On August 6 and 7, TPLF security forces had killed more than 100 peaceful protesters in Amhara and Oromia regions. In order to memorize the victims and the bloodshed, I suggest everyone to use the hash tag #BloodyWeekendwhen referring it. Remember TPLF is trying its best to play the number game by reporting lower number of deaths to hide its crime. Any idea?
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Monday, August 15, 2016
#OromoProtests
An amazing poem by my former teacher and journalist (Anaawaar) Anwar Kelil.
It tests sweet! thank you my lovely teacher! We always remember your deep tought and advice !
It tests sweet! thank you my lovely teacher! We always remember your deep tought and advice !
It does not take you zat long,
To know where I belong
Am from the land of Gadaa
Where democracy iz culture-Aadaa
Not politics but way of life
Z balance of nature remains sweet & safe
I tell you zat Gadaa is by far better zan democracy of today
Cuz we practice it everyday
Starting from childhood all z way
It is in our mind & we use
We just use but not to confuse
If Gadaa were in place,
It would settle all z mess
Practice Gadaa
And make it your Aadaa
You would taste its benefit-Faaydaa
(By Anwar Kelil,August 2016 ,Adama)
To know where I belong
Am from the land of Gadaa
Where democracy iz culture-Aadaa
Not politics but way of life
Z balance of nature remains sweet & safe
I tell you zat Gadaa is by far better zan democracy of today
Cuz we practice it everyday
Starting from childhood all z way
It is in our mind & we use
We just use but not to confuse
If Gadaa were in place,
It would settle all z mess
Practice Gadaa
And make it your Aadaa
You would taste its benefit-Faaydaa
(By Anwar Kelil,August 2016 ,Adama)
#OromoProtests
An amazing poem by my former teacher and journalist (Anaawaar) Anwar Kelil.
It tests sweet! thank you my lovely teacher! We always remember your deep tought and advice !
It tests sweet! thank you my lovely teacher! We always remember your deep tought and advice !
It does not take you zat long,
To know where I belong
Am from the land of Gadaa
Where democracy iz culture-Aadaa
Not politics but way of life
Z balance of nature remains sweet & safe
I tell you zat Gadaa is by far better zan democracy of today
Cuz we practice it everyday
Starting from childhood all z way
It is in our mind & we use
We just use but not to confuse
If Gadaa were in place,
It would settle all z mess
Practice Gadaa
And make it your Aadaa
You would taste its benefit-Faaydaa
(By Anwar Kelil,August 2016 ,Adama)
To know where I belong
Am from the land of Gadaa
Where democracy iz culture-Aadaa
Not politics but way of life
Z balance of nature remains sweet & safe
I tell you zat Gadaa is by far better zan democracy of today
Cuz we practice it everyday
Starting from childhood all z way
It is in our mind & we use
We just use but not to confuse
If Gadaa were in place,
It would settle all z mess
Practice Gadaa
And make it your Aadaa
You would taste its benefit-Faaydaa
(By Anwar Kelil,August 2016 ,Adama)
#OromoProtests
Miidiyaaleen Addunyaa baayyeen #OromoProtests irratti gabaasa gaggaarii dabarsaa jiru! Dabarsuu qofa osoo hin taane afaan guutatanii woyyaanee "mootummaa abbaa-irree " jedhanii waamaa jiru. Amma dubbiin Woyyaanee : Siyaasaan kufte (100%)
Diinagdee (50%), Human woraanaa fi poolisii ( 75%). Hundi keennaa, sabboontonni Oromoo karaa cufuu fi qoqqobbii diinagdee godhuun diinagdee isaa harka dibbaa haa laamshessinu. Akkasuma humna poolisiss fi woraanaa siyaasaa fi gorsa akkasumallee worra baayyee rakkoo uume hurquudhaan haa barbaadeessinu!
Diinagdee (50%), Human woraanaa fi poolisii ( 75%). Hundi keennaa, sabboontonni Oromoo karaa cufuu fi qoqqobbii diinagdee godhuun diinagdee isaa harka dibbaa haa laamshessinu. Akkasuma humna poolisiss fi woraanaa siyaasaa fi gorsa akkasumallee worra baayyee rakkoo uume hurquudhaan haa barbaadeessinu!
-22:26
#OromoProtests
What is triggering Ethiopia's unrest?
Calls for international investigation emerge following deaths of more than 100 people in demonstrations last week.
- Shares: 291
Calls for an international investigation in Ethiopia have surfaced after more than 100 people were killed in demonstrations.
The violence has led to 400 deaths since November, 100 of them in the last week alone, according to human rights groups.
The Ethiopian government is accused of using excessive force in the Oromia and Amhara regions, where protesters have been calling for political reforms.
The Ethiopian government is accused of using excessive force in the Oromia and Amhara regions, where protesters have been calling for political reforms.
Human rights groups have called the response ruthless, while the UN wants to send international observers to investigate.
Ethiopia has denied that request, saying it alone is responsible for the security of its citizens.
But what can be done to ensure the Ethiopian government respects human rights?
Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault
Guests:
Getachew Reda - Ethiopian communications affairs minister
Felix Horne - Ethiopia researcher for Human Rights Watch
Ezekiel Gebissa - Profesor of History and African studies at Kettering University
Source: Al Jazeera
#OromoProtests
Why the Oromo protests mark a change in Ethiopia’s political landscape
Disclosure statement
Asafa Jalata does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above.
The Conversation’s partners
The Conversation UK receives funding from Hefce, Hefcw, SAGE, SFC, RCUK, The Nuffield Foundation, The Ogden Trust, The Royal Society, The Wellcome Trust, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and The Alliance for Useful Evidence, as well as sixty five university members.
Republish this article
We believe in the free flow of information. We use a Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivatives licence, so you can republish our articles for free, online or in print.
Republish
Country-wide demonstrations by the Oromo in Ethiopia have flared up again. Ethiopia’s authorities reacted with heavy force, resulting in the death of 100 civilians. The Conversation Africa’s Samantha Spooner asked Professor Asafa Jalata about the country-wide protests.
Who are the Oromo people?
The Oromo are the single largest ethno-national group in northeast Africa. In Ethiopia alone they are estimated to be 50 million strong out of a total population of 100 million. There are also Oromo communities living in Kenya and Somalia.
Ethiopia is said to have about 80 ethno-national groups. The Oromo represent 34.4% while the Amhara (Amara) 27%. The rest are all less than 7% each.
The Oromo call themselves a nation. They have named their homeland “Oromia”, an area covering 284,538 square kms. It is considered to be the richest area of northeast Africa because of its agricultural and natural resources. It is often referred to as the “breadbasket” of the region. 60% of Ethiopian economic resources are generated from Oromia.
The capital city of Ethiopia is located in the heart of Oromia. What the world knows as Addis Ababa is also known to the Oromo as their capital, “Finfinnee”. When the Abyssinian warlord, Menelik, colonised the Oromo during the last decades of the 19th century he established his main garrison city in Oromia and called it Addis Ababa.
Despite being the largest ethno-national group in Ethiopia, the Oromo consider themselves to be colonial subjects. This is because they have been denied equal access to their country’s political, economic and cultural resources. It all started with their colonisation by, and incorporation into, Abyssinia (the former Ethiopian empire) during the Scramble for Africa.
Today, comprising just 6% of the population, Tigrayans dominate and control the political economy of Ethiopia with the help of the West, particularly the US. This relationship is strategic to the US who use the Tigrayan-led government’s army as their proxy to fight terrorism in the Horn of Africa and beyond.
The Oromo community has been demonstrating since November last year. What triggered the protests?
The Oromo demonstrations have been underway for over eight months, first surfacing in Ginchi (about 80 kms southwest of the capital) in November 2015. It began when elementary and secondary school students in the small town began protesting the privatisation and confiscation of a small soccer field and the selling of the nearby Chilimoo forest.
The sentiment quickly spread across Oromia. The entire Oromo community then joined the protests, highlighting other complaints such as the so-called Integrated Addis Ababa Master Plan and associated land grabbing. The master plan was intended to expand Addis Ababa by 1.5 million hectares onto surrounding Oromo land, evicting Oromo farmers.
Last year’s demonstrations were the product of over 25 years of accumulated grievances. These grievances arose as a result of the domination by the minority Tigrayan ethno-national group. Because of this dominance the Oromo people have become aliens in their own country, lost ownership of their land and have become impoverished.
What was different about these demonstrations was that, for the first time, all Oromo branches came together in coordinated action to fight for their national self-determination and democracy.
Which part of the Oromo community is organising the rallies?
It is believed that underground activist networks, known as Qeerroo, are organising the Oromo community. The Qeerroo, also called the Qubee generation, first emerged in 1991 with the participation of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in the transitional government of Ethiopia. In 1992 the Tigrayan-led minority regime pushed the OLF out of government and the activist networks of Qeerroo gradually blossomed as a form of Oromummaa or Oromo nationalism.
Today the Qeerroo are made up of Oromo youth. These are predominantly students from elementary school to university, organising collective action through social media. It is not clear what kind of relationship exists between the group and the OLF. But the Qeerroo clearly articulate that the OLF should replace the Tigrayan-led regime and recognise the Front as the origin of Oromo nationalism.
What are their demands?
Their immediate demands are for the Ethiopian government to halt the so-called Addis Ababa Master Plan, land grabbing, corruption, and the violation of human rights.
Their extended demands are about achieving self-determination and sovereignty by replacing the Tigrayan-led regime with a multi-ethno-national democratic government. These demands gradually emerged to create solidarity with other ethno-national groups, such as the Amharas, who also have grievances with the regime.
How has the government reacted to the protests?
The government reaction has been violent and suppressive. Despite Oromia being the largest regional state in Ethiopia, it has been under martial law since the protests began. The government has been able to use this law to detain thousands of Oromos, holding them in prisons and concentration camps.
Security structures called tokkoo-shane (one-to-five), garee and gott have also been implemented. Their responsibilities include spying, identifying, exposing, imprisoning, torturing and killing Oromos who are not interested in serving the regime.
There have also been deaths and reports of thousands of Oromos who have been maimed as a result of torture, beatings or during the suppression of protests. For example, during the Oromia-wide day of peaceful protest on July 6 the regime army, known as Agazi, massacred nearly 100 Oromos. According to Amnesty International, 400 Oromos were killed before July 6. But in reality nobody knows exactly how many Oromos have been victims of violence.
What impact have these protests had on the country?
The Oromo protest movement has started to change the political landscape of Ethiopia and shaken the regime’s foundations. Erupting like “a social volcano”, it has sent ripples through the country with different groups changing their attitudes and standing in solidarity with the Oromo. The support of the Ahmaras has been particularly significant as they are the second largest ethno-national group in Ethiopia.
For the first time in history, the plight of the Oromo people has also received worldwide attention. International media outlets have reported on the peaceful protests and subsequent government repression.
This has brought about diplomatic repercussions. In January the European Parliament condemned the Ethiopian government’s violent crackdown. It also called for the establishment of a credible, transparent and independent body to investigate the murder and imprisonment of thousands of protesters. Similarly, the UN Human Rights Experts demanded that Ethiopian authorities stop the violent crackdown.
Not all global actors are taking a strong stance. Some are concerned about maintaining good relations with the incumbent government. For example, the US State Department expressed vague concern about the violence associated with the protest movement. In sharp contrast they signed a security partnership with the Ethiopian government.
Nevertheless, the momentum of the Oromo movement looks set to continue. The protests, and subsequent support, have seen the further development of activist networks and Oromo leadership, doubling their efforts to build their organisational capacity.
Is this the first time that the Oromo have demonstrated their grievances in this way?
No. The Oromo have engaged in scattered instances of resistance since the late 19th century when they were colonised.
In the 1970s the Oromo started to engage in a national movement under the leadership of OLF. The front was born out of the Macha-Tulama Self-Help Association, which was banned in the early 1960s and other forms of resistance such as the Bale Oromo armed resistance of the 1960s. Successive Ethiopian regimes have killed or sent Oromo political and cultural leaders into exile.
How do you believe their grievances can be resolved?
Critics believe the Tigrayan-led minority regime is unlikely to resolve the Oromo grievances. Oromo activists believe that their national struggle for self-determination and egalitarian democracy must intensify.
I am sure that, sooner or later, the regime will be overthrown and replaced with a genuine egalitarian democratic system. This is because of the size of the Oromo population, abundant economic resource, oppression and repression by the Tigrayan-led government, the blossoming of Oromo political consciousness and willingness to pay the necessary sacrifices.
Sunday, August 14, 2016
#OromoProtests
In support of Grand Oromo Demonstration
By Bekele Gerba et al
Over the past 20 years, the People of Oromia have been unable to exercise genuine self-rule, systematically robbed off their possessions, locked up en masse and doomed to a life of despair. In the past three years in particular there has been a thoroughly orchestrated plan to displace the Oromo from their indigenous land, destroy their language, wipe-out their culture and strip them off their identity with the pretext of the Addis Ababa Master Plan.
In the past 10 months, our people have been fighting tooth and nail with forces bent on destroying them. This courageous act of resistance is showing no signs of slowing down and is in fact on the rise. Nevertheless, immense sacrifices have been made in the process: thousands have been imprisoned; students have been expelled from academic institutions in droves; employees have been dismissed from their jobs; several people have been killed; pregnant mothers have been shot dead with their unborn fetuses; and families have been denied the chance to bury their loved ones callously gunned down by security forces.
To the extent that the bodies of the deceased have been recovered, our people have given them a heroic send-off albeit with a heavy heart. Sadly, vultures have feasted on the remains of those who could not be recovered. While the entire public have participated in this resistance movement, the sacrifices paid by this generation of youngsters during this struggle will never be overlooked. That said, the number of locals who have acted as informants to security forces; bore witness against guiltless members of the public; and collaborated in the incessant killings of protesters should not be underestimated.
It is even sad that institutions that our people have long trusted and held in high regard have been openly and, at times, implicitly supporting this murderous regime. Our optimism that these institutions would, at one point, change course from their wicked ways has been one of wishful thinking in that they have actually become even more aloof. Hence, we call on them to immediately stop their contemptuous act.
1. To religious leaders
No religion condones repression, the subjugation of one sect of society and the dominance of the other and the exploitation of the weak by the strong. When this happens, it is incumbent upon religious leaders to counsel the powerful and to challenge them to turn from their wrongful ways. Unfortunately, this is not what we observe from our religious leaders at the moment. It is conspicuous that religious leaders of today rather sit down with the government, contrive ways to defeat a movement that is fighting an injustice, and confer their blessings on security forces before sending them out to crush dissidents. Their pretentious prayers are repugnant before God and humans alike.
No religion condones repression, the subjugation of one sect of society and the dominance of the other and the exploitation of the weak by the strong. When this happens, it is incumbent upon religious leaders to counsel the powerful and to challenge them to turn from their wrongful ways. Unfortunately, this is not what we observe from our religious leaders at the moment. It is conspicuous that religious leaders of today rather sit down with the government, contrive ways to defeat a movement that is fighting an injustice, and confer their blessings on security forces before sending them out to crush dissidents. Their pretentious prayers are repugnant before God and humans alike.
These so-called religious leaders pull out all the stops to break the spirit and resolve of the people, often with the tired slogan that their “religion is not a religion of violence”. There aren’t people who naturally harbour a desire for violence. Most importantly, these religious leaders know at heart that demanding one’s right does not constitute an act of violence, but they support the repressive government nonetheless. While we note with disappointment their failure to fulfil their duty as guardians of the truth, we would still like to remind them to stop pouring cold water on the resistance movement of the people of Oromia.
2. To Oromo intellectuals
People send their children to school with the hope that these kids would become identity-conscious and, one day, defend their people from human rights violations. However, most Oromo elites –having failed to safeguard their own as well as their people’s rights- are mere spectators of the resistance movement from afar. What’s worse, others are working hand in gloves with the same government repressing and pillaging their own people; are facilitating the expulsion of students from schools and universities, and are assisting with the detention and killings of their brethren. Fearing for their lives as well as for various personal reasons, they offer flawed advice to the people and concoct make-believe stories in the interests of making things appear rosy and peaceful in the country.
If they were led to believe that the people did not notice this, they could not be more wrong: people know full well about what is taking place. When the time comes to revisit the history books, where every person stood at this point in time will be revealed. Therefore, wherever they are, we would like to remind these intellectuals not to obstruct the resistance movement, if not contribute towards it. We would also ask the media savvy ones to try to exercise self-control.
People send their children to school with the hope that these kids would become identity-conscious and, one day, defend their people from human rights violations. However, most Oromo elites –having failed to safeguard their own as well as their people’s rights- are mere spectators of the resistance movement from afar. What’s worse, others are working hand in gloves with the same government repressing and pillaging their own people; are facilitating the expulsion of students from schools and universities, and are assisting with the detention and killings of their brethren. Fearing for their lives as well as for various personal reasons, they offer flawed advice to the people and concoct make-believe stories in the interests of making things appear rosy and peaceful in the country.
If they were led to believe that the people did not notice this, they could not be more wrong: people know full well about what is taking place. When the time comes to revisit the history books, where every person stood at this point in time will be revealed. Therefore, wherever they are, we would like to remind these intellectuals not to obstruct the resistance movement, if not contribute towards it. We would also ask the media savvy ones to try to exercise self-control.
3. To so-called investors in Oromia
We do not assume that you would fail to see the fact that you acquired the assets in your possession today from the people –and on the land- of Oromia. We acknowledge the efforts some of you are putting towards solving the problems facing the Oromo with the resources at your disposal. On the other hand, we are under no illusion that there are those that greatly add to the deprivation and misery of the people and that the public are aware of the identities of these partners in crime, including their names and faces. It is in the backyards of these so-called investors that the complots against the people are given their finishing touches. To continue along this path is simply myopic and to try to impede the struggle foolhardy for it has consequences. Hence, we take this opportunity to remind you that you have a responsibility to see to it that your resources are not being allocated for purposes against that of the interests of the people.
We do not assume that you would fail to see the fact that you acquired the assets in your possession today from the people –and on the land- of Oromia. We acknowledge the efforts some of you are putting towards solving the problems facing the Oromo with the resources at your disposal. On the other hand, we are under no illusion that there are those that greatly add to the deprivation and misery of the people and that the public are aware of the identities of these partners in crime, including their names and faces. It is in the backyards of these so-called investors that the complots against the people are given their finishing touches. To continue along this path is simply myopic and to try to impede the struggle foolhardy for it has consequences. Hence, we take this opportunity to remind you that you have a responsibility to see to it that your resources are not being allocated for purposes against that of the interests of the people.
4. To Oromo elders
To describe in great detail the role of elders in Oromo culture would be to state the obvious. Where there is a respected elder, there is no place for malice; people do not turn on each other; and there is peace. In case of a dispute, an elder listens to both sides, passes an honest and impartial judgement and reconciles the rowing parties. In complete breach of this cultural norm, elders nowadays side with the perpetrator and chastise the victim; lament at length over properties damaged than human lives lost, grieve over inconsequential injuries sustained by security forces armed to the teeth than the people being killed in their thousands. It is not that there aren’t proper elders out there but that the ones in high demand by the government are the cosmetic ones as above.
To describe in great detail the role of elders in Oromo culture would be to state the obvious. Where there is a respected elder, there is no place for malice; people do not turn on each other; and there is peace. In case of a dispute, an elder listens to both sides, passes an honest and impartial judgement and reconciles the rowing parties. In complete breach of this cultural norm, elders nowadays side with the perpetrator and chastise the victim; lament at length over properties damaged than human lives lost, grieve over inconsequential injuries sustained by security forces armed to the teeth than the people being killed in their thousands. It is not that there aren’t proper elders out there but that the ones in high demand by the government are the cosmetic ones as above.
Overall, we would like to call on some members of the public as well as government personnel who try to derail the movement by using “public engagement” as a ploy to disseminate unhelpful chatter amongst the general public to withdraw from such activities. As we have tried to show above, there is a battle between a government attempting to extinguish the flame and the people refusing to give in. Both entities have disparate powers and different rules of combat as is evident from their distinct characteristics: the government is trying to crush the movement using trained forces in full combat gear, intent on killing and locking people up; the people are defending their rights bare-handed with an indefatigable spirit despite the prospect of death and imprisonment.
Against this backdrop, innocent blood is being shed left and right in Oromia owing in part due to the lack of religious leaders, intellectuals, investors and elders who could muster up the courage to put the government to task. After a careful examination of events thus far, we believe that these four groups of society are playing a detrimental role to the struggle of the people. These groups may not have the courage to contribute to the struggle but no one wants to see them belittle those who have paid the ultimate price of losing one’s life for a grand cause such as this. Again, we challenge them to side with the people or to otherwise be silent.
Finally, we would like to reiterate that the issues we have stood up against and went to prison for yesterday have not been resolved and still exist today. Our people are still being dispossessed of their assets, summarily dismissed from their jobs, imprisoned, pursued and killed in large numbers. It is not possible to stay silent in the midst of this. As our neighbours have done very recently, we call on each and every one of the people of Oromia to take part in the peaceful demonstration planned for Saturday - Yes this Saturday!
We would also like to take this opportunity to call on our brethren within the military, the federal and local police forces to stand beside the people who are demonstrating against an unspeakable injustice.
PS: this is not an official translation. Errors are my own (Michael C. Mammo)In support of Grand Oromo Demonstration
By Bekele Gerba et al
Over the past 20 years, the People of Oromia have been unable to exercise genuine self-rule, systematically robbed off their possessions, locked up en masse and doomed to a life of despair. In the past three years in particular there has been a thoroughly orchestrated plan to displace the Oromo from their indigenous land, destroy their language, wipe-out their culture and strip them off their identity with the pretext of the Addis Ababa Master Plan.
In the past 10 months, our people have been fighting tooth and nail with forces bent on destroying them. This courageous act of resistance is showing no signs of slowing down and is in fact on the rise. Nevertheless, immense sacrifices have been made in the process: thousands have been imprisoned; students have been expelled from academic institutions in droves; employees have been dismissed from their jobs; several people have been killed; pregnant mothers have been shot dead with their unborn fetuses; and families have been denied the chance to bury their loved ones callously gunned down by security forces.
To the extent that the bodies of the deceased have been recovered, our people have given them a heroic send-off albeit with a heavy heart. Sadly, vultures have feasted on the remains of those who could not be recovered. While the entire public have participated in this resistance movement, the sacrifices paid by this generation of youngsters during this struggle will never be overlooked. That said, the number of locals who have acted as informants to security forces; bore witness against guiltless members of the public; and collaborated in the incessant killings of protesters should not be underestimated.
It is even sad that institutions that our people have long trusted and held in high regard have been openly and, at times, implicitly supporting this murderous regime. Our optimism that these institutions would, at one point, change course from their wicked ways has been one of wishful thinking in that they have actually become even more aloof. Hence, we call on them to immediately stop their contemptuous act.
1. To religious leaders
No religion condones repression, the subjugation of one sect of society and the dominance of the other and the exploitation of the weak by the strong. When this happens, it is incumbent upon religious leaders to counsel the powerful and to challenge them to turn from their wrongful ways. Unfortunately, this is not what we observe from our religious leaders at the moment. It is conspicuous that religious leaders of today rather sit down with the government, contrive ways to defeat a movement that is fighting an injustice, and confer their blessings on security forces before sending them out to crush dissidents. Their pretentious prayers are repugnant before God and humans alike.
No religion condones repression, the subjugation of one sect of society and the dominance of the other and the exploitation of the weak by the strong. When this happens, it is incumbent upon religious leaders to counsel the powerful and to challenge them to turn from their wrongful ways. Unfortunately, this is not what we observe from our religious leaders at the moment. It is conspicuous that religious leaders of today rather sit down with the government, contrive ways to defeat a movement that is fighting an injustice, and confer their blessings on security forces before sending them out to crush dissidents. Their pretentious prayers are repugnant before God and humans alike.
These so-called religious leaders pull out all the stops to break the spirit and resolve of the people, often with the tired slogan that their “religion is not a religion of violence”. There aren’t people who naturally harbour a desire for violence. Most importantly, these religious leaders know at heart that demanding one’s right does not constitute an act of violence, but they support the repressive government nonetheless. While we note with disappointment their failure to fulfil their duty as guardians of the truth, we would still like to remind them to stop pouring cold water on the resistance movement of the people of Oromia.
2. To Oromo intellectuals
People send their children to school with the hope that these kids would become identity-conscious and, one day, defend their people from human rights violations. However, most Oromo elites –having failed to safeguard their own as well as their people’s rights- are mere spectators of the resistance movement from afar. What’s worse, others are working hand in gloves with the same government repressing and pillaging their own people; are facilitating the expulsion of students from schools and universities, and are assisting with the detention and killings of their brethren. Fearing for their lives as well as for various personal reasons, they offer flawed advice to the people and concoct make-believe stories in the interests of making things appear rosy and peaceful in the country.
If they were led to believe that the people did not notice this, they could not be more wrong: people know full well about what is taking place. When the time comes to revisit the history books, where every person stood at this point in time will be revealed. Therefore, wherever they are, we would like to remind these intellectuals not to obstruct the resistance movement, if not contribute towards it. We would also ask the media savvy ones to try to exercise self-control.
People send their children to school with the hope that these kids would become identity-conscious and, one day, defend their people from human rights violations. However, most Oromo elites –having failed to safeguard their own as well as their people’s rights- are mere spectators of the resistance movement from afar. What’s worse, others are working hand in gloves with the same government repressing and pillaging their own people; are facilitating the expulsion of students from schools and universities, and are assisting with the detention and killings of their brethren. Fearing for their lives as well as for various personal reasons, they offer flawed advice to the people and concoct make-believe stories in the interests of making things appear rosy and peaceful in the country.
If they were led to believe that the people did not notice this, they could not be more wrong: people know full well about what is taking place. When the time comes to revisit the history books, where every person stood at this point in time will be revealed. Therefore, wherever they are, we would like to remind these intellectuals not to obstruct the resistance movement, if not contribute towards it. We would also ask the media savvy ones to try to exercise self-control.
3. To so-called investors in Oromia
We do not assume that you would fail to see the fact that you acquired the assets in your possession today from the people –and on the land- of Oromia. We acknowledge the efforts some of you are putting towards solving the problems facing the Oromo with the resources at your disposal. On the other hand, we are under no illusion that there are those that greatly add to the deprivation and misery of the people and that the public are aware of the identities of these partners in crime, including their names and faces. It is in the backyards of these so-called investors that the complots against the people are given their finishing touches. To continue along this path is simply myopic and to try to impede the struggle foolhardy for it has consequences. Hence, we take this opportunity to remind you that you have a responsibility to see to it that your resources are not being allocated for purposes against that of the interests of the people.
We do not assume that you would fail to see the fact that you acquired the assets in your possession today from the people –and on the land- of Oromia. We acknowledge the efforts some of you are putting towards solving the problems facing the Oromo with the resources at your disposal. On the other hand, we are under no illusion that there are those that greatly add to the deprivation and misery of the people and that the public are aware of the identities of these partners in crime, including their names and faces. It is in the backyards of these so-called investors that the complots against the people are given their finishing touches. To continue along this path is simply myopic and to try to impede the struggle foolhardy for it has consequences. Hence, we take this opportunity to remind you that you have a responsibility to see to it that your resources are not being allocated for purposes against that of the interests of the people.
4. To Oromo elders
To describe in great detail the role of elders in Oromo culture would be to state the obvious. Where there is a respected elder, there is no place for malice; people do not turn on each other; and there is peace. In case of a dispute, an elder listens to both sides, passes an honest and impartial judgement and reconciles the rowing parties. In complete breach of this cultural norm, elders nowadays side with the perpetrator and chastise the victim; lament at length over properties damaged than human lives lost, grieve over inconsequential injuries sustained by security forces armed to the teeth than the people being killed in their thousands. It is not that there aren’t proper elders out there but that the ones in high demand by the government are the cosmetic ones as above.
To describe in great detail the role of elders in Oromo culture would be to state the obvious. Where there is a respected elder, there is no place for malice; people do not turn on each other; and there is peace. In case of a dispute, an elder listens to both sides, passes an honest and impartial judgement and reconciles the rowing parties. In complete breach of this cultural norm, elders nowadays side with the perpetrator and chastise the victim; lament at length over properties damaged than human lives lost, grieve over inconsequential injuries sustained by security forces armed to the teeth than the people being killed in their thousands. It is not that there aren’t proper elders out there but that the ones in high demand by the government are the cosmetic ones as above.
Overall, we would like to call on some members of the public as well as government personnel who try to derail the movement by using “public engagement” as a ploy to disseminate unhelpful chatter amongst the general public to withdraw from such activities. As we have tried to show above, there is a battle between a government attempting to extinguish the flame and the people refusing to give in. Both entities have disparate powers and different rules of combat as is evident from their distinct characteristics: the government is trying to crush the movement using trained forces in full combat gear, intent on killing and locking people up; the people are defending their rights bare-handed with an indefatigable spirit despite the prospect of death and imprisonment.
Against this backdrop, innocent blood is being shed left and right in Oromia owing in part due to the lack of religious leaders, intellectuals, investors and elders who could muster up the courage to put the government to task. After a careful examination of events thus far, we believe that these four groups of society are playing a detrimental role to the struggle of the people. These groups may not have the courage to contribute to the struggle but no one wants to see them belittle those who have paid the ultimate price of losing one’s life for a grand cause such as this. Again, we challenge them to side with the people or to otherwise be silent.
Finally, we would like to reiterate that the issues we have stood up against and went to prison for yesterday have not been resolved and still exist today. Our people are still being dispossessed of their assets, summarily dismissed from their jobs, imprisoned, pursued and killed in large numbers. It is not possible to stay silent in the midst of this. As our neighbours have done very recently, we call on each and every one of the people of Oromia to take part in the peaceful demonstration planned for Saturday - Yes this Saturday!
We would also like to take this opportunity to call on our brethren within the military, the federal and local police forces to stand beside the people who are demonstrating against an unspeakable injustice.
PS: this is not an official translation. Errors are my own (Michael C. Mammo)
#OromoProtests
#OromoProtests ALERT: 3,500 Oromos arrested from the Finfinne rally are being held at Awash Arba Military camp without any trial. Acute food shortage is reported and several people who fell sick have been denied access to medication. Catastrophic tragedy is feared.
#OromoProtests
#OromoRevolution
Via Amy Elliott Van Steenwyk
Children in the protests last weekend=children in jail now in #Ethiopia. Our government clearly is not going to denounce this murderous regime or its horrendous human rights abuses turned ethnic cleansing without some external pressure in the form of us demanding it. Also, Obama needs to set the record straight after his declaration that this regime won 100% of the vote 'democratically' and we need to hear where Hillary Clinton and Jill Stein stand on the issue of one of our favorite donor recipients going on extended murderous rampages.
Via Amy Elliott Van Steenwyk
Children in the protests last weekend=children in jail now in #Ethiopia. Our government clearly is not going to denounce this murderous regime or its horrendous human rights abuses turned ethnic cleansing without some external pressure in the form of us demanding it. Also, Obama needs to set the record straight after his declaration that this regime won 100% of the vote 'democratically' and we need to hear where Hillary Clinton and Jill Stein stand on the issue of one of our favorite donor recipients going on extended murderous rampages.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)