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Oromo Martyrs Day: some ideas on how to commemorate and celebrate Oromo Martyrs Day
Oromo Martyrs Day originally established by Oromo Liberation Front in 1980. Every April 15, on Oromo Martyrs Day, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the Oromo nation honour the bravery of those who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty, fighting for the freedom and liberation of Oromia.
It is held across the world each year in April, to commemorate our selfless and brave Oromos, constantly present themselves in harm’s way for the greatest cause of Oromo nation.
Here are some ideas on how to commemorate and celebrate Oromo Martyrs Day:
- Display the Oromo Martyrs Day Poster or other Oromo posters around your areas.
- Start your own hall of fame featuring Oromo role models.
- Listen to Oromo freedom songs or watch a movie about Oromo freedom struggle history.
- Make your own Oromo trivia quiz.
- Study a famous Oromo history.
- Research the Oromo resistance and freedom struggle of your area.
- Study Oromo arts of resistance.
- Work with an Oromo artist to produce an artwork representing the theme.
- Run an art competition for your community.
- Research Oromo history online or visit your library to find books about Oromo people.
- Visit local Oromo sites of significance or interest.
- Learn the meanings of local or national Oromo place names and words.
- Invite local Oromo Elders to speak or give a blessing in Oromo context
- Invite an Oromo freedom fighters to give speeches or testimonies on your event.
- Invite Oromo dancers to perform.
- Host an Oromo Coffee Ceremony.
- Hold an Oromo flag raising ceremony.
- Organise a candlelight ceremony.
- Wear Oromo cultural dresses
Our martyrs lost their lives while dreaming and fighting for freedom, justice, democracy and development of their people and their country. They recognized that agitating, educating, organizing, and mobilizing a colonized and dehumanized nation for liberation requires courage, determination, bravery and self-sacrifice without fear of suffering and death in the hands of the
enemy and their collaborators.
For further knowledge read the article written by Dr Asafa Jalata: CELEBRATING OROMO HEROISM AND COMMEMORATING THE OROMO MARYTRS’ DAY
Kaayyoo Wareegamtoota Keenyaa Galmaan Ni Geenya!
Guyyaa Gootota Wareegamtoota Oromoo Ilaalchisee ibsa ABO irraa kenname.
(A4O, Ebla 15, 2020) Gootota Wareegamtoota Oromoo ti. Guyyaan kun Gootota qabsaawota keenya kanneen Bilisummaa Saba keenyaa mirkaneessuudhaaf dabarsanii of kennan/wareegaman kan itti yaadannee oolluu dha. Akeekni kabajaa fi yaadannoo guyyaa kanaa, injifannoo fi mirgoota wareegama isaaniitiin gonfanne tikfachuu fi Kaayyoo isaan (Goototni Wareegamtootni keenya) wareegamaniif itti fufnee guutummaatti galmaan gahuudhaaf Waadaa/Irbuu qabsoo haaromsachuu dha.
Guyyaan Gootota Wareegamtoota Oromoo (GGWO) kan bara kanaa sababoota gara garaatiin kanneen amma duraa hunda irraa addummaa ni qaba. Sababootni kunneenis: Ebli 15, 2020 waggaa 40ffaa wareegamni ulfaataan Shinniigaa kan Ebla 15, bara 1980 (kan seenaa Guyyaa kanaatiif sababa tahe sun) itti mudatee tahuu isaa, Ayyaana GGWO kan bara kanaa yeroo fi haalli keessatti kabajannu yeroo Golfaan hamaan Vaayiresii Koroonaa Addunyaa keenya girgireessaa jirutti tahuu fi hunda caalaa ammoo, haalli amma keessa jirru qabsoo Ummata keenyaa kan wareegama qaalii Gootota keenyaatiin boqonnaa injifannoo ol’aanaa keessa
seenee jiru duubatti deebisuudhaan Qabsoo Bilisummaa Saba keenyaa Galma isaa hanqisuu fi wareegama Gootota keenyaas gatii malee hambisuuf dabni siyaasaa farreenii fi diinota Qabsoo Saba keenyaatiin xaxamu kan yeroo kamuu caalaa sadarkaa ol’aanaa yeroo itti dhaqqabee jirutti tahuu isaa ti.
Kaayyoon Qabsoo Bilisummaa Saba keenyaa kan wareegama qaalii fi ulfaataa Gootota keenyaa gaafate sun, Sabni Oromoo biyya ofii irratti Bilisummaa guutuu gonfatee dhiibbaa tokko malee hiree isaa akka ofiin murteeffatu dandeessisuu dha. Qabsoo hadhaawaa fi wareegama qaalii Gootota keenyaatiin waggoota 2 dura siyaasa biyya kanaa keessatti jijjiiramni abdachiisaan mul’atee ture. Jijjiirama abdachiisaa ture kan bu’aa/gatii wareegama Gootota keenyaa tahuutti amannu sana irra dhaabbatamee Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo fi Paartii Itoophiyaa bulchaa ture gidduutti waltahiinsa godhameenis ABOn Hooggana isaa Ol’aanaa Finfinneetti deebise. Bu’uurri waltahiinsa sanaa qabsoon ABOn gaggeessu qabsoo haqaa mirga Ummataa kabajsiisuu tahuu isaa fi gama kaaniin ammoo karaan bulchitootni Itoophiyaa hordofaa turan farra dimokiraasii tahuun amanamee irraa deebi’uudhaan, kana booda humnootni siyaasaa hundi bilisa tahanii karaa nagaa akeeka siyaasaa ofii Ummatatti dhiheeffachuudhaan murtii Ummataaf abboomamuuf wal hubannoo irra gahamuu ture.
Har’a waadaan sun hangam takka kabajame? Gama eenyuutiin maaltu hanqate? Abdiin sun sadarkaa maalii irra jira? waan jedhu Ummata keenyatti himuun waan feesisu nutti hin fakkaatu. Waan ija isaa duratti tahaa jiru waan arguuf. Har’a miseensota Hooggana Ol’aanaa ABO akka J/Abdii Raggaasaa fi MGS fi qondaalota Dhaabichaa hedduu dabalatee deggertootni ABO fi qabsaawotni Oromoo biroo kan mirga Saba kanaa kabajsiisuuf wareegama baasaa turan kumootaan sababa gahaa fi murtii seeraa malee hidhaa keessa jiru. Mirga Sabni Oromoo wareegama qaalii Gootota isaatiin gonfate kan akka Oromiyaa, Afaan Oromoo, … kkf. sharafuuf (duubatti deebisuuf) shira hedduutu xaxamaa jira. Kun waan Sabni keenya xiyyeeffannoo addaatiin hordofuu fi irratti qabsaawee irra aanuu qabu dha.
Egaan, Ebla 15 (Guyyaa Gootota Wareegamtoota Oromoo) kan bara kanaa oggaa kabajannu haala akkanaa keessa jiraachuu keenya hubachuu fi akkamiin haala kana irra aanna? gaaffii jettu sammuu keenyatti qabachuudhaan tahuu qaba jenna.
Gama biraatiin, Sababaa dhibee Vaayiresii Koroonaa irraa kan ka’e, Guyyaa Yaadannoo Wareegamtoota keenyaa kan bara kanaa (Ebla 15, 2020) guutuu Addunyaa irratti (biyya keessaa fi biyyoota alaattis) akka baroota dabranii lakkoofsa namaa hedduudhaan walitti dhufnee sirna how’aa gara garaatiin miidhagsinee kabajachuu haala nu dandeessisu keessa hin jirru. Dhibee Vaayiresii Koroonaa amma Addunyaa raasaa jiru tatamsa’ina isaa xiqqeessuuf namootni lakkoofsaan hedduu tahan bakka tokkotti akka walitti hin qabamne gochuun maloota Addunyaan itti dhimma bahaa jirtu keessaa tokko waan taheef. Haa tahu malee, haalli rakkisaa fi danqaan fedhes jiraatu Ayyaana Guyyaa Yaadannoo Gootota
Wareegamtoota keenyaa kabajannee isaan yaadannee ooluu nu hin hanqisu. Akkuma isaan Bilisummaa keenyaaf jireenya ofii wareegan, nutis isaaniin hoggayyuu yaadachaa, Kaayyoo isaanii kan tahe galma gahiinsa Qabsoo Bilisummaa Saba keenyaa akka mirkaneessinu waadaa qabsoo haaromfachuuf haala kamuu keessatti sirna yaadannoo Gootota Wareegamtoota keenyaa ni gaggeeffanna.
Kana waan taheef, Ayyaanni Yaadannoo Gootota Wareegamtoota keenyaa kan bara kanaa haala armaan gadiitiin (seeraa fi tartiiba of eeggannoo ittisa dhibee Koroonaa wajjin haala wal hin faallessineen) akka kabajamee oolu Addi Bilisummaa Oromoo miseensotaa fi deggertoota isaa dabalatee Ummata bal’aa Oromoo kan biyya keessaa fi biyyoota alaas jiraniif dhaamsa dabarsa:
1. Namni hundi bakka jirutti haala isaaf danda’ameen galgala jal-bultii guyyichaa (Ebla 14, 2020) Yaadannoo Gootota Wareegamtoota Keenyaaf dungoo qabsiisuu fi Faaruu Wareegamtootaa “Maal dhaamanii, Jaallewwan Qabsoof Kufanii …?” jedhu dhaggeeffachuu fi faarfachuudhaan yaadachuu.
2. Ebla 15, 2020tti ammoo nam-tokkeenis tahe maatiidhaan ykn murnaan, akkuma akka walitti dhihoo fi waliin jiramutti qophii feesisuu fi danda’amu taasisuudhaan, Kaayyoo Gootota Wareegamtoota keenyaa galmaan gahuuf ni gargaara jennee waan itti amannu kanneen armaan gadii fi kan biroos raaw’achuudhaan Guyyicha kabajatanii ooluu:
a) Suuraa Wareegamtootaa, Faaruu fi Dhaadannoo Qabsoo, Walaloo, Diraamaa … kkf. keessaa waan dandeenye qopheeffachuun wal afeeruu fi haasawa, tapha, marii
wareegamtoota keenya ittiin yaadannuu fi Kaayyoo isaanii fiixaan baasuuf waadaa keenya itti haaromsannu waliin qabaachuu,
b) Kaayyoon Qabsoo Goototni Wareegamtootni keenya lubbuu isaanii wareeganiif akka galma gahuuf kan gargaaru deggersa dinagdee (maallaqas tahe qabeenya biroo) gumaachuu dandeenyu malaa fi caasaa qabnuun gumaacha gochuu,
c) Dhibee balaafamaa yeroo ammaa Addunyaa kana raasaa jiru ilaalchisee odeeffannoo jiru, mala of eeggannoo irratti qajeelfama karaa Dhaabbattootaa fi ogeeyyota wal’aansa fayyaa (WHO, Oggeeyyota Wal’aansa Fayyaa Keenyaa fi kan biroo) irraan tamsa’an wal dhageessisuu fi wal irraa dhagahuun dhimma itti bahuu,
d) Kan biyya keessaa lammiilee keenya sababa gahaa fi balleessaa malee bakka adda addaatti hidhamanii jiran gaafachuu fi haala isaan itti gadi lakkifaman irratti qaamota mootummaa isaan hidhe dubbisuu fi dhiibbaa feesisu taasisuu,
e) Namoota dhibee Koroonaa kanaan qabaman seera of eeggannoo ittisa dhibee kanaa haala hordofeen gargaaruudhaan du’a irraa baraaruuf waan dandeenyu gochuu,
f) Sababa tatamsa’ina dhibee kanaatiin uggura sochii fi tajaajila adda addaa irra kaa’ameen namoota harka-qalleeyyii rakkinaaf saaxilaman seera of eeggannoo ittisa dhibee kanaa haala hordofeen gargaaruuf waan danda’amu gochuu,
g) Hanga haalli hamaa fi yaaddoon dhibee Vaayiresii Koroonaa kanaan uumame furmaata irra wayyaa argatutti haala hojii qabsoo, sochii fi qunnamtii keenyaa akkamiin qindeeffachuu akka dandeenyu mari’achuu fi qindeeffachuu,
Kanneen armaan olii fi kan biroo waan Kaayyoo Wareegamtoota keenyaa fiixaan baasuuf ni gargaara jennu hunda gochuudhaan guyyaa ulfaataa fi kabajamaa tahe, Ebla 15 Guyyaa Gootota Wareegamtoota Oromoo (GGWO) kabajannee haa oollu jenna.
Ulfinaa fi Yaadannoon Bara-baraa Wareegamtoota Keenyaaf !
Injifannoo Ummata Bal’aaf !
Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo
Ebla 11,2020
FINNA KAN GAMA : The very small dot on Borana and Ethiopian Empire from Haile Sillase I to Abiy Ahmed
By: Jatani Bonaya.
July 29,2018 and April 10, 2020 @S.E
– Every men are fighting for their right! It is natural law, no doubt!
– The marginalized people my people fight for their right and defend their land of our ancestors for many centuries and also todays.
– Ethiopian government from the very beginning marginalized Borana people, bc the Ethiopian govt know that they are naturally brilliant and kind people. So bc of their malignant, purposely they wear the hot political blanket to this destitute people.
Phase-1
– During the King Hailey Sillassea I , they ask the children required to join modern school in the name of ” Ijoollee bulguu Kennan” ; which is the witness for what am talking means marginalization of Borana by Ethiopian Empire. But, by hearing this name who sent their children to school? No one! So at the first and second round no one of Borana sent their children to school.
– At the 3rd round they ask the children sending to modern school as the taxes; then those whom have a cattle, by giving 2-5 bulls to taxes collector’s and find loophole to stay their children @home. And then, unfortunately those whom have no such opportunity sent their children to school. …that’s how 1939 and 1944 the fifty four (54) of Borana Ethiopia (Liban and Dirre Province) children got the chance to join modern school. Even though they became the figa of Finna kan Gama later.
……phase-2
During the Durgue regime Borana was the top in the some high sectors of the regime as those members of 54 students play the great role in the position they got. Eg Shalaqaa Jatani Ali Tandhu, Godana Tune, Jarso Sora (the Abebe Biqila trainer), Sara Jarso, Leut.kol Salesaa Jalo,..and others .
Phase-3
– After the fall of Durge, later so called ” the day hyena by PP” Woyane come to the Empire. As they conquered the Ethiopian Empire, as soon as they defeated the Durgue regime, the grounded plan was to destruct and destroy this Nobel people “Borana/Oromo”. Bc they know that’s they never succeeded over the Oromia until they consume utterly the Borana people.
– After going far in the people, TPLF become lucky to cut the sociocultural unit net of Borana. Then they killed 1st&most patriotic Borana leader Major Jatani Ali Tandhu, they killed Aba Gadaa Boru Guyo @the first and asserted to use Aba Gada Boru Madha to conquer Borana , then they killed him too after they got unbelievable Gutu Aba Liban confidential way of life. (NB: they sent soundless bullet to Abbaa Gadaa Boru Madha, that’s no one never thought and no idea even today), purposely they are using that bullet still now, specially @the rural area. Totally, the assassination of Aba Gad Boru Guyo and Major Jatani Ali dumbed Borana.
Recently, in 2017 and around beginning of 2018 there was the atrocious massacre at Moyale, Sodda, Dira Dima, Mata Wayama, etc and everywhere at Dheda Liban of Guji Zone. Eg. March 10,2017 above ten innocents were killed and many injured in Moyale at the mid day by EAF ruled by TPLF.
In other way, as the TPLF rooted as the leader of Ethiopian Empire; the Somali start again to grab Borana/Oromo land as they believe in their Lord Woyane. Then, the mass land of Oromo/Borana occupied. But, the Borana people never rest to defend. Even up to the moment Borana defending the enemy to save Oromo and Oromia. Borana people are the castle to Oromia. But, Neither FDRE nor Oromia Regional State have no mind about the Borana whom bleeding for Oromia and Ethiopia. I ve no idea why ORS never feel about the Oromia boarder along Eastern and southern part.
For example, the No-1 pic below show numbers of the Borana students those come to their home from different colleges and Universities during vacations. As they return to the home @Summer for vacation or after graduation, they have the duty to shift their fathers and brothers those whom were @guardian for ten months/ over the year. Similarly pic-2 shows the Borana students peacelful demonstration against land grabbing and border attack by EAF and LP of SRS.
Be Noted that; after the graduation other students in d/t part of the country’s may stay @city in order to search for the job opportunity. But, Borana students are not lucky for such chance as they are on field or battle to safe life of our community. …..etc. Always my people hopefully wait for to FINNA KAN GAMA, but unluckily, every Finna seems similar.
Phase-4
When OPDO take power over TPLF by Qeerroo-Qarree and wide Oromo nation struggle , the Borana people Slaphappy as much as all Oromo nation and celebrated hotly as they were hopefully waiting for to the ” Finna kan Gama (the administration after this/means after TPLF during that’s time)”. But, the result real inverse and they continue to hoping again Finna kan Gama! …..is that Finna nearer?
The new established Ethiopian government ” the first transition one” led by Oromo son called Abiy Ahmed Ali (PhD) failed to understand that’s our people Borana/Oromo waiting and hoping for Finna kan Gama. Even the PM failed to lead them as equal as any nations of the country. I think so that, the ruling part recently named PP forget their role as government on how to curb with insecurity issues if any, in some part of the country. They start to take again the ff measurement instead of enjoying “Finna Kana” peacefully .
*******1. PP bans the motorcycles and block internet – they said it was a very simple punishment. As mostly used vehicle ( Motorbikes ) in southern Oromia (Borana and Guji), it results economic decline as these vehicles were the income sources of the mass youths and core transport of the rural areas, these was the least impact .
******2. PP/ODP renewed the genocide act as of EPRDF. Again the bloodbath by E/Empire continued and Borana bleeding again by EAF.
Horrific bloodshed history repeats itself in Western and southern Oromia, by usual mass murder film on civilians by EAF continue playing Carnage Theater. Many live lose!
Eg. – @Miyo District Bride and groom were killed with bridal suit and others.
– @Moyale they finalized the pre-plan of TPLF and killed Borana Key elders
– @Duda Dawa of West Guji zone they did the same
– @Many PA ward the burned house were unccouted
– @Dheeda Liban again the did the same and still doing. …etc. Let U continued the rest and I took u to the present situation of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and testing center establishment.
As Borana/southern Oromia bordered with neighboring country, Borana people asked the government to establish the COVID-19 TESTING CENTER at the twin city of Moyale , Borana , Ethiopia. But, the gov’t too late to give the attention and again still I ve no idea abt the the response. People are screaming, But no ears to listened. I’m not more surprised of the Ethiopian Empire ruling party Biltiginna silence, bc it is not new for us. We Borana/Oromo experienced a lot whether E/E ve idea about our people. Therefore, again am hopeful pray the Almighty to save life of our people from this pandemic virus so called COVID-19 and jumping as to an other Finna kan Gama!
I hope that “Finna kan Gama” will be the Finna of Hope, Libration, Love, Joy and Prosperity.
The Sidama Nation Mourns the Sudden Death of kalaa ‘Yosef Sibu Guraro’ Who’s Passed in Las Vegas’s family house.
(A4O, April 11, 2020) The Sidama nation is deeply disturbed and mourns the sudden death of its unwavering nationalist, one of formidable Human rights activists and the renowned advocate for the Sidama’s national self-realisation and self-governance. He has passed away in his home on the midday of April 10, 2020 Las Vegas (Nevada) local time.
Yosef has battled with the Covid19 for the last two weeks and has fully recovered from the illness. Besides, he remained in his isolation room until his final day within the family house. During the midday of April 10, 2020 local time, his wife prepared a meal and knocks at his room door to leave it for him. She has done so since he has isolated himself to protect his kids and her. During the time she has left his meal and fluids at the door, she saw him accessing his computer. He has also advised her that he has fully recovered and not to worry.
After some time since she returned to the lounge (salon) on the ground floor where kids were playing; she heard huge bang from the upper floor and rushed to his room to find him lying on the floor. Subsequently, she called for an ambulance. Within two minutes the Paramedics (Ambulances) were there but unable to save the Sidama’s hero from his death. Yosef has suddenly left his wife and kids deeply traumatised and the nation extremely saddened.
Kalaa Yosef Sibu’s persistence and unwavering determination is seen as a symbol of the Sidama’s national resistance and by the enemy as Ethiopian empire’s foe as he has battled with the unionist in Las Vegas and its environs; where he has worked and lived for the entire time since he has moved to the USA over 15 years ago.
Furthermore, kalaa Yosef Sibu is one of the SNLF’s founding and executive committee members. His contribution since he has joined the SNLF has been enormous. He has tirelessly worked day and night for the Sidama’s national cause with those who have devoted their lives for the same cause. Moreover, he has also continually live streamed on social Medias to inform the Sidama nation and the wider subjugated nations and peoples of Ethiopia with larger emphasis on fighting for a common good in unison.
Kalaa Yosef was in Kenya’s refugee camp (Kakuma) for a considerable period of time before moving to the United States of America about 15 years ago.
Kalaa Yosef will be missed by his little kids, his wife and the wider Sidama nation. His body is waiting to a rest after the decision of the Las Vegas authorities who have a protocol on how to bury those who are affected with (Covid19).
The SNLF sends its deepest condolences to his wife, children, family and the wider Sidama nation. We also kindly advise all Sidama community- in particular those who are in the USA to do all it takes to continually support his young family at this difficult time.
The Sidama National Liberation Front (SNLF), April 11, 2020
Urgent Open Letter to The Ethiopian Government, the WHO and International Community
The Ethiopian Government should be part of the World Community in Fighting Against COVID-19 and Respecting Human Rights of the Citizens
Monday, April 06, 2020
We, Oromo Civic, Professional, and Faith-based organizations in Diaspora write this letter out of grave concern that COVID-19 might cause preventable loss of lives in Oromia and the whole of Ethiopia upon all political prisoners, temporarily displaced persons such as refugee and homeless peoples who are extremely vulnerable because of their unhealthy living conditions. We are also concerned by the damages that could be done by the movement of the military personnel and the continued deployment of the illegal command posts in several Oromia regions during this period of fast-spreading COVID-19 pandemic. At this critical global health emergency, deployment of the military should be to contain the COVID-19, not to harass, kill, displace and plunder the citizens.
COVID-19 is unprecedented pandemic, and it exerts multifaceted threats. We have no cure or vaccination for this highly contagious disease. The only tool we have is prevention and mitigation. Prevention strategies are complex, and they take place at different levels and require coordinated efforts. This necessitates the government and the public to go extra miles. The WHO recommended prevention strategies are social distancing and personal hygiene. Social distancing means being two meters apart from each other, avoiding public meetings, and restricting travels. But the Ethiopian prisons are overcrowded with political prisoners and luck clean water. These conditions put the prisoners and the general public in unnecessary public health risks.
Moreover, the ruling Prosperity Party of Prime Minister Abiy is continuously holding public meetings and forcing people to attend in Oromia Regional State, in packed halls with thousands of people for political orientation. This is neglecting or prudently violating the global health guideline- one of which is social distancing. Such action is deliberately or negligently exposing the people to the deadly virus. This tantamount to genocide.
Ethiopia also has historical practices where the movement of soldiers unwittingly led to the spread of infectious diseases from one place to another and transmitted disease-causing agents. At this time, the Ethiopian army is deployed to several regions and is serving in the command posts.
For over a year, Western and Southern Oromia zones are under illegal command posts or martial law. The soldiers of the command posts are engaged in killings, imprisoning, and harassing civilians. In those regions, farming, businesses, schooling, and other activities are either entirely stopped or significantly disrupted, and the condition has subjected the people to live in poverty and malnutrition.
Poverty and food insecurity also make people vulnerable to infections. Hence, the illegal command post has created unhealthy social conditions and generated unnecessary risks to the transmission of COVID-19. From the zones ruled by the martial law and others, people who feared the atrocities of the Ethiopian security forces are massively fleeing from their homes to major cities. Many of them are now in cities and live in overcrowded housing or homeless. In the last twenty years in Finfinne/Addis Ababa area, the Oromo people have been evicted massively from their homes with little or no compensation, and many of them are now homeless.
Resulted from the Ethiopian government’s divide and rule policies, over two million Oromos have been evicted from their homes. Most of them live in overcrowded housing, and others are homeless. Homelessness and overcrowded housing are major risk factors for COVID-19. The Ethiopian public health action plans to contain the COVID-19 needs to include housing the homeless people and respecting human rights principles.
The widespread human rights violations are causing people to flee from their homes and displacing them locally and making them international refugees. The movement of the armed forces and the displacement of civilian populations are creating fertile grounds for the transmission of COVID-19 and putting the local and global communities at risk.
Breaking the chain of transmission of infections is possible only if we effectively communicate the risk of transmissions and preventive strategies. The significance of effective communication during emergency and epidemics are well known, and the WHO gives specific guidelines. During an emergency, the information should be delivered by the most trusted institution. Mixing politics and public health is counterproductive. However, in Ethiopia, politicians are mixing their party’s political agendas with health information. Some of the Ethiopian government political figures on their Facebook pages describe their political opponents as “the Coronavirus”. The political figures who openly use detestable languages also deliberately misinforms the public. Mixing politics and health education compounded with inaccurate messaging repeal those who do not adhere to party politics and make health education ineffective. At this critical juncture mixing politics and health education and giving misinformation is counterproductive. Health education should have primacy over political indoctrination.
COVID-19 does not discriminate between the supporters of different political parties, languages, religions, and ethnic-national-race groups. In such understanding, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire among all parties involved in armed conflict. We know that human rights violations, war, and armed conflict have exposed our people to famine and HIV/AIDS. We urge the Ethiopian government to settle the political differences with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) peacefully and focus on the common enemy-the the disease-causing agent. Evidence-based public health policy directions in prevention and mitigating COVID-19 suggest the need for coordinated and multilateral efforts. Highly credible sources suggest that holding back this deadly virus is on the hand of the public, and everyone need to play their parts. This necessitates the need to build the social, economic, political, and cultural capacities of a group of people and individuals. Developing these capacities requires advancing individuals and group rights and communities’ capacity to prevent and mitigate the problem.
We, therefore, urge the Ethiopian government to respect human rights principles, release political prisoners, remove the command posts and protect vulnerable population groups such refugees, those internally displaced, and homeless individuals from the spread of COVID-19. We call upon the Ethiopian government to immediately take the following critical public health measures:
- Release all political prisoners.
- Make prison cells are consistent with the WHO recommended social distancing principles.
- Lift the martial law in the Oromia Regional State because it hinders people from leading a healthy life and playing their role to contain and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.
- Stop all forms of human rights violations because it kills the aspiration of people to understand and solve problems.
- Stop displacing people locally or making them international refugees,
- Stop armed conflict and settle political differences with the OLA by a peaceful means.
- Overcrowded housing and homelessness are the manifestations of the ill-planned policy, and the government needs to strive to correct those wrongs.
- Stop holding public political meetings, because most of them do not fulfill the principle of social spacing
- Stop harassing and threatening independent mass media, including Oromia Media Network and Oromia News Network and let information to freely flow in Oromia.
Respectfully,
Oromia Global Forum: A consortium of Oromo Civic, Professional and Faith-Based Organizations
Signatories:
Advocacy4Oromia
Bilal Oromo Dawa Center
Canaan Oromo Evangelical Church
Charismatic International Fellowship Church
Global Gumii Oromia
Global Oromo Advocacy Group
Global Waaqeffannaa Council
Horn of Africa Genocide Watch
Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa
International Oromo Women’s Organization
International Qeerroo Support Group
Mana Kiristaanaa Fayyisaa Addunyaa
Oromo Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church
Oromo Communities’ Association of North America
Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Church of Washington DC Metropolitan Area
Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Mission Society
Oromo Human Rights and Relief Organization
Oromo Legacy, Leadership and Advocacy Association
Oromo Lutheran Church of Baltimore
Oromo Parliamentarians Council
Oromo Studies Association
Oromia Support Group
Tawfiq Islamic Center
Union of Oromo Communities in Canada
United Oromo Evangelical Church
Washington DC Metropolitan Oromo SDA Church
CC:
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,
Director of World Health Organization (WHO)
Avenue Appia 20 1211, Geneva
Telephone: +41-22-7912111
World Health Organization – Regional Office for Africa
Cité du Djoué, P.O.Box 06 Brazzaville Republic of Congo
Telephone: +(47 241) 39402 Fax: +(47 241) 39503
Email: afrgocom@who.int CC: chaibf@who.int
harrism@who.int jasarevict@who.int
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
The US Department of State (USA)
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (UK) Minister for
Foreign Affairs (Sweden)
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Norway)
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Oromia News Network
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Success requires the removal of an obstacle, and OPDO is an obstacle
(A4O, Opinion, 7 April 2020) Professor Asfaw Bayana’s article titled “I must abandon a false hope now” prompted me to contemplate the meaning of hope and further led me to conclude that our greatest hope comes not from the OPDO but from the knowledge that we shall win our freedom soon or later.
For centuries, believers had foretold that a savior who would redeem them from their sins and take them to a place called Heaven will come someday. Such a story represents the hope that people would rise from death and live forever.
Likewise, we pay tribute to all Oromian martyrs, to the suffered, to the jailed, to the tortured, to the exiled, and to those Qeerroos/Qarrees who are still falling at the battlefields being shot by Abiy Ahmed’s killing squads being guided by the hope that the vision of those genius Oromians who articulated the mission of the OLF will become true someday. This means we hope that someday, we are going to build free Oromia, a free state that will accommodate all the needs of its citizens.
To get there, we just have to believe that there are tremendous sources of hope beyond our enemies’ abilities, strength, and capacity.
I am certain that freedom is possible with surety hope for better governance, yea, a liberated country free enough even for our killers. But we must press forward with a steadfastness in our ability to free ourselves, having confidence in ourselves and enduring to the end.
The OPDO is a simple obstacle and removing an obstacle is part of the process of achieving any task. The reason that made the OPDO an obstacle to our freedom can be readily understood by looking at the situation that produced her in the first place. There was a larger global purpose behind the birth of the OPDO back in the 1990s and the same thing is true about the installation of Abiy Ahmed in power in 2018.
That means False Hope is trusting that the OPDO is going to respect the false promises she made just 2 years ago. What we need to know is that, if we act now, the desired freedom will be fulfilled in the future.
The OPDO has been fighting against the Oromians believing that our hopes and aspirations would bring them hopelessness. They understood that If the Oromo people are free, their Nafxanya parents will lose control over the power and economic advantages that they currently enjoy.
Contrary to their selfish reason however, we can still believe in ourselves, fully persuaded that our sheer struggle would help us reach our destination. To do so, we must constantly ask ourselves;
• What was the purpose for which the OLF was formed?
• What was the OLF goal?
• Why did all those Oromians were killed, jailed, exiled, tortured?
• Why do we expect fairness from the enemy spy who had been killing us for the past 27 years?
• What is the message we are sending to the youth by expecting democracy from the enemy?
• What is our responsibility in helping the Oromo youth understand the mission of the OLF?
As an Oromo intellectual, each of us can teach the Oromo youth that success requires the removal of an obstacle and the OPDO is an obstacle.
Hope is an Anchor of the Soul,
Liberation is our Goal!
Oromiyaa: Mootummaan Abiy Guyyuu Oromoota Shan Ajjeesa
(Oromiyaa, 6 Ebla 2020) Mootummaan Abiy Ahmad Guyyaatti yoo xiqqaate Oromoota shan ajjeesaa akka jiru beekame.
Daataa Qeerroo Bilisummaa Oromoon walitti qabame akka ibsutti, baatii lamaan darban kana keessa qofaa sabboontonni Oromoo 150 jala gahan mootummaa Abiyiin ajjeefamaniiru.
Tarreessa maqaa nu gahe irraa akak hubatamutti kanneen ajejechaan kun irratti xiyyeefafte, Qeerroo Oromoo fi sabboontota Oromoo quuqama sabaa qabanii dha.
Daataan Oromoota ajjeemanii kun seenaa qabsoo Oromoo keessatti gochaa hamaa raawwatame ta’ee galmeefafmeera.
Haga yoonaatti qaamni mootumama ajjeechaa sabboontota Oromoo irratti raawwatamee gaafatame fudhate tokko illee hin jiru.
Daataa Oromoota Ajjeefamanii kana PDF kanatti aanee jiru kana tuquun argachuu dandeessu: Daataa Ajjeechaa 2020
Resolution: Conference of Oromo Civic, Professional and Faith-Based Organizations
(A4O, 28 March 2020) Whereas, the Oromo nation, Oromummaa and Oromia are being subjected to unprecedented repression by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE);
Whereas, the GoE engages in a deliberate destruction of Oromo nationalism, dismantling Oromia and reversing the victories our people achieved by heroic sacrifices of our sons and daughters;
Whereas, the GoE works in concert with neo-nafxayas who aspire to re impose their former oppressive and exploitative system;
Whereas, the GoE promotes division and conflict among the Oromo people along regional and religious lines as a strategy for its success;
Whereas, the GoE, having imposed illegal Command Posts on parts of Oromia, is subjecting the Oromo people to untold misery through military rule;
Whereas, the GoE has widened and deepened the killings, arbitrary arrests and beatings of the Oromo people;
Whereas, the GoE burns houses with families inside and granaries full of grain; and sets fire to farmlands and forests without concern for crops or wildlife;
Whereas, the GoE has deployed armed forces to continue hunting down and murder Oromo youth on a daily basis;
Whereas, the GoE continues to refuse to bring to justice those who committed ethnically motivated murders of Oromo students on the campuses of universities in the Amhara regional state,
Whereas, the GoE is not willing to provide any protection to those spared from the killings, but finds the flimsiest of excuses to suspend or dismiss Oromo students from universities;
Whereas, contrary to its promises a few months ago to widen the political space in the country, that the GoE has actually narrowed the space significantly by illegally arresting and/or causing disappearances of leaders and members of the opposition parties and by obstructing and hindering the contacts of opposition parties with their constituents;
Whereas, the GoE intimidates independent Oromo media outlets and imprisons their management and reporters for reporting the truth;
Whereas, the GoE is engaged in hunting down and arresting politically conscious Oromos for not supporting the ruling Prosperity Party of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed;
Whereas, the economic deprivation of Oromo people and robbery of the resources of Oromia by the GoE and its cronies have intensified;
Whereas, the GoE is leaving no stone unturned to demoralize and to force the Oromo nation to surrender and;
Deeply Concerned about the fate of the Oromo people and the survival of the Oromo as a nation and Oromia as land of the Oromo, if the current situation is allowed to persist;
Recognizing the need for the Oromo unity inside and outside the of country more than ever before in combating the ongoing difficult situation imposed upon our people;
We, Oromo Civic, Professional and Faith-Based Organizations, whose names are listed below and who share the aforementioned concerns about the situation of our people and our nation, having deliberated on wide-ranging issues pertaining to our people’s dire situation, and having successfully concluding our first conference from March 28-29, 2020;
We, hereby
1. Approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and pledge to work together to achieve our shared vision of advocating for the voiceless victims of injustices in Oromia and beyond;
2. Authorize and direct the coordinating committee, and the three others operational committees to lead our Advocacy, Information collection and dissemination, and Resource mobilization and organization efforts, to execute the MoU;
3. Strongly condemn and demand an immediate stop to the ongoing killings, arbitrary arrests, rapes and beating against the Oromo people by Ethiopia armed forces;
4. Demand the immediate lifting of the illegal and undeclared command posts and military rule imposed on Western and Southern parts of Oromia;
5. Call up on the Oromo diaspora to join us in condemning and actively opposing the ongoing repression against our people;
6. Call up on Oromo civic organizations whose names are not listed below to join us so that we can together defend our people’s rights;
7. Call up on all Oromo political organizations operating in Oromia to put their differences aside and unite in condemning the repressive policies of the GoE and, coordinate our people’s resistance to end the killings and arbitrary arrests being committed against our people;
8. Call up on all Zones of Oromia to come to the aid of their compatriots in other zones to once and for all uproot the GoE’s repressive policies which are the root causes of the poverty and misery of our people for there is strength in numbers;
9. Call up on all nations and nationalities in Ethiopia to condemn and actively oppose the killings and arbitrary arrests that the GoE is perpetrating against the Oromo and other peoples as all conflicts in one region can easily spread to their regions;
10. Call up on all organizations advocating for respect of human rights to inform the international community the untold human rights violations the Oromo people are subjected to by the GoE;
11. Remind the international community of its moral obligation and responsibility to speak up against, and to work to prevent the population exodus that is sure to ensue from the continued hunting down and killings of Oromo youth and the resulting forced migration and refugee problems;
12. Urge the international community to bring pressure to bear on the GoE to immediately stop the war it has declared on the Oromo people before the situation escalates into massive displacement, famine, civil war and genocide.
United we Stand!!
Oromo Civic, Professional and Faith-Based Organizations
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
March 28, 2020
Two journalists and a driver arrested, held without charge in Ethiopia
(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.
Barattoonni Oromoo Gargaarsa Hatattamaa Barbaadu.
(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!
Advocacy for Oromia 