On the war Crime committed against OLA members by Ethiopian army agents

OLF Statement

(Oromo Liberation Front) –After it was thoroughly defeated by the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), the colonial army of the dictatorial regime of Ethiopia murdered members of the OLA by using poison in drinking water. This criminal and savage act is totally against a binding part of international law in the conduct of warfare. It is against the Geneva Protocol, a treaty that prohibits the use of poison in warfare.

The colonial army has continued to operate all over Oromia with the aim of holding back the fast advancing Oromo people’s liberation struggle. In the military engagement between the OLA and the Ethiopian colonial army on June 20-23, 2016 in south-eastern Oromia, the OLA completely defeated the Ethiopian army unit. The Ethiopian army unit, supported by “special force” was on search and destroy mission of the OLA in the Baalee region of Elkarree, Gooroo and Haroo Dibbee districts. The OLA totally foiled the mission when it killed 27 and wounded 18 of the enemy forces. In addition, the heroic OLA captured four enemy soldiers and large quantities of military hardware. Thus, the OLA annihilated the enemy forces and successfully foiled its mission to destroy the OLA.

Xalayaa Banaa Hogganoota ABO, ADO, ABO Tokkoomee fi KWOf

(Boruu Barraaqaa, Dubbataa ABO duraanii irraa)

Obbo Daawud Ibsaa, hogganaa Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo
Obbo Leencoo Lataa, hogganaa Adda Dimokraatawaa Oromoo
Obbo Abbaa Nagaa Jaarraa, hogganaa Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo Tokkoomee
Janaraal Kamaal Galchuu, hogganaa Kallacha Walabummaa Oromiyaa

Nageenyi jaallummaa haa dursu. Itti aansuun dhimma xalayaa banaa kana isinii barreessuuf na dirqettin gabaabsee seena. Akkuma beekamu Addi Bilisummaa Oromoo bara ummanni Oromoo dukkanaan liqimfame san keessatti dungoo abdii tahee dhalate. Dungoon abdii Oromoo sunis bubbee diinotaa kan isii dhamsuuf bahaa dhihaan, kaabaa kibbaan itti hafuursan meeqaatam dandamattee odoo iftuu har’a geesse. Kanaafuu warra dungoon sabboonummaa ABOdhaan qabsiifame sun ija baneefis tahee dhaloonni haaraan eega dungoon sun qabattee booda dhalatee keessatti of bare hundi maqaa ‘ABO’ jedhu kanaaf jaalalaa fi galata guddaa qaba. Dhaloota dantaa Oromoo fi Oromiyaa irratti halagaa kamiinuu waliin araara hin teenye haaraya argamsiisuu irratti gumaachi Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo hiriyaa hin qabu. Kanaaf jecha ABOn eega sadarkaan dammaqiinsa ummata Oromoo daalifee booda akka dhaaba siyaasaa kallacha qabsoo tahe tokkotti jaalatamuu, abdatamuu fi kabajamuu bira dabree, akka hafuura Oromummaatti fudhatamuun kan haalamuu miti.  Kana keessatti ammoo hoggana irraa qabee hanga miseensa leexaatti kanneen surraa kana fakkaatu dhaabicha gonfuu keessatti qooda qabdan hundi galata seenaan hin daganne qabdu.

Ethiopia Charges Prominent Opposition Member Bekele Gerba, Others With Terrorism

(Addis Standard) — Prosecutors have today charged 22 individuals, including prominent opposition member Bekele Gerba (pictured), first secretary general of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), with various articles of Ethiopia’s much criticized Anti Terrorism Proclamation (ATP). Addis Standard could not obtain details of the charges as of yet.

However, charges include, but not limited to, alleged membership of the banned Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), public incitement, encouraging violence, as well as causing the death of innocent civilians and property destructions in cities such as Ambo and Adama, 120km west and 100km east of Addis Abeba during the recent Oromo protests in Ethiopia.

Land Grabbing and the Socio-economic and Environmental Destruction of Floriculture Industries in Oromia, Ethiopia

By: Assefa Mitike Janko[1]

Land Grabbing

How much land has been acquired by the Indian enterprises in Ethiopia? What crops do they plan to grow? Source: Oakland Institute, February 2013

Although the global land grabbing literature focuses on large-scale land transfer to foreign and domestic ‘investors’ in developing countries, the situation in Oromia is quite different. Land grabbing in Oromia was started in the late 19thcentury when the Abyssinian empire conquered the Oromo nation through relentless military conquest that some scholars refer to internal colonization. Following the conquest, Oromo lost their land, natural resources, autonomy, and sovereignty, and were eventually subjected to imperial oppression under successive regimes in the country.

Why Are Oromo Refugees Getting Sent Back to Ethiopia?

Tariku Debela, in jeans, walks carefully through the streets of Eastleigh, Nairobi. Photo by Ebba Abbamurti.

(Okay Africa) — On a warm evening last month, Tariku Debela was walking home from dinner in the immigrant enclave of Eastleigh, Nairobi, when he was jumped by four men who took his phone and more than $200 in cash. Getting mugged is bad enough, but what happened next is seared in Debela’s memory.

Ethiopia: U.S. Rights Report Barely Scratched Recent Oromo Protest

Report’s minimal attention on massive rights abuses and killings during the Oromo Protests angered activists

(All Africa) — The State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor released the latest country report including for Ethiopia on April 13, 2016.

Much to its usual details, the Ethiopia report identified harassment and intimidation against opposition members and supporters as well as journalists in Ethiopia; it also alleged torture, beating, abuse, and mistreatment of detainees by security forces and politically motivated trials as “the most significant human rights problems” in the country.

2015 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in Ethiopia

U.S. Department of State
BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR

Report, April 13, 2016

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Ethiopia is a federal republic. The ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), a coalition of four ethnically based parties, controls the government. On May 24, the country held national and regional elections for the House of People’s Representatives, the parliamentary body. The EPRDF and affiliated parties won all 547 seats to remain in power for a fifth consecutive five-year term. On October 5, parliament elected Hailemariam Desalegn prime minister. Government restrictions severely limited independent observation of the vote. A mission from the African Union, the sole international institution or organization permitted to observe the voting, called the elections “calm, peaceful and credible.” Some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) reported that an environment conducive to free and fair elections was not in place prior to the election. There were reports of unfair government tactics, including intimidation of opposition candidates and supporters, and violence before and after the election that resulted in six confirmed deaths. Civilian authorities generally maintained control over the security forces, although local police in rural areas, the Somali Region Special Police, and local militias sometimes acted independently.

Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo kan Bara 2016 Ilalachisee Ibsa Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo

Guyyaan Gootota (Wareegamtoota) Oromoo Ebla 15, 1980 irraa eegalee waggaa waggaan kabajamaa fi yaadatamaa yoona gahe. Gootota gaafa alagaan biyya Oromoo cabsuuf itti duule diina biyya ofii irraa ittisuuf jecha diddaa gabrummaa irratti wareegaman dabalatee qabsaawoti bilisummaa Oromoo bifa adda addaan hanga har’aatti wareegama baasan hunda guyyaa kana yaadatna. Kana waliin, guyyaan wareegamtoota Oromoo, guyyaa miseensoti Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo, deggertootaa fi uummati Oromoo bal’aan kaayyoo sab-boontoti Oromoo dabran wareegamaniif galmaan gahuuf waadaa seenan itti haaromsani dha.

Deafening Silence from Ethiopia

(Human Rights Watch) — Since November, state security forces have killed hundreds of protesters and arrested thousands in Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest region. It’s the biggest political crisis to hit the country since the 2005 election but has barely registered internationally. And with the protests now in their fifth month, there is an almost complete information blackout.

A teacher arrested in December told me, “In Oromia the world doesn’t know what happens for months, years or ever. No one ever comes to speak to us, and we don’t know where to find those who will listen to our stories.”

#OromoProtest Daily, April 10, 2016 (updated)

Hayyuu Dureen ABO Jaal Daawud Ibsaa Gaazexesitootaaf Ibsa Kennan

Dhaamsa kana waliif dabarsaa wal hubachiisaa

#OromoProtests activists in Philadelphia force cancellation of a meeting called by TPLF embassy. The promise is kept! TPLF will not be allowed to hold any meeting in diaspora while killing our people back home. TPLF WILL NEVER TAKE A MOVE IN DIASPORA

Ethiopia’s Oromo Protest ‘Development,’ Displacement and Death Belén Fernández

Events in Oromia have been described as the worst civil unrest in a decade.

Ethiopian migrants of the Oromo community of Ethiopia living in Malta protest against the Ethiopian regime outside the office of Malta’s Prime Minister in Valletta June 16, 2014. | Photo: Reuters

(telesurtv) — “This government is at least better than previous ones,” remarked a 74-year-old Eritrean man to me last month in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, his longtime residence. Clad in a tattered grey suit and speaking to me in Italian, the man was peddling a book of useful Amharic phrases he had compiled for the foreign visitor, proceeds of which would go toward the purchase of a second-hand comforter for his bed.

Petition Intended to Stop the Killings of Oromo Women and Children

Begna Dugassa Ph.D;  Email: begna.dugassa@gmail.com

One of the Peaceful Oromo protesters gunned down by security forces of the regime

We are saddened to the wide spread killings and imprisonments in Oromia. The killings and imprisonments are unjust and we believe that you are also saddened to the actions of the Ethiopian government security forces. The petition is planned to reach international organizations such as the UN and EU as well as countries that are providing financial assistance to Ethiopia i.e.  the U.S.A, UK, Germany, France, Italia, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Holland and others. The message of the petition is: Stop the Ethiopian government from using the international financial aids to kill Oromo women & children.  To make sure your voices are heard we encourage you to sign this petition.

What it takes to sign the petition?

It takes two easy steps. To sign the petition you simply go to the link below and click on the file. When you open the file, on the right corner you will see: SIGN THE PETITION. In the space provided you enter your name, email address and the country where you reside and hit enter. If other family members or friends want to sign the petition you have to wait until the first person is signed out from the link.

#OromoProtests Daily, April 2, 2016

SBO Ebla 3, 2016

(SBO/VOL – Ebla 02,2016) Miseensotaa fi Kaabinoota wayyaanee Godina Baha Shawaa keessatti barattoota fi ummata irraan miidhaa guddaa geessisan irratti tarkanfiin boombii fudhatame.

Bitootessa 31,2016 Godina Baha Shawaa magaalaa Bishooftuu ganda 01 keessatti kan argamu Hoteela Awaash jedhamu keessa qubachuun barattootaa fi ummata Oromoo irratti shira adda addaa xaxuun gidiraan akka isaan irra gahuuf kan hojjechaa turan kaabinootaa fi miseensota wayyaanee irratti tarkaanfii boombii fudhatameen haalaan gaaga’amaniiru.
Tarkaanfiin kun kan fudhatame galgala keessa oggaa ta’u kaabinootni wayyaanee hoteela kana keessatti shira xaxaa turan 8 oggaa ta’an 7 hojiin ala ta’aniiru

Obbo Baqqalaa Garbaafaa Mormii Nyaata Lagachuu Irra Jiraachuutu Gabaasame

Tuujubee Horaa

Boontuu Baqqalaa

Ethiopia’s Oromo people demand equal rights in protests

Largest ethnic group in Ethiopia continues to rally against the government despite crackdown.

By Charles Stratford

Wolonkomi, Ethiopia (Aljazeera) — Six-year-old Abi Turi and her nine-year-old brother Dereje have not been attending classes in Wolonkomi.

Their school was closed in January as the Ethiopian government began what its critics call a crackdown on protests by the Oromo, the country’s largest ethnic group.

Dhimmi Dabbasaa Guyyoo Mana Murtii Keeniyaatti Laallame

Obboo Dabbasaa Guyyoo

NAAYROOBII (VOA Afaan Oromoo) — Manni murtii Keeniyaa nama Dhabamuu Obbo Dabbasaa waliin walqabatee himatame irraatti ragaa dhaggeeffate. Obbo Dabbasan nama ganna 70ti, keeniyaa erga jiraachuu jalqabanii waggaa 30 ol yoo tahu, fulbaana 27 erga ayyaana Irreechaa miseensota hawaasa baqattoota Oromoo as Naayiroobii jiraatanii waliin kabajanii booda, bakka buuteen isaanii dhabame. Ergasiis maatiin isaanii mootummaa keeniyaaf kan beeksisan yoo ta’u, haga yoonaa garuu maanguddoon kuni eessa akka jiran baruun hin dandaa’amne. Dhimma kana ka hordofaa jiru Poolisii Keeniyaa yoo ta’u, nama dhimma kanaan wal qabatee shakke jedhu irrattis Mana Murtii Naayiroobii Makadaraatti bitootessa gaafa 16/2016 ragaa dhaggeeffattee sanaan booda ammas ragaa hafe dhaggeeffachuuf beellama onkoloolessa 13, bara 2016 tti qabatee jira.

Unrest in Ethiopia: Grumbling and rumbling

(The Economist) –AN OUTBREAK of public protest unprecedented in its duration and spread since the ruling party took power in Ethiopia in 1991 is stirring a rare cocktail of discontent. Demonstrations started in November mainly by members of the Oromo ethnic group, which accounts for about a third of Ethiopia’s 97m-plus people, have refused to die down. Indeed, they have spread. The government has dropped its plan, the original cause of the hubbub, to expand the city limits of Addis Ababa, the capital, into Oromia, the largest of the federal republic’s subdivisions of nine regional states and two city-states. But the protests have billowed into a much wider expression of outrage. People are complaining about land ownership, corruption, political repression and poverty. Such feelings go beyond just one ethnic group.

Stunning photos of Ethiopia’s vanishing tribes

(CNN) — Kenyan-raised, Sydney-based photographer Louisa Seton undertook an epic journey into Ethiopia’s remote Upper Omo Valley to capture the traditions of the Surma people — before they’re lost.

#OromoProtests – March 21, 2016

‪#‎BilisummaaOromoo‬-(21.03.2016, ‪#‎DiddaaOromoo‬, Oromiyaa) Humni hin beekamne Bitootessa 19 Bara 2016 halkan Sanddaaffaati kan argamu mooraa Kooleejii Poolisii Itoophiyaa irratti tarkaanfii fudhate. Tarkaanfii kanaan loltootin hedduun kan miidhaman ta’un beekaame. Tarkaanfii fudhatame kanatti kan rifate mootummaan wayyaanee Bitootessa 20/2016 ganama ummata nagaa karaa adeemu sakkataan goolaa jiraachuu beekameera.

The Shadow Over Ethiopia’s Construction Boom

By William Davison

Artistota Oromoo Motummaan Wayyaanee Ajjeese

‪#‎BilisummaaOromoo‬-(17.03.2016, ‪#‎XumuraGarbummaaHurrumuu‬, Oromiyaa) Mootummaan Wayyaanee erga aangoo Impaayera Itoophiyaa qabatee biyya Oromiyaa keessatti buttaa garboonfatummaa siaa diriirsee egalee qamoota hawaasa Oromoo mirga saba Oromoof dubbatan, falmanii fi qabsaa’an dhabamsiisaa jira. Bara 1992 haga 2006 gidduutti, fakkeenyaaf, artistota Oromoo qaroo fi beekamoo 10 ajjeesee jira.

Hiriira Mormii Godinaa Arsii fi Ka Wallaggaa Bahaa Keessaa

Mormii Oromiyaa, 2016 (Faayilii)

WASHINGTON, DC (VOA Afaan Oromoo) — Godina Arsii Anaa Muneesaa magaalaa Qarsaa keessatti barattonni mana barumsaa sadarkaa lammaffaa fi qophaa’inaa kibxata Bitooteessa 15 bara 2016 hiriira mormii gaggeessuun waraanni Agaazii qubatee jiru haa ba’uu, murtiin haqaa nuuf haaeegabuu, mirgii keenya haa eegamu jechuun gaafatanii jiran.Yeroo kanattis polisiin naannoo fi Federaalaa hiriirtoota diguuf reebaa fi Gaaza himiimaansuun gargaaramuu isaanii barattonni ibsanii jiru.Yeroo gabaabaa keessatti waraanni mootummaa seenee reebicha hamaa geesisuu isaa fi barattonni lakkofsaan torbaatamaa ol ta’an hidhamuu jiraattoota keessaas namoonniishan dararaa barattoota irratti gaggeffame bilbiila harkaan waraabdan jedhamuun hidhamuu isaanii ibsamee jira.

SBO Bitootessa 16, 2016

Oromo Voice Radio (OVR) Bitootessa 16, 2016

(SBO/VOL – Bitootessa 16, 2016) Qondaalonni ol’aanoon dhaaba maxxannee wayyaanee, OPDO, lakkoofsaan 500 caalan Galma Abbaa Gadaa magaalaa Adaamaatti argamutti walgahii gaggeeffatuun ibsameera. Lukkeeleen hogganoota baanaman kunneen walgahii isaanii guyyoota Lamaaf gaggeeffatuuf kan yaadanii turan tahus, gaaffiiwwan mirgaa, mormii fi yaadota faallaa fedhii diinaa tahan waltajjicharratti ka’anirraa kan kahe waliigalteerra gahuu hanqatanii guyyaa dabalachuudhaan akka walhammacan ibsameera.

UN Human Rights Council: General Debate under Item 4 – Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia

(HRW) — A human rights crisis is taking place inEthiopia. It has received little attention internationally but is the biggest political crisis to hit Ethiopia since the 2005 elections.

Since November 12, 2015, protesters across Ethiopia’s Oromia region have been risking their lives and liberty in the face of a brutal—and sometimes lethal–response from security forces. Soldiers and police have used deadly force and killed several hundred peaceful protesters. We understand that thousands of people have been detained in official and secret detention facilities. While there have been some incidents of violent clashes and some members of the security forces have also been killed, the vast majority of the protests have been peaceful.

The protests were triggered by the so-called Addis Ababa Master Plan, which envisioned expansion of Addis Ababa’s municipal boundary 20-fold. Protesters raised concerns that ethnic Oromos living in the area of that boundary expansion would be displaced from their farms. Ethnic Oromos, who make up approximately 35 percent of Ethiopia’s population, have long felt politically marginalized and culturally discriminated against by successive governments.

The government’s cancellation of the master plan in January came weeks too late for many protesters, who have seen too many killed and arbitrarily arrested. Over the four months of the protests, Human Rights Watch has documented security forces firing into crowds of protesters with little or no warning, the arrests of students as young as 8, and the torture of protesters in detention. Security forces have also arrested teachers, artists, political opposition leaders, and other influential Oromos who they believe are mobilizing protesters.

Since 2009, the Ethiopian government has systematically restricted independent media and civil society groups, both domestic and international. As a result, there has been limited reporting on the crackdown and inadequate international attention to this ongoing crisis. These restrictions make it difficult to verify the death toll and scale of the crackdown. It is clear, however, that the crackdown is putting Ethiopia on a very dangerous trajectory that could endanger its long term stability and progress.

Human Rights Watch urges the Council to raise concerns over the serious abuses taking place in Oromia. The Council should call on the Ethiopian government to cease using excessive force against protesters and release everyone arbitrarily detained. The Council should also support an independent investigation into the killings and other abuses. Any investigation should include sufficient levels of international involvement to ensure it is independent, credible, and impartial. Thank you.