(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
(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
(A4O, Appeal Letter, 3 March 2020) Advocacy for Oromia is deeply concerned by reports of the incommunicado detention of detention of Mr. Abdi Regassa, the leader of Oromo Liberation Front.
The letter sent to Ethiopian Prime Minster today, Advocacy for Oromia expresses its deep concern regarding Mr Abdi Regassa who detained without charges and with limited 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.
Advocacy for Oromia also asks all peace-loving people to take similar action to ensure that a prompt and impartial investigation is conducted regarding allegations of torture and ill-treatment against Abdi Regassa.
It added that this appeal letter is needed to ensure that the Ethiopian government presents charges against him or releases him, and refrains from potentially taking actions that may amount to ill-treatment against him.
For full appeal letter: Appeal Letter Abdi Regassa
(A4O, Press Release 2 March 2020) Ethiopian authorities detained the leader of the Oromo Liberation Front, Abdi Regassa, on 29 February 2020. He was held incommunicado for 72 hours and remains imprisoned without charges.
Advocacy for Oromia affirms Mr Abdi Regassa is a prisoner of conscience who was imprisoned solely for remains committed to the Oromo cause.
Mr Abdi Regassa has been held in detention for reasons that remain unknown. He has not been informed of the charges against him.
Advocacy for Oromia requests the government to unconditional release and access to legal counsel and family while in custody.
Call of Action: Show your SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT for him in every way you can: going to the police station, changing your social media profile, campaigning for justice, and doing everything that is orderly and peaceful.
When: From today, 2 March 2020
Where: Detention without access to the outside world
For full press release: Press Release 2 March 2020
Advocacy for Oromia 