Sunday, January 7, 2018
Friday, January 5, 2018
#OromoRevolution
The winner is Lemma Magarsaa!
Here is how I've graded the performance of EPRDF leaders during the much-anticipated press conference.
The only person who spoke from his heart with immense confidence was Lammaa Magarsaa. Hailemariam, Mekonnen and Debretsion had no substance to offer as they were just lying through their teeth. These incompetent and corrupt powermongers do not qualify to be leaders of our country in the first place.
I salute the rising star PM Lammaa Magarsaa who spoke with charisma, integrity, clarity and confidence. He has clearly articulated the aspiration of Ethiopians for radical change.
This man has undoubtedly taken a bold stand against TPLF's repression and corruption in Ethiopia. I believe the reformist deserves to take over the premiership from good-for-nothing Hailemariam Desalegn.
Here is how I've graded the performance of EPRDF leaders during the much-anticipated press conference.
The only person who spoke from his heart with immense confidence was Lammaa Magarsaa. Hailemariam, Mekonnen and Debretsion had no substance to offer as they were just lying through their teeth. These incompetent and corrupt powermongers do not qualify to be leaders of our country in the first place.
I salute the rising star PM Lammaa Magarsaa who spoke with charisma, integrity, clarity and confidence. He has clearly articulated the aspiration of Ethiopians for radical change.
This man has undoubtedly taken a bold stand against TPLF's repression and corruption in Ethiopia. I believe the reformist deserves to take over the premiership from good-for-nothing Hailemariam Desalegn.
Thursday, January 4, 2018
#OromoRevolution
Ethiopia PM 'misquoted' over prisoners
AFP
Ethiopia's government has denied that all political prisoners will be freed, saying that only some imprisoned politicians will be pardoned.
An aide to the prime minister said a mistranslation led to him being quoted as saying that all political prisoners would be freed to promote dialogue.
The prime minster also said a detention centre, allegedly used as a torture chamber, would be shut.
Ethiopia has been hit by a wave of political unrest in recent years.
Amnesty International welcomed the initial announcement, saying it could signal "the end of an era of bloody repression in Ethiopia" - although it warned that the closure of the Maekelawi detention centre should not be used to "whitewash" the "horrifying" events which took place under its roof.
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Ethiopia has always denied that there were any political prisoners in the country, as alleged by human rights and opposition groups.
In a statement on Thursday, Prime Minster Hailemariam Desalegn's office said that "some members of political parties and other individuals that have been allegedly suspected of committing crimes or those convicted will be pardoned or their cases interrupted based on an assessment that will be made so as to establish a national consensus and widen the political sphere".
It remains unclear how many people will be freed, or when.
One of the main opposition groups, the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum (Medrek), said the government often engaged in "face-saving" measures and tried to "buy time" when it was "cornered".
Medrek was, nevertheless, prepared to enter into dialogue with the government, if it was genuine and the talks led to free and fair elections, said the group's deputy leader, Beyene Petros.
Who are the prisoners?
Those held in jails across the country include opposition activists from the Amhara and Oromia regions, which were at the centre of anti-government protests in 2015 and 2016, and journalists who have criticised the government, says BBC Ethiopia correspondent Emmanuel Igunza.
The prisoners also include UK citizen Andargachew Tsege, who was seized in 2014 when changing planes in Yemen and forced to go to Ethiopia, where he had been sentenced to death in absentia for his political activities against the state.
It is difficult to know exactly how many politicians have been imprisoned, but our correspondent estimates that about 1,000 are held under the country's anti-terrorism proclamation, including high profile leaders from the opposition.
However, there are another 5,000 cases still pending, made up of those arrested after a state of emergency was declared in October 2016, he adds.
Will they actually be released?
The government has given no timeline on the release of the prisoners, including those still awaiting trial.
Our reporter notes a number of cases have political backgrounds, but are also linked to groups the government considers to be terrorists. Nineteen people linked to Ginbot 7 - deemed a terror group - were sentenced to prison terms just this week.
AFP
Whether they will all be released remains to be seen.
Any dialogue would have to include legitimate opposition groups like the Oromo Federalist Congress, whose leaders would have to be freed to fully participate in the process, our correspondent says.
What about the detention centre?
As well as releasing the prisoners, Mr Hailemariam announced the closure of Maekelawi - a detention facility in the capital, Addis Ababa, which Amnesty International described as a "torture chamber used by the Ethiopian authorities to brutally interrogate anybody who dares to dissent, including peaceful protesters, journalists and opposition figures".
"A new chapter for human rights will only be possible if all allegations of torture and other ill-treatment are effectively investigated and those responsible brought to justice," Amnesty International added.
The government strongly denies the torture allegations, but it has now decided the prison will become a "modern museum" - a move the privately-owned Addis Standard newspaper called for in an editorial in 2016.
A new detention centre will be opened, Mr Hailemariam said, which would comply with international standards.
Why now?
Our correspondent says detentions have always been a major concern. In December, social media users staged a day of action to remember those held behind bars.
But this decision comes hot on the heels of a meeting between the parties which make up the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition.
Over the past months, infighting within the coalition, which has been in power for more than 25 years, has led the prime minister to acknowledge the need for change.
The Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization and the Amhara National Democratic Movement, which are part of the coalition, have been pushing for increased political space and the "respect of their people" following the massive anti-government demonstrations that have been witnessed in the country.
Who is Hailemariam Desalegn?
A trained engineer, Mr Hailemariam took the reins of power in 2012, after the death of Meles Zenawi, who had ruled since 1991.
However, while the former deputy prime minister was a close ally of Mr Meles, he struggled to gain approval of the other EPRDF leaders in order to assume his new role.
He is not known for tolerating dissent well, despite statements to the contrary, his critics say.
In 2016, he blamed "anti-peace forces" for the violence in the Oromia region, a year after he told the BBC that bloggers and reporters arrested were not real journalists and had terror links.
#OromoRevolution
Freedom
Fighters and Legitimate Leaders of the Masses - Dr Merera Gudina - Bekele
Gerba - Ahmedin Jebel
Friday, December 29, 2017
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
Monday, December 25, 2017
#OromoProtests
That is a big step, a path to freedom and justice, our Lord has a plan for every nation,
what our people go thru doesn't go unnoticed. Enough is enough, let's pray and unite.
It's time to work hard together!!!
what our people go thru doesn't go unnoticed. Enough is enough, let's pray and unite.
It's time to work hard together!!!
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Ethiopian MPs' boycott over ethnic unrest
AFP
MPs from Ethiopia's Amhara and Oromia regions have boycotted parliament.
They say there is no point in parliament meeting until Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn gives an explanation for ongoing ethnic unrest in the country.
The Amharas and Oromos have been protesting against what they say is political and economic marginalisation.
There have also been months of deadly clashes between the Oromos and the Somalis, with more than 60 people killed last week.
On Wednesday, the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front coalition blamed weaknesses in its executive for the ongoing trouble.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
NEWS: MOUNTING DEATH TOLL, VIOLENCE PUSHES ETHIOPIA TO THE BRINK OF SECURITY C RISIS
Addisstandard
Addis Abeba, December 18/2017 – Close to eighty people were killed (by official accounts) within just one week in various places located in east and west Hararghe administrative zones of the Oromia regional state, in the eastern part of Ethiopia, pushing the country to the brink of security crisis.
Addis Abeba, December 18/2017 – Close to eighty people were killed (by official accounts) within just one week in various places located in east and west Hararghe administrative zones of the Oromia regional state, in the eastern part of Ethiopia, pushing the country to the brink of security crisis.
The latest spate of violence began on December 14, barely two days after the killing by the federal security forces of at least 16 civilians in Chelenko, east Hararghe.
Addisu Arega Kitessa, head of the Oromia region communication bureau, confirmed the violence in a statement heposted on his Facebook page. “Starting from December 14, armed men who do not represent the peaceful Ethio-Somali communities have begun mounting attacks in Hawi Gudina woreda [of west Hararghe Zone], Ebsa and Tao Kebeles, killing 29 Oromos.” More than 360 houses were also completely burned, according to Addisu.
Driven by anger and revenge over these killings, an individual and his cohorts have mounted a violent attack against innocent Ethiopian Somalis who were from Gadullo district, killing as many as 32 civilians, according to Addisu.
But accounts on both the number of causalities and the circumstances vary. A twitter message first received by Addis Standard on the evening of December 15 claimed that 37 Ethiopian Somalis were killed by “militias from the Oromia region”. And the Mogadishu based Daslan Radio claimed in a headline “65 Somalis killed in Ethiopia.”
Following the lead on twitter, Addis Standard contacted three individuals for interviews: two in Mieso town, who have been credible sources of previous stories on Addis Standard, and one in Chiro (Asebe Teferi).
What is agreed by all is that the killings of these innocent civilians happened on December 15 “inside a single location,” where, according to one of the three interviewees, more than 100 people were “sheltered for fear of their security.”
This violence is preceded by last week’s killing in Chelonko and subsequent “sporadic killings, night time raids, raping of women and girls and abductions of teenage boys by armed forces,” acts, according to our interviewee, which are most of the times committed by members of the Somali “Liyu” forces, who are accused of serious crimes, and other armed bandits who have flourished in the area unchecked. “The Somali communities were worried about revenge attacks, that is why they were sheltered,” he said explaining the reason for the sheltering in a single location of the civilian victims.
Addisu Arega admitted in his post that the atrocious attack against Ethiopian Somalis were led by an individual who lost a brother among the 29 Oromos killed. “It was led by Ziad Teha, the brother of Ahmed Teha, who was a loved member of his community”.
The second source contacted by Addis Standard added that two more men were also among the leading members of the group who committed, in the words of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, “a mass murder” against the Ethiopian Somali civilians. “I know both of them,” he said on the phone from Mieso, “the wife of one of them was taken by armed men three weeks ago and she was raped and dumped to die. Right now she is recovering in Chiro (Asebe Teferi) hospital. The second man that I know among the group had lost a 13 year old niece last week when she was abducted by a group of armed men. No one knows where she is now .”
The third person who is from Chiro told Addis Standard this morning that he has a business partner staying with his family who escaped the military violence in Hawi Gudina. “We are not able to establish any contact with his family members left behind in Hawi Gudina, there is no power, no internet and no telephone lines since five days” he said.
In an interview with the VOA Amharic Abdurezak Ahmed, head of the west Hararghe communication bureau, said that armed men who have came from the Somali regional state have taken control of two kebeles and were responsible of burning at least 80 houses by Friday December 15. By the time he gave the interview on Friday, Abdulrezak admitted that the killing in Gadullo has indeed happened but due to lack of communication he could not tell the exact number of causalities. He referred to armed and organized groups who were responsible of agitating the area. The VOA’s attempts to hear from officials of the Ethio-Somali regional state were to no avail.
PM addresses nation
Addressing the nation in a rare televised message in connection with these violent incidents, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. But in what can only be seen as code red, the Prime Minister also said these latest incidents were posing serious danger to the peace and stability of the country.
PM Hailemariam has not been seen addressing the issues in the past weeks, during which ethnic-based violence in various universities located in Oromia, Amhara and Tigrai regional states have left at least a dozen students killed, followed by the death of the sixteen civilians in Chelenko on Monday Dec. 12.
The Prime Minister promised to investigate the incidents along with the regional governments and make the findings public; he also said his government would take appropriate measures against the perpetrators. he said the government and the ruling party would be working together to identify the fundamental causes of these conflicts and called on the public to stand with and support the government.
But several questions remain unanswered. “Who is going to tell us what is happening to the rest of the defenseless civilians in Gadullo? Why were they not protected both by the federal army, the Liyu police and the regional militia forces who seem to be everywhere in the area these days? And who is going to protect us from now on?”, asks our interviewee from Chiro. AS
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