Ethiopia crackdown on student protests taints higher education success

Western backers of the Ethiopian education system should not ignore reports of violent clashes on university campuses

By Paul O’Keeffe

Oromia, Ethiopia, where at least three dozen people were reportedly shot dead by security forces during student protests

May 22, 2014 (The Guardian) — Over the past 15 years, Ethiopia has become home to one of the world’s fastest-growing higher education systems. Increasing the number of graduates in the country is a key component of the government’s industrialisation strategy and part of its ambitious plan to become a middle-income country by 2025. Since the 1990s, when there were just two public universities, almost 30 new institutions have sprung up.

On the face of it, this is good news for ordinary Ethiopians. But dig a little deeper and tales abound of students required to join one of the three government parties, with reports of restricted curricula, classroom spies and crackdowns on student protests commonplace at universities.

Nowhere has this been more evident than in Ambo in Oromia state. On 25 April, protests against government plans to bring parts the town under the administrative jurisdiction of the capital, Addis Ababa, began at Ambo University. By the following Tuesday, as protests spread to the town and other areas of Oromia, dozens of demonstrators had been killed in clashes with government forces, according to witnesses.

As Ethiopia experiences rapid economic expansion, its government plans to grow the capital out rather than up, and this involves annexing parts of the surrounding Oromia state. An official communique from the government absolved it of all responsibility for the clashes, claiming that just eight people had been killed and alleging that the violence had been coordinated by a few rogue anti-peace forces. The government maintains that it is attempting to extend Addis Ababa’s services to Oromia through its expansion of the city limits.

However, Oromia opposition figures tell a different story. On 2 May, the nationalist organisation the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) issued a press release that condemned the “barbaric and egregious killing of innocent Oromo university students who have peacefully demanded the regime to halt the displacement of Oromo farmers from their ancestral land, and the inclusion of Oromo cities and surrounding localities under Finfinnee [Addis Ababa] administration under the pretext of development”. The Addis Ababa regime dismisses the OLA as a terrorist organisation.

While news of the killing of unarmed protesters has caused great concern among many Ethiopians, there has been little coverage overseas. The government maintains strict control over the domestic media; indeed, it frequently ranks as one of the world’s chief jailers of journalists, and it is not easy to come by independent reporting of events in the country.

Nevertheless, the government’s communique does run contrary to reports by the few international media that did cover the attacks in Ambo, which placed the blame firmly on government forces.

The BBC reported that a witness in Ambo saw more than 20 bodies on the street, while Voice of America (VOA) reported that at least 17 protesters were killed by “elite security forces” on three campuses in Oromia. Local residents maintain that the figure [of those killed] was much higher.

These reports, while difficult to corroborate, have been backed up by Human Rights Watch, which issued a statement saying that “security forces have responded [to the protests] by shooting at and beating peaceful protesters in Ambo, Nekemte, Jimma, and other towns with unconfirmed reports from witnesses of dozens of casualties”. One university lecturer said he had been “rescued from the live ammunition”, and that it was the “vampires – the so-called federal police” who fired on the crowds.

The Ethiopian government likes to trumpet its higher education system to its western aid backers as a crowning success of its development policy. As billions in foreign aid are spent annually on Ethiopia, the west must be more cognisant of the fact that this money helps reinforce a government which cuts down those who dare to speak out against it.

Inevitably, continued support for such an oppressive regime justifies its brutal silencing of dissent. Yes, the higher education system has grown exponentially over the past 15 years but the oppression and killing of innocent students cannot be considered an achievement. Any system which crushes its brightest should not be considered a success.

Paul O’Keeffe is a doctoral fellow at La Sapienza University of Rome, where he focuses on the higher education system in Ethiopia

Mootummaan TPLF gaaffii ilmaan oromoo kaasaniif deebii kolbaa itti kennuu qaba!

By Bantuu Turaa

Kan isin dhibu qabsoo waggaa 50 oromoon abbaa afaan isaa fi aadaa isaa ta’uuf deemsise kijiba itti makuun seenaa OPDO fakkeessuuf yaalan. Ni beeknaa bar hin dagannee woyta isaan sabboontota bakka ummanni walgahu hundatti daamanii qubee afaan oromoo barsiisan isaan tarkaanfii itti fudhatan. Hardha ammo seenaa oromoo abbaa afaan isaa akka ta’u nutu hojjate jedhanii miidiyaalee isaanitiin odeessan. Seena hattoonni seenaa hatan! Seenaa addaa dargii irratti hojjanne jedhanii kan ofii ol kaasun haasayan; fiilmii qabsoo isaanii hojjatan sabatti agarsiisan! Qabsaa’onni keenna dhagaan taankii dargii booji’an jedhan! Oduu irra darbanii ebalu qabsaayaan keenna xiyyaara dargii dhagaan samirratti haleelee kuffise jechuu qofa isaan hafe! Ammallee qabsoo Finfinneerratti oromoon dhiyeesse deebii kolbaa itti hin kennine! Qabsoo sabaa ni tuffatu! Qabsaa’aa ni kufa qabsoon itti fufa! Anis geerrarsa armaan gadii kanaaf isin affeere!

Geerrarsa
Ka’i ka’i ka’ii
Finfinnee fi Dirreellee numarraa muranii
Sabnillee fincillaan qawwemaan dhayanii
Oromiyaan biyyaa handhuurri finfinnee
Wanta diinni jedhe nu irraa fudhannee!
Ka’i ka’i ka’ii
Diina wawween dhayii!
Ka’ii lolii(2)
Diina mooyii galii
Ka’ii lolii(2)
Finfinneetti galii!
Diinatu farrisee
Oromoo cunqursee
Finfinnee buqqisee.
Amma lafaa kaanaa
Diinaan ni falminaa
Gabrummarraa baanaa.
Yaa saba Oromiyaa
Ani simaaf iyyaa!
Hidhannee ni kaanaa
Falmiin bilisoomnaa!
Hunda nu roorrisaa
Seenaa keenna dhoksaa
Kan ofii ol kaasaa!
Yaa saba falmadhuu
Nyaapha injifadhuu
Biyya kee dhuunfadhu!!!
Gamteessaa Sabaa

Ethiopians March in Grand Island to Protest Students Killed in Africa

Steve White

May 16, 2014, Nebraska (NTV ABC News) – More than 50 protesters took to the streets of Grand Island, to march against the killings of students in Ethiopia.

The Associated Press reports at least 11 students were killed in violent clashes with Ethiopian police recently.

Ethnic Oromo people have marched in cities across the world, including Grand Island.

Oromo is the largest state in Ethiopia, and there is a movement there to declare independence.

The march in Grand Island went from the Federal Building to City Hall, and attracted the attention of police. There was some confusion about the march, and Police Chief Steve Lamken advised city staff the marchers had the right to protest, as long as they didn’t block traffic or block the doors at City Hall.

Leaders in the local Oromo community in Grand Island said they wanted to draw attention to the plight of their people. Similar protests around the world have used social media to mobilize, especially Twitter, where they have been branded as the #OromoProtests.

Stay with NTV for more on the protest.

Source: NTV ABC News

ETHIOPIA: AUTHORITIES MUST PROVIDE JUSTICE FOR SCORES OF PROTESTERS KILLED, INJURED AND ARRESTED IN OROMIA

13 May 2014

Amnesty International condemns the use of excessive force by security forces against peaceful protesters in a number of locations across the Oromia region during the last two weeks, which has resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of people including students and children. Many hundreds of protesters are reported to have been arbitrarily arrested, and are being detained incommunicado and without charge. Detainees are at risk of torture.

The Ethiopian government must immediately instruct the security forces to cease using deadly force against peaceful protesters, and to release any person who has been arrested solely because of their involvement in peaceful protests. These incidents must be urgently and properly investigated, and suspected perpetrators should be prosecuted in effective trial proceedings.

Since late April, protests have taken place in many universities and towns across the Oromia region over the ‘Addis Ababa Integrated Development Master Plan’ – a plan from the central government to expand the capital, Addis Ababa, into parts of Oromia – the region which surrounds the city. The government says the master plan for expansion would bring city services to remote areas. However, the protesters, and many other Oromos, the ethnic group that makes up the significant majority of the population of Oromia regional state, fear that the move will be detrimental to the interests of Oromo farmers, and will lead to large scale evictions to make way for land leasing or sale. Many Oromos also consider the move to be in violation of the Constitutionally-guaranteed protection of the ‘special interests’ of the Oromia state.

Numerous reports from witnesses, local residents and other sources indicate that the security forces have responded with excessive force against peaceful protesters. Forces comprised of the federal police and military special forces known as ‘Agazi’, have fired live ammunition at unarmed protesters in a number of locations including in Wallega and Madawalabu universities and Ambo and Guder towns, resulting in deaths in each location.

One witness told Amnesty International that on the third day of protest in Guder town, near Ambo, the security forces were waiting for the protesters and opened fire when they arrived. She said five people were killed in front of her. A source in Robe town, the location of Madawalabu University, told Amnesty International that 11 bodies had been seen in a hospital in the town. Another witness said they had seen five bodies in Ambo hospital.

There are major restrictions on independent journalism and human rights monitoring organizations in Ethiopia as well as on exchange of information. Because of these restrictions, in conjunction with the number of incidents that occurred in the last two weeks, it is not possible to establish the exact number of those who have been killed. The government acknowledged that three students had died at Madawalabu University, and five persons had died in Ambo town, but did not state the cause of death. Numbers of deaths reported by witnesses and residents within Oromia are significantly higher. Investigations into these incidents must include the establishment of comprehensive numbers of people killed and injured in all incidents.

According to eye-witness reports received by Amnesty International, of those who were killed some people, including students and children, died instantly during protests, while some died subsequently in hospitals as a result of their injuries. Children as young as 11 years old were among the dead. Students and teachers constitute the majority of those killed and injured.

Protesters were also reportedly beaten up during and after protests, resulting in scores of injuries in locations including Ambo, Jimma, Nekempte, Wallega, Dembi Dollo, Robe town, Madawalabu, and Haromaya.

Hundreds of people have been arrested across many locations. The main Oromo opposition party, the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) which has been collecting information from its members throughout the region, believes those arrested may total several thousand. Witnesses told Amnesty International that in many cases the arrests took place after the protesters had dispersed. Security forces have conducted house to house searches in many locations in the region, for students and others who may have been involved. New arrests continue to be reported. A small number of people have been released, but most of those arrested remain in incommunicado detention, in many cases in unknown locations. The OFC also reports that two of its members were arrested in Ambo because they had spoken to a Voice of America reporter about events in the town.

Hundreds of those arrested have been taken to unofficial places of detention including Senkele police training camp. One local resident, whose nephew was shot dead during the Ambo protests, told Amnesty International that detainees in Senkele have been prevented from seeing their families or receiving food from them. Military camps in Oromia have regularly been used to detain thousands of actual or perceived government opponents. Detention in military camps is almost always arbitrary – detainees are not charged or taken to a court for the duration of their detention, which in some cases has lasted for many years. In the majority of cases, detainees in military camps have no access to lawyers or to their families for the duration of their detention. Amnesty International has received countless reports of torture being widespread in military camps. The organization fears that the recent detainees are at serious risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

There is a very high security force presence in towns across the region in recent days, including in university campuses. Witnesses in several locations say that classes have been suspended in the universities. Amnesty International has heard from other locations, where classes have continued or resumed, that attendance registers are being taken for every class, with serious repercussions threatened for those not present.

Amnesty International has also received several reports that in a number of locations throughout the region local residents are being beaten and in some cases, arrested by the police, ostensibly to intimidate them against taking part in further protests. Police are also threatening parents to control their children. One witness told Amnesty International that one man who went to collect his son’s body, who had been shot dead during a protest, was severely beaten by security forces telling him he should have taught his son some discipline.

The OFC says the response of the security forces has fuelled further protests as the colleagues, parents and community members of those killed and injured have joined in further protests against the brutality of the security forces. In some locations anger at the actions of the security forces has resulted in burning of cars and damage to property.

The Ethiopian authorities regularly suppress peaceful protests, which has often included the use of excessive force against protesters. The Oromos have long felt discriminated against by successive governments. The current government is hostile to all dissent. However, this hostility often manifests most fiercely in the Oromia region, where signs of dissent are looked for and suppressed even more brutally than in other parts of the country. Scores of Oromos are regularly arrested based on their actual or suspected opposition to the government.

The recent events are highly reminiscent of events in 2004 when months of protests broke out across the Oromia region and in Addis Ababa by college and school students demonstrating against a federal government decision to transfer the regional state capital from Addis Ababa to Adama (also known as Nazret), a town 100 kilometres south-east of Addis Ababa. The transfer was perceived to be against Oromo interests. Police used live ammunition in some incidents to disperse demonstrators, killing several students and wounding many others, which led to further protests. Hundreds of students were arrested and detained for periods ranging from several days to several months, without charge or trial. Many were severely beaten when police dispersed protests or in detention. Subsequently hundreds were expelled or suspended from university and many suffered long-term repercussions such as repeated arrest based on the residual suspicion of holding dissenting opinions.

The events of the last two weeks in Oromia demonstrate that there has been no improvement in Ethiopia’s policing practices in the last decade, and that very serious concerns remain about the willingness of the Ethiopian security forces to use excessive force against peaceful protesters. These events also show that major restrictions remain on the ability of peaceful protesters to express grievances or make political points in Ethiopia. The environment for peaceful protest, freedom of expression and political participation has worsened over the last decade.

The recent events in Oromia fall at a time when the local population and interested parties internationally, are starting to look towards the general elections in May 2015. The aftermath of the disputed 2005 elections also saw excessive use of force against peaceful protesters during widespread demonstrations against the alleged rigging of the election by the ruling EPRDF party. Security forces opened fire on protesters in Addis Ababa resulting in the deaths of more than 180 people. The recent events bode very ill for the run up to the 2015 elections, still a year away. Unless substantial reforms are urgently initiated, Amnesty International is concerned that the run up to the elections will be characterised by further serious violations of human rights.

Amnesty International urges the Ethiopian authorities to immediately and publicly instruct the security forces to cease using excessive force against peaceful protesters in Oromia. While some of the recent protests in Oromia are reported to have seen incidents of violence, including destruction of property, the use of force, including lethal force, by security forces must comply with human rights standards at all times in order to protect the right to life. Amnesty International urges that any police response to further protests must comply with international requirements of necessity and proportionality in the use of force, in line with the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. These principles state that law enforcement may use only such force as is necessary and proportionate to maintain public order, and may only intentionally use lethal force if strictly necessary to protect human life.

Thorough investigations which are credible and impartial must urgently take place into allegations of excessive use of force against peaceful protesters, and the torture of protesters and other members of local communities in Oromia, and where admissible evidence of crimes is found, suspected perpetrators should be prosecuted in effective trial proceedings that meet international standards.

All persons arrested solely because of their participation in peaceful protests must be immediately and unconditionally released. Amnesty International urges that no-one suffers any violation or denial of their human rights as a result of their involvement in peaceful protests including any suspension or termination of their education.

Finally, Amnesty International urges the Ethiopian government to respect all Ethiopians’ right to peacefully protest, as guaranteed under the Ethiopian Constitution and in accordance with Ethiopia’s international legal obligations, including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The government should immediately remove all restrictions on free and open political participation, including restrictions on the independent media, civil society and political opposition parties.

http://ayyaantuu.com/human-rights/ethiopia-authorities-must-provide-justice-for-scores-of-protesters-killed-injured-and-arrested-in-oromia/

Dhugaan Oromoon Keessa jiru kunooti.

Yeroo ammaa kana ilmaan Oromoo maal keessan jiru yoo jennee gaafanneef namoonni addaa addaa deebii heedduu kennuu ni danda’u. Inni fagoo jiru akka qoosaatti haasa’uu danda’a. Inni dhiyoo jiru ammo miiraan dubbachuufi kaanis waa heedduu akka jedhan nan abadadha.

Haa ta’u iyyuu malee Uummanni Oromoo diddaa bittaa garboofattootaa yeroo kam iyyuu tole jedhee simachuu diduun kan har’aa qofa utuu hin ta’in kan kaleessatis. Kaleessa mootummaa abbaa hirree of irraa faccisuuf qabsoo ta’een namootni heedduun kan wareegaman yoo ta’e illee seenaan Oromoo yoom iyyuu isaan hin dagatu. Firiin qabsoo boonsaa geggeessan har’a daraaree jira. Oromoon roorroo kamiif iyyuu hin jilbeeffanne, gara fuula duraattis hin jilbeeffatu.

Haaluma kanaan, qabsoon har’as dargaggoota Oromoon finiinee babal’ataa  akka jiru odeeffannoo qabatamaa kan nuuf kennan, nus itti siqeenyaan kan daawwanne akka armaan gadiitti mee waliin haa ilaallu.

Dargaggoonni Oromoo mirga isaaniif falmatan, lafa uumamaan kan isaanii ta’e irraa qonnaan bulaan Oromoo akka gadi dhiisu gochuuf wiixinee wiixineeffame, Ilmaan Oromoo kanaan dura adamsuun qe’ee isaa, qabeenya isaa, horii isaa kan saamaa turaniif ammas jiran irra guddeessaan godaansisuuf tarsiimoo Wayyaaneen qabdu fashalsiisuuf wal’aansoo jiru keessatti dardarri Oromoo heedduun reebamaniiru, lafeen isaanii cabeera, dhiigni isaanii dhangala’eera, qabeenyi isaanii gubateera, barumsa irraa ari’amaniiru, hundumaa irra lubbuun isaanii aarsaa godhaniiru.

Mee kanneen armaan gadii torban kana keessa uummata Oromoo irra kan ga’e waliin haa caqasnu.

1. Qabeenyaan Oromoo barbadaa’eera. Bara dheera kan uummatichi itti dhama’ee horate rasaasaan loltoota Wayyaaneetiin barbadaa’eera. Dirree lolaas fakkaateera.

2. Barattootni fi dargaggoonni heedduun reebamanii lafeen isaanii cabeera, dhiigni isaanii dhangala’eera. Warri kaanis mana hidhatti dararamaa jiru. Yeroo ammaa kana lakkoofsi isaanii kuma shantamaa ol kan taa’an manneetii hidhaa Wayyaaneetti dararfamaa jiru. Abbootiin amantii loltoota Wayyaaneetiin magaalaa Gimbii keessatti addumaan Luba Abitaw Darasee kan jedhaman barattoota loltootaan hanga du’aatti reebaman akka dhiisaniif kadhachuuf yaalii godhaniin hanga du’aatti rukutamanii yeroo ammaa kana hospitaala Gimbii keessatti du’aafi jireenya gidduu jiru.

3. Hundumaa caalaa ammoo  dargaggoonni lubbuu isaanii aarsaa godhaniiru.

4. Addumaan Lixa Wallaggaa keessatti hojjettootni fayyaa heedduun barumsa yoo qabaatan illee deggertoota ta’uu dhiisuu isaanii irraa kan ka’e homaa tokko kan hin beekne, barumsa sirrii kan hin qabne maqaa deggeruutiin beektota Oromoo dararsaa jiru. Baay’een isaanii yoo iyyatan illee namni isaan dhaga’u hin jiru. Maatiin heeduun diigamaniiru. Mucooliin haadha malee jiraataniiru. Warri deggertoota ta’an garuu magaalaatti galuun rakkoo tokko malee jiraata jiru.

Walumaa galatti yeroo ammaa kana qabsoon dargaggoota  Oromoon eegalame kun fincila diddaa bittaa garbummaa waan ta’eef akka yaallootti kan dhaamu, sossobuun kan deebi’u, akka hin taane cimsamee hubatamuu danda’eera. Qabsoon kun itti fufiinsa kan qabu, yoomi iyyuu kan hin dhaabanneefi Oromiyaan hanga bilisoomtutti kan itti fufu ta’a.

Injifannoon ummata oromof

Hawi Olani 

http://www.bilisummaa.com/dhugaan-oromoon-keessa-jiru-kunooti/

IYYAA, IYYA DABARSAA

                       Taammanaa Bitimaa irraa

DURAANDURSA

Dubbiftoota barreeffama kanaa jaalatamoo fi kabajamoo,

Bakka jirtanii fi bakka jiraattan hundaatti nagaa fi dhaamsi kiyya kan onnee irraa madde isin haa dhaqqabu! Kunoo, nuti Oromoonni erga torban takkootii asii faaraan rafnee irriba hin quufne; faaraan nyaannee midhaan hin quufne; faaraan bishaan dhugnee dheebuu hin baane. Garuu, waa tokkollee hin daddhabne; waa tokkollee hin beelofne; waa tokkollee hin dheebonnee, buna Oromoon keenya addunyaa fi ilmoo namaa mara badhaase kana deddeebfinee dhugaa waayee biyya keenyaa irratti walmariyachaa, tokkkummaa keenya akka sibiilaatti jabeeffachuu akka qabnu waliif galaa, ijoollee Oromoo fi namoota Oromoo rasaasa diinatiin galaafatamaniif gaddaa, booyaa jirra. Gochi warri qawween cabsee biyya keenya seene kun, uummata keenya irratti amma oofaa jiru kun onnee teenya madeessullee, qalbii teenya jeequuf aggaamullee, hamileen keenya fi aariin keenya, seexaan keenya fi booreen hin jeeqamnee sirumaa tokkoomsee ol nu kakaasaa, uummata keenya cinaa nu hiriirsaa jira. Ani barreeffatan amma isiniif dhiyeesse kana, dheengadda-kaaniin ariitiin barreessee, gara mandhee Akkaadamii Oromiyaatti ergee ture. Waan wanni mandhee ONA kana irratti baafamu, miseensota isaa callaa keessatti hafuuf, namoonni keenya tokko tokko kanneen barreeffama san dubbisan akkan ani gara mandheewwan Oromoo isaan eenyumtuu dubbisuu dandayuutti erguuf, yaada naaf dhiyeessani. Amma obbolaa kiyya kanneen galteeffachaan barreeffama san gulaalee, wanneen gariis itti-dabaluun kunoo isinii dhiyeessee, mee yoo yeroo fi wanneen biroo isiniif hayyaman dubbisuuf yaalaa!

QAAMADUBBII

Haalli amma biyya keenya keessa adeemaa jiru karaa tokkoon kan daran nu jajjabeessu, hamilee fi onnee teenya kan sirriitti olkaasu. Karaa kaan immoo kan daran, daran nu gaddisiisu, kan imimmaaniin fuula keenya xoollessu. Ijoolleen teenya kichuuwwan tun xiyyiitii fi xiyya diina uummata keenyatiin akka baala mukaatti harcawuun ishii, kan aariin nu guggubee, xiiqii fi booree garaa nu kaayee tokkummaan kaanetoo akka Dhaloota Qabee kana bira dhaabannu nu taasisu! Amma yeroo kun yeroo nuti ijaarsa koo, garagarummaa koo, dugda koo, miila koo, maaloo maaloo koo faa jennuu miti! Amma alaa-manaa waltahuun uummata keenya bira goruu qabna! Ee, “qabnaan” kun dirqama. Dirqama seenaa fi dirqama dhalootaati! Yeroon isaa yeroo nuti alaa-manaa waltahuun ijoollee teenyaa fi uummata keenya bira dhaabannu. Yeroo waltaanee iyyinee, iyyaa waliif dabarsinu! Iyyi keenya kun iyya imimmaaniin cuubamee qofa otoo hin taane, iyya dhiigaan cuubameetisi. Dhiigni sun dhiiga dhalawwan Oromoo ishii mirgaa fi haqa uummata ishiitiif dhiigaa kuftee sanaati! Dhiiga dhiiraa-dubartii Oromoo ijoollee ofii cinaa dhaabachuun dhangalaafamee sanaati! Kunoo, otuma agarruu, ijuma teenya duratti Wayyaanonni Habashaa isaan qawwee bakka amantii ofii buufatan kun, ijoollee Oromoo fixaa, kanumaas addunyaatti agarsiifachaa jiru. Dur Yohaannis isaanii fi Minilik oggaa Oromoota meeshaa waraanaa isa maqaa Kiristaanummaa isaanitiin humnoota Oroppaa yeroo sanii irraa argataniin, bara dukkanaa san dukkana uffatanii Oromoota akka okaatti haamaa, dirreewwanii fi gaarran Oromiyaa dhiigaan faalaa, laggeeni fi harawwan Oromiyaa dhiigaan booressaa biyya keenya qabatan sanii miti! Bardhibbee ifaa bara ammaa kana keessa, kunoo Hababashoonni Tigraay ofumaan ofuma qullaa-dhaabuun malummaa isaanii addunyaatti agariisaa jiru.

Yaa Oromoo koo, kunoo akkuma gara torban tokkoo miidiyaalee addaddaa irraa dhageessan ijoolleen teenya, dhalawwan teenya heddumminaan nu jaalaa galaafatamtee jirti. Magaalaa Amboo fi naannoo isaa irraa qofa namoota keenya gara 40-tu galaafatame. Jimma, Dirree Dhaawaa, Horroo Guduruu, Roobe (Baale) fi naannoo sanitti, Midaa Qanyii, Xuqur Incinnii, Tokkee Kuttaayee, Gimbii fi Mandiitti faatti namoonni keenya fi dhalawwaan keenya diinaan gorra’amanii jiru. Yaa Oromoo kiyya hamma yoomiitti, hanga hammamiitti warra qawween biyya keenya seene kanaan gaadamaa, hindhamaa, garafamaa, waxalamaa dabrees ajjeefamaa jiraanna? Nuti warri biyyoota alagaa keessa jirru, amma hatattamaan walgayiiwwan kurfeessuu, hiriira babbawuu fi waayee haala amma uummanni keenya keessatti argamuu kana, miidiyaalee warra alaatti beeksifachuutu nu irraa eegama. Ee, dabaleetan jedhaa: miidiyaalee, miidiyaalee biyyoota addunyaa tanaa hundaatti akka ijoolleen teenya akka bineensaatti adamfamtee ajjeefamaa jirtu, akka uummanni keenya bayeetoo ijoollee ofiitti makamuun, mirgaa fi haqa ofiitii falmachaa jiru beeksifachuu qabna! “Yoo abbaan iyye ollaan namaaf birmata!“, jedha mammaaksi Oromoo tokko.

Nuti amma ijoollee teenya ishii nu jalaa galafatamte awwaallachaa, reenfa ishiirra tarkaanfannee qabsoo saba keenyatiif harka-walqabannii garuma fuulduraatti adeemuutu nus, biyya keenyas kan baasu taha. Biyya leencotaa qabatanii, ilmoowwan leencotaa gorra’anii nagaan taa’uun akka gonkkumaa hin jirre, warri Wayyaanee kun dursanii beekuu qabuuyyu. Kunoo, amma uummata keenyatti ba’aa inni baatee deemuu hin dandeenye waan itti-fe’aniif, ibidda hamaa ofitti shidaniiti (qabsiisaniiti) jiru. Oromoon hardha irraa kaasee akka duubatti hin deebine, akka impaayerittii sochoosuuf waltahee sochowu, akka harqoota gabrummaa caccabsee achi darbatu diinonni isaa beekuu qabu. Ilaa, uummannii fi sabni Oromoo waltahee qabsoo ofii cimsachaa gara fuulduraatti tarkaanfachuu malee, filmaata biraa hin qabu. Habashoonni qaawa filmaata wayiillee nuuf hin hambifnee, cufaa sibiilatiin duuchanii jiru. Kanaaf, nuti alaa-manaa waltahuun, maarree nuti kitiloonni 46 (46 000 000) cufti harka walqabannee qabsaawuu callaa dha; filmaanni nuti qabnu!

Nuti dhalawwan Oromoo alaa-manaa uummatoota akkuma keenya mana hidhaa impaayeritti, karchallee keessa jiran mara bira dhaabachuu qabna! Isaan akka obboleeyyaniitti ilaaluu qabna. Uummatoota: Sulula Laga Omoo, Gambeellaa, Benshaangul, Somaalee Ogaadeniyaa, Afaar, Sidaamaa faa cinaa gorree roorroo isaan irratti adeemaa jiru kanas, isuma keenya waliin addunyaatti dhageessisuutu nu irraa eegama! Nagaa fi nageenya namoota biyya keenya keessa nagaan jiraatanillee, eeguu fi tiksuun muuxannoo aadaa keenyaa isa boonsisaa sanaati.

Miidiyaaleen Oromoo isaan amma burqaa, hamilee keenya jajjabeessaa jiran kun guyyuu warra OPDO-tiif waamicha uummmata keenyaa dabarsuu fi qabu! Isaan amma akka uummata ofiitti makamuun hacuuccaa isaa dhageessisan, Caffee Oromiyaa fi Paarlamaa Toopphiyaa keessattis akka gaafii uummanni Oromoo ammaan tana qabatee warraaqaa jiru irratti haasawuu qabu! Akkanuma Oromoota miseensota Waraana Toopphiyaa tahaniif, waamicha harmee Oromiyaa dabarsuufiin barbaachisaa dha. Akka isaan uummata isaanii isa sochowaa jiru kanatti makaman, akka qawwee isaanii Oromoota irrattii mitii, gara diinota uummata Oromoo fi Biyya Oromootti garagalfatan deddeebifnee itti-iyyachuu qabna! Karaa isaanitti iyyannu keessaa inni duraasaa karaa miidiyaalee keenyaa kanaati. Raajii WAAQAA! Habashoonni Wayyaanee kun foolisoota Oromiyaa isaan jalatti isaanuma tajaajilaa jiranillee, amanuu daddhabanii qawwee irraa hiikkachaa jiru. Kunoo, Habashoonni kun amma gara appaartayidii Afrikaa Kibbaa durii fi gara mootummaa Israa’eel isaan gocha akkanaa Falastiinota irraatti adeemsaa jiraniitti of-geeddaraa jiru. Kanaaf, amma irraa kaasee, nama Oromoo dhiisitii laftii fi margi, bineeyyii fi alaattiiwwan Oromiyaallee diina qawween biyya abbootii Gadaa fi haadholii Siiqqee unkuraa jiru kanatti ka’uu qabu! “Oromoon goondaa dhaa, boolla goondaa harka hin kaayin! Oromoon kanniisaa gaagura kanniisaa hin horfin!“, jedhe Bitimaa Soondhessaa jedhama, naannolee Afran Walisoo fi Jahan Bachootti! Egaa, amma irraa kaasee nama Oromiyaa dhiisitii, lafti Oromiyaayyuu iyyitee iyya dabarsuu qabdi!

Kana irratti kana dabalamu immoo yaada obboleessi keenya obboo “Ka. She.” kaase sani. Oromoonni ogummaa-seeraa qaban akkamitti dureewwan TPLF mana-seera-addunyaa, isa magaalaa “den Hague” jirutti dhiyeessinu nuuf qorachuun sirrii dha. Dureewwan warra Wayyaanee ijoollee teenya qalanii, uummata keenya gorra’anii Oroppaa fi Ameerikaa keessa abadan bashannanuu hin qabani! Seeri dureewwan Sarbiyaa, dureewwan Sudaanii fi dureewwan Keeniyaa fayiif hojjate, Oromoo fi Oromiyaafis akka hojjatu ganamumaan beekuun mishoo dha. Kana irratti kan idayumuu qabu immoo: Waldaan Qorannoo Oromoo (OSA-n) xalayaa hatattamaa gara a) Tokkuummaa Mootummoota Waltahaaniitti (ToMoWa-UNO) b) gara mootummoota biyyoota kubbaaniyyaaleen isaanii Oromiyaa keessaa qonnaan-bultoota Oromoo lafarraa buqqisaa jiraniitti, fakkeenyaaf: mootummaa Shiinaa fi Indiyaa, Sawudii Arbiyaa fi kanneen fafakkaatanitti c) gara mootummoota kubbaaniyyaalee fi namoonni isaanii Karoora Finfinnee babaldhisuuf qooda keessaa qabanii kanneen akka Biyya Faransaa fi Itaaliyaa faatti d) akkanuma gara kubbaaniyyaalee saanitti kallachaan erguufii qabu! e) Dabaleesoo, gara mootummaa USA, isa ministeerri isaa kan dhimma alaa, guyyaaa Kamisa dabree, kan biraa hafee magaalaa Finfinnee Shaggaritti otoo achuma Unibarsitii Finfinnee keessatti barattoonni Oromoo qawween marfamanii jiranuu, waayee harree Oromoonni midhaanii fi meeshalee daldalaa, qoraanii fi cidiin faa otoo hin hafin magaalaa tana “gabbaraniitti” qoosuu, waayee barattoota Oromoo Oromiyaa mara keessaa loltoota mootummaa Toopphiyaa kanaatiin ajjeefamaa jiranii sagaleen takkallee afaan isaa keessaa hin baane. Kun qaanii fi salphina mootummaa fi biyya guddaa fi aangawaa kanaati. Kanaaf, OSAn xalayaa waayee kanaa fi waayee gargaarsa mootummoonni biyyoota Lixaa mootummaa TPLF-iif godhanii ibsu erguufiin mishoo taha.

Mee ammammoo waayee walgayii dheengadda-kaan (gaafa 03. 05. 14) magaalaa Biyya Jarmanii, Muunshin-itti tahee sanii yoon isiniif tuqe, akkamitti yeroo ammaa Orormoonni biyyotambaa (“diaspora“) keessa jiraatan aarii fi tokkummaan akka waltahaa deemaa jiran isinitti agarsiisa. Nuti magaalmataa (“capital city“) Jarmanii, Barliin irraa barii-barraaqaa ka’uun konkolaataa konkolaachisaa oollee, wantee (kiilomeetira) 586 deemuun walgayii sa’aa 14-tti jalqabamuu san dhaqqabne. Ennaa manaa baanu san bultee nyaannullee, beelawuu fi dheebochuun keenya hin oolle. Manneen bunaa fi manneen nyaataa karaa deemnu san cinaa bakka hedduutti argamu. Garuu, walgayii san yeroon dhaqqabuuf kana hin goone. Bakka walgayiin itti-adeemu san keessa, mana nyaataa tokko seennee dhiyaana ajajanne. Keessummoota baay’ee waan qabaniif akka nuti barbaannetti hatattamaan nuuf dhiyeessuu hin dandeenye. Nu keessa jaallee keenya tokko gara galmoo (“hall“) walgayichi keessatti tahuu san yoo ilaalu, Oromootaan guutamee jira. Inni kana nutti himee, tajaajiltuu mana nyaataa san gara keenyatti waamuun akka nuti dhiyaana san nyaachuu hin dandeenyee fi akka bunaa fi shaayii qofa ariitiin nuuf dhiyeessitu damboobina Oromoo sanaan gaafate. Ishinis damboobduu dha turtee: “kun rakkoo hin qabu daddafeetan bunaa fi shaayii isiniif fida“, jettee nutti himte. Silaa beelofneerraa, jaalleenumti sun “daabboo nuuf fiduu dandeessuu?” jechuun dubartii san gaafatee, ishiin ennasuma nuuf dhiyeessite. Daabboon kun daabboo adii fi gurraacha kan xixiqqaatee mummuramuun korboon namaaf dhiyaatu. Aadaan kunillee kan Jarmanii mitii, kan warra Xaaliyaanii irraa fudhatame. Nuti ishii walsaamnee, walitti qoosaa afaan keewwannee buna Oromootiin gadi buufannee, walgayichaaf olseenuun, bakka nuuf qabamee duwwaa jiru tokko teenye. Kan nu gammachiise, Oromoonni gaafa san, akkuma saganteeffametti, sa’aa jedhame san mataa isaa irratti argamuu dha. Nuti Oromoonni magaalaawwan keessatti dhalannee fi guddanne yookaan kanneen manneen barumsaa impaayera Toopphiyaa keessa dabarre, hedduun keenya akkuma warra Amaaraa tahuun, beellama Habashaa (“ya-Habashaa qaxaroo“) san fudhannee argamna. Kunoo, gaafas dhiignii fi lafeen ijoollee teenyaa sun gara aadaa uummata Oromootti waan namoota keenya deebiseef gammanne.

Walgayiin sun akkuma aadaa Oromootti eebba manguddootiin jalqabee, booda haasaa fi xiinxalli jalqabme. Amma Oromoonni waraqaalee ibsannoo dhiyeessanis, warri ka’anii dubbataniis kaan imimmaaniin hudhamaa, kaan imimmaan maddii (boqoo) ofiirra gayyaasaa dubbatu ture. Dubartii fi dhiira, mangoddoo fi dargaggeeyyiin martii aarii fi seexaa guddaan ka’anii yaada ciccimaa dhiyeessuyyu. Namni ka’ee dubbatu hundi dirqiin immimmaan dhoowwachaa yookaan ofirra lolaasaa, aarii fi itti-gaafatama cimaa taheen dubbata ture. Namni taa’ee dhaggeeffatus akkanuma ture. Dubartoonni Oromoo imimmaan ofirra yaasaa, nu warra dhiiratiin: “tokkummaan olka’aatii qabsaawaa, tahuu baannann surree keessan nutti keennaa!“, jechaa turani. Mee yaa Waaq, jechi dubartoota keenyaa kan akka dhagaatti jabatu kun, kan akka dammaatti mi’awuu kun, kan itti-gaafatama harmee teenya Oromiyaatiif qabnu, marfannoo fi jaalala uummata Oromootiif qabnu akka daawwitiitti nutti muldhisu kun, kunoo waggaalee 136 booda (1878-2014) deebiyee akka gaariitti dhufuu isaati. Bara waraanni Minilik faashistichaa sun Ka’umsa Oromoota Kurnan Gullallee humna qawwee ibiddaatiin cabsee, dachee Oromiyaa tan Shaggarii fi naannoo isaa dhiiga Oromootiin jiise san dubartoonni Oromoo Gullallee akkana jedhaniiyyu. Dabrees bara 1876 keessa oggaa waraanni Minilik saniin Oromoonni Jahan Bachoo, Afran Walisoo, Torban Kuttaayee fi Caboo faa akka okaatti biyya ofiitiif jecha haamaman san dubartoonni Oromoo akkana jedhaniiyyu. Anaaf erga dubartoonni keenya akkanatti ka’anii, erga ijoollee teenya Oromiyaa guutuu irraa akkanatti olkaatee, Oromiyaan bilisoomuu fi walaabomfuu guyyaa jalabultii irra dhaqqabdee jirti. Si’achi Habashoonni qawween ibiddaatiin biyya keeny guggubaa, ijoollee fi namoota keenya qalaa abadan nagaan taa’uun hin jiru!

Egaa, yaa Oromoo kiyya uummata keenya cinaa waltahuun, tokkoomnee haa dhaabannu! Iyyinee, iyya haa dabarsinuufi! Amma arrabni keenya, qalamnii fi eeboon keenya wali irratti mitii, Oromoo irrattii mitii, gara diina uummata keenyaatti xiyyeeffamuu qaba! Heddumminni loltoota isaanii, gangallanni taankiiwwan isaanii, hangaasuun xayyaara waraana isaanii marti uummata Oromoo isa tokkoomee mirgaa fi haqa uumamaan qabuuf sochowu kana, lamuu jilbeeffachiisuu gonkumaa hin dandayu. Kakuu dhaa, laguu dhaa qabsoo keenya irraa, iyya harmee Oromiyaa irraa duubatti hin deebinu!

Gayeen, gayee-dhaa

Iyyaa, iyya dabarsaa

Yeeyyii isin nyaattu marsaa

Dhaloota boruutti gabrummaa mitii

Bilisummaa fi walabummaa dabarsaa!

Oromoo yaa saba-koo oljedhi

Oromiyaa yaa biyya-too olka’i

Waanjoo gabrummaa caccabsiitii

Ofirraa gamasitti achi-ha’i!

Imimmaan warra ijoollee teenyaa

Sabbata qabsootiin irraa haqna
Dhiiga Oromoota keenyaa

Alaabaa bilisummaatiin irraa faqna!

Bilisummaa, bilisummaa jechaa tarkaanfanna

Walabummaan Oromiyaa akka du’aatii

Homaayyuu hin fafuu ni abdanna

Dhiigaa-lafee keenyan Oromiyaa jaarranna!

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Minority Master Plan to cleanse Majority

By Awwal Nagawoo | May 4, 2014

The minority junta, TPLF government has been designing and implementing a lot of massacre and atrocities on Oromo people, systematic evictions from their land, tactful invasion and degradation of Oromo land, pollution of Oromia aquatic, and congestion of Oromia space, and misappropriation of all Oromo resources by any means from time to time.

In April, 2014 the current Oromia invader (minority based TPLF government) announced the new “Master Plan” proposed by Finfinne (Addis Ababa) City Administration. The so called plan was planned without having pilot discussion and/or consultation with potential stakeholders (Oromo people who are the dire owner of Finfinne, Oromo farmers who are surrounding the city of Finfinne, and Oromo leaders and intellectuals), and the systematic move and central aim of the plan is not to bring development or better living condition to Oromo’s. It’s simple to divide and disintegrate the Oromia region into many pieces, to kill the sense of ownership and disfranchise the Oromo people. To end, they are starting to implement Finfinne integrated plan to annex whole of Oromia under federal, and to make Oromo’s internally displaced people and refugee all over the world.

The emergence of a few nationalist and Oromo students’ protests played a decisive role in transforming the Oromo struggle and providing it with an organized and centralized leadership. Currently, #Oromostudentprotest against Ms.TPLF plan, its tyranny security forces crackdown the peaceful rally on university students, and using live bullets on them, according to local sources and international news agencies.

After live bullet and lethal chemical used on #oromostudents in Ambo, Mada-walabu, Wallagaa, Haromayaa, Jimma, Dire Dawa, Adama, and others towns which dozens have been shot dead and thousands arrested & taken to unknown places, and the peaceful rally shape itself into whole #Oromopeopleprotest and increasingly spread to diaspora Oromo’s in cities around the world and organizing peaceful rally in solidarity for #oromostudents, innocent Oromo farmers who will be badly affected by the new master plan, and to disseminate info’s about the ongoing killings, crackdowns and systematic invasion and create the awareness for human rights groups and individuals to make huge international impact through advocate for justice and equity for all. Peaceful demonstrators are calling upon the independent media houses to highlight the neglected issues of Oromo’s.

Ms.TPLF governance is very shallow. It based neither on the meaningful political principles, constitutionalism, nor one does protect and safe guard the fundamental rights of people. Its machineries and mercenaries do whatever is possible keep them on the shoulder of Oromo’s and other nations and nationalities in that Ethiopian empire and safe guard the interest of their foreign investors.

Oromo people call the master plan “an Oromo people cleansing plan”. There will be no more crime than systematical evicting the indigenous people from their land, making them homeless, with scattering Oromo family members, manipulating their resources, trading their capital by the name of investment with foreigners, and largely dividing the Oromia region in to cluster.

The above mini-article is focused on the ongoing #oromoprotest against Finfinne master plan. If you have any comment or need clarification on the same, don’t hesitate to post your valuable comments under here or via awwalnagawoo.2014@gmal.com.

World Wide Oromo Community Rallies Against Ethiopian Tyranny

World Wide Oromo Communities demonstration schedule. Please let us know if you have more to add to the list:

Oromo Community	Place of Rally	Date and Time
Washington, DC, USA	Ethiopian Embassy	May 6; 9:00 AM
Washington, DC, USA	White House	May 9; 9:00 AM
Chicago, IL, USA	Start at 230 S. Dearborn – ABC News	May 6, 11:00 AM
Los Angeles, CA, USA		May 9
Portland, OR, USA		May 9
San Francisco, CA, USA		May 9
Las Vegas, NV, USA		May 9
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada	450 Broadway	May 9; 12:00 PM
Calgary, Canada	In front of City Hall	May 9
Greater Toronto & Ottawa, Canada	Ottawa Parliament	May 9; 10:00 AM
Edmonton, Canada		May 9
Vancouver, BC, Canada		May 9
Columbus, Ohio, USA	In front of State House	May 9; 2:00 PM
Oslo, Norway		May 9
Berlin, Germany	Federal Chancellor/Bundeskanzleramt	May 9; 9:00 AM
Den Haag, Netherlands		May 9
Johannesburg, South Africa		May 9
Melbourne, Australia	Parliament House	May 9; 9:30 AM
Denver, Colorado, USA		May 9
Houston, Texas, USA	Federal Building, Downtown	May 9; 10:00 AM
Dallas, Texas, USA		May 9
Seattle, WA, USA		May 7; 1:00 PM
Phoenix, Arizona, USA		May 9
Geneva, Switzerland		May 9
Stockholm, Sweden	Sergelstorg	May 9; 11:00 AM
London, UK	London Parliament at Old Place Yard	May 6; 11:00 AM
Jeddah, KSA		May 8
Cairo, Egypt		May 7
Tel Aviv, Israel	In front of Ethiopian Embassy	May 12
Atlanta, GA, USA	In front of CNN	May 13; 9:00 AM

ለኦህዴድ ባለስልጣናትና አባላት; ለኦሮሚያ ፖሊስ አባላት፣ etc

  

From Qeerroo Oromia

ለኦህዴድ ባለስልጣናትና አባላት፣

ለኦሮሚያ ፖሊስ አባላት፣

ለኦሮሚያ አድማ በታኝ ፖሊስ አባላት፣

ለኦሮሚያ ማረሚያ ቤቶች ፖሊስ አባላት እንዲሁም

የፌዴራል ፖሊስ አባል ለሆናችሁ የኦሮሞ ልጆች እንዲሁም በወያኔ መከላከያ ሠራዊት ውስጥ ለሚትገኙ ወገኖች በሙሉ

እናንተስ ከየትኛው ወገን ናችሁ!?

ይህንን ወቅታዊና ታርካዊ ጥያቄ ትመልሱ ዘንድ ጊዜው ደረሰ። እናንተ የሚታገለግሉት አሸባር ቡድን ጠላትነቱን በገሃድ ባረጋገጠ መልኩ ህዝባችሁን በገዛ ሃገሩ ላይ በአልሞ ተኳሽ ነፍሰገዳዮች ጥይት ሲያስረሸን ከዓይናችሁ ኣልፎ የድፍን ዓለም መነጋገሪያ ሆኗል። ከዚህ ህዝባችሁ ላይ ከተቃጣ ወደር የለሽ የጂኖሳይድ ጭፍጨፋ ተሳታፊነት ራሳችሁን እንዲታቅቡ፤ እንዲሁም ይንን የዳግማዊ ነፍጠኞች ወረራን ለመቀልበስ ይቻል ዘንድ ከህዝባችሁ ጎን በመሆን ሰልፋችሁን እንዲታስተካክሉ ታሪካዊ ጥሪ ቀርቦላችኋል።

ከዚህ በፊትም በህዝባችሁ ላይ ስደረግ የነበረውን መሰል ጭፍጨፋና ፈርጀ ብዙ ጭቆና ተባባሪ እንዳትሆኑ ፣ ከተቻለ ደግሞ ከህዝባችሁ ፍላጎት ኣንጻር እንዲትሰለፉ ህዝባችሁ ተመሳሳይ ጥሪዎችን ስያቀርብላችሁ መቆየቱ ይታወሳል። ሆኖም ግን በወቅቱ ለዚህ ሕዝባዊ ጥሪ አዎንታዊ ምላሽ ባለመስጠታችሁ ይባስ ብሎም ተሳታፊ ሆኖ በመገኘታችሁ የኦሮሞ ህዝብ ለአሳቃቂ እልቂት ተዳርጓል።
ይህ ተደጋጋሚ ጭፍጨፋና ጭቆና የበዛበት ህዝብ ራሱን ለመከላከልና ብሔራዊ ነፃነቱን ለመጎናጸፍ ያለዉን ብቸኛ መንገድን በህይዋቱ ቤዛ ተያይዞታል።

ታላቁ የኦሮሞ ህዝብ በዳግማዊ ነፍጠኛ ኃይሎች እየደረሰበት ያለውን አሰቃቂ ጥቃት በመመከት ለትግሉ ያለውን ጽናት ና ቁርጠኛነት በውል አራጋግጧል። ይህ ህዝባዊ ንቅናቄ ለመጨረሻ ግቡ እስኪ በቃ ድረስ አጠቃላይ ሕዝባዊ ኃይሉን በማቀናጀት በተጠናከረ መልኩ እንዲቀጥል ለህዋታቸው ሳይሳሱ የሚተጉ ኣእላፍ የቁርጥ ቀን ልጆቹን ኣሰልፏል።

በመሆኑም ከላይ በተጠቀሰዉ መዋቅር ዉስጥ የሚትገኙ የኦሮሞ ልጆች፣ በተለይ ደግሞ የወታደራዊና ፖሊሲ አባላት ለሆናችሁ ታጣቂ ኃይሎች ህዝባችሁን የማዳን ብሔራዊ ግዴታን ትወጡ ዘንድ እነሆ ይህ ታሪካዊ ጥሪ በዲጋሚ ቀርቦላችኋል። ስለዚህ በመፍረስ ላይ የሚገኘውን አሸባሪ ሥርዓት በመልቀቅ ለዚህ ብሔራዊ ጥሪ ፈጣንና ተግባራዊ ምላሽ በመስጠት ራሣችሁን ከተጠያቂነት እንዲታድኑ ይሁን!

ዘለዓለማዊ ክብር ለተሰው ንጹሃን የኦሮሞ ተማሪዎች!!

Enough Is Enough, The Blood And Life of Our Kids, Youngsters And People Should Never Be Lost In Vain

Dear compatriots!

It is time for action, it is time to rise up and put a stop to the 24 years of suppression, murder, torture, dispossession, displacement, annexation, and historical shame inflicted on our people by the minority TPLF regime.

Our heroic Oromo young generation beginning from 6 year old kids are standing for their God given human rights unarmed, fighting with fully armed TPLF murderers and tugs. We have seen and heard that kids are murdered in broad day light, parents and relatives are fired up on when they were trying to pick up dead bodies of their kids and relatives. This is an unmatchable cruelty and hate crime committed against the Oromo people by the TPLF junta. This crime may only be paralleled by the crimes committed by fascists and the Nazis.

We need to do all what we can to support our people struggling for their rights, justice and freedom. The flame that is lit by the blood of our people should never be allowed to be extinguished anymore until we get rid of the TPLF tugs. The struggle needs to be multifaceted and sustainable until the major goal to get rid of these tugs is achieved.

What are the things that our expatriates, especially those living in the western world, can do to support this struggle in various ways? What else can be done to get rid of these tugs? The following are serious options to consider:

Inform the world about what is currently happening:

• Compile evidence of the atrocities committed against our people in different parts of Oromia and write letters of appeal to local representatives, human rights agencies, relevant ministries, offices of heads of states and opposition political parties individually and collectively.
• Compile picture and video evidence if possible of the atrocities committed against our people and submit to different media outlets individually or collectively wherever possible.
• Submit these appeals to Red Cross, Amnesty International, UN, European Union and other relevant human rights international organizations.
• Submit the evidence of these atrocities to ICC in the Hague, Netherland.
• All Oromo media outlets abroad have been doing an excellent job to expose what is going on at home and that good job has to continue in a sustainable way to support the struggle of our people.
• Collective organizations and associations of the Oromo have been doing excellent job in letting the world know about the plight of our people. This needs to continue even in a much more sophisticated way.
• Use various social media to post these atrocities and actively participate in discussions to expose what is happening at this time.
• Maintain sustainable and continuous link with our people to inform them that they are not alone in their struggle and that the world knows about what is happening.
• Organize peaceful protest marches in different western cities showing pictures of our heroic kids gunned down by TPLF murderers.

Supporting the struggle of our people to defend themselves:

• We need to find means to financially support all Oromo forces that are genuinely struggling to liberate our people from the yoke of TPLF’s oppression; these forces include our Qeerroos that are showing the way forward.
• In this struggle, we need to understand that the decisive factor is the people. No advanced weaponry, no number of soldiers can stop a people determined to be free. It is this aspect that we have to pay a lot of attention to, to create a sustainable unity and determination of the Oromo people.
• This aspect has to be supported with good and sophisticated communication and unity of purpose of our people, from East to West, from North to South and to Center.
• Along this line, it is important to consider preparedness of every Oromo citizen to defend himself or herself.
• The TPLF junta currently relies on its trained soldiers, commandoes and police force that it thinks will sustain its power for ever. But one thing they have to keep in mind is that there is also a way of struggle that the united Oromo people can do: that is to take the arms and weaponry away from them and turn them against them. It would seem that one option left for the Oromo people is this- to take away their arms and weaponry that they are so proud of and think that they will keep ruling us forever using them. By this, they will be reminded of the heroism of the Oromo people that they have looked down upon and denigrated for the last 24 years.
• We need to support the creation of unity of purpose amongst all Oromo forces at this crucial historic juncture.

The creation of alliance with all forces that are struggling for justice, equality and democracy in Ethiopia:

• TPLF is the master of divide and rule. One of the main reasons they have sustained their minority dictatorship and inhumane rule over the last 24 years is by dividing the people of Ethiopia including the Oromo people
• We need to let the rest of the people of Ethiopia know that it is not in the culture of the Oromo people to do injustice to others and that our struggle is not directed against any nation and nationality of the country, but against tyranny and injustice and for freedom and God given rights.
• We need to let people know that we have no issues and hatred for the poor and innocent people of Amhara, Tigray, the Southern people, the people of Ogaden and all the people of the country. Where ever possible, we need to create fair alliances or at least convince those forces not to stand against us when we are struggling against the TPLF fascist regime. In essence, our struggle must be inclusive and magnanimous where possible not to multiply our enemies and to reduce the sacrifice that our people have to pay. As you all know, one of TPLF’s play book is to incite the rest of the Ethiopian people against the Oromo by pretending that they are the only guarantor of peace and protection.

The pursuit of international alliances and support:

• Understanding that the key to freedom is the people and that no force is able to stop a determined people, we will also need alliances to hasten the time and also reduce the sacrifice to be paid. This is by acquiring multifaceted support for the struggle. All fair and justifiable options should be on the table to get rid of these murderers.

Other aspects of the struggle at home:

• The Oromo people and the rest of the Ethiopian people have a decisive buying power.
• As everybody knows, the TPLF controls critical infrastructures and economic sectors of the country. We know that they are highly trumpeting the so called millennium development goals. What is development when they are working on dispossessing, displacing the people by subjecting them to beggary, homelessness on their own ancestral land, and murdering the very same citizens of the country?
• All the activities they pursue indicate that they are working on perpetuating their hegemony over the rest of the Ethiopian people. Hence the people must use their buying power to cripple TPLF’s companies and economy to speed up the process of freedom from the yoke of their tyranny. It would be a matter of not buying products and services from TPLF companies.

The blood and lives of our young people should not be lost in vain. The flame they lit should engulf the tyrannical TPLF regime and should lead to their demise.

Time for unity and action is now. 24 years of shame is enough. The great Oromo nation should take back its place in history together with the rest of the oppressed people of Ethiopia.

Rise up and end tyranny! No power, no cunning tactics and strategy, no divide and rule will stop a determined people from achieving their rights and freedom.