Torture survivor inspired by Elie Wiesel’s ‘Night’

By Feyera Negera Sobokssa

Rehabilitated Feyera celebrates X-Mas with his family

February 10, 2015 (Washington Jewish Week) — I am a torture survivor who was persecuted by the government of Ethiopia because I was advocating for the Oromo ethnic group in the country. I suffered so much between 1991 and 1996; even now I feel the severe trauma of what I experienced at the hands of torturers. I was trying to search for the right vocabulary to explain what happened to me.

After traveling to the United States in 2000, I came across a book called Night by Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. This book helped me describe the human brutality and the need to speak out for others who did not have the same opportunity.

This paragraph in Night (p. viii) helped inspire me to become a voice for other victims of torture. Wiesel wrote about the importance of becoming:

“a witness who believes he has a moral obligation to try to prevent the enemy from enjoying one last victory by allowing his crimes to be erased from human memory.”

When I was a young boy in the 1950s and 60s, I witnessed how the government treated my people, the Oromos. The Oromos are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, more than one-third of the population. They have their own culture and traditions; our language, Afan Oromo, was banned in schools, government offices and the courts. As a child, I remember seeing Oromo boys beaten if they spoke the language. Even today, the ruling elites in Ethiopia still use the term “galla” to refer to Oromos. “Galla” is a horrible, derogatory word used to dehumanize Oromos and to keep them in a low position.

Creation of Oromo National Dialog for Unity

By Kassim Sheimo | February 10, 2015

The last 24 years of Oromo struggle against TPLF regime has been a failure by many aspect due to lack of unity, strong viable leadership, lack of clear vision, proliferation of influence of locality, religion, and regionalism inside Oromo political organizations. The end product of these processes is a devastating failure of Oromo political and social fabric inside and outside of the country. As majority of us recall from 1991 to present day, Oromo people have not yet lost hope on its once was a vibrant organization with tenth of thousands of regular fighters as well as millions of volunteers and all most 90% support from Oromo public. The difference created before the fall of Dergu regime and following the TPLF dominated transitional government has resulted into devastating consequences for our cause. There are so many conspiracy theories that are still hidden from Oromo public as to why, when, who, and in what circumstances the OLF is divided into different factions. Why the Organization once enjoyed massive human and material resources behind it suffered such humiliating failure is a mystery.

Dhugaa dhokate mullisuf hojii malee falli hin jiru

Baqqalaa Jiraataa | Gurraandhala 8, 2015

Gidduu kana gabaasa DOCUMENTARY: U.S POLICEY- ETHIOPIA A FAILED STATE! jedhu tokko ilalaa fi dhageefatan ture. Nammootni baayeenis akkuma kiyya arganirus dhagahanirus. Dokumantarin kun kan ibsu badii baroota 20 ol darbanif mootummaan gartuu adda bilisa baasaa ummata Tigretin ( ABUT) uummatoota biyyatti irratti raawwatame ibsa. Dokumantarich mootummaa wayyaneetin yakka raawwtamaa ture tartiban ka’uudhan saxil baasuu irratti waan guddaa kan dalage waan ta’ef kan dinqisisamu ta’uun isaa hin shakkisisu. Haata’u malee gabaasni kun loogidhan kan qopha’e ta’ee waan natti mullatef waan natti dhaga’ame ibsuuf na kakaase.

Gabaasni ykn dokumantarin kun ummata Oromoo baayinaan walakkaa ummatoota biyyatti ta’e akka hin jirretti bira taruun isaa qaamni biraa jibbaa ummata Oromoo irraa qabu waan harka keessa qabu fakkatee natti mulate. Yakki duguugaa sanyi keessumaa ummata Amaaraa, Gambeelaa fi Ogaden irratti raawwatame jedhu balinaan ibsa.

Australian Oromo Community did it again, the Woyane Trojan Horse’s second humiliation

February 7, 2015

Another round of protest against Ethiopia regime’s delegation meeting in Melbourne at 81-95 Henry St. Albans, February 7, 2015

Liberation is a journey. However, for the weak minded, it is a journey toward an unreachable destination. For the brave community like Australian Oromo Community however, it is neither a short distance running nor it is unreachable destination. Nonetheless, for the shortsighted opportunists, liberation is the process of economic transactions. It is the process through which they make a living by selling their own people and information.

Sexual violence with special emphasis on sexual aggression in Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia

By Dr. Baro Keno | February 6, 2015

Love and Honour for our living and fallen heroes who resisted any barbarian act against Oromo nation 

Addee Asli Oromo: The first woman in the history of Ethiopian Empire that sentenced to death because of her political vision about Oromo people but released after 18 years in prison as a result of international communities campaign.

Addee Urjii Dhaabaa: Is one out of many Oromo Women that survived sexual aggression of Ethiopian government military force, police and security agents.

Getting United, Bold, Loud and Active Key to Uncover the Suffering of Minority Women and Misuse of EU Funds in Ethiopia

February 6, 2015 (UNPO) — On 4 February 2015, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) in cooperation with the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), hosted by Ana Gomes MEP (S&D) and Julie Ward MEP (S&D) at the European Parliament in Brussels, welcomed a number of international guests to speak about the serious issues facing minority groups in Ethiopia, particularly ethnic minority women. At the event titled ‘Minority Women’s Rights: An Ethiopian Inferno?’, participants spoke about the systematic persecution of Ogaden and Oromo ethnic groups in Ethiopia by the ruling regime; combining expert analysis and personal accounts to not only share views, but also help plot a course of action.

Call for All Oromo in Washington, DC Metropolitan Area

OPDO Messengers Led by Abbaa-Duulaa Gammadaa are in US for Lobbying Oromos.

It is to be recalled that tens of thousands of Oromo nationals in general and Oromo students in particular have been killed, arrested and severely tortured by the TPLF-led Ethiopian regime. The protests broke out in large scale and spread out throughout Oromia beginning the month of April, 2014.

The current TPLF led Ethiopian government is a minority regime that dehumanized the Oromo people; violated the basic human rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly; holding thousands of Oromo political prisoners in its notorious Maikelawi and many other official and secret detention centers without due legal process. It is displacing millions of Oromo farmers from their land in the name of master plan development. The arrests and tortures of Oromos have continued unabated. Many of those who survived the torture still remain incarcerated. Furthermore, for example, very recently two Oromo farmers in Salale, district of Oromia, were brutally murdered and their bodies were dragged and put on public display for resisting oppression. Click this link for more (Two Oromo Farmers in Salale Brutally Murdered; Their Bodies Dragged and Put on Pubic Display for Resisting Oppression Against Tigrean Habesha Rulers [Viewer Discretion Advised: Graphic Photo]).

Documentary: U.S Policy – ETHIOPIA A FAILED STATE!

Australia, Melbournetti Bobbaan Ergamtoota Wayyanee Fashale

Guraandhala 1, 2015

Guyyaa Amajjii 31, 2015 Hawaasti Oromo Australia, magaalaa Melbourne keessa jiraatu sochii ergamtoota diinaa garee OPDO, Abdulhaaziiz Mohamed I/A/bulchaa Oromiyaa kan ofiin jedhuun Australiatti bobbaate hojii ishee hanqisuu fi wal-ga’ii waammatan haqsiisuun injifannoo diina irratti galmeessan. Iriira kana irratti sabni Amaaraa fi Ogadeen hangi tokko argamaniiru.

ETHIOPIA: Flagrant Human Rights Abuse against Oromo Nationals Continues

HRLHA Urgent Action

Feb 01, 2015

For immediate Release

It is cruel, brutal and inhumane to hang any person for any wrongdoing particularly in Ethiopia, a country that claims democracy is its core principle of governance. The execution of Ketama Wubetu and his friend by Ethiopian solders- by hanging on a fence- on December 09, 2014 in Salale zone of Dera District in the regional State of Oromia was barbaric.  If the hanged men were members of an opposition group fighting against the government, once they were captured they should have been brought to justice.