By Tullu Liban*

(Advocacy4Oromia, 7 August 2016) This piece is inspired by a peculiar bravery I noticed in one of the social media posts on August 6, 2016. Doctors and Nurses of Hiwot Fana Hospital in Harar protested against the government in their compound condemning the killings and suppression that targets the Oromo people.

Given the current Ethiopian context, these professionals are working in government health institution and they are aware that they might be demoted, fired or arrested for the bold action they had taken in support of the Grand Oromia rally. However, they set an exemplary model for other civil servants. They couldn’t resist the moment of truth that compelled them to say no to the atrocities they are witnessing on daily basis. No doubt they might have delivered hundreds of corpses of the brutally butchered Oromo students to the grieved families over the months.
It is clear that these health professionals have mourned on several occasions while they attempted to help the ruthlessly shot dead youngsters. Thus, they decided to march with the masses for freedom on August 6.
Bravo Hiowt Fana! You have broken the silence! It is now up to the other Oromo civil servants to follow suite. How do you fail to demonstrate at least in your organizational premises to condemn the killings of your fellow Oromos-your brothers, sisters, children and parents? Can you stay aloof while your native land is in turmoil? Will you be paid your salaries while Oromia is bleeding? Please come out and send a strongest signal to the TPLF regime that you are sick of massacres, torture and arrests.
To the surprise of the world, and the humiliation of the TPLF thugs, the Oromo protest has now reached a point of no return unless the quest for freedom is addressed once and for all.
This orderly and civilized protest will continue uninterruptedly until the sought freedom is achieved. It will continue with further level of civility and persistence if possible or otherwise depending on the response of TPLF thugs.
As we all know, so far the price we paid in the march to freedom is so huge. Our gallant heroines and heroes are still paying for our inevitable emancipation in their priceless lives. The courageous Qerroos and Qerrittiis, the Qube generation, in particular, are bravely challenging the infamous, brainless, killing machine of the TPLF army known as Agazi. While our children selflessly expose their chests to live ammunition, how dare the Oromia civil servants fail to organize themselves and unequivocally condemn the atrocities being committed against their own people?
Bravo Harar Hiwot Fana!

*Source: Tullu Liban