(A4O, Bitootess 28, 2020) Uummanni Oromoo, Oromummaa fi Oromiyaan roorroo hamaa jala jiru. Mootummaan Itoophiyaa Oromummaa balleessuu, Oromiyaa diiguu fi injifannoolee ummatni Oromoo dhiigaa fi lafee ilmaan isaatiin gonfate irraa mulquuf karoorfatee itti bobba’ee jira. Biyyattii irratti Nafxanyoota deebisee aangomsuu fi sirna isaanii deebisuuf Habashoota wajjiin qindoominaan socho’aa jira. Akeekasaa kanas milkeessuuf ummata Oromoo ganda, kutaa fi amantiin qoodee walirratti bobbaasuu tooftaa siyaasaa godhatee hojjeta. Seeraan ala labsii yeroo hatattamaa uummata Oromoo irratti labsuun naannoolee Oromiyaa bakka adda addaatti Rayyaan Ittisa biyyaa uummata irratti roorrisaa jira.
Mootummaan kun reebicha, hidhaa fi ajjeechaa uummata Oromoo irra geessaa jiru yeroo kamuu caalaa jabeessee fi bal’isee itti fufee jira. Manneen uummata keenyaa maatii isaanii wajjiin walitti qabee guba; midhaan gonbisaawwanii fi oyiruu ykn maasaa keessatti ibidda itti qabsiisa; bosona Oromiyaa bineensa isaa wajjiin guba. Barattootni Oromoo naannoolee biraa keessatti wayta ajjeefaman kanneen ajjeesan seeratti hin dhiheessu. Yakki suukanneessoon akkasii dalagamaa jiraatuu isaanii osoo beekuu gaaga’amtootaaf ittisa hin godhu. Kanneen hafanis sababa adda-addaa itti funaanuun barnootarraa ari’a. Keessumattuu, barattoota Oromoo godinaalee Oromiyaa ‘Command Post’ jalatti bulaa jiran irraa dhufan adda baasee ari’a. Naannolee Oromiyaa bulchiinsa ‘Comand Post’ jala jiran keessatti Raayyaan Ittisa Biyyaa Qeerroo fi Qarree akka bineensaa adamsee guyyaa guyyaan ajjeesaa, jumulaan hidhaa fi dararaa jira.
Mootummaan kun dirree dimookraasii biyyattii keessatti bal’isuuf waadaa gale cabsuun hooggannootaa fi miseensota jaarmoota siyaasaa kanneen isaan dorgoman ni dhabamsiisa; seeraan ala mana hidhaatti guura; qunnamtii jaarmoleen siyaasaa uummata waliin godhatuuf karoorfatan ni gufachiisa. Dhaabbileen sab-qunnamtii Oromoo dhugaa jiru akka hin gabaafne ni doorsisa, hooggantoota isaanii ni hidha. Saamicha qabeenya Oromiyaas daran hammeessee itti fufee jira. Walumaa galatti, hamilee uummata Oromoo cabsuun, Oromoo jilbeenfachiisuuf dhagaan mootummaan kun hin garagalchine hin jiru.
Namni hunduu hubachuu kan qabu Oromoon akka sabaatti tokkummaan ka’ee haga hin falmannetti rakkooleen kunneen sadarkaa amma irra jiran caalaa hammaatanii itti fufu. Badiiwwan uummata Oromoo fi Oromiyaa irratti mootummaa Itoophiyaan gaggeeffamaa jiran kunneen akkasitti yoo itti fufan, hireen ummata Oromoo yaaddessaa dha; Oromoon akka sabaatti, Oromiyaan akka biyyaatti itti fufuun gaaffii guddoo jala galuu danda’a.
Kanaafuu, nuti jaarmiyaaleen Oromoo adda addaa kan yaaddoolee armaan olitti tuqaman kanneen qooddannu, maqaan keenya armaan gaditti tarreeffaman, rakkoolee akka sabaa fi biyyaatti nu mudatan kanneen irra aanuuf qopha-qophaa socho’uu irra gamtaan socho’uun bu’a-qabeessa ta’uu hubachuudhaan, yeroo dheeraaf marii gochaa turreerra. Marii yeroo dheeraaf ‘technology’ adda-addaatti fayyadamnee godhaa turre goolabuuf Bitootessa 28-29, 2020 walgahii guddaa godhanne jirra. Walgahii kana irratti qabxiilee adda addaa irratti gad-fageenyaan erga mari’anneen booda murtiilee fi kutannoolee asii gaditti tarreeffaman irratti waliigallee baasuun walgahii keenya milkiin xumurannee jirra.
1. Haala hamaa uummata keenyarratti fe’amee jiru kana irra aanuuf tokkummaan Oromoo biyya keessaa fi biyya ambaa murteessaa ta’uu hubachuun, wal-tumsinee gamtaan hojjechuun uummata Oromoof sagalee ta’uuf walii galleerra;
2. Koree sochii gamtaa kanaa qindeessuu fi koreelee raawwii hujii sadi (three operational committees) utubnee jirra. Koreeleen kunis;
2.1 Koree falmii mirga namoomaa (Human rights advocacy committee),
2.2 Koree odeeffannoo funaanuu fi tamsaasuu (Information collection and dissemination committee),
2.3 Koree beekkumsa, dandeettii fi qabeenya maddisiisuu fi gurmeessuu/ijaaruu (Resource mobilization and organization committee)
3. Uummanni Oromoo, keessattuu warri biyya ambaa jiraattan, nu duukaa dhabbachuun rakkoolee saba keenyarra gahaa jiran gamtaan akka balaaleffannu waamicha lammummaa fi obbolummaa isiniif goona;
4. Jaarmiyaaleen Oromoo maqaan keessan asii gaditti hin tarreefamin hunduu, nu duukaa hiriiruun rakkoolee saba keenyarra gahaa jiran gamtaan qolachuu akka dandeenyu, sagalee dabalataa akka nuu taatan waamicha lammummaa fi obbolummaa isiniif dhiyeessina;
5. Dhaabileen siyaasaa Oromoo biyya keesssa jirtan hunduu adda-addummaa siyaasaa keessanii qabattanii ajjeechaa fi hidhaa Oromoo irra gahaa jiru waliin akka balaaleffattan, akka dura-dhaabbattan fi furmaata itti barbaaddan waamicha isiniif goona;
6. Maddi rakkoo uummata keenyaa hunduu sirna gabroomfataa mootummaa Itoophiyaa ti. Sirna kana hiddaan biqqisuuf tokkummaan ka’uu fi falmatuun murteessaa ta’uu yaadachisaa, roorroo fi dararaa naannoo Oromoo tokkorra gahuuf naannooleen Oromoo biraa akka birmattan waamicha lammummaa fi obbolummaa isiniif goona;
7. Mootummaan Itoophiyaa labsii yeroo hatattamaa kan seeraan ala uummata Oromoo Dhihaa fi Kibba Oromiyaa irratti labse hatattamaan akka kaasu akeekkachiifna;
8. Ajjeechaa, hidhaa, dubartoota Oromoo humnaan gudeeduu fi reebicha Raayyaan Ittisa Biyya Itoophiyaa uummata Oromoo irraan gahaa jiru hadheeffannee balaaleffachaa, hatattamaan akka dhaabbatu mootummaa Itoophiyaa dhaamna;
9. Mootumman Itoophiyaa hojii shororkeessummaa dhaabilee siyaasaa Oromoo, hooggantoota fi miseensota isaanratti raawwataa jiru hatattamaan akka dhaabu akkeekachiisaa, sababa kanaan filannoo biyyooleessaa dhufu irratti rakkoolee uumamuu maluuf mootummaan itti gaafatamaa tahuu beeksifna.
10. Rakkoon naannoo Oromiyaatti uumamu kamuu, naannolee kaaniif illee daafaa nageenyaa ni qabaata. Kanaaf, sabaaf sab-lammoonni Itoophiyaa hundi, uummata Oromoof birmattanii, ajjeechaa fi hidhaa mootummaan Itoophiyaa saba Oromoo irraan gahaa jiru akka balaaleffattan fi dura-dhaabbattan waamicha lammummaa isiniif goona;
11. Jaarmiyaaleen mirga dhala namaaf falmitan hundi badii fi hammeenya mootuummaan Itoophiyaa uummata Oromoo irratti dalagaa jiru mara uummattoota addunyaa, mootummoota Bahaa fi Dhihaatti akka saaxiltan kabajaan isin gaafanna;
12. Uummanni Oromoo, keessattuu Qeerroo fi Qarreen, akka bineensaa adamsamanii guyyaa guyyaan ajjeefamaa, jumulaan hidhamaa jiru. Kuni ammoo buqqa’insaa fi goodaansa uummataa fidaa waan jiruuf uummanni addunyaa qisaasama uummata kanaa baraaruuf itti-gaafatama guddaa qaba. Rakkooleen kunneen babal’achuun too’annoo ala osoo hin ta’in uummanni addunyaa fi mootummoonni biyyoota Dhihaa, lola mootummaan Itoophiyaa seeraan ala uummata Oromoo irratti deemsisaa jiruu fi bulchiinsa ‘Comand Post’ Oromiyaa irraa akka kaasuuf dhiibbaa barbaachisaa akka gootan waamicha keenya dhiyeessina.
Tokkummaan Humna!
Jaarmiyaalee Oromoo (In alphabetical order)
1. Advocacy4Oromia
2. Bilal Oromo Dawa Center
3. Canaan Oromo Evangelical Church
4. Charismatic International Fellowship Church
5. Global Gumii Oromia
6. Global Oromo Advocacy Group
7. Global Waaqeffannaa Council
8. Horn of Africa Genocide Watch
9. Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa
10. International Oromo Women’s Organization
11. International Qeerroo Support Group
12. Mana Kiristaanaa Fayyisaa Addunyaa
13. Oromo Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church
14. Oromo Communities’ Association of North America
15. Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Church of Washington DC Metropolitan Area
16. Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Mission Society
17. Oromo Human Rights and Relief Organization
18. Oromo Legacy, Leadership and Advocacy Association
19. Oromo Lutheran Church of Baltimore
20. Oromo Parliamentarians Council
21. Oromo Studies Association
22. Oromia Support Group
23. Tawfiq Islamic Center
24. Union of Oromo Communities in Canada
25. United Oromo Evangelical Church
26. Washington DC Metropolitan Oromo SDA Church
Bitootessa 28, 2020
(Nairobi, March 18, 2020) Authorities in Ethiopia should immediately and unconditionally release journalists Dessu Dulla and Wako Nole and media worker Ismael Abdulrzaq, and let them work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
ONN Journalist Dessu Dulla
ONN Journalist Wako Nole
On March 7, police arrested Dessu, deputy director of the privately owned Oromia News Network broadcaster, Ismael, a driver for the station, and Wako, a reporter with the Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo radio broadcaster, in Burayu, a town in the Oromia region, according to Muhammed Regassa and Betie Urgessa, two Oromia News Network employees who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, and an eyewitness to the arrests who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing safety concerns.
Betie told CPJ that the three appeared in court on March 10, and that police were granted 14 days to hold them in custody, but said they were not charged with any crime.
“Holding journalists for weeks without charge is a violation of their basic rights and a clear effort to intimidate the press; Ethiopia must release Dessu Dulla, Wako Nole, and Ismael Abdulrzaq immediately,” said CPJ Sub-Saharan Africa representative Muthoki Mumo. “Journalists must be allowed to cover regional politics without official interference or fear that they will be arbitrarily arrested.”
Police arrested the journalists and driver shortly after they left the Burayu police station, where they had traveled to speak with Abdi Regassa, a senior member of the opposition Oromo Liberation Front political party, who was detained there, according to Muhammed, Betie, and the eyewitness. Two Oromo Liberation Front party members who were visiting Abdi were also arrested, those sources said.
The eyewitness told CPJ that he heard a police officer shouting that the journalists had taken pictures on their phones before they arrested them and added that officers were likely uncomfortable with the journalists visiting Abdi Regassa. Prior to 2018, Abdi was a commander in the liberation front’s armed wing while it operated from exile and was designated a terror organization; police initially denied having him in custody, according to a report by the privately owned news site Addis Standard.
The Oromia News Network vehicle was involved in a minor road accident at the scene, but those sources told CPJ that it was unrelated to the arrests. Police are still holding the vehicle, Betie told CPJ.
The Oromia News Network, which operated in exile until 2018, primarily covers politics and is targeted at an Afaan Oromo-speaking audience; Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo, which broadcasts some of its programming on the news network, hosts programming that is supportive of the Oromo Liberation Front and also covers regional news, according to Muhammed and Betie, as well as CPJ’s review of the broadcasters’ content.
In a phone interview on March 10, Oromia regional government spokesperson Getachew Balcha told CPJ that he did not know anything about the journalists’ arrests. Getachew later acknowledged their detention in an interview with the U.S. Congress-funded Voice of America broadcaster, but said that they were arrested due to prior offenses.
Getachew referred CPJ to the head of the Oromia Peace and Security Bureau, identified as “Mr. Jibril,” for comment. Jibril told CPJ in a phone interview yesterday that he did not know about the journalists’ cases.
(Finfinnee, 29 Bitootessa 2020) Barattootnni Oromoo yunivarsitiiwwan addaa addaarraa gara maatii isaaniitti deebi’aa jiran rakkinaaf saaxilaman.
Oduun Finfinnee irraa nu dhaqqabe akka ibsutti, yeroo ammaa kana barattoonni hedduun sababa dhibee koronaavaayirasiitiin gara maatii sianaiitti deebi’aa jiran.
Haata’u malee,barattoonni Oromoo naannoo qunnamtiin bilbilaa uggurame irraa dhufan maatii waliin walqunnamaa wana hin turreef maalalqa ittiin galan dhabanii buufata konkolaataa Askootti rakkachaa jiru.
Barattoonni Oromoo kunneen bakka bulan dhabanii hanga namoota 60 tahanii otobuusii keessa buluuf dirqamanii jiru.
Kana birattis, waan nyaatan dhabanii gargaarsa barbaadaa akka jiran beekameera.
Barattoonni kunneen dhaamsa dabarfataniin namoonni dandeettii qaban barataa tokkollee yoo ta’e maatii biraan gahuudhaan qooda lammummaa akka bahan gaafataniiru.
*Barattoonni Yunivarsitiiwwan addaddaa irraa gara maatiitti deebi’aa jiran kunneen gargaaruu yoo barbaaddan adaraa karaa email: info@advocacy4oromai.org nu qunanmaa!
(A4O, Appeal Letter, 29 March 2020) Advocacy for Oromia is deeply concerned by reports of the diappreance of Mr. Abdi Regassa, the leader of Oromo Liberation Front who disappeared from Burrayyu Police station, Oromia, since 20 March 2020.
The letter sent to Ethiopian Prime Minster today by Advocacy for Oromia expresses its deep concern regarding Mr Abdi Regassa’s current state: detained without charges and with out access to the outside world, his colleagues and his family, since 29 February 2020.
The letter demands PM administration to ensures Mr Abdi Regassa has immediate access to a lawyer of his choosing and can communicate with his family.
For full appeal letter: Appeal Letter Abdi Regassa 29 March 2020
We condemn the internet and phone service shutdown by Ethiopia gov’t in Western and Southern Oromia. To prevent the spread of Corona Virus information is very crucial.
Blocking information during this critical time is a violation of human rights. The Ethiopian government should unblock the internet and phone service shut down before it is too late. The people should not be left in the dark for death.
#ReconnectTheWestETH
#COVID19
#Ethiopia
(OHCHR, 27-Mar-2020) A spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said the Office is very concerned by the continued communications shutdown in parts of Ethiopia, and more broadly the Office called on all countries to ensure that everyone has ready and unhindered access to the internet and phone services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Oromedia, 28/03/2020) Maatiin jaal Abdii Raggaasaa yaaddoo fi dhiphina guddoo keessa akka jiran ibsan.
Maatiin akka dubbatanitti Jaala Abdii Raggaasaa erga ijaan arginii torban tokkoo ol ta’ee jira.
Maatiin akka himutti Jaal Abdiif torbaan tokko dura gaafa gaafa 20/03/2020 GC ykn 11/07/2012 EC mana hidhaa inni duraan keessa ture Buraayyuutti ciree fi laaqana geessaniifii turan. Haata’uutii, galgala akka lakk biyyattiitti 12:30 Jaal Abdiin fudhamee bakka hin beekamne geeffamee jira.
Erga torban tokkoo as maatiin bakak halle iyyaafataa jira. Garuu “haga yoonaatti eessa akka geessan hin beeknu; bakka jiruyyuu qaamni nuuf ibse hin jiru,” jedhan maatiin Jaal Abdii.
Haala Jaal Abdiin keessa jiru “manni murti Burrayyu illee hin beeku,” kan jedhan maatiin Jaal Abdii, yeroo ammaa kanas maatiin marti dhiphuu guddoo keessa akka jiru dubbatu.
“Abban keenya baadiyaa jiraatan rifaatuu irraa kan ka’e dhukkubsatanii sireerratti hafanii jiru; nutis takkaa gadi hin teeny; barbaacha isaatif dhibee CORONA kanaf ille akka nun sababne nu soodachisa,” jechuun haala keessa jiran ibsan.
Maatiin Jaal Abdii hanga hardhatti waajjira Poolisii magaalaa Buraayyuutti deddeebi’anii gaafataa jiran. Waajjirri Poolisii magaalaa Buraayyuu garuu “jaal Abdiin as hin jiru; Finfinneetti fudhatame” ittin jedhan.
Eenyu akka isa fuudhee fi eessa akka jiru immoo qaamni maatiitti hime hin jiru.
Haalli kun immoo maatii yaaddessaa jira. “lubbuun jiraachuu fi jiraachuu dhiisu isaayyuu wanti beeknu hin jiru; hanga ammatti qaamni mootummaa ‘bakka akkasi jiraa, hin yadda’inaa’ nuun jedhe hin jiru; erga guyyaa sana inuma barbaanna.” jedhan.
Kana malees, dhimmi fayyaa isa ahedduu akka isaan yaaddessu maatiin Jaal Abdii hin dhoksine. “Nuti waa’ee fayyaa isaaf hedduu yaaddoo qabna; mootummaan dhugaadhuma waanta isaaf barbaachusus ni guutaaf jennee irraa amantaa hin qabnu; Jaal Abdiin dhukkuba asmii dhukkubsachaa jira.” jedhu.
“Uffata jijjirraas dhugumaan mootummaan ni kennaaf jennee hin amannu; yeroo hamtuu kanatti beekaadhuma akka rakkinaaf saaxilamuuf nu jalaa dhoksan; kana biraan dhibeen #Corona nama hunda yaaddeesu akka isa hin tuqne waanti beeknu hin jiru.” jechuun dhiphina maatiin qabu nuuf ibsanii jiru.
Akka odeeffannooa rgannetti, baallamni mana murtii jaal Abdii gaafa 18/07/2012 ture. Garuu dhaddacharratti hin dhihaanne.
Inumaa poolisiin magaalaa Buraayyuu “dhimma kana qaama biraatti dabarsine waan ta’eef galmeen nuuf haa cufamu,” jechuu isaa maddi keenya gabaaseera.
Abukaatoo, Maatii fi jaallan isaa yeroo ammaa kanatti yaaddoo guddoo keessa jiran.
Jaarmyooti mirga dhala namaaf falman ibsoota baasaniin mootummaan Itoophiyaa qabiinsa mirga namoomaa Jaal Abdii akka fooyyessu gaafachaa jiraachuun beekamaadha.
Itoophiyaan addunyaa kana irratti dhiitinsa mirga namoomaan sadarkaa duraatti galmooftee jirti. Biyyattii keessatti nama harka poolisii jiru tokko, keessumaa Oromoo yoo ta’e, abukaatoo fi maatii jalaa dhoksuun, dhiittaa mirga namoomaa irratti raawwachuun mootummichaa kan addunyaan ifatti beekuu dha.
Good hygiene can prevent infection. The most useful steps you can take are:
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub
Cough or sneeze into your sleave or a tissue. Throw used tissues in the bin and wash your hands.
Try and keep a 1.5-metre distance between yourself and others: avoid large public gathering, minimise physical contact such as shaking hands, and stay at home when you are unwell.
If you been diagnosed with COVID-19, you must stay at home to prevent it spreading to other people.
The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) has held its regular second central committee meeting at it’s headquarter in Finfinnee, from March 16-18, 2020. In this meeting, the OLF central committee has thoroughly discussed on various critical political, social and economic issues pertaining the front and peoples of Ethiopia. The challenges and opportunities including what OLF has and has not done since September 2018, and the overall organizational structure from the top leadership to the local organizers were examined and directives were given accordingly by the committee.
A strategy on how to financially strengthen the party was among the topics thoroughly discussed, and a strategy how to raise funds for the party was designed. As the current political crises in the country are unfolding, the OLF central committee has also discussed on this crisis and set a strategy to mitigate the political hurdles that the party is facing from the Ethiopian government. The political harassment, the human rights violations, particularly against the Oromo people, and the mass arrest and imprisonment of peaceful citizens, including journalists and members of the OLF top leadership are among the issues assessed by the central committee.
As the Ethiopian general election, planned for 2020, is fast approaching, the committee has also assessed various issues related to the election. The relationship of the party with the newly established National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), the works awaiting the party to prepare itself for the election, and the human and financial resources needed for the election were all assessed by the central committee. After the assessment, the committee has made a decision and given directives to mobilize best part of the party’s human and financial resources toward the upcoming election.
The other critical issues discussed in this meeting was the party’s strategic plan, especially related to the upcoming election. The most critical and urgent issues often raised by our people were sorted out, and an action plan to resolve these issues were suggested and adopted for an immediate action. The OLF election manifesto was consented by the committee for orderly execution.
Forming working alliances among the Oromo political parties, and parties from other nations and nationalities are among the key topics discussed in detail and a strategic plan was drafted for implementation. Accordingly, the committee has given directives to swiftly form the necessary working alliances with parties that not only support but also further the existing multination Federalism. OLF support and also ready to work with all political parties that believe in and work towards a multination Federal government system.
As we all are aware of the Ethiopian politics becoming very concerning, and it is daily getting worse. The OLF central committee examined this situation, discussed and suggested various solutions. As we all are aware of, OLF returned home with the hope that the questions of the Oromo people and people of other nations and nationalities for freedom and democratic rights will be resolved through a peaceful democratic process. To the end, the current Ethiopian government was tasked by the Ethiopian people to lead the country toward a democratic system.
However, instead of opening up the political space, respecting human rights, and the people’s democratic rights to self-determination, as promised to the Ethiopian peoples and the world community, the government is rather shrinking the political spaces and continued grossly violating people’s rights to assemble and even people’s movement from place to place. In addition, the government prohibited the opposition parties to hold any political rally, intimidate people for supporting the party that their choice or opposing the party that they dislike in any way possible. Such government attempts to suppress the democratic rights of the people and the political parties using political and security muscle will rather lead the country into more catastrophe than resolving the existing grievances. Inflicting unimaginable wounds on the people using its security apparatus with a pretext of maintaining order must be stopped before leading the country into chaos.
On the other hand, a political group or groups who wish to reestablish the old Ethiopian government system, ignoring people’s quest for true multination federal system, are gaining energy. This is the reality on the ground. Sadly, these groups utilize the government structure, finance and media support to promote their political agenda, which is eroding the multination Federal system that is hoped for to resolve the political, social and economic disparities existed in the country for decades.
Although OLF faces multifaceted challenges from the Ethiopian government, we would like to reassure our people, members and supporters that we will continue our struggle peacefully by abiding to peaceful means. OLF reaffirms once again that we will continue political dialogue with the government and other stakeholders to seek a political solution for the current crisis that the country is enduring and pave the way that leads to a fair and free election. To the end, OLF calls upon the Oromo public residing inside and/or outside the country, to double its commitment to support the OLF at this critical time in history. Especially, the Oromo elites and business owners do have a historical responsibility to stand with the OLF and ensure the victory of our people.
Since its inception, OLF has been fighting against a government system that has been subjugating and marginalizing peoples. In its history, OLF has never targeted any group or individual during its struggle. Instigating conflict among ethnic lines and nations and nationalities for political consumption is rather the culture of the Ethiopian government. To prolong its time in power, the government has been using the divide and rule system for decades. Instead of propagating conflicts among nations and nationalities for political benefits, OLF call upon the Ethiopian government to rather join us to cultivate and promote a sense of community and togetherness among nations and nationalities in the country.
As we speak, in Oromia, mass arrest, imprisonment, and the harassment of the Oromo people, young and old, and extensive resource looting are widely taking place. Strongly condemning the cruelty of the government security forces against our people, OLF call up on the government to immediately halt its mass arrest operation against the Oromo people, members and supporters of the OLF, and release all political prisoners including member of the OLF leadership. The illegally declared command post is not operating following the military rules and procedures.
OLF requests the government and all concerned bodies to reevaluate the operation of the Ethiopian military and security forces, as they are violating the people’s political and human rights across Oromia. It is more than a month now since all communications and social networks are cut off from Wollega (four Provinces), Guji (2 Provinces) and Borana and the OLF central committee calls for an immediate restoration of the communication lines and networks to these zones. It is also immoral to cut off communication and networks from a society when the world declared a Coronavirus disease pandemic, threatening the lives of millions of people across the globe. Communication is key to stop, or minimize the spread of the Coronavirus, and cutting communication lines of people at this critical time is truly inhuman, and we ask the government to immediately restore the communication lines so that people in these regions will get the update necessary to protect themselves and their communities from this deadly virus.
Recently, we have been hearing the disagreement between the three Nile basin countries (Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia) with regard to the usage of the upper Nile water to fill the Ethiopian Renaissance dam currently under construction. OLF believes that this is a national issue and thus, it concerns all of us. We know that this negotiation has been going on for over eight years, and it is now unclear what led to the failure of the negotiation while we are expecting an agreement reached. Regardless, OLF believes that the rights of Ethiopia to utilize the water resources should be respected, and this issue should be resolved through a peaceful negotiation process.
Lastly, OLF calls upon the world community and the international human and democratic rights organizations to stand with the Ethiopian peoples and ensure the establishment of the overdue democratic system that serves all the peoples equally in the country.
Victory to the Mass!
OLF Central Committee
March 18, 2020
For PDF format: Resolution of OLF Centeral Committee
Advocacy for Oromia 