Press Release, Declaration, Signing & Public Meeting on the Establishmen...

Document from the Ethiopian government’s Intelligence Unit (document acquired by HRLHA) lists some 131 Oromo Nationals as targets, including Mr. Dabassa Guyo, who’s listed at the #1 target (see the full list below).

BREAKING NEWS | Document from Ethiopian Govt Lists Oromo Wisdom-Keeper Dabassa Guyo as #1 Target; List Contains Some 131 Oromo Nationals in Kenya as Targets, Including Oromo Artists

The following statement of Urgent Action and Appeal on the case of Mr. Dabassa Guyo, the recently disappeared Oromo Gadaa Wisdom-Keeper, and other Oromo refugees and asylum-seekers in Kenya, is from the Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA); HRLHA is a non-political organization (with the UN Economic and Social Council – ECOSOC – Consultative Status), which attempts to challenge abuses of human rights of the people of various nations and nationalities in the Horn of Africa.

Kenya: Oromo Refugees and Asylum-Seekers are at Risk

HRLHA’s Urgent Action and Appeal

October 25, 2015

For Immediate Release

(Contact Details:- Appeal To: The President of the Republic of Kenya, Your Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta; WEB:http://www.president.go.ke; TEL: +254 733 330 080; +254 20 2227 436; +254 724 256 522; +254 203 247000; LINK: @UKenyatta on Twitter; PO. Box 74434-00200 Nairobi, Kenya)

Your Excellency,

First of all, the Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) would like to express its appreciation to the people of Kenya and to its government for their hospitality and kindness towards thousands of Oromo and other refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled their homes to escape government persecutions in Ethiopia, and who are now residing in different parts of the Republic of Kenya, including in the capital city, Nairobi. From the early 1990’s, when the TPLF government came to power, to the present, hundreds of thousands of Oromo and other nationals have run away from arbitrary violent detentions, degrading tortures and killings in Ethiopia to save their lives by seeking refuge in the Republic of Kenya and other neighboring countries.

However, the Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) expresses its deep concern regarding the safety of all Oromo national refugees and asylum-seekers presently residing in the Republic of Kenya because of the document it recently received from its informants. The document was written by the Ethiopian government agency, the so-called “Anti-Terrorist Unit,” and sent to the government of the Republic of Kenya. It addresses the bi-lateral agreement signed by both countries in 2012.

In this communiqué [see attachment herein], the Ethiopian government’s “Anti-Terrorist Unit” reminds the government of the Republic of Kenya of the bi-lateral agreement made between the two countries in 2012, an agreement that expresses issues of common interest, such as terrorism, on which both countries should find a common solution. The communiqué discloses the names of 131 Oromo Nationals, and their addresses and telephone numbers in Nairobi and in different township areas; the agency claimed the source of its information was the Ethiopian intelligence unit. In the names listed among the 131 Oromo Nationals in this communiqué is Mr. Dabassa Guyo, an Oromo cultural legend who recently disappeared in Nairobi. His name was at the top of the list (#1).

The full list of Oromo refugees and asylum-seekers in Kenya identified as targets by the Ethiopian government (document acquired by HRLHA):

The disappearance of Mr. Dabassa Guyo Safarro is disheartening and HRLHA is deeply shocked.

Mr. Dabassa Guyo Safarro, age 80, a resident of Mololongo, Kenya, for more than thirty-five years disappeared on September 27, 2015, in Nairobi. The HRLHA is highly suspicious that the disappearance ofMr. Dabassa Guyo Safarro is connected with the campaign of Ethiopian authorities labelling Oromo refugees in Nairobi as terrorists. HRLHA also suspects that Mr. Dabassa Guyo Safarro is being held in Nairobi, or might have been deported to Ethiopia. In either case, the Kenyan authorities have an international legal obligation to not hand over Ethiopian refugees and asylum-seekers residing in their territory to the Ethiopian government, and need to disclose the whereabouts of Mr. Dabassa Goya Safarro to his family and the public – and give the reason for his arrest.

In case Mr. Dabassa Guyo Safarrohas been handed over to Ethiopia, it should be noted that the Ethiopian government has a well-documented record of gross and flagrant violations of human rights, including the torturing of its own citizens who were involuntarily returned to the country. The government of Ethiopia routinely imprisons such persons and sentences them to life in prison, and often imposes the death penalty. There have been credible reports of physical and psychological abuses committed against individuals in Ethiopian official prisons and other unofficial or secret detention centers. Under Article 33 (1) of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (189 U.N.T.S. 150), to which Kenya is a party, “[n]o contracting state shall expel or forcibly return a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his … political opinion.” This obligation, which is also a principle of customary international law, applies to both asylum-seekers and refugees, as affirmed by UNHCR’s Executive Committee and the United Nations General Assembly. By deporting refugees, the government of the Republic of Kenya will be breaching its obligations under international treaties as well as customary law.

1. Under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1465 U.N.T.S. 185), to which Kenya agreed in 1997, Kenya has an obligation not to return a person to a place where they face torture or ill-treatment. Article 3 of the Convention Against Torture provides: No state party shall expel, return (“refouler”) or extradite a person to another state where there are substantial grounds to believe that they would be in danger of being subjected to torture.

2. For the purpose of determining whether there are such grounds, the competent authorities shall take into account all relevant considerations including, where applicable, the existence in the state concerned of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights. We strongly urge the government of Kenya to respect the international treaties and obligations it has signed and ratified.

Therefore, HRLHA would like to draw the attention of Western governments, the UN Human Rights Council, the EU Human Rights Commission, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as other regional and international human rights organizations and NGOs to these worrisome safety situations of Oromo refugees in the Republic of Kenya and take all necessary actions against:

– The Ethiopian government to refrain from labeling its citizens asterrorists who are resisting its dictatorial administration;

– The government of the Republic of Kenya should not collaborate with the Ethiopian dictatorial government to criminalize the Oromo and other refugees and asylum-seekers currently living in its territory.

Background Information:
The Kenyan government is well known for handing over refugees to the Ethiopian government by violating the above mentioned international obligations. It is very disheartening to recall that Engineer Tesfahun Chemeda, who was tortured to death on August 24, 2013, in Ethiopia’s grand jail of Kaliti, was handed over to the Ethiopian government’s security agents in 2007 by the Kenyan government. Tesfahun Chemeda was arrested by the Kenyan anti-terrorist forces, along with his close friendMesfin Abebe, in 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya, where both had lived as refugees since 2005. Both were later deported to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government detained them in an underground jail in a military camp for over one year, during which time they were subjected to severe torture and other types of inhuman treatments until when they were taken to court and charged with terrorism offenses in December 2008. They were eventually sentenced to life imprisonment in March 2010. (Mesfin’s death sentence was later commuted.) The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) is highly concerned for the safety and security of Mr. Dabassa Guyo Safarro, who disappeared in Nairobi on September 27, 2015, whose name along with the above listed refugees was also labeled by the Ethiopian government as terrorists and those who are still living in Kenya. It urges the government of Kenya to respect international treaties and obligations, and to not cooperate with the Ethiopian unfounded allegations and disclose the whereabouts of Mr. Dabassa Guyo Safarro. The Kenyan government should also reject the unfounded allegations of Ethiopian government against Oromo national refugees and asylum-seekers residing in Kenya.

HRLHA requests the governments of the Western countries as well as international organizations to interfere in this matter so that the whereabouts of Mr. Dabassa Guyo are disclosed, and the safety and security of the refugees of those currently staying in Kenya are ensured.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. Please send appeals to the President, the Kenyan Parliament, and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kenya and its concerned officials as swiftly as possible, in English, or your own language;

2. Urge the authorities of Kenya to ensure that Mr. Dabassa Guyo Safarro is treated in accordance with regional and international standards on the treatment of prisoners;

3. Urge the authorities in Kenya to completely reject the unfounded allegations of the Ethiopian dictatorial government about Oromo refugees living in Kenya.

Copied To:

Kenyan Parliament Office
Address: City Square, Nairobi, Kenya
Phone: +254 20 2221 291
Fax: (254-2) 2243 694
E-mail: clerk@parliament.go.ke

Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs
Address: PO Box 56057-00200, Co-operative Bank House, Nairobi
Phone: +254 20 224029/24033
Fax: +254 20 316317

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR)
Mr. Antonio Guterres
Case Postale 2500 CH-1211 Geneve 2 Depot Suisse
E-mails: infoDesk@ohchr.org; GUTERRES@unhcr.org

The UNHCR Representation in Kenya
P.O. Box 43801-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 41 22 739 7280
E-mail: kenna@unhcr.org

Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 917 9022
(particularly for urgent matters) E-mail: tb-petitions@ohchr.org

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)
48 Kairaba Avenue, P. O. Box 673, Banjul, The Gambia
Tel: (220) 439 29 62; (202) 437 20 7; (202) 437 77 21; (202) 437 77 23
Fax: (220) 439 07 64
E-mail: achpr@achpr.org

Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights Council of Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, FRANCE
+ 33 (0)3 88 41 34 21; + 33 (0)3 90 21 50 53

U.S. Department of State
Short Echalar Julie A – shortJA@state.gov
Trim, Vernelle, Ethiopian Desk Officer – trimvx@state.gov

Oromo Free Speech: In Pictures: The Public Meeting Called Following t...

Oromo Free Speech: In Pictures: The Public Meeting Called Following t...: The Peoples’ Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (PAFD), a coalition of five  national  liberation struggles in Ethiopia: the Benishangul Pe...

VIVA OLF, OROMO LIBRATION FRONT

BREAKING NEWS | Five National Liberation Struggles in Ethiopia Form Alliance, PAFD (Oromo, Benishangul, Gambela, Ogaden & Sidama) | Press-Release, Declaration and Photos from the Founding Congress

Press-Release, Declaration and photos from the Founding Congress of Peoples’ Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (PAFD), a coalition of five national liberation struggles in Ethiopia: the Benishangul People’s Liberation Movement (BPLM), the Gambela People’s Liberation Movement (GPLM), the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Sidama National Liberation Front (SNLF) – in Oslo on October 23, 2015

Press Release: The Founding of Peoples’ Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (PAFD)

Delegates of Benishangul People’s Liberation Movement (BPLM), Gambella People’s Liberation Movement (GPLM), Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Sidama National Liberation Front (SNLF) met in Oslo, Norway from 22 October to 23 October 2015 to lay the foundation of political alliance between the peoples in Ethiopia and have formed the Peoples Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (PAFD).

The PAFD will create an opportunity for all peoples in Ethiopia to co-create a transitional political order that is based on the consent of all peoples, where the outmoded hegemonic culture of a single group dominating the rest is dismantled and a new just political order is established, where the respect of the right to self-determination is genuinely granted to all.

PAFD will conduct diplomatic, advocacy, information and other campaigns to change the current undemocratic political culture and oppressive system in Ethiopia.

PAFD will have a Governing Council (GC) composed of representatives of the political leadership of the founding organisations and members representing the civil societies of the respective communities.

The Governing Council will elect an Executive Committee (EC), a chairperson and two vice-chairpersons that rotate yearly among the organization members. The Executive Committee will be the standing committee and will have the bureaus of diplomacy, organization, finance, information and others.

PAFD call upon all peoples in Ethiopia to join the alliance and support it in order to end the suffering and dehumanization of all peoples in Ethiopia by the current government. PAFD call upon the regional and international communities, to play a positive role in diffusing this looming danger by supporting the peoples in Ethiopia rather than the illegitimate government before it is too late.

Finally, PAFD call upon the current government in Ethiopia to refrain from all acts of violence, respect human rights, obey the rule of law, and commit to peaceful and democratic resolution of political conflicts.

Issued by PAFD

Oslo, Norway
October 23, 2015

Contacts:

PAFD email: PAFD22102015@gmail.com

– BPLM +2917296477
– GPLM +12042185988
– ONLF +447940624477
– OLF +4797357264
– SNLF +44 7984480752

Final Press Release: The Founding of Peoples’ Alliance or Freedom and Democracy (PAFD)

October 24, 2015By Qeerrooin Oduu/NewsOctober 23, 2015

Delegates of Benishangul People’s Liberation Movement (BPLM), Gambella People’s Liberation Movement (GPLM), Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Sidama National Liberation Front (SNLF) met in Oslo, Norway from 22 October to 23 October 2015 to lay the foundation of political alliance between the peoples in Ethiopia and have formed the Peoples Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (PAFD).

The PAFD will create an opportunity for all peoples in Ethiopia to co-create a transitional political order that is based on the consent of all peoples, where the outmoded hegemonic culture of a single group dominating the rest is dismantled and a new just political order is established, where the respect of the right to self-determination is genuinely granted to all.

PAFD will conduct diplomatic, advocacy, information and other campaigns to change the current undemocratic political culture and oppressive system in Ethiopia.

PAFD will have a Governing Council (GC) composed of representatives of the political leadership of the founding organisations and members representing the civil societies of the respective communities.

The Governing Council will elect an Executive Committee (EC), a chairperson and two vice-chairpersons that rotate yearly among the organization members. The Executive Committee will be the standing committee and will have the bureaus of diplomacy, organization, finance, information and others.

PAFD call upon all peoples in Ethiopia to join the alliance and support it in order to end the suffering and dehumanization of all peoples in Ethiopia by the current government. PAFD call upon the regional and international communities, to play a positive role in diffusing this looming danger by supporting the peoples in Ethiopia rather than the illegitimate government before it is too late.

Finally, PAFD call upon the current government in Ethiopia to refrain from all acts of violence, respect human rights, obey the rule of law, and commit to peaceful and democratic resolution of political conflicts.

Issued by PAFD

Oslo, Norway
October 23, 2015

Contacts

PAFD22102015@gmail.com

1. ONLF +447940624477;
2. OLF +4797357264;
3. GPLM +12042185988;
4. SNLF +44 7984480752;
5. BPLM +2917296477

Oromo Voice Radio (OVR) Broadcast- 24 October 2015

Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo 2013 - Oslo, Norway

TPLF has been in-boxing me - Jawar Mohammed

TPLF propagandists have been inboxing me with the list of cabinet members appointed last week. The message being 'look at the fair representation. Eg. OPDO 9 ministerial posts while TPLF has just 3'. Don't kid yourself.The TPLF controls all positions that matter, meaning the the four core pillars of power that holds up any government i.e. military , intelligence , economy foreign affairs. Each of these are still in the hands of TPLF.-The military is still commanded by Gen Samora Yunus ( the defense ministry is a ceremonial post as reported by US embassy cables)- The intelligence, an exclusive domain of Tigreans, is led by Getachew Asefa (EC member of TPLF) - Foreign affairs belongs to Tedros Adhanom seconded by Birhane Gebrekiristos- Debretsion Gebremichael is in charge of the 'economic cluster' which another word for controlling all other ministries dealing with economy ( finance, trade, mining, etc). The highest position OPDO got is that of Finance and economic cooperation ( Abdulazix Mohammed). This ministry too falls under the control of Debretsion.So TPLF might have expanded to cabinet posts to 30 in order to spear positions among its puppet parties yet the reality stays the same. TPLF still controls every pillar of power that actually matter when it comes to running milking the country and protecting its power. They needed to fake representation so much that they created a ministry in charge of fish!! They might fool the non-existing fish industry but not the population that has watched their game for the last 25 years.

Ethiopian court acquits bloggers of terrorism charges

Court throws out case against four bloggers accused of planning attacks and collaborating with "terrorist organisation".

Four Ethiopian bloggers were acquitted of terrorism charges after 18 months in jail, a case widely condemned by rights groups as an assault on press freedom.

The bloggers were accused of planning attacks and collaborating with US-based opposition group Ginbot 7, labelled a terrorist organisation by Ethiopian authorities.

"They shouldn't have stayed in prison for so long - 539 days - in fact, they shouldn't have been prosecuted in the first place," defence lawyer Amha Mekonnen said on Friday after the court ruling.

"The court said all the evidence presented was very weak to prove they were planning any kind of terrorism - the court connected their writings to freedom of expression," Mekonnen said.

Three of the jailed - Atnaf Berhane, Abel Wabella and Natnail Feleke - were said to be freed from custody on Friday.But another journalist, Befekadu Hailu, while being acquitted of terrorism charges, remained in custody on charges of inciting violence, a crime that carries a sentence of up to 10 years.

A fifth blogger, Soleyana Gebremichael, is in exile, and was acquitted of all charges in absentia.

Six bloggers from the Zone 9 website were arrested in April 2014 and charged with terrorism for having links to an outlawed group and for planning attacks.

Two were released in July 2015 after charges were dropped, alongside three other journalists.

The courtroom was crowded with friends and family, with many crying as charges were dropped.

"I have a bittersweet feeling - they spent a year and six months in prison for doing nothing, we spent a year and three months for nothing," said journalist Tesfalem Waldyes, who was released from prison in July, but came back to court to hear the verdict on Friday.

"On charges of terrorism? This absurd, this whole thing is absurd." Waldyes said.

Long overdue

Rights groups have criticised Ethiopia's anti-terrorism legislation for being vaguely worded and used to stifle peaceful dissent.

Tom Rhodes from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which lists Ethiopia as the "second-worst jailer of journalists in Africa", said he was "jubilant" at the news.

"This is long, long overdue since the prosecution clearly had no evidence against them," Rhodes said.

"I hope this may be a sign that the government may ease off on the other cases still ongoing."

Radio Afuura Biyyaa Onkoleelessa 5, 2015