Friday, November 4, 2016
#OromoProtests
Jawar Mohammed: This is why Oromo people don't care about cabinet reshuffle
Exclusive interview with executive director of Oromia Media Network, banned as Ethiopia declared emergency.
Ludovica Iaccino By Ludovica Iaccino
November 3, 2016 17:25 GMT
Updated 4 hr ago
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Embed Feed Ethiopia declares state of emergency after civil unrest Reuters
The Ethiopian government recently reshuffled its cabinet in a move seen by some as a result of months of anti-government protests. The parliament approved the list of 21 ministers proposed by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who said the appointments were based on people's skills rather than their political affiliations.
More from IBTimes UK
Oromia Media Network executive Jawar Mohammed believes Ethiopia wants him dead
Ethiopia 'releases 2,000 detainees' weeks after state of emergency declared
Ethiopia blames international community as troops withdraw from Somalia in face of al-Shabaab threat
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As some key posts were given to ethnic Oromo, some claimed the reshuffle was part of measures the government said it would take to reduce grievances expressed by some ethnic groups.
In October, Ethiopia declared a six-month-long state of emergency following unrest in Oromia, and occasionally in Amhara.
The response to the protests, labelled as the biggest anti-government unrest Ethiopia has witnessed in recent history, has resulted in the death of more than 500 people since November 2015, a figure the government later confirmed.
In Oromia, people demonstrated against perceived disenfranchisement and lack of inclusion in the political process as the government is dominated by the Tigray minority. They also called for an end to land grabbing, claiming Oromo farmers are forcibly evicted from their farms.
Government reshuffle 'no meaning for Oromos'
Jawar Mohammed, executive director of Oromia Media Network (OMN), banned under the state of emergency, explained Oromo people are calling for a radical regime change, not a government reshuffle.
"People are demanding a new democratic government elected by the people. To really meet protesters' demands, the government should release political prisoners, they should remove the military from villages, towns and universities and start a dialogue on a transition to a more democratic government," he told IBTimes UK.
Mohammed, who lives in the US, also claimed Ethiopians have not been affected by the state of emergency , with the exception of a restriction on internet access.
"Oromia has been under a state of emergency for the last 12 months, the military is there, all the civil and political rights have been suspended, people have been arrested," he alleged.
"Yes, some media outlets have been banned, but this is nothing new. OMN has been jammed some 20 times since March 2014. Even before the state of emergency, they were already arresting people, breaking down satellite dishes and jamming our transmission, what they did now was to officially admit what they were already doing and reassure investors that they are taking measures, beefing up security."
Ethiopia Oromo Oromia
People walk near a burnt-out truck in the compound of a textile factory in the town of SebetaTiksa Negeri/Reuters
Attacks on foreign-owned companies
During anti-government protests, Oromo people attacked foreign-owned factories in Oromia, acts of violence that could result in a reduction in investments in the country.
Ethiopia strongly condemned the attacks, which it blamed on "anti-peace forces who aim to destabilise the country." The government also claimed the situation in the country has gone back to normal since the state of emergency was implemented.
However, Mohammed claimed protests have halted only because it is harvesting season and rallies are bound to restart. He also said people will, once again, attack foreign-owned factories as they were allegedly "built on lands that were illegally taken from farmers or lands owned by the ruling party."
"These are not xenophobic attacks. In fact, protesters have not touched a single investor physically," he said. "The targets are strategically chosen because people need to now that investments in Ethiopia, until a democratic system is in place, is not safe.
Government's position
When contacted by IBTimes UK for comments on the allegations, a spokesperson for the Ethiopian embassy in London dismissed Mohammed's claims as "unsubstantiated information".
The diplomat also alleged Mohammed and other members of the disapora community could have links to the Oromo Liberation Front, which the Ethiopian government labelled as a terrorist organisation that carried out violent acts in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.
Official press release on state of emergency
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn declared a six-month nationwide state of emergency on Sunday, 9th October, according to the provisions established under the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, saying months of unrest threatened the nation's stability.
"A state of emergency has been declared because the situation posed a threat to the people of the country," Hailemariam said. He added that "Vital infrastructure, businesses, health and education centres, as well as government offices, and courts have been destroyed". There have been attacks on businesses, many of them foreign-owned, including farms growing flowers for export.
Attorney General Getachew Ambaye said that the aim of the decree is to maintain peace and order and would permit authorities to stop and search those suspected of involvement in activities contributing to the deterioration of law and order.
It also bars the "preparation, distribution and exhibition of material that could incite further chaos", he said in an official announcement. The measures did not contain curfews, but Getachew said the command post, chaired by the Prime Minister, set up to oversee the implementation of the legislation, would determine where and when to impose curfews "should the need arise". The decree went on to state that human rights would be respected and that diplomatic missions and international organisations would be protected as per the Vienna Convention.
"Failure to observe these measures would lead to imprisonment according to the law."
Exclusive interview with executive director of Oromia Media Network, banned as Ethiopia declared emergency.
Ludovica Iaccino By Ludovica Iaccino
November 3, 2016 17:25 GMT
Updated 4 hr ago
CLOSE
Embed Feed Ethiopia declares state of emergency after civil unrest Reuters
The Ethiopian government recently reshuffled its cabinet in a move seen by some as a result of months of anti-government protests. The parliament approved the list of 21 ministers proposed by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who said the appointments were based on people's skills rather than their political affiliations.
More from IBTimes UK
Oromia Media Network executive Jawar Mohammed believes Ethiopia wants him dead
Ethiopia 'releases 2,000 detainees' weeks after state of emergency declared
Ethiopia blames international community as troops withdraw from Somalia in face of al-Shabaab threat
Why advertise with us
As some key posts were given to ethnic Oromo, some claimed the reshuffle was part of measures the government said it would take to reduce grievances expressed by some ethnic groups.
In October, Ethiopia declared a six-month-long state of emergency following unrest in Oromia, and occasionally in Amhara.
The response to the protests, labelled as the biggest anti-government unrest Ethiopia has witnessed in recent history, has resulted in the death of more than 500 people since November 2015, a figure the government later confirmed.
In Oromia, people demonstrated against perceived disenfranchisement and lack of inclusion in the political process as the government is dominated by the Tigray minority. They also called for an end to land grabbing, claiming Oromo farmers are forcibly evicted from their farms.
Government reshuffle 'no meaning for Oromos'
Jawar Mohammed, executive director of Oromia Media Network (OMN), banned under the state of emergency, explained Oromo people are calling for a radical regime change, not a government reshuffle.
"People are demanding a new democratic government elected by the people. To really meet protesters' demands, the government should release political prisoners, they should remove the military from villages, towns and universities and start a dialogue on a transition to a more democratic government," he told IBTimes UK.
Mohammed, who lives in the US, also claimed Ethiopians have not been affected by the state of emergency , with the exception of a restriction on internet access.
"Oromia has been under a state of emergency for the last 12 months, the military is there, all the civil and political rights have been suspended, people have been arrested," he alleged.
"Yes, some media outlets have been banned, but this is nothing new. OMN has been jammed some 20 times since March 2014. Even before the state of emergency, they were already arresting people, breaking down satellite dishes and jamming our transmission, what they did now was to officially admit what they were already doing and reassure investors that they are taking measures, beefing up security."
Ethiopia Oromo Oromia
People walk near a burnt-out truck in the compound of a textile factory in the town of SebetaTiksa Negeri/Reuters
Attacks on foreign-owned companies
During anti-government protests, Oromo people attacked foreign-owned factories in Oromia, acts of violence that could result in a reduction in investments in the country.
Ethiopia strongly condemned the attacks, which it blamed on "anti-peace forces who aim to destabilise the country." The government also claimed the situation in the country has gone back to normal since the state of emergency was implemented.
However, Mohammed claimed protests have halted only because it is harvesting season and rallies are bound to restart. He also said people will, once again, attack foreign-owned factories as they were allegedly "built on lands that were illegally taken from farmers or lands owned by the ruling party."
"These are not xenophobic attacks. In fact, protesters have not touched a single investor physically," he said. "The targets are strategically chosen because people need to now that investments in Ethiopia, until a democratic system is in place, is not safe.
Government's position
When contacted by IBTimes UK for comments on the allegations, a spokesperson for the Ethiopian embassy in London dismissed Mohammed's claims as "unsubstantiated information".
The diplomat also alleged Mohammed and other members of the disapora community could have links to the Oromo Liberation Front, which the Ethiopian government labelled as a terrorist organisation that carried out violent acts in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.
Official press release on state of emergency
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn declared a six-month nationwide state of emergency on Sunday, 9th October, according to the provisions established under the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, saying months of unrest threatened the nation's stability.
"A state of emergency has been declared because the situation posed a threat to the people of the country," Hailemariam said. He added that "Vital infrastructure, businesses, health and education centres, as well as government offices, and courts have been destroyed". There have been attacks on businesses, many of them foreign-owned, including farms growing flowers for export.
Attorney General Getachew Ambaye said that the aim of the decree is to maintain peace and order and would permit authorities to stop and search those suspected of involvement in activities contributing to the deterioration of law and order.
It also bars the "preparation, distribution and exhibition of material that could incite further chaos", he said in an official announcement. The measures did not contain curfews, but Getachew said the command post, chaired by the Prime Minister, set up to oversee the implementation of the legislation, would determine where and when to impose curfews "should the need arise". The decree went on to state that human rights would be respected and that diplomatic missions and international organisations would be protected as per the Vienna Convention.
"Failure to observe these measures would lead to imprisonment according to the law."
Jawar Mohammed: This is why Oromo people don't care about cabinet reshuffle
Exclusive interview with executive director of Oromia Media Network, banned as Ethiopia declared emergency.
CLOSE
The Ethiopian government recently reshuffled its cabinet in a move seen by some as a result of months of anti-government protests. The parliament approved the list of 21 ministers proposed by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who said the appointments were based on people's skills rather than their political affiliations.
As some key posts were given to ethnic Oromo, some claimed the reshuffle was part of measures the government said it would take to reduce grievances expressed by some ethnic groups.
In October, Ethiopia declared a six-month-long state of emergency following unrest in Oromia, and occasionally in Amhara.
The response to the protests, labelled as the biggest anti-government unrest Ethiopia has witnessed in recent history, has resulted in the death of more than 500 people since November 2015, a figure the government later confirmed.
In Oromia, people demonstrated against perceived disenfranchisement and lack of inclusion in the political process as the government is dominated by the Tigrayminority. They also called for an end to land grabbing, claiming Oromo farmers are forcibly evicted from their farms. Government reshuffle 'no meaning for Oromos' Jawar Mohammed, executive director of Oromia Media Network (OMN), banned under the state of emergency, explained Oromo people are calling for a radical regime change, not a government reshuffle.
"People are demanding a new democratic government elected by the people. To really meet protesters' demands, the government should release political prisoners, they should remove the military from villages, towns and universities and start a dialogue on a transition to a more democratic government," he told IBTimes UK.
Mohammed, who lives in the US, also claimed Ethiopians have not been affected by the state of emergency , with the exception of a restriction on internet access.
"Oromia has been under a state of emergency for the last 12 months, the military is there, all the civil and political rights have been suspended, people have been arrested," he alleged.
"Yes, some media outlets have been banned, but this is nothing new. OMN has been jammed some 20 times since March 2014. Even before the state of emergency, they were already arresting people, breaking down satellite dishes and jamming our transmission, what they did now was to officially admit what they were already doing and reassure investors that they are taking measures, beefing up security."
Attacks on foreign-owned companies
During anti-government protests, Oromo people attacked foreign-owned factories in Oromia, acts of violence that could result in a reduction in investments in the country.
Ethiopia strongly condemned the attacks, which it blamed on "anti-peace forces who aim to destabilise the country." The government also claimed the situation in the country has gone back to normal since the state of emergency was implemented.
However, Mohammed claimed protests have halted only because it is harvesting season and rallies are bound to restart. He also said people will, once again, attack foreign-owned factories as they were allegedly "built on lands that were illegally taken from farmers or lands owned by the ruling party."
"These are not xenophobic attacks. In fact, protesters have not touched a single investor physically," he said. "The targets are strategically chosen because people need to now that investments in Ethiopia, until a democratic system is in place, is not safe.
Government's position
When contacted by IBTimes UK for comments on the allegations, a spokesperson for the Ethiopian embassy in London dismissed Mohammed's claims as "unsubstantiated information".
The diplomat also alleged Mohammed and other members of the disapora community could have links to the Oromo Liberation Front, which the Ethiopian government labelled as a terrorist organisation that carried out violent acts in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
#OromoProtests
Ajjeechaa Sukkunneessaa
Guyyaa kabaja Ayyaana Irreechaa Oromoo Onk.2.2016 Baatii Tokko Duraa.( Irreechaa
Massacare in Oromia Oct.2 2016)
01.11.2016
Tofik
Abdullah Jamal
Kabajaan
ayyaana Irreechaa akkuma beekamu Oromoo mara biratti kabajaa guddaa qaba.
Ayyaana kana
haala bareedaa fi ho`aan Aadaa Oromoo adda addaa mullisanii kabajuuf ilmaan
oromoo marri kaabaa fi kibbaa, bahaa fi
dhihaa walitti dhufuun magaalaa Bishooftuutti bara baraan Ayyaana guddaa fi
Ulfina qabu kana waliin kabajatu.
Guyyaa ayyaana kanaa kabajuuf Onko.2.2016
ganama irriba irraa ka`anii Gooftaa nagaan nu bulchite nagaan nu oolchi jechuun
Jaarsa,Jaartii,Darggaggeessa,shamarranii fi Ijoolleen xixiqqoon wal-eebbisaa
uffata Aadaa Oromoo babbareedaa uffatanii fi hiriira galanii waliin sirba aadaa
Oromoo tapachaa Oromoon tilmaamaan Millioona 2 ol-ta`a jedhamu bakka tokkotti
walitti qabamuun gara kabajaa Irreechaatti qajeelan.
Akkuma
Oromoon hundi Aadaa ufii mullisuufi gammachuun irreecha kabajachuuf manaa ba`e,
diinnis garamiin Aadaa kanaa fi kabajaa irreecha kanaa balleessee gammachuu
ilmaan Oromoo gaddatti jijjiira jedhee karoora fixiinsa ( ajjeechaa )
sukkunneessaa ilmaan Oromoo nagaan Aadaa ufii kabajachuuf manaa ba`an irratti
ija isaa diimessee fuula isaa marxoon uffatee meeshaa isaa baattatee gara
dirree irreechaatti himale.
Ummanni
Oromoo marri bara kana gubannaa hedduu garaa qaba waan ta`eef Ayyaana Irreechaa
kabajachaa akkasumas Ajjeechaa,hidhaa fi dararama ilmaan keenya irra gahaa jiru
karaa nagaan sagalee mormii isaanii tuttuqaa motummaan wayyaane waltajjii
irraatti jalqabeen mullisuu jalqaban.
Diinni
silumaa Ilmaan Oromoo fixuuf karoorfatee jiru, haala nama sukkanneessuun irraaf
jalaan ilmaan Oromoo irratti dhukaasa banuun gammachuu guddaa guyyaa kabajaa
irreechaa gadda yeroo mara seenaa ilmaan Oromoo keessatti hin irraanfatamne
duguuggaa sanyii nurratti raawwate.
Haala kanaan
motummaan wayyaanee xiqqoo fakkeessee
guyyaa irreechaa sana ilmaan Oromoo 52 qofa ajjeeseen jira jedhee dhaadatullee,
ragaa qabatamaan akka mullisutti guyyaa gaafasii qofa ilmaan Oromoo 500
ol-ta`an akka motummaa wayyaaneen ajjeefaman mirkanaawee jira. Ajjeechaan
guyyaa irreechaa kunis midialee adunyaa bebbeekamoo ta`an mara irratti
gabaasamee jira.
Guyyaan
irreechaa 2016 harra`a ji`a tokko ( Guyyaa 30 ) guutee Seenaa hin dagatamne
ta`ee darbuutti jira.Guyyaan kun ilmaan Oromoo mara biratti guyyaa
Dukkana,hadhaawaa fi gubannaa yeroo maraa taatee yaadamti.Saba keenya gaafas
ajjeefaman mara niyaadanna gonkumaa hin hirraanfannu.
Akkasumas
gumaa ilmaan oromoo qabsoo bilisummaa keessatti wareegamani hundaa ni baafanna.
Diinni
keenya sirumaa takkaa nu ajjeesuu hin dhiifne, inni guyyaa irreechaa adda ta`ullee,
kanaafuu Ilmaan Oromoo Biyya keessa jiranii fi warri biyya alaa jirru tokko
taanee Motummaa wayyaanee fi diina keenya irratti garaa jabaannee harka wal-qabannee akka jarri
ilmaan keenya boollattii naqanii fixan nutis mataan gadi garagalchinee Sirna
kana awwaaluun dirqama lammummaati.
Qabsaawaan
ni kufa
Qabsoon itti
fufa.
Injifannoon
kan Ummata Oromooti!!!
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Monday, October 31, 2016
#OromoProtests
Ethiopia: State of Emergency Risks New Abuses
Directive Codifies Vague, Overbroad Restrictions
(Nairobi) – An Ethiopian government directive under a state of emergency contains overly broad and vague provisions that risk triggering a human rights crisis, Human Rights Watch said today in a legal analysis. The government should promptly repeal or revise all elements of the directive that are contrary to international law.
A woman cries as she attends a prayer session at Biftu Bole Lutheran Church during a prayer and candle ceremony for those who died in the town of Bishoftu during Ireecha, the thanksgiving festival for the Oromo people, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, October 9, 2016.
© REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
On October 9, 2016, the government announced a six-month state of emergencyfollowing the destruction of some government buildings and private property by demonstrators. Over the past year, security forces have killed hundreds of protesters and detained tens of thousands in two regions where there have been numerous protests over government policies.
“Ethiopia’s state of emergency bans nearly all speech that the government disagrees with anywhere in the country for at least six months,” said Felix Horne, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The state of emergency hands the army new sweeping powers to crack down on demonstrators, further limiting the space for peaceful dissent.”
Under the new state of emergency, the army can be deployed country-wide for at least six months. The implementing directive prescribes draconian restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and assembly that go far beyond what is permissible under international law and signal an increased militarized response to the situation. The directive effectively codifies many of the security forces’ abusive tactics that Human Rights Watch has documented since the protests began.
The directive includes far-reaching restrictions on sharing information on social media, watching diaspora television stations, and closing businesses as a gesture of protest, as well as curtailing opposition parties’ ability to communicate with the media. It specifically bans writing or sharing material via any platform that “could create misunderstanding between people or unrest.”
It bans all protests without government permission and permits arrest without court order in “a place assigned by the command post until the end of the state of emergency.” It also permits “rehabilitation” – a euphemism for short-term detention often involving physical punishment. Many of these restrictions are country-wide and not limited to the two of Ethiopia’s nine regions where most of the unrest took place.
Under international law, during a state of emergency a government may only suspend certain rights to the extent permitted by the “exigencies of the situation.” Many of the measures, including the restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, and association go far beyond what is permitted under international law.
The government reports that since the state of emergency began, 1,600 people have been arrested, including about 50 for closing their businesses. Human Rights Watch also has received unconfirmed reports of unlawful killings, mass arrests, and looting of houses and businesses by the security forces. There have been some armed clashes between security forces and unidentified groups. Mobile phone access to the internet has been blocked since October 5. Addis Standard, a monthly English language magazine and one of the few independent publications left in Ethiopia, announced on October 25 that it was halting publication of its print edition due to state-of-emergency restrictions.
Large-scale, and mainly peaceful anti-government protests have been sweeping through Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest region, since November 2015, and the Amhara region since July 2016. Ethiopian security forces have killed more than 500 people during protests over the last year. These protests occurred in a context of the near-total closure of political space.
Protesters have voiced a variety of concerns, including issues related to development, the lack of political space, the brutality of the security forces, and domination of economic and political affairs by people affiliated with the ruling party. The emergency measures send a strong and chilling message that rather than dealing with expressed grievances and ensuring accountability for violence by both government forces and protesters, the government will continue and probably escalate the militarized response.
On October 2, in Bishoftu, a town 40 kilometers southeast of the capital, Addis Ababa, tensions ignited at the annual Irreecha festival – an important Oromo cultural event that draws millions of people each year. Security forces confronted huge crowds with tear gas and fired shots and scores of people then died during a stampede. Since then, alleged demonstrators have damaged a number of government buildings and private businesses perceived to be close to the ruling party, setting some on fire.
The government has in part blamed human rights groups seeking to document violations of international law for the recent unrest. Human Rights Watch has repeatedly called for an independent and credible investigation into the security force response to the protests and to the deaths in Bishoftu.
“Many of the abuses committed by security forces since November 2015 have now been codified under the state of emergency,” Horne said. “Trying to use the legal cover of a state of emergency as a pretext for the widespread suspension of rights not only violates the government’s international legal obligations, but will exacerbate tensions and long-term grievances, and risks plunging Ethiopia into a greater crisis.”
#OromoProtests
UN urges Ethiopia to end violence against peaceful protesters
[JURIST] The UN Office of the High Commissioner(OHCHR) [official website] on Wednesday urged[press release] Ethiopian authorities to end the violence against peaceful protesters. These attacks by Ethiopian authorities have reportedly led to over 600 deaths in the past year. In response to this violence, the UN has called for an international commission and have requested that the Ethiopian government allow for them to investigate the protests and the violent tactics used against the peaceful demonstrators. Experts claim that there have been numerous allegations of mass killings and disappearances, thousands of protesters injured and tens of thousands arrested. There is also concern that many of those arrested have faced torture and ill-treatment in military detention centers. Another main concern is the use of national security and counter-terrorism legislation to target individuals who are exercising their rights to peaceful assembly. Protests began a year ago [UN News Centre report] in response to the Government's plan to expand certain boundaries displacing farmers, along with the annexation of Konso Wereda into the Segen Arae Peoples Zone.
The conflict between the Ethiopian government and protestors has been widespread. Tensions increased over the past week when at least 55 were killed in clashes between police and protesters at a festival. Last month Ethiopia's opposition leader and leader of the Oromo ethnic group, Tiruneh Gamta, demanded the release of all political prisoners [JURIST report] "regardless of any political stand or religion or creed." The Oromo ethnic group, representing the largest group among the protesters, is largely credited with starting the protests last November when the government announced its plan to expand the capital into the Oromia region. Although the Oromos initially started protesting against what they viewed as a plan to remove them from fertile land in the region, the protests started taking on a different theme even as the government dropped its plan to expand the capital—one calling for the release of political prisoners [Al Jazeera report]. According to rights groups, at least 500 people have been killed and thousands arrested since the unrest began. In January several Ethiopian rights groups called on the international community to address the killing [JURIST report] of protesters.
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