(Oromia Support Group Report) The extra-judicial killing and arbitrary arrest of OLF supporters since December 2018 has created a situation in Oromia very similar to that in 1991-2 when thousands of OLF supporters were killed and scores of thousands detained and tortured.
The good will and support for Ethiopia from the international community helped to maintain the abusive regime of Meles Zenawi, then in power. The current silence about killings and widespread imprisonment is eerily reminiscent of that time.
Many reports have been sent to OSG since December 2018 and this report is a summary of the information received.
This report includes information about 163 extra-judicial killings and the arbitrary detention of at least 933 all due to their suspected support for the Oromo Liberation Front, which officially returned to Ethiopia in September 2018.
Oromia Support Group Australia – Summary Report on Human Right Abuses in Ethiopia
(A4O, 8 May 2019, Press Release) We have confirmed that Benshangul Gumuz civilians are increasingly targeted and executed by the highly armed and well-trained Amhara militia. They were trained, radicalized and fully armed with modern machine guns by a National Movement for Amhara (NAMA).
According to the eye witnesses, over 500 Shinasha people in Benshangul-Gumuz Region, Jawi Woreda, were suddenly executed; tens of thousands of civilians were also made to flee their own villages for their lives between May 1 and 2, 2019. The main victims were civilians including children, women and elderly. Homes were also torched in that outbreak of violence.
We have also observed that the civilians are getting killed for no apparent reasons by a highly armed Amhara regional special force in Benshangul Gumuz regional state. This armed group is not only targeting solely indigenous and legitimate owners of the land; but also, hundreds of children and elderly are getting summarily executed for a simple reason of being different from their killers in the aspect of their culture, skin colour and political beliefs.
The Ethiopian Government neither condemn the killings of civilians nor asked for apology for failing to safeguard them. Although some authorities claim the restoration of the order, this is far from the truth as the Government hasn’t so far take any justifiable action against the killers and forces behind these tragic executions.
Background information
Recently, the Amhara Special force further threatened the Oromo people in relation to the ownership claims of Finfinnee (Addis Ababa). These group further vowed to repeat their success in Benshangul in Wallo and other parts of Amhara-Oromia borders.
In 2003, for instance, between 430 and 500 unarmed civilians were massacred by those who colonised their land for a simple reason of silencing them whilst expropriating their resources and land in Gambella region. The same massacre is now unfolding in Shaka zone on a Shakacho people by the same highlanders. Tens of thousands of Oromo, Ogaden Somali and Sidama civilians were executed in the last 27 years alone.
Call of Action
Advocacy for Oromia, a non-profit advocacy organisation working to ensure that the people’s rights and wishes are respected, has deeply admired much of the work done by both regional and federal government to restore peace and stability in the region.
In fact, political differences may divide some of the regional states in the country. But upholding human rights is in the interest of every state. Peoples of these regions also seek a common agenda: rights, peace, security, justice, freedom, and sustainable development.
We firmly believe that human rights are a powerful medicine, which heals wounds and develops resilience. Thus, we show our consistent and unrestricted solidarity until justice is served on their behalf by bringing those who have killed and maimed their sons and daughters to an independent justice.
Advocacy for Oromia, therefore, unanimously condemn with the strongest possible terms such barbaric actions toward the unarmed civilians, children, women and elderly of Benshangul Gumuz.
Furthermore,
1. We urge the Amhara’s regional state to exercise utmost restraint and lawfully handle its anarchically behaving special forces that has been primarily trained to maintain law and order. There won’t be any peace and security as long as some groups are fighting to dominate and dehumanise fellow mankind.
2. We demand the federal government to immediately intervene and stop the on-going execution of powerless civilians whose lives are put at the mercy of their barbaric assailants.
3. We urge the federal government to immediately investigate and bring those responsible for such horrific and inhumane actions to civilians to justice.
4. We advise the international human rights group and western countries politicians to earnestly bring this unsettling massacre of civilians to the attentions of obliviously sleeping Ethiopian authorities by urging them to take meaningful and corrective measures as a matter of urgency.
5. We call up on all Ethiopian peoples to unconditionally condemn such barbarism and demand the Amhara regional state to stop its inhumane actions to the unarmed civilians.
We will always continuously work for and speaks up for the voiceless people.
Press Release by Advocacy for Oromia,
May 8, 2019.
For PDF format:Press Release 8 May 2019
Oromia Support Group Australia
Issue 2, April 2019
Oromia Support Group Australia (OSGA) grievously worries about the severe human rights violation in Guji area, State of Oromia. The Ethiopian military forces, regional and zonal administrations are, in collaboration, committing a grave violation of human rights that include mass killing, incineration of people alive, mass detention, burning of villages, and confiscation of properties, torture and starvation of villagers. The action of brutality has been carrying out only in the name of stamping out OLF (Oromo Liberation Front) forces from the area.
Since December 2018 right after the deployment of Ethiopian military to the area, there have been many atrocities committed by the army and the zonal administration forces in the area. For instance:
1. 28 December 2018, thirteen innocent civilian from Finchawa town, Dugda Dawa district and six civilians from a village called ‘Maxxaarrii’ in Galana Abaya districts were brutally killed. The same day, around 10 pm local time many people were injured some of which died later due to their injuries. What made the killing so horrendous was that it happened at a time when the village was peaceful, and the residents of the town were on their regular daily routine. The residents in the area unsuspicious as to what was going to happen even to take a cover to avoid the spontaneous raining bullets and heavy machine guns that burned everything it hits (vehicle, motorbike, house, tree) including human being.
As a human being, no one thinks would enjoy the sight of tarred corpus and can easily imagine what the family and society would feel seeing their beloved torched in broad daylight without his or her sin.
2. Similarly, on 15 January 2019, an elderly woman who was sitting in her hut was incinerated after the door of the shelter she was living in was locked from behind and torched while she was alive. What made this killing too shockingly inhuman was the brutality of the soldiers that waited to make sure the elderly that was burning to ashes was completed and fled the scene pinching their noses due to the roasting flesh that smoked the area. This brutal killing has happened after the soldiers had indiscriminately killed at least ten and injured many in and around Karcha town and killed many unaccounted along their way including an elderly man who was riding a horse 100 meters away from the house they torched with the elderly woman.
Besides these significant incidents, without any late up, the killing rampage of two, three, five, ten, here and there across the area has continued to date including burning of villages, displacement of villagers, confiscation of properties and killing of anyone who rides a motorbike without any impunity.
3. On 19 February 2019, for instance, an indiscriminate shooting on artisanal gold miners in the Dakara village in Arero district killed six civilians on the spot and injured many who run into the thorny bush and ragged rocks that further harmed women and children.
4. Gujii area is totally under siege. Motorbike, the only means of transportation for remote villagers, is prohibited. Much of it is confiscated as such people have to walk a day or so on foot to access markets. In some areas, even those markets are restricted. The amount of food one carries is limited to less than five kilos yet if one has to have a family of ten or more which is common in Gujii area.
5. Night curfew is imposed in the rural and urban areas. One can’t walk in the night to reach the village, and he or she has to walk in the scorching sun to avoid the killing and detention that comes due to the breach of the night curfew. No one can complain about why someone is arrested and why someone is shot. The number of people who moved to the concentration camp has increased by the day. At the time of this report conducted more than two hundred and fifty people from Bule Hora, ninety-four from Qarcha, fifty-five from Malkaa Soda and many more from various areas of Gujii are on course to be transported in addition to thousands who have already been transported to some undisclosed harsh concentration camp. People have to run to bushes with their children to avoid capture. It is so hostile beyond human imagination.
6. Just recently as if all the atrocities committed by the military are not enough they have trained local militias whose task is to burn properties of families of suspected sympathisers of the rebel groups as such many suspects’ properties in many places in the area are burned to ashes. Those who objected to the tactic are taken to concentration camps. While that is one thing what is worrying is the identity of those who are burning properties. As stated these militias are locals and they are known, people. At the same time, those of who whose properties are destroyed are locals. They know who is doing this. Guji community is known for its cooperation along its lineage. If the family or sub-clans of those whose properties are destroyed respond to the action of the local militias and the families or sub-clans of the local militias counter, it is not hard to imagine what would happen in the area.
Oromia Support Group Australia urges all the concerning bodies to pay immediate attention to these grave human rights violations and instantly call for the cessation of these brutal collective punishments. All the breadwinners of their family should be released from concentration camps. Peace and stability need to be restored in the area through civilised negotiation instead of resolving the differences through military means. Those who have committed grave crimes should be brought to justice for the accountability of the evil they have committed.
For more information:OSGA April 2019 Statement on Grave Human Right Violations in Guji – State of Oromia
(A4O, Press Release 19 March 2019) Advocacy for Oromia, a non-profit advocacy organisation working to ensure that the Oromo people’s rights and wishes are respected, requests SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT for Colonel Gammachuu Ayyaanaa in every way you can: going to the court house, changing your social media profile, campaigning for justice, and doing everything that is orderly and peaceful.
The organisation says in today’s press release, more than 10,000 Oromo individuals are imprisoned because of their bold stand against in justice in Oromia.
Event: Gamachuu is scheduled to appear in a court for a hearing. Show your SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT for him in every way you can: going to the court house, changing your social media profile, campaigning for justice, and doing everything that is orderly and peaceful.
When: March 25, 2019 (Megabit 16, 2011)
(A4O, Press Release 12 March 2019) Advocacy for Oromia, a non-profit advocacy organisation working to ensure that the Oromo people’s rights and wishes are respected, is highly concerned at the intimidation, the violence and the wave of arrests that have taken place during the week end in Oromia.
Advocacy for Oromia understands the security concerns of the regional and the Federal Government and the steps taken to protect the people who live in the country. The Ethiopian military established a buffer zone in Western Oromia (four zones of Wollega) and Southern Oromia (Borana, Goji Zones) and deployed huge number of military forces in Oromia.
Over the last three months, more than 200 Oromo people have reportedly been detained in Xoolay and Sanqallee detention camps. Furthermore, the door to door operation has involved breaking the houses and beating them up cold-heartedly and treating them in heartless manner and robbing their properties. However, none of the government bodies have initiated any inquiry into the matter which continues to violate human rights.
For detail information: Press Letter 12 March 2019
(A4O, 5 Onkoloolessa 2018) Irreechaa 2018 gaafa Onkoloolessa 7, bara 2018 biyya Australia kutaa Victoria keessatti kabajama.
Oromo, at home and abroad please get organized; let those claiming to have been organized also get stronger. For how long will you live grumbling or kneel and beg to be noticed? Get up on your knees, raise your head and assert your rights as you did four years ago. This time has been called transitional but where it transits it is not clear. All oppressors’ tricks seem to be exhausted but no one knows this time with what they might come out to save the empire? Heating up war of words is heard between Amaaraa and Tigree.
From speeches of leaders, it seems the empire’s administration is inclining towards Amaaraa. Because Oromo entered the palace power did not go for Oromiyaa but for Ethiopia. Persons who are in power in Ethiopia and Oromiyaa are members of EPRDF. For that reason, they are fanning Ethiopianism; that means Oromiyaa colonial status is still in their minds. When they say Ethiopia, Ethiopia it is as if they lost and found. Oromiyaa’s independence has been forgotten as dead. In order for past dangers not to occur again we have to remind about it to those who are wavering. And point out directions as to what to do next, for untimely and misplaced criticisms against each other or the enemy alone cannot be a solution. If whatever we say to each other or others has no concrete benefit why would we badmouth and humiliate ourselves? When a beast can no more devour after its strong canine teeth had fallen and strong new one comes and improves on its methods and gnaw not only the flesh but also the bones, what is their difference? If not, the size it chomps at, being eaten means being eaten? Unless we see similarities of what Habashaa of Ankobar and that of Adwa did to us, we could make a mistake of looking for a different panacea.
It is good to develop the stamina to say for all, “Stop your domination and plundering just now”. Tigree and Amaaraa had lived waging power struggle among themselves at least from the time they destroyed Aksum. Occupying us together reconciled them, for a part starting to lose us made them to quarrel. Of what concern is it for an Oromo person to interfere in their wars before he/she stands on own feet and build strong rear? How can one choose between masters when one can liberate oneself? Had our crooks not helped them in the past they could not have been able to devour us alone. Bragging by changes brought by Oromoo Qeerroo and Qeerrantii they still are warming up to destroy Tigree and reoccupy Oromiyaa with Oromo blood. Oromo is withdrawing after opening for them Minilik’s palace which the Tigree closed on them. Because they did that they were branded as “Zaranyaa” (racist?) What made them to be called Zaranyaa is their asserting that what is ours is ours and what is yours is yours, let us know that and respect for each other.
Oromo in their history had ever discriminated others for their blood line for they think as human beings. It is not only in today’s history that those they trusted turned their backs on Oromo. The gratitude for what Qeerroo /Qeerrantii contributed is denial of rescuing when they were slain in Cinaaksan, Mooyaalee, Areeroo, Wanbara, Goobba, Baatii etc.
Freedom cannot be achieved without organizing oneself. It was because you were not organized that Nafxanyaa remnants stomped on you at DC. You were not noticed though present. Minnesota made history because they were organized. Little Oromiyaa exposed what great Oromiyaa looks like. So far Oromo survived destruction by Ethiopian governments by their relentless struggle. There is no doubt in the minds of the revolutionary that they will again survive by their own efforts and regain their sovereign right. If possible, Oromo will go forward with “Ilaa fi Ilaamee” (dialogue) for resolutions; that is their culture. If that fails, to fend off the enemy with any means available is a birth right. Get organized; unless organized you will remain lamenting.
Oromiyaan haa jiraattu!
Mataan keenya fayyaa ta’uun karaa hedduu gaarii dha. Yeroo hedduu garuu, dhimmi mataa yoo dagatamu mul’ata. Hawaasa keenya keessattis, dhimmi kun akka gaariitti hubatamaa hin jiru..
Haata’uutii, waa’een fayyaa mataa waa hundaaf murteessaa dha. Namni mataan isaa fayyaa hin qabne, fayyaa guutuu hin qabaatu. Mataan keenya waan hojjannu mara qajeelcha. Kana waan ta’eef, yoo yeroo kamiyyuu mataa keenyaaf xiyyeeffannoo kennuun barbaachisaa dha.
Ribuu Magariisa: Mallattoo Hubannoo Fayyaa Mataa ti.
Addunyaa irratti dhimmi Fayyaa Mataa akkaan hubannoo argachaa jira. Keessayyuu, dhimmi Dhibee Mataa waan hedduun waan walqabatuuf yeroon wal’aansa argachuun barbaachisaa dha. Kun bakka hedduutti himamaa fi beeksifamaa jira. Addunyaa irratti mallattoon hubannoo dhibee mataa ittiin dhaadgessan “Ribuu Magariisa”.
Ribuun Magariisaa Maal?
Ribuun Magariisaa dhimma fayyaa mataa hawaasa ittiin bariisuuf uumame. Bara durriitti mallattoon “Magariisaa” kun biyyoota garii keessatti akka mallattoo maraatummaatti fudhatama ture. Bara ammaa garuu mallattoon kun waa’ee fayyaa mataa ibsuuf oolaa jira. Mallattoon kunis bakka halletti kan ibsaa jiru, barbaachisummaa xiyyeeffannoo waa’ee fayyaa mataa ti. Kanuma waliin, namoota dhibee fayyaa mataa tajaajiluu fi ofitti qabuun akka barbaachisu barsiisa. Nama mataan dhukkubu, ofirraa fageessuun yookaan hawaasa keessaa baasuun dhibee san darna itti hammeessa. Gochaan akkasii immoo safuu namummaa miti.
Hawaasa akka Oromoo rakkoolee hedduu walxaxaa keessa jiraniif dhimmi Fayyaa Mataa kun immoo daran jabaa dha. Ummanni keenya rakkoo gabrummaa, waraana, hidhaa, shorokaa, hiyyummaa fi gadaddoo keessatti argama. Rakkooleen kunneen fayyaa waliigalaa irratti dhiibbaa guddaa qabaatu; mataan keenyas akak fayyaa hina rganne godhu. Kanaaf, dhimma Fayyaa Mataa irratti beekumsa, hubannoo fi muuxannoo jiru waliif qooduun hedduu barbaachisaa ta’a. Dhimmi Fayyaa Mataa kan callisamee bira darbamuu miti. Yeroo kamiyyuu kan iddoon gudda akennnamuufii qabuu dha.
Mataa keenay fayyaa gochuuf, hojiin nu eeggatu hedduu dha. Kan duraa garuu, mataan keenya akka wal’aansa barbaadu hubannoo qabaachuu dha. Yeroo kamiyyuu waanti wal’aansa hina rganne, dhibamaa adeema. Dhibeen gaafa hube immoo fayyisuun rakkisaa dha. Kanaaf, waa hunda dura, Mataa keenya wal’aanuu aadeffachuun barbaachisaa dha.
Wal’aansa Mataa
Dura akak beeknutti nama cabe yookaan miidhame qofaa wal’aanu. Garuu, kan hin cabnes, kan hin dhibamnes wal’aanuun, akka dhibeef hin saaxilamne godha.
Mataa keenyas akka addaddaatti wal’aanuu dandeenya. Inni duraa mataan keenya akka wal’aansa barbaadu hubachuu dha.Qabxiileena rmaan gadii kun mala ittiin mataa keenya wal’aanuu dandeenyuu dha.
Mataa keenya wal’aanuun wana guyyaa tokko jalqabamee dhiifamuu miti; yeroo mara aadeffatamuu qaba. Yeroo dhibamne qofaa wal’aansa fayyaa deemuu hin qabnu; yeroo fayyaa qabnus, mataa keenya kunuunsuuf dhibaahuu hin qabnu. Waa’ee fayyaa mataa irratti hubannoo qabnu guddifachuun barbaachisaa dha; akkuma jiruu fi jireenya keenya biroof tattaffannu fayyaa mataa keenyaafis xiyyeeffannoo kennuun barbaachisaa dha.
Fayyaan Mataa Murteessaa dha!!
Advocacy for Oromia 