by armed forces.
The OLF would like to stress that this act of forced recruitment of underaged children for war is not only morally wrong, but it is also against the national and international laws. For example, the convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (2002) all forbid armed forces and non-state armed groups from using children under the age of 15 directly in armed conflict (technically "hostilities"). Other regional and international laws prohibit child soldiers as children are vulnerable victims of the society and suffer a broad range of human rights violations and abuses, including their right to life and subject to warring zone violence and other forms of torture.
We, therefore, condemn this act and call up on the Oromia citizens, other Ethiopian peoples and the international community do their best to stop this criminal act. We observe that parents, different community groups and political organizations are making efforts to protect the children from these hostilities. However, it may be difficult for them as the child conscription is enforced by the PP armed groups.
Therefore, we urge citizens of Oromia and other Ethiopian peoples to organize themselves, strengthen their unities and defend the children from this evil act of the PP ruling group. Particularly, we ask the political parties’ structure, Oromo Youth (Qerroo/Qarree) structure, and the administration of the Oromia Regional National Transitional Government (ORNTG) to work hard to protect these children. We also appeal to the international communities to do their best in their capacities to investigate and prosecute those who recruit and use children for war as this is now recognized as a war under international laws.
Finally, we would call up on the Oromia citizens and other Ethiopian peoples stand in unison to avoid the current wide spectrum devastative acts of the PP group that would lead the country to more irreparable crises.
Victory to the Masses!
Oromo Liberation Front.
July 23, 2021
Finfinne
July 23, 2021
Finfinne
Thursday, July 22, 2021
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Friday, July 16, 2021
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Friday, July 9, 2021
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Sunday, July 4, 2021
I Didn’t Expect to Make It Back Alive’: An Interview With Tigray’s Leader
I Didn’t Expect to Make It Back Alive’: An Interview With Tigray’s Leader
Friday, July 2, 2021
Thursday, July 1, 2021
Ethiopia is falling apart, but Abiy still has a choice
Ethiopia is falling apart, but Abiy still has a choice
NEWS: AFAR COUNCIL OF OPPOSITION PARTIES COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ELECTION, DEMAND A RE-ELECTION
NEWS: AFAR COUNCIL OF OPPOSITION PARTIES COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ELECTION, DEMAND A RE-ELECTION
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Tigray rebels vow to drive out ‘enemies’ after retaking Mekelle
Tigray rebels vow to drive out ‘enemies’ after retaking Mekelle
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