#OromoProtests

More than 30 killed in Ethiopia protests: opposition

Opposition party says at least 33 protestors shot dead by security forces in Oromia region and dozens detained.

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Protests accusing the government of unfairly distributing wealth have also hit the capital [File: Reuters]

At least 33 people were shot dead by security forces in Ethiopia at the weekend in protests linked to an aborted government attempt to commandeer local land, opposition party officials said.

Police fired tear gas and blocked roads to several towns in the vast Oromia region as demonstrations erupted after a call from a spontaneous social media movement.

Ethiopian authorities had imposed a blanket internet blockade over the weekend.

Oromia saw unrest for several months until early this year, sparked by plans to allocate farmland in the region surrounding the capital for development.

Authorities scrapped the land scheme in January, but protests have flared again over the continued detention of opposition demonstrators.

At the weekend, protesters chanted anti-government slogans and waved dissident flags. Some demanded the release of jailed opposition politicians.

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READ MORE: The 'Ethiopia rising' narrative and the Oromo protests

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"So far, we have compiled a list of 33 protesters killed by armed security forces that included police and soldiers but I am very sure the list will grow," Mulatu Gemechu, Deputy Chairman of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress, told the Reuters news agency.

The deaths took place in at least 10 towns across Oromia, he said, including Ambo, Dembi Dolo, and Nekemt - areas that were engulfed by previous rounds of protests.

"Twenty-six people have also been injured, while several have been detained," Mulatu said. Three members of his party were also being held, he said.

Government officials were not immediately available for comment, Reuters said.

The state-owned Ethiopian News Agency said "illegal protests" staged by "anti-peace forces" had been brought under control, but it did not mention casualties.

Oromia is the second region to be hit by unrest in the past few days. In Amhara, at least two people were killed in the ancient city of Gonder in clashes over the status of a disputed territory.

Tensions have been rumbling for two decades over the status of Wolkayt district - a stretch of land that protesters from Amhara say was illegally incorporated into the neighbouring Tigray region to the north.

#OromoProtests

63 killed and well over 100 wounded in Ethiopia since yesterday

Documented figures by different political party officials and eye witness accounts indicate that at least Sixty-three civilians are killed and over hundred are wounded in connection with peaceful protest that happened in Ethiopia since Saturday.

Today, Voice of America Amharic Service spoke to locals in Bahir Dar, opposition party officials and government authorities regarding the incident that left Ethiopia with a considerably high death toll of civilians.

Oromo Federalist Congress ( one of the main opposition parties in the country) leader told VOA Amharic Service that thirty-six people are killed in central, South East, and South Western parts of Ethiopia following planned and announced peaceful protest on August 6 and August 7. Estimated number of wounded people in that part of the country is said to be 60 based on reports on social media.

Bahir Dar

Located 560 Kilometers to the North West of Ethiopia, Bahir Dar City has had recurrent bloody days in the past three years and all are related to actions on the part of the government – directly or indirectly. In 2014 for example, a single deployed Federal police member killed 12 civilians to the shock of the city.

And Peaceful protests in Bahir Dar have claimed lives before.

But today was none like other in a number of ways. Turn out was unprecedentedly high as people outside of Bahir Dar marched to the city to join the peaceful protest. So too was the number causalities on the part of peaceful protesters. VOA report indicates that the killing was started when security forces shot a kid who is believed to be about 11 years of age.

According to All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP), at least 20 civilian deaths are recorded. AEUP accused the government of killing civilians when it is rather supposed to address peaceful demands raised by the people through dialogue.

However, numbers from locals is much higher ; 27 dead and 50 wounded just in the morning of August 7.

Reports in social media identified one of the victims as Abebe Geremew who was apparently making a living as tourist guide. His picture is shared by many facebook users. borkena is unable to verify the identity of the victim at this point in time.

Graphics prepared by Ethiopian Activists to honour all those killed by TPLF forcessince yesterday

Government authorities have a different number, much lower than what locals reported. They claim that the number of civilians killed is only seven and it happened when “government tries to maintain peace,order and the rule of law.” The culprit, for the government, is “internal and external anti-peace forces.” The language used by government so far was “terrorists”

The peaceful demonstrations across the country were huge and no opposition parties or entities called or organized them.

Activists say , and they cite deployment of heavy artillery including tanks in Bahir Dar and other towns in North Western Ethiopia and the number of civilians killed in the conflict, the ruling Tigray People’s Liberation Front is moving along the direction of committing genocide against the Amharas.

Apart from phone, internet and social media black out, foreign journalists, for example from Aljazeera, were not allowed travel to Bahir Dar to report on the peaceful protest which triggered speculation that government is trying to hide genocide like operations against Amhara.

A bank owned by Oromos in Bahir Dar city is reportedly burned down. Oromo and Amhara activists, who seem to be building stronger solidarity that ever were quick to condemn the government for the damage on the bank and they saw it as purely the work of government to instigate conflict between Amharas and Oromos.

#OromoProtests

‪#‎OromoProtests‬ While TPLF is trying to keep the country in the dark through internet blackout, the country is descending int anarchy. We are receiving phone calls and sms with information of complete anarchy in many parts of the country. Soldiers are shooting people every where and the public is destroying government institutions including homes of officials. Just mention one case, a young man named Falma was killed in Qarsa town, Arsi yesterday. When people gathered to mourn his death, soldiers came and informed them that mourning in more than 5 people. Those gathered at the home of martyred were so angry that they marched on government office and destroyed. later the army arrived and shot and wounded 5 people.

The regime might think its restoring fear through use of such violence but its hardening the civilians.

#OromoProtests

6 killed in anti-government protests in Ethiopia: Locals

Sun Aug 7, 2016 6:5AM

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Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, August 6, 2016. (Photo by Reuters)

At least six people have reportedly lost their lives and dozens of others been detained in anti-government protests in Ethiopia.

The fatalities were announced by locals, who said they occurred during two days of rallies on Friday and Saturday as hundreds of protesters clashed with police in Ethiopia’s northern region of Gondar, located 700 kilometers north of the capital, Addis Ababa.

Authorities in Ethiopia have yet to confirm the death toll.

Sources said some 500 people also gathered on the capital’s main square despite heavy police presence, expressing their anger with what they said was an unfair distribution of wealth in the East African country.

“We want our freedom,” and “Free our political prisoners,” the protesters shouted.

The rallies were reportedly called by opposition groups from the main Ethiopian ethnic group, namely the Oromo people.

“This is a mass movement of civil disobedience, which is not organized by political parties,” said Merera Gudina, the chairman of the Oromo People’s Congress, a political party representing the Oromo people.

“People are totally fed up with this regime and expressing their anger everywhere,” he added.

A policeman attempts to control protesters chanting slogans during a demonstration in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, August 6, 2016. (Photo by Reuters)

Ethiopia’s prime minister, Haile Mariam Desalegn, had already announced a ban on demonstrations, saying the move would threaten national unity, and calling on police to use all means at their disposal to prevent them.

At least a dozen people had been killed in recent weeks during clashes with police over territorial disputes regarding the expansion of the municipal boundaries of Addis Ababa into Oromia, the region where the Oromo people are concentrated.

The move could result in farmers from the Oromo ethnic group being displaced and losing their land and property.

The Ethiopian government was forced to revoke the expansion project in January but sporadic protests have continued in the region. 

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'Several killed' as Ethiopia police clash with protesters

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• From the sectionAfrica

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionRallies have continued across Ethiopia despite a protest ban announced on Friday

Several people are feared dead in clashes in north-western Ethiopia between police and anti-government protesters, amid a wave of unrest.

On Friday police arrested dozens of demonstrators during massive rallies in the capital, Addis Ababa.

Since last November the government has been facing protests from the two largest ethnic communities over alleged human rights abuses and other issues.

Authorities have banned demonstrations and blocked social media.

Despite the ban, people took to the streets in several parts of the country for a third consecutive day on Sunday, Emmanuel Igunza reports from Addis Ababa.

The worst violence took place in the north-western city of Bahir Dar in the Amhara region - the homeland of the Amhara people.

Police used tear gas and fired in the air to disperse thousands of people who had blocked roads and chanted anti-government slogans.

Unconfirmed reports say several people were killed. One resident told the BBC he had seen a friend being shot in the head by security forces.

The Oromo protests and Ethiopian unity

Overnight protests continued in the Oromia region, which surrounds Addis Ababa, with police arresting dozens of people.

The unrest was sparked last November by a plan to expand the capital into Oromia. This led to fears farmers from the Oromo ethnic group, the largest in Ethiopia, would be displaced.

The plan was later dropped but protests continued, highlighting issues such as marginalisation and human rights.

Oromo activists say police have killed hundreds and arrested thousands of people from their community in recent months.

#OromoProtests

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37004725?SThisFB

Hiriira Guddicha Mormii Oromiyaa - Bilsummaa Oromoof

#OromoProtests

‪#‎OromoProtests‬ ALERT: We are hearing ongoing mass killing including assassination of prominent businessmen in Awaday and other Oromo towns. It is very hard to fully verify what we hear via telephone as internet is completely shut off in Ethiopia, and electricity is cut off from most towns in Oromia. The whereabout of hundreds of university lecturers, doctors and businessmen is unknown by their parents. A prominent businessman named Sheko was assassinated by the military in his own home in Aawaday. If the influx of information is confirmed, a systematic ethnic cleansing, if not genocide is being committed against the Oromo. The Oromo around the world must be prepared to hear the worst and respond in kind.

#OromoProtests

Anti-government protests grow in Ethiopia

Edith Honan in Nairobi

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©Reuters

Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration in Meskel Square in Addis Ababa

Scores of people were arrested in Ethiopia on Saturday in a wave of anti-government protests that rocked the capital Addis Ababa and dozens of other towns in the restless region of Oromia.

Images posted on social media showed huge demonstrations in the capital and other cities. Activists said the protests could mark a possible turning point in the nine month campaign against the government.

Fisseha Tekle, an Amnesty International researcher who is based in Kenya, said the police and the army were using live bullets to disperse the protesters.The dynamic had shifted and people are now calling for the downfall of the government,” said Jawar Mohammed, who runs the Oromo Media Network in the US state of Minnesota and said he was in regular contact with protesters in multiple cities. “This is by far the biggest demonstration that Ethiopia has seen in terms of size and co-ordination across Oromia.”

The demonstrations were sparked last November in protest against a move to extend the municipal boundaries of Addis Ababa into Oromia, which straddles much of the centre and south of the country and includes the capital. But they have grown in intensity in response to a fierce government crackdown.

The Oromo make up about 40 per cent of Ethiopia’s 90m people but they believe they are marginalised by the Tigrayan ethnic group, which dominates federal institutions despite comprising only about 6 per cent of the population.

In a report released in June, Human Rights Watch said that at least 400 people had been killed and thousands more injured since the protests began.

However, Ethiopia’s communications minister Getachew Reda said that Saturday’s protests were “illegal” and that “scores” of people had been arrested in the restless region.

Mr Reda denied suggestions that security personnel had used live gunfire, but said armed protesters were “trying to arm-twist the security forces into shooting” and “destroying private and public property.”

Independent efforts to reach protesters in Ethiopia were unsuccessful. The Ethiopian government has severely restricted access to the internet and social media in the Oromia region, making it hard to verify reports of protests.

But images showing bloodied bodies of protesters were circulated on social media using the hashtag #oromoprotests.

A massive demonstration was held in Gondar last Sunday, a city in the northern region of Amhara, to express solidarity with the Oromo and to express other grievances. It was the first time a major protest had broken out in another part of the country.

#OromoProtests

‪#‎OromoProtests‬ TARKAANFII ITTI AANU

Kabajamtoota ilmaan Oromo,

Hunda dura, lammiilee keenya kan bilisummaa Oromoofi Oromiyaatiif falmachuudhaaf murteessanii hiriira guyyaa har'aa kanarratti hirmaachuun lubbuu isaanii lamuu hin deebine aarsaa godhanii jannata hawwaa, seenanan saba kana barabaraan haa yaadatun jedha. Firaafi maatii isaaniitif jajjabina haa laatu jenna. Itti aansuun ilmaan Oromoo miliyoonotaaan golee Oromiyaa hundarraa magaalota 200 ol keessatti murannoofi tokkummaan baatanii diina bargaanfachiiftanii saba keenyatti kabajaa hortaniif galanni keessan bilisummaa Oromiyaa haa ta'u jenna. Qondeessitonni keenya kan guyyoota shan qofa keessatti hiriira guddinaafi gurmaa'ina kana fakkaatu argamsiisuu dandeessan, sabni isiniin boonee jira; kana daranhoojachuu akka dandeessanis shakkii malee mirkaneessitanii jirtan. Isin waliin qabsaa'uun ulfina.

Hiriira kanarraa injifannoo gurguddaatu argame. Ummanni keenya doorsisa Wayuyaneefi ergamtoonni isaanii godhaa turan irra aanuun sodaa tokko malee bifa qindaayeen mirga isaatiif falmachuuf bahuun injifaannoo tokko. Ummanni keenya rakkoo biyya sanii karaa nagayaatiin furuuf hiree dhumaa ifaan ifatti kennuun boru balaan fedhe yoo bu'e komii kamiiyyuu afaan keessa akka qabsiifnu hiree nuuf kenne. Ummanni Oromoo guutuu Oromiyaa keessatti waamicha yeroo gabaabaatiin bifa qindaawaafi tokkummaa qabuun socho'uu akka danda'u mirkaneessuun akeeka hiriira kanaa keessaa tokko. Kun dhibbaan dhibbatti galma gahee jira. Tarkaanfilee itti aansinee fudhachuu qabnuufis humna qabnu madaallee ofitti amanamummaa akka horannuuf faaydaa guddaa qaba.

Gaafin garaa namuutuu yeroo amma jiru 'maaltu itti aana' kan jedhu akka ta'e shakkin hin jiru. yaanni amma booda qabsoon nagayaa hin deemsisuu gara hidhannootti dabruu qabna jedhu jabaatee dhufee jira. Kun yaada sirriiti. Garuu ummata hanqina hidhannoo qabu, kan tarsiimoofi caasaa waraanaatin hin jaaraminiin ka'iitii mootummaadhaan walwaraani jechuun gaaga'ama bu'aa hin qabneef saba saaxiluu ta'a. Kanaafu cehuumsa tarsiimoo amma hanga ammaa irraa gara kan biraatti godhamuuf akka yaada ka'uumsaatti kan armaan gadii kana dhiheessina. .

1) Mormiin diddaa baatii saglan dabreef godhaa ture bifa daran qindaawaa ta'eefi tooftaalee haaraya dabalateen itti fufuu qaba.
2) Qabsoon nagayaa ( civil disobedience) hanga ammaa godhame tarkaanfilee diina ofirraa ittisu ( self defense action) dabalataa dhufuu qaba. Ammarraa eegalee duuti balbala Oromoo qofa osoo hin taane kan diinatis dhadhawuu eegaluu qabdi. Tarkaanfiin ittisaa kanneen armaan gadii kana dabalata
a) Bofa ajjeesuuf mataa isaa tumuun eegala. Kanaafuu Qondaalota siyaasaafi waraanaa Wayyaanee ol'aanoo ummanni keenya akka ajjeefamuuf ajaja dabarsan irratti tarkaanfiin ni fudhatama. Tarkaanfiin adda durummaan loltoota, poolisootaafi hojjattoota Oromoo sirnchia tajaajilan kan qondaalota kana argachuuf hiree qabaniin raaw'atama.
b) Milishaafi poolisii ummata ajjeesu kamiyyuu irratti adabbiin walmadaalaan ni fudhatama
c) Loltoota Agaazii ummata shoorarkeessan tooftaalee dahanaa kanneen wareegama gama keenyaa xiqqeessanin nagaya dhoorguu barbaachisa. Bakka isaan kopha kophaa ykn namoota muraasaan socho'anii nyaatan, taphatan,bulaniifi oolanitti haleeluun jiilchuu barbaachisa.
3) Tarkaanfilee ofirraa ittisuu armaan olitti tarreeffaman kana hojitti hiikuuf hidhannoof rasaasni ummata keenyaaf saffisaan dhaqqabuu qaba. Kana milkeessuuf loltoonni ummanni keenya karaa danda'e hundaan ( fkn milishaa irraa hiikkachuun, bitachuun) hidhannoo harkatti galfachuu qaba. Dureeyyin biyya keessaafi ummanni biyya alaa leeccaloo gumachuun ummata hidhachiisuu qabu. Akkasumas poolisoonnif qondaalonni siyaasaa sirnicha tajaajilaa jiran kan ummata isaanitiif aantummaan itti dhagahamu haalota meeshaaleen waraana dhunfannaa mootummaa jala jiran harka qabsaa'ota Oromoo itti galan mijeessuu danda'u. Kunis kan too'annaa isaanii jala jiru dabarsanii kennuun dabalatee bakkoota kuusaa meeshaa waraanaa akeekuun ta'uu danda'a. Walumaagalatti garuma danda'ame maraan, biyya keessaayis ta'ee biyyoota alaarraa meeshaan waraanaa saffisaan harka Oromoo galuu qaba. Kana milkeessuun fuulleffannaa guddaa ( top priority) ta'uu qaba.

4) Caasaan fi waajjiraaleen bulchiinsaa Oromiyaa keessa jiran tajaajila ummata kennuu dhiisin meeshaa ukkaamsaaf cunqursaa ta'uun tajaajilaa jiran. Caasaaleefi waajjiraalee kana hiree argame hundaan barbadeessuun humna sirnichi qabu laamsheessuuf hedduu barbaachisaadha. Kanaafuu tarkaanfiin waajjiraalee bulchiinsaa irratti godinoota garii keessatti eegale bal'inaan itti fufuu qaba.
5) Adaduma tarkaanfiin Oromoon fudhatu cimaa deemuun humni waraanaafi bulchiinsa sirnichaa laaffataafi diigamaa deema. Baniinsa ( security and administrative vacuum) uumamu kun rakkoo akka hin uumneef caasaan bakka bu'u jaaramaa deemuu qaba. Bakka caasaan bulchiinsaa guututti diigametti, caasaan ummataa haaraan cinaatti ( parallel structure) jaaramuu qaba. Akkasumas kufaatii diinaa saffisiisuufi nagayaa fi tasgabbii ummataa eegsisuuf humni waraanaa biyyooleessaa bifa gurmaa'eefi tarsiimoo qoratamaan masakamu jaaramuu qaba. Waranni kun loltoota bilisummaa Oromoo bifa garagaatiin gurmaa'anii jiran, dargaggoota diinarraa qawwee hiikachuun iddoo garagaraatti gurmaa'anii socho'an akkasumas ilmaan Oromoo mooraa diinaa keessa sabatti dacha'niin jaarama.

6) Hojiilee armaani olitti kaafne kana qindeessanii galmaan gahuuf hawaasni siyaasaa ( political community) Oromoo mataa walitti qabachuu qaba. Kana galmaan ga'uuf ji' Fulbaanaa as deemu kana Waltajii Hogganoota Oromoo ( All Inclusive Oromo Leadership Summit) kan geggeessitoonni jaarmayaalee siyaasaa, hawaasaafi amantii akkasumas hayyoonni, abbootiin qabeenyaafi aartistoonni irratti hirmaatan ni taa'ama. Waltajjiin kun akeeka lama qabaata. Kan duraa Wixinee Oromoofi Oromiyaan garafuulduraa ittiin bulan ( Oromian National Charter) kan marii hirmaattotaatin bilchaatee raggaasifme qopheessa. kan lammataa dhaabbilee qabsoo kana xumuruufi bulchiinsa Oromiyaa bilisoomteetif bu'ura ta'uu danda'an jaara. Fakkeenyaaf garee diplomaasii keenya bifa waaltayeen geggeessu, kan gargaarsa ummata miidhamee ( humanitarian aid) bifa waaltayeen qindeessu faa of akka dhaabbatuuf haala mijeessa. Koreen waltajjii kana qopheessu yeroo gabaa keessatti dhaabbachuun hojii isaa saffisaan akka geggeessu taasifama.

Tarkaanfilee armaan olitti tarreessine kana murannoo, jabinaafi saffisa waggoota muraasa dabaran ittiin sochoo'aa turreen daran hojjachuun hojirra oolchuu barbaachisa. Nu cufti gahee keenya gahuumsaan haa baanu.

Dhugaa qabna, haqaaf falmanna, ni injifanna!!

#OromoProtests

7 dead as Ethiopian police and protesters clash: sources

AFP on August 7, 2016, 7:00 am

Dozens arrested in Ethiopia anti-government protest

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Addis Ababa (AFP) - At least seven people were killed during fresh clashes between police and anti-government protesters in western Ethiopia on Saturday, local sources said, while the ethnic unrest also reached the capital Addis Ababa for the first time.

Saturday's rally in the capital was called by opposition groups from the Oromo, Ethiopia's main ethnic group.

Some 500 people gathered amid a heavy police presence on the capital's main Meskel Square shouting slogans such as "we want our freedom" and "free our political prisoners."

Police swiftly moved in to break up the protest.

The other main ethnic group, the Amhara, has also held rallies in recent weeks.

Both groups, which between them make up some 80 percent of the population, complain that they suffer discrimination in favour of ethnic Tigrayans, who they say occupy the key jobs in the government and security forces.

Sources in western Ethiopia said that at least seven people were killed during the clashes in Nemekte, in the Oromo region Saturday, though no details emerged.

In Addis Ababa, police made dozens of arrests during the anti-government demonstration which came less than a week after thousands of people from the Amhara group joined a demonstration in the northern city of Gondar.

"This is a mass movement of civil disobedience which is not organized by political parties," Merera Gudina, chairman of the Oromo People's Congress group told AFP.

"People are totally fed up with this regime and expressing their anger everywhere".

Although small, Saturday's Addis rally was significant in that it was the first of its kind in the capital.

Also Saturday, local people told AFP there had been further rallies and clashes with police in the Oromo city of Ambo. There was also a call for a rally on Sunday in Baher Dar in the Amhara region.

Prime Minister Haile Mariam Dessalegn had Friday announced a ban on demonstrations which "threaten national unity" and called on police to use all means at their disposal to prevent them.

Authorities have blocked access to social media, the activists' key channel for such rallying calls, since Friday.

Internet access was nearly impossible Saturday in Addis Ababa itself, an AFP journalist said.

Before news of Saturday's fatalities came in, Ethiopian authorities said at least a dozen people had been killed in clashes with police over territorial disputes in recent weeks.