(Advocacy for Oromia, 10 January 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 Moyale town and deployed a large number of military forces in western Oromia. However, we have been informed that several innocents individuals are arrested and held at various camps and stations in a very harsh and poor condition.

The brave Chaltu Takele and other people have reportedly been detained in the town of Shambu, Oromia, on January 8, 2018. Chaltu was imprisoned by the TPLF regime multiple times, for several years over all, for having legitimately resisted the tyrannical rules of TPLF.

Furthermore, the door to door operation has involved breaking the houses of more than 500 Oromo women, elders and youth from Naqamte, Gimbi, Najjo, Dambi Dollo, Begi, and Mandi, 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.

Advocacy for Oromia believes that such widespread human rights violations perpetuated against the people are one of the major contributing factors that have been destabilizing the peace of the region. Advocacy for Oromia, therefore, requests the urgent intervention to ensure that the law enforcement agencies and military forces to uphold the rights of all those arrested and to treat them in a humane and non-discriminatory manner.

Advocacy for Oromia also requests the Ethiopian government to immediately stop this recurring abuse of Oromos and release those detained, return their robbed properties and provide them the protection they deserve. The officers involved must also be subjected to internal investigations for the breach of national and international law and orders.

Advocacy for Oromia further requests the government to unconditional release and ensure that their cases proceed in a manner consistent with Ethiopia’s obligations under international law, in particular internationally recognized standards of due process, fair trial, and free expression; and to ensure their well-being while in custody, including access to legal counsel and family.

Advocacy for Oromia

For the PDF format: press letter

(A4O, 2 January 2019) Advocacy for Oromian mootummaan Itoophiyaa akka ABO waliin marii nagaa fi araaraa gaggeessu gaafate.

Jaarmichi ibsa har’a baaseen akka ibsetti, haalli amma Oromiyaa keessatti mul’atu abdii nagaa fi bilisummaa kan dukkaneessaa jiruu dha.

Rakkoo waldhabdee kana mariidhaan akka furamu kan gaafate Advocacy for Oromian, marii kana “qopheessuufi keessatti hirmaatee milkeessuuf yeroo kamiyyuu caalaa fedhii fi qophaa’ina guddaa qabna,”jedheera.

Itti dabaluunis, qabxiilee furmaataa kana maaliif akka akeekees hubachiiseera. “mariin nagaa fi araaraa kamiyyuu qaawwaalee jiran mara duuchee uummata Oromoofi Itoophiyaa hunda gara jaalalaa, tokkummaafi misoomaatti akka ceesisu amanna.

Guutummaan ibsa kanaas kunoo ti: Iyyannaa Nagaa fi Araara Oromiyaa

(ENA, Addis Ababa October  01/10/2018) The Irrecha festival, which was celebrated yesterday, is “unique among Oromos,” the celebrants said.

Benya Waqoya, who came all the way from East Wollega to attend Irrecha festival, said this was second time to celebrate the festival.

“The last time I attended the celebration in 2016, it was awful. People were killed in a stampede on the shores of Lake Hora Arsedi. Due to this, some of my friends did not come to attend this year’s festival.”

For Benya, Irrecha is unique and a special occasion for joy, peace, and harmony. So he came with few friends.

“This Irrecha as you can see is peaceful and orderly. We are celebrating the day with our brothers and sisters of other nations, nationalities and peoples in the country”, he stated.

The Sidama, Burji, Alaba and Gamo are among the nationalities that attended the celebration of Oromos this thanksgivings day.

Calqaba Gudeta on his part said “this Irrecha is very attractive and joyful. This Irrecha is not tense and people are not worried that a disaster may happen unlike the celebration of the last years.”

Celebrating the day with other nations and nationalities has pivotal role as it helps the people to know one another, he said, adding that Irrecha would thus open opportunity for all to enhance social relations and cultural exchange.

The other participant, Afework Malefasa said this year Oromos have celebrated the day not only with Oromos, but also persons from other nations and nationalities.

This is a showcase for other nations and nationalities how much Oromos are committed toward strengthening unity and solidarity by respecting their values, he noted.

Abdella Debisso from Shashemene, said this Irrecha is unique as it brought Oromos living abroad together so that they could participate in the festival, visit relatives and families.

Dessalegn Cinqiso from Sidama nation said I came here for the first time to attend the Irrecha festival.

“I have waited for a long time to attend this beautiful ritual. Today, I got the opportunity to celebrate this day with my Oromo brothers and sisters. I think it would good example for other nation and nationalities in creating unity.”

He thanked the Oromos for their warmly welcome and making the festival peaceful and colorful.

The other participant from Hawassa city, Amanuel Enderase said “I am very happy and delighted to attend this unique festival of the Oromos.”

Irrecha is a thanksgiving day to Waaqa (God) for ending the rainy season and ushering in the sunny days.

(Addis Ababa  September 30/2018) Irrecha festival has been  colorfully celebrated this morning on the shores of Lake Hora Arsedi at Bishoftu town.

Millions of Oromos from various zones of Oromia region, Ethiopian Diaspora Oromos converged over the lake to mark the thanksgiving day.

Prominent Aba Gedas, elders, religious fathers, qerroos (Oromo youth), invited guests were present on the occasion which was celebrated peacefully.

Irrecha is one of the indigenous ancient ceremonial events taking place twice in a year (in spring and autumn). The open door festival brings millions of Oromos from different walks of life to pray and express their gratefulness for their creator, Waaqa.

(Addis Ababa  October 01/10/2018) Oromo members of the diaspora community in Australia have expressed their delight in taking part at the Irreecha festival held yesterday after many years.

The diasporas, who have been living abroad from 10-25 years abroad, said it is a blessing to celebrate the festival with fellow countrymen.

Among them, Ejeta Uma said he has been living in Australia for 25 years and could not visit the country due to fear of political persecution by the government.

Following the recent call of Prime Minister Abiy and witnessing the progress in the political sphere, however, he came back to visit his homeland.

“I always wished to celebrate Irrecha. I had nostalgia for the traditional songs and the different cultural attire. Now, my dream is fulfilled and I am extremely happy”, Ejeta added.

According to him, the Oromo community living in Australia has come and celebrated the occasion in the presence of various ambassadors and government officials.

He noted that the community should protect their cultural festival and the government needs to expand and make the shores where Irrecha festival is celebrated safe and comfortable to the celebrants.

Gemechu Feyera is also from Australia but has been participating in the festival for 14 years.

He was fascinated by the discipline of the large gathering and the performance of the participants attending the celebration.

“Irreecha depicts our unity to the nations, nationalities and peoples of this country as well as the world”, he pointed out.

Gemechu said, “When we celebrate the occasion together, we share love and unity; and when we go outside of the country it is the only asset that we would share to others.”