Breaking News: Life Bullet Against Oromo Students

Umni Waraan wayyaanee Agazi berged jedhamuu fi Federal polis jedhamu Bartootta Oromoo fi Uummata nagaa seeraan ala miidhuu dhiisee gara Mootummaa seeraan ala Uummata miidhaa jiru tti afaan Qawwee garagalfachuuf sochii eegalan!

Uummanni Amboo Waraanni Wayyaanee Dhiha Oromiyaa Wallaggatti Akka Hin Dabarreef Bakkoota 16 ol ta’anitti mukkeen guruguddaa jigsuun gootummaan diina dura dhaabbatan

#BBCtrending: Jailed bloggers spark Ethiopia trend

By BBC Trending

Just when US Secretary of State John Kerry visits Ethiopia, six of the nation’s leading bloggers have been arrested.

April 30, 2014 (BBC Trending) — On Friday afternoon at 5pm Addis Ababa time, the mobile phones and inboxes of nine Ethiopian bloggers began to beep and vibrate with frantic messages. One of the members of social media activist group Zone 9 had been arrested – and others were being warned. But the alerts came too late and by the next day, five more bloggers and three journalists had been arrested All nine are in custody whilst police investigate allegations that the individuals have been working with foreign organizations, rights activists, and “using social media to destabilise the country”.

Afar Facing Severe Ethnic Cleansing and Human Rights Violations

PRESS RELEASE | April 30, 2014

Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF)

ARDUF has learnt that TPLF/EPRDF regime has recently ordered its racist paramilitary forces to invade Ammih-baxa, district, zone 3, of Afar Regional State to arbitrary arrest and indiscriminately kill any person who disagree with and express their dissatisfaction with Federal Government’s policies. On 19th April 2014, TPLF/EPRDF forces committed to deliberate, systematic and indiscriminate mass killing against innocent civilians over 12 people, including women, children and the elderly people; a dozen were critically injured, more than 120 homes destroyed purposely. This systematic and disproportionate massacre against innocent Afar civilians took place, at Kurkura, Taa’a (Taaqa) Ward of Ammih baxa district of Zone 3, Afar Regional State, while the Afar civilians were grazing their cattle on their grazing land.

OromoProtests – The TPLF-Dominated Ethiopian Regime Gears Up for Military Response to the Nonviolent (Peaceful) Oromo Students Protests Against the Addis Ababa Master Plan

#OromoProtests – The TPLF-dominated Ethiopian regime is gearing up for military response to the nonviolent (peaceful) Oromo Students Protests Against the Addis Ababa Master Plan. The resilient#OromoProtests have been going on for more than a week, and with heightened level since the April 24, 2014 Haramaya University rally, in university campuses across Oromia despite the TPLF regime’s plan to intimidate and harass the Oromo people and implement the Addis Ababa Master Plan to evict and dispossess Oromos around Finfinnee.

Protests Grow Over Addis Ababa’s Expansion

BY MOHAMMED ADEMO 

Addis Ababa is growing fast and set to expand further, pitting the government against Oromo activists, seeking to protect their rights.

Gambia Street in downtown Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, bustles with traffic. Credit: David Stanely

APRIL 29, 2014 (Think Africa Press) – Ethnic Oromo students in Ethiopia are ratcheting up opposition to the territorial expansion of the Horn of Africa nation’s capital, Addis Ababa. Thousands of students at all eight regional universities in Oromia, the largest of Ethiopia’s federal states, turned in recent days to demand an immediate halt to the city’s so-called “Integrated Development Master Plan,” unveiled earlier this month.

Today, Tuesday 29 April, an estimated 25,000 people, including residents of Ambo town in central Oromia, participated in a city wide demonstration, in the largest show of opposition to the government’s plans to date. A handful of students have been injured and others arrested in protests at the campuses of Jimma, Haromaya, Ambo, Wollega, Metu, Bolu Hora, Adama and Maddawalabu universities, according to local reports.

Ethiopia: Digging Up Old Wounds – New City Master-Plan Ignites Old Controversy

April 29, 2014 (Ethiopian Reporter) – Elevated at 2000 meters above sea level overlooking most of the country, Addis Ababa remains at center of Ethiopia’s political and economic life for the past 126 years. Historically, handpicked by Emperor Menelik II to administer his expanding kingdom, mainly for its strategic defense advantages, Addis’s preeminence grew, even in the continent, over time.

With this comes constant change and development which seems to have caught the eyes of international city indexes like the A.T. Kearney’s Global Cities Index (GCI)-2014. The Emerging City Outlook Report published early last week placed Addis Ababa in third place next to Jakarta and Manila in prospect to become the next big international city.

The index measured the progress made by cities between 2008 and 2013 to indicate their prospect of catching up with the major cities in the world within the next decade or so. As important as the prospect it is showing, Addis is also a city of stark contrast when one digs deeper.

Stop financing tyranny like in Ethiopia: William Easterly

OromoProtests – The Latest News Updates on the Oromo Students Protests Against the Addis Ababa Master Plan

(April 29, 2014 – Filed at 12:15PM (or 6:15-Noon) Local Finfinnee Time) – The nonviolent Oromo Students protests are going on in different universities and high schools across Oromia. Accordingly, there is information that indicates at least two high school students were shot by government agents in Ambo this morning while the nonviolent rally has been underway at Guder High School. Mass arrests are also going on in Ambo town. As usual, government security forces are opening fires at unarmed high school students.

VOA: #OromoProtests – Mirgi Abbaa Biyyummaa Oromoo Heeraan Kennameef Haa Kabajamu Jedhu Barttoonni Universitii

Ethiopia: Arrests Upstage Kerry Visit

9 Bloggers, Journalists Held Before US Official Arrives

(Nairobi, April 28, 2014) – The Ethiopian authorities should immediately release six bloggers and three journalists arrested on April 25 and 26, 2014, unless credible charges are promptly brought, Human Rights Watch said today.

United States Secretary of State John Kerry, who is scheduled to visit Ethiopia beginning April 29, should urge Ethiopian officials to unconditionally release all activists and journalists who have been arbitrarily detained or convicted in unfair trials, Human Rights Watch said. The arrests also came days before Ethiopia is scheduled to have its human rights record assessed at the United Nations Human Rights Council’s universal periodic review in Geneva on May 6.

Har’a Iluu Abbaa Booraa,Yuuniversitii Mattuu FDG Gootota Barattoota Oromoon dhofame

Qeerroo | Har’a Ebla 28/2014

Goototni Barattootn Oromoo Yuunibarsiitii Mattuu FDG haalaan qindaa’aa ta’e dhoosuun hiriiraa nagaa guddaa mooraa Yuunibarsiitii Maattu irraa eegaluun dhaadannoowwaan hedduu qabachuu fi dhageesisuun yeroo amma kanatti gara Magaalaa Mattuutti deemaa jiru Goototni barattootni Oromoo Yuunibarsiitii Maattuu har’a ganama sa:aatii 1:30 irraa eegaluun walitti qabamuun gaaffiin barattootni keenyaa Yuunibarsiitii Jimma, Harammayyaa, Amboo, fi Wallaggaa kaasan gaaffii keenyaa waliigalaa waan ta’eef deebii argachuu qaba jechuun iyyaannoo isaanii bulchiinsa Yuunibarsiitii Mattuutti galchachuun, hiriira guddaa kan barattoota dargaggoota Oromoo 5000 ol hirmaachiisee Godina Iluu Abbaa Booraa magaalaa Mattuu Yuunibarsiitii Mattuu keessatti gaggeeffachaa jiru gaaffiin barattoota Oromoo Yuunibarsiitii Mattuu;

Disturbing Images of Oromo Students Injured By TPLF’s Military Police at a Peaceful/Nonviolent Rally in Wallaggaa, Oromia

Posted: Ebla/April 28, 2014 · Gadaa.com

(Note: bigger photos of the injured Oromo students can be viewed below.)

BACKGROUND
On April 26, 2014, Oromo students’ nonviolent protest was held at Wallaggaa University against the plan (called the Addis Ababa Master Plan) to evict millions of Oromo farmers and dispossess them of their land in Oromian districts surrounding Finfinnee under the pretext of the “urban development of Addis Ababa.” At the peaceful rally, the TPLF Ethiopian regime’s Military-Police shot at, battered and injured several unarmed students. Photo below shows the peaceful rally up to the point of the intrusion by the TPLF Military-Police into the Wallaggaa University campus to shoot and batter the unarmed students.

Ethiopian Security Forces Open Fire on Students

April 26, 2014 (CNN iReport) — There has been widespread protest by Oromo students in universities in Ethiopia against unpopular ‘Addis Ababa-Finfinnee surrounding integrated master plan’. Oromo students in Haromaya, Jimma, Ambo and Wollega universities held protests.

Although officials in Oromia state and Addis Ababa city administration insist the plan only intends to develop Addis Ababa and its surrounding, Oromo students and the wider Oromo elites believe the plan is to displace farmers in the outskirts and suburban areas of the city, meet the growing demand for land, and weaken the Oromo identity. The Ethiopian constitution grants a special interest to the Oromia state regarding administrative, resource and other socio-economic matters in Addis Ababa, in its article 49 which never have been implemented. This has largely resulted in significant resistance within the ruling party, OPDO, in Oromia and a continues pressure to materialize the implementation.

The protest against the doomed to fail master plan is held in four universities sofar. Yesterday (26/04/2014) at Wollega University, the infamous and notorious Federal police opened fire at innocent Oromo students. Reports and eye witness indicate unknown number of students were hurt and some have fled to the bushes. The people of Nekemete town were prevented from joining the resistance. Even then some of the residents broke through line of federal police force and joined the protest.

Humni hundi ulfina saba guddaa kanaaf akka jilbeenfatu, yerootu ga’e!

Jiituu Lammii  irraa

Ebla 27, 2014 (Qeerroo) – Dur dur, kurupheetu keessummummaa mana Waaq dhaqxe jedhama. Akkuma gaarii simatamtee nyaattee dhugdee gaafa galaaf kaatu dabaree ittaanu Waaqayyoo mana isheetti waamtee guuyyaa beellamaa qabatanii gargar bahani.

Gaaf kaanitti guyyaan beellamaa dhiyaachaa dhufnaan garaatti hammeenya yaaddee gaafa guyyaan beellamaa gahu keessummaa ishee simachuurra fiigdee jalaa baduu murteeffatte. Guyyaan gahee otoo ofirra eegduu keessummaa dhufaa jiru alaalatti agartee fiigichaan keessaa fuute. Fiigdee… fiigdee dachaa lafaa qaxxaamurtee “…jalaa baye!” jettee yoo ofirra miil’attu ammas hanguma durii itti dhiyaatee argite. “… eebade…!” jettee rifaasuun gaara baatee bowwaa buutee kanuma afuurri keessaa qixxoofte dawoo wayiitti gortee yoo ofirra miil’attu ammallee Waaqayyo hanguma duri itti dhiyoo jira. Kana booda tasuma akka jalaa hin baane abdii kutteetu – “Edaa si jalaa hin bahanii!?” jette jedhama. Gaafa gamte harka kennu malee dhugaa dheessanii jalaa hin bahani!

Ethiopia detains bloggers and journalist

Security forces arrest six bloggers and a journalist in latest crackdown on opposition voices.

April 26, 2014 (Al Jazeera) — The Ethiopian government has arrested six independent bloggers and a journalist in what human rights group Amnesty International has called a “suffocating grip on freedom of expression”.

Six members of independent blogger and activist group ‘Zone 9’ and a prominent Ethiopian journalist were arrested on Friday in the capital Addis Ababa.

All six bloggers were arrested at night by armed security forces and taken from their homes to the Federal Police Crime Investigation Sector ‘Maikelawi’, where political prisoners are alleged to be held in pre-trial, and sometimes arbitrary detention.

U.S. gives in to Egypt, getting Russia out of the picture – for now; while Israel arms Ethiopia

By Dr. Theodore Karasik

American Apache helicopter

Russian fighter jets

April 27, 2014 (Al Arabia News) — This past week the Obama Administration announced that the United States will deliver 10 Apache helicopters to Egypt and immediately invited Egyptian Intelligence Chief Major General Mohammad El-Tohamy and Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy to Washington to discuss urgent matters.

Oromo Students Nonviolent Movement at Wallaggaa University Against Eviction of Oromo Farmers from Finfinnee Surrounding and Expansion of Addis Ababa

April 26, 2014 (Oromo Free Speech) – Oromo students’ nonviolent protests are underway at Wallaggaa University against the plan (called the Addis Ababa Master Plan) to evict millions of Oromo farmers and dispossess them of their land in Oromian districts surrounding Finfinnee under the pretext of the “urban development of Addis Ababa.”

According to published data, under the current TPLF regime, Addis Ababa has expanded by ~400% since 1991 (from ~13,763.3-ha in 1991 to ~52,706.2-ha in 2014 – see data here); even though the Oromiyaa Region is a federally constituted state, it continues to be annexed by the Habesha government of Addis Ababa.

Kerry to visit Ethiopia, Congo and Angola next week

April 26, 2014, WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola from April 29 to May 5 to promote democracy and human rights, the State Department said on Friday.

Kerry will meet with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom in Addis Ababa to discuss peace efforts in the region and strengthen ties with Ethiopia, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

“In Kinshasa, Secretary Kerry will meet with President Joseph Kabila and will discuss how the DRC government’s progress in neutralizing some of the dozens of dangerous armed groups that victimize the Congolese people can be consolidated and how to best advance the DRC’s democratization and long-term stability, including through a timely and transparent electoral process,” she said.

ETHIOPIA: OPPOSITION LEADERS DENIED MEDICAL TREATMENT

Amnesty International

URGENT ACTION

OPPOSITION LEADERS DENIED MEDICAL TREATMENT

Olbana Lelisa and Bekele Gerba are being denied medical treatment. The two men, political opposition leaders and prisoners of conscience, are reported to be ill in Kaliti prison, Ethiopia. Olbana Lelisa’s friends believe his condition may be life-threatening.

Several months ago Olbana Lelisa and Bekele Gerba were moved from Ziway prison south of Addis Ababa, to Kaliti prison on the outskirts of the capital city, reportedly after a doctor in Ziway referred the two men for hospital treatment. However, since the transfer, the men have been denied access to a hospital. It is not clear what is wrong with the two men as they have not access to a full diagnosis.

FDG Qeerroo Bilisummaa Yuuniverstii Amboo Ebla 25 2014

Ethiopia: Trapped By a Crippled Telecom

A soaring number of option-deprived customers and eye-watering packages continue to swell the earnings of the state monopoly Ethio telecom. In return the inglorious institution kept on crippling everything this country has achieved in the past with banks being the hardest hit.

April 24, 2014 (Addis Standard) — In February this year, while hosting his third presser with the local media since he assumed office as Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn was resolute in his response to a question from this magazine on whether or not his government was willing to assess the impact of running a dysfunctional state run telecommunication company on the economy. His government, PM Hailemariam said, was not ready to privatize the telecom sector, “Not now, not in the near future.” Needless to say, that was not the right answer to the question, but it is the incumbent’s long held stand on the state monopoly, Ethio telecom.

Land campaigners criticise World Bank doing business and benchmarking of the business of Agriculture in Africa

April 22, 2014 (Ethiopian Review) — As a promoter and financer of large-scale land investments in agriculture, the World Bank Group has been accused by campaigners on land rights issues as key driver of land grabbing in the developing world. A joint statement from up to eight campaigners says the World Bank is a central player in the industrial development system that is using its financial and political might, through its investment agencies and institutions, to force developing countries to follow a pre-prescribed model of development, based on the neoliberal principles of privatization, deregulation, low corporate taxation and ‘free market’ fundamentalism. This model is designed to extract the maximum value from developing countries’ natural and human resources and centralize wealth and power in an already tiny but bloated corporate and elite minority.

U.S,UK Plus EU and United Nations Finally Recognize the Rights of Somali People in Ogaden Region

By Ahmed Abdi | April 22, 2014

The U.S House of Representatives and the government of United Kingdom plus EU Parliament and United Nations have recently stepped up a campaign to help Somalis from Ogaden region to realize that their voice has been heard by the International Community after decades of virtually silent.

As UK’s government recently released a report indicating allegations of abuses by the Liyu Police or “Special Police”,which London expressed its concerns,United States House of Representatives and EU Parliament have both sent strong messages to Addis Ababa,which was meant to open the Somali religion of Ogaden to the humanitarian agencies and International media to have free access to avoid further humanitarian crisis.

The U.S Congress issued a message which eventually published on Somalilandsun that reads:

Ethiopia’s ‘villagisation’ scheme fails to bear fruit

William Davison in Gambella

In the village of Elay, people are defying the government and returning home. Photograph: William Davison

April 22, 2014 (The Guardian) — The orderly village of Agulodiek in Ethiopia‘s western Gambella region stands in stark contrast to Elay, a settlement 5km west of Gambella town, where collapsed straw huts strewn with cracked clay pots lie among a tangle of bushes.

Agulodiek is a patch of land where families gradually gathered of their own accord, while Elay is part of the Ethiopian government’s contentious “villagisation” scheme that ended last year. The plan in Gambella was to relocate almost the entire rural population of the state over three years. Evidence from districts surrounding Gambella town suggest the policy is failing.

Two years ago people from Agulodiek moved to Elay after officials enticed them with promises of land, livestock, clean water, a corn grinder, education and a health clinic. Instead they found dense vegetation they were unable to cultivate. After one year of selling firewood to survive, they walked back home.

OMN: Interview with Toltu Tufa

De-Oromonizing Finfine and Beyound: TPLF’s Evil Agenda THAT MUST BE STOPPED NOW

By HGoche | April 21, 2014

Over a week ago, while skimming through current news and articles, I read an article titled “Old World Order: How geopolitics fuels endless chaos and old-school conflicts in the 21st Century” on Time Magazine of March 31, 2014 by Robert D. Kaplan., which I thought explains the behaviours past and current Abyssinian regimes land grab in Oromia and the South.

Although, Kaplan’s article much focuses on the geographical struggle between the East-West struggle for control of Ukraine, and the consequent annexation of Crimea by Russia as the mere reality of the 19th century behaviour in the 21st century. According to Kaplan, it is not the international law that defines territory but rather the bonds of blood that go with one’s own territory is central to what defines us human. In other words, the European behaviours of 19th century geographical expansion into different parts of the world for economic and geo-politics of the place is well alive and kicking in different parts of today’s world. Apart from the East-west struggle for control of Ukarine, Kaplan, also demonstrates the fracturing of Middle Eastern states into ethnic and sectarian fiefs or the Sunnis and the Shiites for control more geography and resources, the disputes over territorial claim of the East China sea among the East Asian states as more examples that geo-politics and the control for resources is not negated by technology and globalization. Kaplan, further, argues that “whereas the West has come to think about international relations in terms of laws and multinational agreements, most of the rest of the world still thinks in terms of deserts, mountain ranges, all- weather ports and tracts of land and water. The world is back to the maps of elementary school as a starting point for an understanding of history, culture, religion and ethnicity- not to mention power struggles over trade routes and natural resources”.

Breaking News: Seife Nebelbal interviews Qeerroo on today’s Jimma University attack

April 19, 2014

Seife Nebelbal Radio Program thanks those who support it to call home to collect news directly from the Oromo youth who are affected by the Woyyaane regime. To continue its work and improve the quality of its news, it needs your support and encouragement. Please visit the nearest Wells Fargo Bank to send your donation:

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Ethiopia Rushes to Implement a Genocide Master Plan Against the Oromo

By Qeerransoo Biyyaa | April 20, 2014

The Issue

Under the excuses of “joint development” for cities of Oromia and Finfinne[1], the Tigirean minority regime of Ethiopia has secretly created a master plan it calls “Addis Ababa and the Surrounding Oromia’s Special Zone Common Development Master Plan.”[2]   Using buzzwords of “ urban development”, “investment” and “industrialization” as  “benevolent” justifications, the Tigire People’s Liberation Front is in a feverish campaign mode to implement the next large-scale genocide it wishes to invisibly commit on the Oromo people. The plan to depopulate cities and rural areas inhabited by Oromo farmers and urban residents in and around Finfinne (Addis Ababa) is under way.

Kidnaping, jailing and killing will not stop the Oromo people from demanding their rights

Statement of the Oromian National academy (ONA) | April 20, 2014

As the Oromo people are increasingly opposing against the Abyssinians scramble to annex central Oromia into their business district known as Addis Ababa, the Oromo youth struggle to stop this process is also growing by every passing day. In the process, many Oromo artists are exposed to the Tigreans intelligence services abduction and torture.

Obsessed with becoming richer and richer, Ethiopia’s superpower tribe, the Tigre, once again turned it’s attention to land garbing activities and they are in the process of evicting the Oromo people from their lands. To make their robbery look legal and legitimate, the Tigre tribe leaders hold meetings and conferences at their parliament Halls and address their Trojan Horse, the OPDO. Few days after they were into the meeting, artist Jafar Yesuf released new song dedicated to land grab and human rights abuse in Ethiopia. Fearing that his new song will ignite opposition, the Tigre tribe kidnaped Artist Jafar Yesuf following it’s tradition of kidnaping and murdering.

OMN: Xiyyeeffannaa Tibbanaa Kutaa 1ffaa fi 2ffaa Ebla 17, 2014

April 19, 2014

Waayee Finfinnee – Kutaa 1ffaa	Waayee Finfinnee – Kutaa 2ffaa

The Fate of OROMO REFUGEE: Persecuted at Home, Harassed and Abused Abroad

April 18, 2014 (CNN iReport) –The indiscriminate round-up and detention against all immigrants who have been in the country began on Friday April 2, 2014; and has mainly targeted the immigrants living in Eastleigh District of Nairobi, a neighborhood largely dominated by Somalis and Oromo immigrants. Oromo refugees once fled to Kenya for safety claim facing detention and threats since government ordered them to move to camps. The Kenyan police and security agents have arbitrary arrested and detained around 6000 refugees who are originally from neighboring Horn of African countries; and have continued hunting for more. 

Mootummaan Wayyaanee Badii Tokkoon Malee Sabboonaa Artistii Oromoo Jaafar Yusuuf Ukkaamsuu Mana Hidhaa Galche

By Qeerroo.org | April 18, 2014

Mootummaan Wayyaanee aartii fi Artistoota Oromoo nyaachaa alalfachaa kan as geesse Sabboonaa Jaallatamaa wallisaa Oromoo kan tahee fi yeroo ammaa kana keessatti walleewwan haaraa baasuudhaan daran jaallatamaa kan dhufe Wallisaa Artistii Oromoo Jaafar Yusuuf mootummaan wayyaanee Ukkaamsuun mana hidhaa keessatti darara irraan gahaa jirti. Mootummaan wayyaanee Wallisaa Jaafar Yusuuf dhimma Lafa naannawa Finfinnee federaala jala galchuu ilaalchisee wallee Finfinneen Keenyuma jedhu wallee baaqqee gadhiisteetta, Ati akeeka mootummaa wayyaanee Uummata kakaasuun fashalsiisuu irratti argamta jechuun mana hidhaatti ukkaamsuun darara jabaa reebichaa bakka lafeen ilmaan Oromoo hedduun keessatti nyaatame Maaikelaawwii keessatti dararaa jirti

Mootummaan Wayyaanee Artistoota Oromoo waan Oromoo fi Oromiyaa sirban kanneen akka Eebbisaa Addunyaa, Yoseef Gammachuu, Usmaayyoo Muusaa, Abdii Qophee fi kanneen biroo hedduu darara jabaa irraan gahuun lubbuu isaanii kan dabarsite yoommuu tahu yeroo ammaa kanas Sabboontota Oromoo Artistoota waan Oromoo sirbuun oromummaa hubachiisan kanneen akka Jaafar Yusuuf mana hidhaa keessatti darara jabaa irraan gahaa jirti.

ETHIOPIA: WHY ARE SO MANY JOURNALISTS IN JAIL?

By Dana Wagner, Huffingtonpost

April 18, 2014 (In Depth Africa) – I recently wrote an article criticizing two Canadian Cabinet ministers and the absolute privilege of irreverence struck me yet again. I didn’t have to spend a week sleeping anywhere but home to avoid thugs, or worry about my family losing their jobs, or alert my friends — especially my international ones — that I feared jail and to keep the media on my case if I disappeared.

If I did expect any of that, I don’t think I would have the courage to write. That is a great tragedy in societies without press freedom or freedom of speech, that critics can be silenced by the powerful, invisible force of self-censorship.

Disturbingly, it’s the ones who defy that force that make the case for self-censorship stronger: They face the outsized punishment that is also an explicit warning to the rest. Jail, harassment, or worse for journalists and their families has the ultimate demonstration effect.

The OLF Condemns the Acts of Ethnic Cleansing Perpetrated against the Oromo People by the TPLF-led Regime in Finfinnee (Addis Ababa)

oromoliberationfront.info | April 17, 2014

We are gravely concerned that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front-led (TPLF) regime has, once again, intensified its policy of cleansing the Oromo people from Finfinnee, the capital city of Oromia, and the surrounding districts.

The regime first created the so-called Oromia Special Zone in 2008 and since pursued a relentless systematic removal of the indigenous Oromo people from their ancestral land in the name of “land for investors”, with the sole purpose of forcefully usurping and controlling Oromo land and resource.

TBOA UK successfully delivered its especial annual conference in London

The Union of Oromo Students in Europe (UOSE-UK Branch) or TBOA UK successfully delivered its especial annual conference in London on April 12, 2014

The theme of the conference was maximising awareness about the current alarming situation in Oromia and empowering the young generation to lead and finalize the century old struggle. The speakers include Jaal Galasa Dilbo, Jaal Taha, Obbo Denebo and Obbo Gamachu. The morning session started in Oromo custom, after elders blessing and afternoon session opening was with remembering Oromo heroes and heroines who sacrificed their precious life for freedom and equality.

Obbo Gamachu enlightened the participants with Gada values focusing on how to unify Oromo from different walks of life based on this value. Obbo Denebo’s presentation focused on leadership structure of Gada system and challenged the participants if the current leaders of Oromo are living to the standard of this value.

Australian Oromo Community Association in Victoria Inc.

Press Release 

April 16, 2014

SUBJECT: Safeguarding the Rights of Oromo Refugees and Asylum Seekers

The Australian Oromo Community in Victoria Australia (AOCAV) a non- profitable organisation  stablished in 1984 to facilitate community development, preservation of Oromo culture, and promoting cross cultural awareness and harmony between the Australian-Oromo and mainstream Australians, and to serve as voice of the Oromo people, is concerned about the ongoing swoops targeting refugees and asylum seekers in various urban centres in Kenya.

Ethiopian Government Must Stop Resettling Refugees throughout the Gambella Region

Gambella Nilotes United Movement/Army

Press Release

12^th April 2014, Gambella 

“Ethiopian Government Must Stop Resettling Refugees throughout the Gambella Region”

Gambella Nilotes United Movement (GNUM/A) condemns the Ethiopian government’s plans and act of creating and establishing many refugees camps for the South Sudanese refugees in Anuaks’ land of  Gambella without the will of the local communities. This is deliberate of the EPRDF/TPLF government’s racist plans to create animosity to carry out ethnic cleansing conflicts in the region to displace and extinct the indigenous Nilotes from their ancestral lands, as usual, in exchange to promote the systematic settlements and occupations of Northerners in the land they don’t own in the South-western regions of Ethiopia. As experiences speak loudly of the past, GNUM alerts all concerned parties that the spread of the refugees camps in the Anuak land is nothing else than to trigger ethnic cleansing conflicts to serve the EPRDF/TPLF government’s interest in the region.

A country case study on justice and treatment in detention in Ethiopia from the 2013 Human Rights and Democracy Report

April 15, 2014 (UK Gov)–The 2013 Human Rights report of the government of (UK) severely criticized the government of Ethiopia for its application of its Anti-Terrorism Proclamation and the Charities and Societies Proclamation, which hampers the activity of the opposition camp of the country.

The report says that the UK is concerned about continuing restrictions on opposition and dissent in Ethiopia through use of the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation (ATP) and the Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSP) .

Those detained under the ATP include members of opposition groups, journalists, peaceful protesters, and others seeking to express their rights to freedom of assembly and expression while the CSP has had a serious impact on Ethiopian civil society’s ability to operate effectively, according to the report.

Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) Sounds Alarm about the Ongoing Land-Grab in Oromia

April 15, 2014 (daniel tadesse) –The Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) has sounded its sternest alarm about the ongoing land-grab activities in Oromia, especially the plan regarding the Oromian towns surrounding Finfinnee, in a statement released on April 14, 2014. OFC issued the statement at the conclusion of its meeting in Finfinnee on April 13, 2014.

In the statement, OFC also condemned the Ethiopian government’s Land Policy, which is being enforced in Oromia without Oromo’s participation, as a plan that will ignite violence between Oromo farmers and investors. Furthermore, OFC reminded the Ethiopian government about the Special Interests of Oromia in Addis Ababa (Finfinnee), which has not been implemented so far, per the Constitution.

The statement in two languages: Afan Oromo and Amharic, is published below.

Yaadannoo Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo Oslo Norway Ebla 15, 2014

From Ambo in West, to Melka Jebdu/Dire Dawa in East, to Jimma in South, to Kombolcha/Walloo in North, Oromia is Up for Grabs Under the Cover of “Industrial Zones”

April 15, 2014 (gadaa) –According to documents acquired by Gadaa.com, the scale of land grabbing (land thefts) underway in Oromia by the TPLF junta, its Habesha “INVESTORS” (aka Neo-Neftegna’s) and its foreign financiers is larger than previously known to the public.

According to information aggregated by Gadaa.com, prime farmlands in Oromia, including the Walloo territory in the North, will be divided into at least 8 “industrial zones” and ownership of Oromo farmlands will be transferred to Habesha “INVESTORS” (aka Neo-Neftegna’s) and their foreign financiers under the pretext of the “Growth and Transformation Plan – GTP – Development” scheme.

Kenya: Flagrant Violations of Human Rights against Asylum Seekers and Refugees

HRLHA Urgent Action

April 14, 2014

For Immediate Release

The Kenyan police and security agents have arbitrary arrested and detained around 6000 refugees who are originally from neighboring Horn of African countries; and have continued hunting for more, reported HRLHA reporter in Nairobi, Kenya on April 13, 2014.

Weelluu Jaafar Yusuuf haaraa 2014: “Finfinneen Keenyuma!!!”

International Oromo Youth Association – Press Release

April 14, 2014

The first International Oromo Youth Leadership Conference was organized in 2006. It resulted in the creation of the International Oromo Youth Association. Every summer since 2006, OYLC has brought together youth across the diaspora to discuss issues pertaining to Oromo communities and build leadership skills. The eighth annual conference was held on June 29th, 2013 at Augsburg College.

Breaking News: SNR on Jima Qeerroo activities; Borana Broadcasting

Breaking News: Seife Nebelbal Radio Program, April 12, 2014	Oromo and Borana Unite – Borana Broadcasting National TV

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universitii Jimmaa keessatti qaanqeen FDG bifa qindawaan haaratti qabate! Barruun Habashooti ittiin Oromoo arrabsan guutummaatti gubate!

Gabaasa Qeerroo: Guyyaa har’aa Ebla 12, 2014

Goototni Qeerroon Baratootni Oromoo Yuunibarsiitii Jimma FDG dhoowosan. Goottootni barattootni Qeerroon Oromoo Yuunibarsiitii Jimmaa haala qindaaaa fi bifa haarawaan qaanqee FDG qabsiisuun gaaffii kabajamuu mirga abbaa biyyummaa Oromoo,Gaaffii Magaalaan Finfinnee bulchiinsa Oromiyaa jala galuu qaba jedhuu fi Adeemsii Magaalaawan Oromiyaa Finfinnee fi Federala jala galchuuf mootummaan EPRDF hojjechaa jiru dhaabbachuu qaba kan jedhuu fi gocha sanyuummaa irratti hundaaeen barruu maxxansa ilmaan nafxanyaa maxxansuun Oromoo maqaa xureessa, xiqqeessa fi haamilee tuqaa jiran seeratti dhiyaachuu qabu, manni maxxansaa nafxanyootaa kun cufamuu qaba kan jedhuu fi haala siyaasa biyyatti ilaalchisuun barreeffaman qindeessuun bulchiinsa Yuunibarsiitii Jimmatti kennuun deebiin gaaffii keenyaa yeroo gabaaba keessatti nuuf deebiuu qaba jechuun ; garagalcha Iyyannoo isanii bulchiinsa mootummaa nannoo Oromiyaaf, Koomishinii Poolisii Oromiyaa fi dhimmoota nageenyaa Oromiyaaf, bulchiinsa godina Jimmaaf, koomishinii Pooliisii Godina Jimmaaf, Uummata Oromoo hundaaf, Dhaabbilee mirgoota namummaa Idil addunyaaf, Afrikaa fi biyyatti hundaaf jechuun garagalcha gochuun warraaqsaa FDG haalan qindaaaa taee gaggeessan.

Oromo Farmers, Including 80-Year Old Farmer, Evicted from Ancestral Land – Document Shows Oromo Farmers Evicted from Land in Kilinto, Oromia (Near Akaki)

April 11, 2014 (gadaa) — The TPLF-led Ethiopian Habesha Government controlling Oromia militarily is stepping up its abuse of the Oromo people.

Statement from the National Youth Movement for Freedom and Democracy (aka Qeerroo Bilisummaa) on the Current Condition of the Oromo People Ethiopian Empire

April 10, 2014

The representatives of the National Youth Movement for Freedom and Democracy (aka Qeerroo Bilisummaa) from different zones of Oromia have come together and convened for two days, April 1 and 2, 2014 and, after a thorough discussion, have deliberated the following resolution on the current condition of the Oromo people, the condition of Revolt Against Subjugation (Fincila Diddaa Gabrummaa) spearheaded by Qeerroo Bilisummaa, and the political condition of the Ethiopian Empire.

Ethiopia: Where conscience is constantly on trial

By Awol K Allo

In Ethiopia, Muslim leaders are facing an unjust trial for crimes they did not commit

Currently 29 Muslim leaders are on trial in Ethiopia charged under its anti-terrorism law [AFP]

April 10, 2014 (Aljazeera) — A high profile trial against protest leaders – intellectuals, activists and elected members of “The Ethiopian Muslim Arbitration Committee” – is shaking the Ethiopian political landscape. The government argues that the accused harbour “extreme” Islamic ideologies. It accuses them of conspiracy with terrorist groups to overthrow the government and establish an Islamic state in Ethiopia.