By Tommy Z. (PhD)

Dear Prof. Mesfin W/Mariam,

I start to draft this open latter once I read your article entitled “ወልቃይትየማንነው? የማይረባ ጥያቄ” posted at http://www.mereja.com/amharic/508322. But it only triggers my letter of today as an effect of long overdue action.

Trust me I have regards for elders, especially so if they are educated and teachers of any sort of valuable education. I hope, nation wise, you may not attribute my personality to that presumed backing TPLF. Think of me on the other extreme otherwise a mixed blood person who decided to choose a nation to belong to. Understand my motive to harshly criticize your long standing wish washy aim which is in no way helpful either for Ethiopia or Amhara per se. Nevertheless I have to pose the following ethical argument on you.

Is it fair to sit there and blindly judge one’s best effort and interest? I don’t think you are best serving the interest of people (regime) who owe you such success.

The identity of elites who say that they are Ethiopians often goes to one nation and that is crystal clear to me. Instead, I am asking, however, why such elites often fail to be self and come up with no camouflaged true nature so as to find true friends in the course of keeping our home-Ethiopia to continue her existence?

Just to bring to one on board, I illustrate my point base on some activities of Professor Mesfin.

I could say you often fail to achieve the goal to favor Ethiopia. I elaborate it a bit presenting brief indicators.

1. At times of the Emperor Hailesilasie, who claim as conqueror lion of Judah, you were lecturing that Amhara is the dominating species.
2. At times of Derg (Amhara junta), you were one of the best advisers (though I am not saying you were giving intelligence service for I have no clear evidence) of the regime, as you recently explained.
3. Toward fall of the junta, you show up as mediator between the outgoing dictator and incoming tyranny. Hope, by doing so, you were clearing ground for your next survival, too.
4. I also listened to the video of the witness you gave to the American congress to dismiss the true nature of the then problem in Ethiopia.
5. Soon after the incumbent, being geographer but aligning as historian you held TV debate with late prime minster of Ethiopia (you already raised it in section two of your article stated above). Academically, you have MSc as he had. You were stating as if there is no nation called Amhara in Ethiopia by presenting people of Wallo as an example. You were messing religious identity to hide ethnic identity. Do you now see any sort of even tiny truth of history you were trying to mix? The late premier was telling you truth about Wallo and surfaced your myth to hibernate under Ethiopia. I can’t hide truth of his brilliance over you on the matter though I hate his other deeds even at this time him in grave. Please follow this link (http://www.ayyaantuu.net/oromoprotests-august-10-2016/) for the site “OromoProtests, August 10, 2016 – Ayyaantuu News Online” and in the middle of the page you will find one minute video and judge about his talent prediction. Then compare to your backward looking article.
6. Following you established a kind of human right in Ethiopia (struggling for Amhara right?). That is not bad! I even welcome such effort. However, your myth is still in what you were doing under the cover. Impartiality on your human right abuse assessment and your acts which appeared as evil are what I can’t tolerate to hide. Can I tell you how others perceived your organization? It goes well in Afaan Oromo: Isemegu, Isa hagu!
7. Remember, in Taitu hotel, with one of your Professor friend that you were saying to the youths you assembled. You were giving bad connotation to the people you considering subjects of the state you spent your life supporting.
8. You were proposing a change of #Oromoprotest to other name denying the possibility of being Oromo and then be Ethiopian. What can you say to the #Amharaprotestjust started to show up? You suggest name change? Or you leave it because any kind of name is considered blessed by you for Amhara. In all possibilities you may recur to, I hope you will remain wrong!
9. When I read section two and three of your present article I quoted, it is that one can immediately though to dustbin for two reasons. First, the comment you have about OLF is useless and puts you irrelevant. Do you expect OLF remain home and die useless? If staying home would have been better for affirmative struggle, we shouldn’t have noticed many Amhara parties crippled or leaders of legally registered party shouldn’t have thrown to jail for expression of their ideas. Simply put, you can remember the case of your advisee Kinijit. All were out of order, and Prof. Berhanu followed OLF after about two decades. You see that far of understanding between your sons/friends and the seer OLF. The second reason is your article should have predicted future scenarios and addressed it wisely. Even in the current affair of Wolkayit you raised, you have gone parallel.
10. When I evaluate your works of over years, in this and that, that it sounds Amhara is beyond shadow of doubt. For public consumption you deny existence of Amhara but for official reasons you are there to fix it in place. Amhara is not just created as you stated in section three of your present article. Amhara as a nation was there and will continue to exist. Please refer to a novel article by Yusuf Yasin (DenHag) I recently read (http://ethiopiazare.com/articles/opinion/3910-efe-conference-den-haag-by-yussuf-yassin). It will help you refreshed even at this elapsing moment.

Therefore, I am trying to tell you that many of your alternatives for struggle against others than that of your nation seem not successful. Likewise your wrong way effort couldn’t help Ethiopia suffering from current situation. Also, it will not maintain the Empire from demise if you decide to continue your journey on your corrugated way.

Forthcoming struggle seem not to welcome an attempt to self hide neither in a wish to hijack other’s identity for own sake nor like a need to fail others for self-success. To my knowledge, what the people from the base are calling for is self identified yet compromised interest and long standing unity. If then, do you think the work of the so called elites like you should stand against the need of the people by messing the truth, denying fact on earth and attempt to playing political game at all junction?

I have moral obligation to tell you this. Any sort of self-hide and approach by the name of pseudo Ethiopia never works: it would probably extend our time under subjugation and offers a better chance for TPLF to successfully execute their interest of Tigrai republic. There were many instances I noted intellects of one oppressed nation saying “TPLF is many fold better than any sort of Amhara coined regime”. Never forget genuine, inclusive and open discussion is the viable solution if Ethiopia is expected to keep its record of about 150 years. Isn’t is plausible to say one of the reason for thus far failure of our elites to come up with acceptable strategic document is such wish washy nature of ideas you often come with?

Meanwhile, can you tell me any other efficient logic to enable Wolkayit back to Gonder. Instead of messing the scenario, think of Wolkait as district of Gonder which is province of Ethiopia. What is bad with this? Are you trying to solicit TPLF by sprinkling water to the ignited mass struggle? Okay how can you handle the fate of the Gonder hero, Colonel Demeke? Because submitting him to TPLF is going to be historical shame for Gonder people. As well, losing Wokayit to Tigai is no less than cut of Gondar throat. Alternatively, you may try to beg TPLF loose the tension in some way and take both Wolkayit and the hero man latter. Even in this scenario, TPLF would seem not to agree because of political and historical features.

I further ask Prof. Mesfin to convenience me whether your ‘smartness’ is not useless if not futile? If not follow strategic interest which is embedded in compromise and respect for each other nation in terms of benefit and recognize the inalienable right of the other nation. Any one elite struggling to solve a problem in the Ethiopian empire without sorting the benefits and inborn rights into different levels of priority for a nation is wasting of effort or working counterproductively.

Finally, I touch the question you used as introduction. For me that question is not bad and ugly. For me it could be good question from perspective of the interviewer. As well, I say it is the right of the interviewee to ask the interviewer to amend his question. For me the problem lies in as to how you concluded the nature of the question! As you stated the answer should be and if the respondent says Wolkayit belongs to Ethiopia, there is immediate issue to be answered to peacefully proceed. Wolkayit must be in the hierarchy of current regime’s administration. Who is gonna administer this disputable area? Amhara or Tigre or you still you keep saying Ethiopiawi? Actually you attributed it as if it is invasion (ይህወረራ) and hence the real manifestation of your interest. So you keep on going forward or looking backward? Hope you stuck there.

Literature dialogue requires merit based analysis not blind traditional approach, which is often the case of ordinary lore. Sorry to tell you that I find most of your writings as never holding water: low profile. Even in your book you raised in the article I am addressing here, I could have showed you the effort you made to twist facts and gave wrong analysis of those facts in an effort to lay ground for future larceny. In short I say this: if you understand the right of both interviewer and interviewee, I hope you are half done to recognize the identities, rights and obligations of nations and nationalities in the Ethiopian Empire. I feel that the best point of start to solve our one half century long problem. The failure you are enjoying at present has come not because nobody/regime failed to take your advice but you were wrong adviser for you were/are trying to hide absolute facts or put effort to misuse the facts.

The implication of my brief statement here is in no way to harass anyone, but show the need to admit existing fact and thus come with viable alternative solutions. It is high time to come to census on historical facts and effectively work toward common benefit!

I thank you,

SEENAA   Y.G  (2005)

Ameerikaan, Ummati ammi kun miidhamuu ijaan osoo argituu maaliif wayyaanee gargaartii? kan jedhu gaaffii namoota hedduuti. Ameerikaan dantaa ishee irraa kaatee waa tokko akka murteessitu kan hubatus danuudha. Dantaa kana irraa ka’uun, wayyaanee irraan dhibbaa tokkollee akka hin geesifnee wayyaaneenu bareechitee beekti. Kanaaf hammeenyi ishee daangaa dhabee, dhiigni ilmaan cunqurfamoo akka bishaanii dhangala’uu taasifama. Ameerikaan dantaa ishee naannichatti gama hunaan  eegisiisuuf jecha, wayyaanee irra harka qabuun waan haqaati. Bara 1991 yeroo wayyaaneen Ameerikaa fi Ingilizii waliin mari’attu, Dolaara tokko Birri shan akka galchituu fi waggaa 20tti , Dolaara tokko birrii 20 akka geesiftuu waadaa seenuu warra keessa beekuutu dubbata. kanaaf karaa boroo ABO wal ga’iin ala godhan . Wayyaaneen Ameerikaa irraa waatokko wayita barbaaddu ykn akka itti hin dubbannee yennaa feetu, warra chaayinaa waliin waliigaltee adda addaa mallatteessitee midiyaan torban tokko guutuu odeessiti. Yeroo kana Ameerikaan rifattee harka gargaarsaa hiixattiif. Kun tapha wayyaaneeti. YKN dippilomaatoota Chaayinaa fi Raashiyaa simachuun Ameerikaa doorsifti. Kun shiroota wayyaanee lakkofsa hin qabnee keessaa isa xiqqoodha. Chaayinaan yeroo dorsiftu akkasuma.

Ameerikaa fi chaayinaa keessaa kamtu haalaan nu miidhaa jiraa? yoo jennee, hedduun keenya, Ameerikaa jennee murteessina. Irra jireessi namootaa deebii akkasii ka kennaniif, chaayinaan Ameerikaa caalaa dhibbaa geesisuu hin dandeessuu yaada jedhu irraa ta’uu mala. Ol aantummaa Ameerikaa ilaalu irraas ta’uu danda’a. Yoo dubbii gadi fageessinee ilaallee garuu, Ameerikaan miidhama keenya ilaaltee callisuu ishee fi wayyaanee irra harka qabu isheetiin nu miidhaa jirti. Ameerikaan yoo baayyatee adeemsa akkasii fi gatii dolaara ishee ol kaasuun dantaa adda addaa argachuun nu miitii ta’aa. Investaroota dhuunfaa warra fakkaataniin warqee fi alabuuda muraasa nu saamuu dandeessi. dhugumatti addunyaa irraa sagalee qabduun dhageetti qabaachuu dandeessi. garuu sagalaeen isaan addunyaa irratti qaban akka kaleessaa miti. humni chaayinaa fi raashiyaa jabaataa dhufeera. Nurratti mitii Biyyoota biraa irrattuu murteeleen fudhachaa jiran yennaa ilaalluu Ameerikaan waan barbaaddu gochuun kaleessa beekamtuu har’aa amma tokko laafataa jira. Har’a chaayinaa fi raashiyaan addunyaa kana osoo hin beekamnee of harka galchuuf adeemsi itti jiran hedduu nama yaaddeessa. Dadhabuun ameerikaa akkuma yeroo fudhatuu, guddinni isaanis yeroo fudhatama malee kan hafuu miti. Dinagdeen isaanii haalaan guddachaa jira. Kunis yaaddoo hegareeti. Isaan walii isaanii irratti siyaasaa dhalootaan wal geeddaruu fi guddaachaa deemuun wal hordofu. Dhalooti isaanii borii ykn waggaa 30, 50, 70 boodaa akkamiin addunyaa kana saamuu fi saamsisu irratti hojjatu. Hegaree ummatoota isaani yaadanii shira meeqa hojjatan. Nuuti ammoo kan har’aayyuu of harkaa dhabnee rakkachaa jirra.Afrikaan waan qabdutti akka fayyadamuu hin eegallee fi qabeenyaan biyya isaanii yoo yeratee Afirikaatii saamuuf , Afrikaanoota siyaasaan wal nyaachisu. Dimokiraasii Biyya isaanii fi afriikaa hiiikkaa isaallee wal caalchisu. Beektoota ishee biyyaa yaasisuu. Hiyyummaan adabu.kun shira. akka hojii rimmaatii

Chaayinaan har’aa addunyaa kana tu’achuuf haalli itti deemaa jirtu haalaan yaaddeessaadha. Humni maallaqa ishee Doolaaraan gadii akka hin taanee, labsamuufii haa hafuu malee, waan murtii irra ga’ee jiruudha. Chaayinaan addunyaa kana tu’achuuf, irra jireessaan faallaa ameerikaan tarkaanfataa jirti. Ameerikaan siyaasa keessaa fi humna ittisaan itti seentee waan barbaaddu raawwattii. Chaayinaan ammoo faallaa kanaa Dingadee fi Teekinolojiin itti seentee, Biyyoota hundaa saamtee, Ummata ishee Biliyoonaan lakkaa’amuu guddisuuf tattaaffatti. Adeemsa chaayina addunyaa irraa yeroo biraa itti deebina. Har’aa garuu akkamiin miidhaa nurraan ga’aa akka jirtuu fi eenyullee xiyyeeffannaa keessa galcheenii akka hin jirree yaadachiisuun barbaada., garuu akka Rimmaa deemtee nu miidhu irraa akka dhaabbattu ykn akka itti dammaqinee jirru hubachiisuun dandaadhaa.

Wayyaaneen shiraan dorgomaa hin qabdu. Nuuti ammoo shira kana dadhabna. Wayyaanee shira irratti hojjatanii kuffisuutu danda’ama. Wayyaaneen oromiyaa keessatti OPDO tti hirkattee jirti. OPDO kana jalaa dhahuun furmaata. Biyyoota adda addaatti hirkattee dallaaloota siyaasaa bittee siyaasa taphatti kana jalaa kaasuun dansaadha. Walumaa galatti shira wayyaanee qophixeessuu hojjachuun barbaachisaadhaa. Kana namni hin yaadu osoo hin taanee irratti hin hojjannuu haa sirreeffannu. Wayyaaneen Biyyoota akka Chaayinaa, Raashiyaa, Ameerikaa, Ingilizii, Jarman, Saa’udii, Farnsaayii, kkf fakkaatan gama hundaan keessattu gama dingadee fi Investimantiin Tigiraayii fi naannoolee kan biraa keessa osoo hin qubsiisiin maaliif Oromiyaa keessa akka qubatan taasiftii? jarri kun shira wayyaanee, wayyaaneen jiraachuu baannaan akka badanitti guutamanii jiru. kana harkaa baasuu barbaachisa. kana karaa dandeenyeen amansiisuu, yoo didan rifaasisuutu qoricha. Chaayinaan har’aa Itoophiyaa irraa liqii doolaara Biliyoona 50 ol qabdii. Wayyaanoonni kana waa lamaaf raawwatu. Tokko, maallaqa pirojekitii dhuunfaa isaanitti geeddaratan argatu. 2ffaan ammoo Biyyoonni liqeessan kun jaallatamus jibbamuus, jiraachuu wayyaaneef falmu. Dhumaatiin ummataa gonkumaa itti hin dhaga’amu.

Chaayinaan har’aa ijoollee kumoota dhibbaan lakkaa’aman Oromiyaa keessatti barnoota malee hanbiftee jirti, warshaa fi kubbaaniyyoonni chaayina ijoollee baadiyyaa godaansisuuN, maatii irraa kutTee gatii gadi aanaan itti taphachaa jirti. wayyaaneen akka dhuunfaatti dingdeen badhaatee malee akka Biyyaatti hin jirtu. Chaayinaan garuu saamicha maqaa liqiin gaggeeffattuuf jeettee, pirojaktoota adda addaa uumtee wayyaanee jiraachisaa jirti. Chaayinaan wayyaanee caalaa Oromiyaa saamaniiru. Maallaqa liqii kan deebisaa jiru qabeenyaa Oromiyaatii. Chaayinaan Oromiyaa keessaa saamicha gaggeessitu gara biyyasheetti dabarsuuf karaa Jibuutii Dooniin dhiheessaa jirtu, kan amma dirree kubBaa ga’uu faa’aa akka ta’ee dubbatamaa jira. Saamicha kana ariifachiisuuf, baaburri haaraan ijaaramaa jiru hedduu kan nama raajuudha. Kun hundi qabeenyaa saamamuu deeddeebisuuf qophaa’aa jira. Karaa mombaasaa wanni yaadamaa jiru, karaa maluu keniyaa kan karoorfamee gaggeessffamaa jiru harki 80 chaayinaan gara biyyattitti waan fidduu fi baaftu irratti xiyyeeffatanii hojajtamaa jiran. Daandiin baaburaa guutummaa Biyyattii keessatti hojjatamaa jiran kaampaaniilee fi warshaalee chaayinaa tajaajiluuf yaadamaniiti.

Yeroo ammaa kana lammiilee chaayinaa Itoophiyaa keessa jiran lakkoofsaan Afirikaa irraa tokkoffaadha. Harki 98 mana hidhaa keessaa kanneen dhufaniiidha. Galii argataniin mootummaan biyya isaanitti deebisee isaan ijaara. Guruuppiin ijaaramanii jiru. akkuma IMXA wayyaanee. qabeenyaa keenya duguuganii fixaa jiru. chaayinaan Biyyoo diimaa keenyaa halakanii fi guyyaa biyya isheetti guuraa jirti. Albuuda adda addaa wayyaaneenu meeshaa hin beeknee galchitee qorannoo soda malee gaggeessuun lafee keenya qofatti nu hanbisaa jirti. Anarra warri ogummaa isaaniin waan bira ga’aan ifa baasuu jedheen abdadha.

Chaayinaan , Tigiraayi keessatti pirojekitii saatalaayitii “TIG-SAT” jedhamu samiitti erguuf jirtu,  warri tigiree Yoo xiqqaatee Afirikaa harka 80 akka tu’achuu akka danda’anitti hojjataafi jiru . keessattu Gaanfi afiriikaa, boruu akkuma Arab fi Naayil saati Gibitsifaa’aa irraa kireeffatu, Tigiraayi irraa kireeffachuuf taa’uu. Chaanaaloonni har’aa Itooophiyaa baayyifamaa jiran karoora wayyaanee madda galii boriif tolfachaa jirtuudhaa. Oromiyaanis boruu irraa kireeffatti. Saatalaayitiin lokaalii kun, “TIG-SAT” qofaa osoo hin taanee, teekinoolojii midiyaa televizyinii fi raadiyoo akka ukkaamsu, humna Intarneetaa guutummaatti kan balleessuudha. Kana irratti haalaan hojjachaa jiru. TIG-AIRWAY jechuuf jiru. TIG-MOBIL gabaa irra jira. Finfinneen har’a nama dhuunfaatti osoo hin hafnee waan guyyuu dubbatuu fi katabuu akka hordofan kan taasisan chaayinaadhaa. Meeshaa loltoonni eessa akka jiran osoo hin hafnee hojjtee kan kenneef chaayinaadha. Sulultaa irratti maqaa saatalaayitii jedhuun shira hojjachaa jiran addunyaatu beeka. Isnaayiparii har’a lammiileen keenya mataa ittin facaasaa jiran guutummaatti kan bitamee karaa Siyyuum masfina chaayinaa irraati. Manneen hidhaa keessatti meeshaalee teekinolojiin torcher gadhan kan kenneef chaayidhaa.

Kubbaaniyyoonni fi warshaaleen chaayinaa Oromiyaa keessatti ramadaman hundi isaanii bakka albuudii adda addaa lafa keessaa jiru irratti dha. Jarri habaaboo homishnaa jedhanii kan hojjtan waan biraati. Simntoo baafnaa jedhanii kan oomishan kan biraati. Hammeenyi kun hundii chaayinaadhaan lammiilee keenya irratti raawwatamaa jira. Kana caalaa yeroon dubbii haalaan dubbannu ni dhufa. Ilmaan Oromoo BIYYAA ALAA JIRTAN, mormii wayita dhageesiftan gama tokkon qofaa hin ilaaliinaa. Gama hundaan ilaalaa. Beektoonni keenya baruma baraan gadaa qorachuu irra, waan har’aa nu balleessaa jiru irratti qorannoo gaggeessaa fala kaa’aa. Yaada gumaachaa. Chaayinaan miidiyaalee oromoo hundaa cufsiisuuf halakanii fi guyyaa hojjachaa jirti. Finfinnee kaasee hanga Adaamaatti Industirii zoonii chaayinaa ijaaruuf jedhamee Ilmaan Oromoo meeqatu buqqaa’aa jira? warshaa simintoo chaayinaa Aqaaqitti dhaabbatee, DOLAARA miliyoona 300n ijaaramee keessaa maal argannee. Mootummaan naannoo oromiyaa maal argatee? warshaan sun ilmaan Oromoo kumootaan lakkaa’aman aaraa fi dhukkeen miidhaa hin jiruu? chaayinaan Golgaa mootummaa wayyaanee taatee hojjachaa jirti. Meeshaa militarii guutummaatti dhiheessaa jirti. Dawaa seeraan alaa torchariif itti fayyadaman isaatu wayyaaneef dhiheessa. Meeshaalee sagalee ittin waraaban mi’oota adda addaa waliin hojjachuun waajjiraa fi bakkoota adda addaatti ilmaan cunqurfamuu hiisisaa fi ajjeesisaa kan jiran isaanii . kanaafan Hojiin chaayinaa fi Rimmaa tokko jedhee. Chaayinaan haalaan nu miidhaa jirti.kana hubachiisuun dansaadhaa. Ameerikaa qofatti himuun ga’aa hin ta’uu. Chaayinaatti aanee kan wayyaanee goobsaa jiru, saa’uudii Allaamuddiin tajaajilamaa jirtuudhaa. Hindiinis akkasuma. Dantaa keenya ilaallee Ameerikaa fi chaayinaa gidduu taphachuunis karaa qabaa itti haa yaadinuu.

GALATOOMAA !!!

HORAA BULAA !!!!!!!

By FikreJesus Amahazion

(Pambazuka News) — A massive government crackdown on protestors and dissidents is underway in Ethiopia, but the international community has turned a blind eye to this reign of terror. The first, and possibly most far-reaching and effective, response by the international community should be to openly condemn the regime in Addis Ababa and withdraw the unwavering support for the repressive government.

Dozens of anti-government protesters have been killed and others arrested by government authorities amid ongoing unrest in Ethiopia. For months, hundreds of thousands of protestors from Ethiopia’s largest ethnic groups have rallied to protest political marginalization and systematic persecution by the government.

In June, a 61-page human rights report was released by Human Rights Watch, condemning the Ethiopian government’s heavy-handed response to the protests. According to the report, Such a Brutal Crackdown: Killings and Arrests in Response to Ethiopia’s Oromo Protests, during the widespread protests, largely arising within Oromia (but now extending to other regions), Ethiopian security forces have resorted to excessive and unnecessary lethal force and mass arrests, engaged in the harsh, ruthless mistreatment of those in detention, and restricted access to information. Estimates suggest that over 400 protesters or others had been killed by security forces, while tens of thousands more have been arrested, figures that will now have risen significantly.

Corruption and poor governance remain deeply embedded within Ethiopia’s socio-political structure, and the country consistently scores extremely poorly on a range of international governance indicators. The Ethiopian government has been consistently criticized by an array of international rights groups for its broad range of human rights abuses including its harsh repression of minorities and journalists, press censorship, draconian anti-terror laws that are utilized to silence all forms of dissent, and brutal crackdowns upon opposition groups and protestors.

Although the ongoing crisis encapsulates the government’s utter contempt for basic human rights and the overwhelming “politics of fear” that pervades the country’s socio-political landscape, it also reveals, in crystal clear detail, the highly troubling role played by much of the international community, led by the US and the West. Specifically, while the government’s brutal crackdown warrants a strong rebuke and condemnation, there has been a severely muted international response, with many of Ethiopia’s foreign supporters remaining silent.

Rather than condemn and censure Ethiopia’s brutal crackdown, the international community has turned a blind eye, abdicated its responsibility, and instead been acquiescent to Ethiopia’s persistent violations and repression. Last year, both US President, Barack Obama, and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, granted legitimacy to the Ethiopian government by praising its “democracy” – even though the country’s ruling party, the Ethiopian People’s Ruling Democratic Front (EPRDF), swept the national elections by winning 100 percent of the parliamentary seats.

When the French statesman, Talleyrand, was told by an aide of the murder of a political opponent, the aide said, “It’s a terrible crime, Sir.” In response, Talleyrand answered, “It’s worse than a crime, it’s a blunder.” Likewise is the West’s propping up of the Ethiopian government. Unwavering support for and appeasement of Ethiopia are part of a policy approach based upon the misguided belief, dating back to the immediate post-World War 2 period but rearticulated more recently in terms of regional “anchor states” designations, that Ethiopia is vital to protecting US and Western geostrategic interests and foreign policy aims.

However, not only is this approach morally reprehensible, with the US and West being directly complicit in the mass crimes, transgressions, and reign of terror perpetrated by the Ethiopian government, the misguided policy approach has largely failed to achieve its objectives, to even a minor degree, and instead only served to stunt regional development and destabilize both Ethiopia and the broader Horn of Africa region.

In seeking to address Ethiopia’s flagrant dismissal of international norms and blatant disregard for human rights, a number of measures could be undertaken (e.g. sanctions). However, the first, and possibly most far-reaching and effective, response by the international community should be to withdraw its unwavering support for the repressive Ethiopian government.

George Galloway, respected British politician, broadcaster, and writer, has frequently voiced concern of how the West’s support for dictatorial, tyrannical regimes in the name of security only results in “blowback” and harming the populations of those countries. Regarding Ethiopia, Galloway has decried how the UK and US policy of encouraging, arming, training, financing, and facilitating the Ethiopian government’s “reign of terror” is “morally vacuous.”Similarly, respected international economist, William Easterly, has recommended that the international community“stop financing tyranny and repression” in Ethiopia.

For decades, Ethiopia has been highly dependent on external economic assistance. In 2012, it was the world’s seventh largest recipient of official humanitarian aid and received $3.2 billion in total assistance, the latter figure representing between 50-60 percent of its total budget, while its 2011 share of total official development assistance – approximately 4 percent – placed it behind only Afghanistan. Problematically, however, even while it is one of the world’s leading recipients of foreign aid, and is currently requesting even greater financial support, the Ethiopian government also annually spends hundreds of millions of dollars on weapons and arms – which are now being used against its own civilians.

With such a critical dependency on foreign aid, threats to “turn off the tap” unless Ethiopia changes course may be a viable step toward improving the country’s rights record. Alternatively, rather than providing aid directly to the Ethiopian regime, which has a long track record of corruption and misappropriation, the international community should consider directly supporting local human rights and democracy groups (although this may be difficult due to Ethiopia’s draconian laws on civil society and NGOs).

An indication of the possible far-reaching effects of removing external support from a harsh, brutal regime can be seen in the example of Indonesia. Noam Chomsky, internationally renowned professor and activist, has written and spoken extensively on how US and Western support for the despotic regime in Indonesia played an indirect, yet extremely harmful, role in the carnage and deaths of hundreds of thousands in East Timor. However, in 1999, after much pressure, the US finally “pulled the plug” on its support for the Suharto regime, quickly leading to the end of Indonesia’s brutal campaign. Specifically,

“[f]or 25 years, the United States strongly supported the vicious Indonesian invasion and massacre, a virtual genocide. It was happening right through 1999, as the Indonesian atrocities increased and escalated, after Dili the capital city was practically evacuated. After Indonesian attacks, the US was still supporting it. Finally, in mid-September 1999, under considerable international and also domestic pressure, Clinton quietly told the Indonesian generals ‘It’s finished.’ And they had said they’d never leave, they said “this is our territory.” They pulled out within days, and allowed a UN peacekeeping force to enter without Indonesian military resistance. Well, you know, that’s a dramatic indication of what can be done.”

While the socio-political dynamics and historical contexts of Indonesia and Ethiopia are admittedly quite different, the comparison also offers relevant and striking similarities. Both regimes received decades-worth of external economic, military, and political support (particularly from the US). Additionally, both regimes systematically and persistently violated human rights, transgressed various international laws (such as through military occupation), and engaged in large-scale campaigns described as “genocidal.”

With Ethiopia continuing to overlook basic international norms, standards and laws in its brutal crackdowns upon opposition groups and protestors, the international community must end its complicity in and indirect support for the government’s various transgressions. As Clinton relayed to Indonesia’s leadership, the international community must tell Ethiopia, “It’s finished.”

* Fikrejesus Amahazion, PhD, is a Horn of Africa researcher and commentator.

By Felix Horne | HuffingtonPost

Ethiopian security forces gunned down at least 100 people a week ago in the bloodiest weekend in the ninth month of anti-government protests. Unlike previous protests, which have been largely confined to the Oromia region, the protests on August 6 and 7 were also in the northern Amhara region. Altogether at least 500 people have been killed since November and tens of thousands have been detained during the largely peaceful protests.

The protests in Oromia started in November over the government’s approach to development, but as the crackdown intensified, protester grievances focused on longstanding abuses and discrimination. In the Amhara region, protesters have voiced concerns over the dominance of those connected to the ruling party in economic and political affairs, complex questions of ethnic identity, and other historic grievances. Protesters vow to continue, and there is no indication of a letup from security forces or new concessions from the government.

Security force torture of people in detention has been pervasive. Girma (not his real name), an 18-year-old student, was released last week from an Ethiopian military camp seven months after he was arrested at a protest with his classmates. He told me when I talked with him after his release that the nightly beatings left him with permanent injuries that make it hard for him to walk. He is banned from returning to school and afraid he will be arrested again if he seeks medical care. He still hears the screams of the “hundreds of protesters still there who were tortured every night.”

Donor countries to Ethiopia have been largely silent about the brutal crackdown, presumably in part due to the Ethiopian government’s strategic relationships on security, peacekeeping, migration, and development. For years, the US, the UK and other influential governments have basically rejected public condemnation of the Ethiopian government’s repressive practices. But a strategy of “quiet diplomacy” is increasingly limited as Ethiopia’s human rights situation declines and its heavy-handed response to the largely peaceful protests is fueling more anger and frustration.

The small bit of good news is that the international silence on Ethiopia was broken on August 10 when the UN’s top human rights official, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, told Reuters that an international investigation and accountability are needed for the killings of protesters.

The protesters I spoke with in recent weeks have been increasingly reassessing the effectiveness of their peaceful protests in the absence of justice, accountability, and international condemnation of the government’s killing, torture and arbitrary arrests. They told me they are losing faith in Western governments to offer even the mildest criticism of their government.

There are few opportunities inside the country to monitor the government’s human rights record, to hold officials to account, or to access justice. After elections in 2015 that did not meet international standards, the government holds 100 percent of the seats in federal and regional parliaments, preventing any serious parliamentary debate. The courts have little independence on politically sensitive cases and the misuse of the anti-terrorism law is illustrated through the ongoing trial of an opposition leader and advocate for non-violence, Bekele Gerba, the ongoing trial of a former World Bank translator, Pastor Omot Agwa, and the conviction of numerous journalists on trumped-up charges. Numerous restrictions on independent media and nongovernmental organizations result in little scrutiny of abusive security forces. International journalists also face restrictions as three journalists detained during the recent protests can attest to.

Ethiopia’s Human Rights Commission should be investigating abuses by security forces. But its lack of independence was underscored by its oral report on the protests to parliament in June. It concluded that the lethal force used by security forces in Oromia was proportionate to the risk they faced from the protesters. It is not known whether a written version of the report is available to justify such a seemingly politicized conclusion. The briefing was issued just a few days before Human Rights Watch issued a report describing the excessive use of force that resulted in the killing of an estimated 400 people during the first six months of the protests.

International scrutiny of Ethiopia’s rights record has also been lacking despite its June election to the UN Security Council, and its membership on the UN Human Rights Council – which requires it to uphold the “highest standards of human rights” and cooperate with UN monitors. Ethiopia has refused entry to all UN special rapporteurs since 2007. Among the outstanding requests are from the special rapporteurs on torture, freedom of opinion and expression, and peaceful assembly.

Ethiopia’s allies should back the call from the UN human rights high commissioner and press for an international investigation. Such a move will send a powerful and overdue message to the Ethiopian government that its security forces cannot shoot and kill peaceful protesters with impunity. And it will also send an important message to the victims and families that their pleas for justice are being heard.

Ethiopia’s allies need to urgently embark on a new approach to Ethiopia before the current situation descends into an even more dangerous and irreversible political and human rights crisis. They could play a leading role in pushing for investigative or monitoring mechanisms to hold the government to account for its brutal response to citizens exercising their fundamental rights to expression and assembly — or the toll of the dead and the tortured will continue to rise.

Girma, the young student, says he wants to flee the country once his health improves. “I’m leaving because there will never be justice in my country for what happened to me and the world will not do anything,” he told me. “So I will leave rather than wait for death.”

Oromo protesters blocking road

By Dawit Giorgis | August 19, 2016

A civil war, and possibly genocide, is in the making in the Horn of Africa, in Ethiopia. The most recent events characterized by regular countrywide demonstrations in defiance of a government ban, by the two largest ethnic groups, the Oromos and the Amharas, have demonstrated once again the power of a marginalized majority to wreak havoc and paralyze the country despite the state’s brutal response.

Ethiopia’s minority ethnic group, the Tigrai, which comprises less than six percent of the population of ninety million, has ruled the country with an iron-fist for 25 years. As was the case in Rwanda decades ago, the accumulated anger directed at this minority group is likely to explode and result in a human catastrophe with serious implications on regional stability.

The 2015 US Country Human Rights Report on Ethiopia states: “The most significant human rights problems included harassment and intimidation of opposition members and supporters and journalists; alleged torture, beating, abuse, and mistreatment of detainees by security forces; and politically motivated trials and arbitrary killings.”

The 2016 Human Rights Watch on the Oromo protests depicts a disturbing picture of a government that thrives on systematic repression and official violence. The report, which puts the death toll from the seven-month-long protest at more than 400, rightly exposes the myth of “Ethiopia rising” as a political “Ponzi scheme.” This figure does not include the100 killed during the first weeks of August.

To camouflage the repressive nature of the regime, the government and its international supporters have been blatantly asserting that Ethiopia has the fastest growing economy in Africa, while in actual fact it is one of the ten poorest countries in the world currently with over 10,000,000 facing famine.

Now, after 25 years of absolute control over the people, the regime is facing a deadly resistance to its iron-fisted rule and people are anxiously waiting for its staunchest ally, the US, to intervene.

“Washington must be prepared to press its partner to alter its strong-handed approach to political dissent and counterterrorism or consider ending the relationship”

In 2012 Genocide Watch reported “Genocide Watch is deeply concerned with the rising number of human rights violations in Ethiopia; as a result Genocide Watch is classifying the situation as a genocide alert. The warning signs have been there for sometime.

In the case of the Rwandan genocide administration officials admit that the US lost “opportunities to reverse the tide of killings at the earliest stages.” Information obtained through the US Freedom of Information Act shows that President Clinton knew about the planned “final solution to eliminate all Tutsis.” Over 800, 000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in this genocide. In 1998 Mr. Clinton apologized “for not acting quickly enough or immediately calling the crimes genocide.”

If civil war begins in Ethiopia it will be unprecedented catastrophe the likes of which has not been seen in Africa. It will also create an opportunity for extremist like al Shabab to flourish in next-door Ethiopia, which has a 40% Muslim population. Because of the Nile River, the lifeline of both Sudan and Egypt, instability in Ethiopia will be a major concern and it is likely that these countries will intervene either directly or indirectly. Together with the failed states of South Sudan, Somalia, Central Africa Republic, Yemen across the Red Sea, and with Sudan and Eritrea tittering as a result of US sanction, the Horn can turn out to be the most complicated security zone the world has yet to see with severe implications for maritime activities in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

Because of the protracted war in the Horn of Africa over the last three decades, including some of the world’s longest war, the Horn has become the source of a huge percentage of the world’s refugee and migrant population. With civil war in Ethiopia this percentage can quadruple.

The US cannot afford to miscalculate the possible consequences of the gross abuses of power for 25 years. Its strategic interest, including the partnership on counter terrorism in the region, can be taken care better by a stable democratic government rather than a fragile autocratic regime, which is most likely to fall soon under the weight of people’s insurrection. Therefore, the United States should see beyond its short-term interest and support the establishment of an inclusive democratic government.

Dawit Giorgis was a visiting fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He is currently the Executive Director of the Institute for Strategic and Security Studies.

By Baro keno Deressa

OLF is an organization established in 1973 by Oromo nationalists to culminate the uncoordinated resistance by brave sons and daughters of Oromo people against colonialist hegemony as well as oppression and suppression of the Oromo people and their culture and to promote self-determination for the Oromo people against “Abyssinian colonial rule”.  The birth of the OLF was a turning point in the history of Oromo people’s struggle for freedom. Now, nationally and internationally the Oromo people are intensifying the struggle for its rights more than any time in the history of the Liberation struggle.  Our struggle is now transforming from limited sector of the nation to the popular revolution.  The OLF articulated the Oromo national question and skillfully set the target for the Oromo national struggle. As an organization the OLF deserves all the credit for almost all political gains achieved by the Oromo people.

Why the OLF is the immune system of the Oromo people?  Firstly, what is immune system?

The immune system is made up of a network of special cells, proteins, tissues, and organs, defends people against germs and microorganisms every day in order to keep people healthy and preventing infections. The immune system is the body’s defense against infectious organisms and other invaders, through a series of steps called the immune response, the immune system attacks organisms and substances that invade body systems and cause disease.

The century long colonial power in Ethiopian empire have committed and still committing all inhuman atrocities, against Oromo people and other oppressed nations. These act of colonial rule create many challenges to form unity-in-diversity.  Namely:

• Challenge of our history: The Oromo peoples believes that we have to confess our past history to build a better future. There are times in our lives when we have to realize our past is precisely what it is, and we cannot change it. But we can change the story we tell ourselves about it, and by doing that, we can change the future.
• Challenge of Socio-economic inequalities
• Absence of appropriate constitutional settlement
• Absence of institutions for democracy and development

In order to solve those critical issues the Oromo peoples are promoting:

• Nations are able to manage their political and social disputes peacefully, without lapsing into conflict, or sustain economic growth without creating huge inequalities, critically depend on the quality of the relevant national institutions.
• Support the principles of democracy such as the forming of government based on the will of the majority, respect for the rule of law, and respect for basic freedoms.

Oromo peoples believes that there is no common agreement will be achieved while the nations are living such parallel lives:

• Colonizers are living as the killers while the oppressed nations are dying
• Colonizers are refusing to accept and respect the right for self-determinations while oppressed nations are crying for their right
• Colonizers are working to divide and rule while the oppressed nations are fighting for unity.
• Colonizers are looting and enriching their close families while oppressed nations are suffering from natural and man made disasters
• Colonizers are cheating while oppressed nations are believing

Most of us (The Oromo peoples, Oppressed nations, former colonizers) now agree that we do not want military rule, our visions and practice of democracy are not uniform, showing a fundamental lack of consensus on this important question as well.  That is why OLF is insisting on the basic demand of the Oromo people and other oppressed nations that is, full freedom to have a legal right on self –determination.  In order to achieve this goal OLF is fulfilling his tasks as immune system:

• Detecting the enemy plan and tactic in order to expose to the public and preparing action plan.
• Attacking the enemy plan and distracting their goal in order to empower our peoples struggle and oppressed nations for freedom.
• Leading our goal forward on the ground in multiple ways, Planning next step and promoting international diplomacy

What are the practical action of this fact:

• Strengthen our freedom fighters in all corners of our country
• Organizing the Oromo people from rural area to the heart of Oromia
• Strengthen our partners by empowering the oppressed nations. To give you an example, forming Peoples Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (PAFD).
• Promoting Oromo nations demand on the international arena. To give you an example of this fact and motivation of point number 3: let me give you one remark of the recent European union response on the roundtable discussion:

Rroundtable discussion of Oppressed Peoples of Ethiopia at the European Parliament

PAFD – a pan-Ethiopian alliance founded in October 2015 – to European policy-makers and other interested parties. To that end, representatives of PAFD presented the alliance’s goals and guiding principles and provided updates on the deteriorating human rights situation in Ethiopia.

Mr Abdirahman Mahdi, the PAFD International Relations Bureau, drew attention to the opportunities that PAFD can offer and elaborated on why it is only through the concerted effort of all of Ethiopia’s suppressed groups that democratic change and freedom for all Ethiopians can be brought about.

Dr Baro Keno Deressa, in turn, gave a chilling account of how the Ethiopian government continues to harass, forcefully disappear, torture and kill ordinary Oromo People, Ogaden people, Sidama people, Gambella and Benishangul peoples and other oppressed nations in Ethiopian Empire with impunity, stressing that urgent action and strong alliances are needed to put an end to the immense suffering of Oromo’s and other Oppressed nations in Ethiopia Empire.

Member of European parliament and various delegations:

• highlighted the importance of giving a voice to the voiceless and reiterated their commitment to support the Oppressed peoples.
• confirms the significance of alliances such as PAFD in order to overcome further crisis.
• Other influential delegate underlined urgency of the situation in Ethiopia.

Conclusions:

Nobody has right to tell us about peace because we Oromo people are nation of peace, nation of democratic rule, nation of justice and equality. We are always against all injustices and we are ready to defend all kinds of violations.

Nobody has right to tell us about generosity, because we are nation of love. We have helped and supporting innocent nations of Amhara’s, tiger’s when they come to our country to collect coffee or to work in the agriculture sector, we have treating them when they were sick, we have respected them as equal human being despite their social status, we are loving them us our families not as strangers.

Nobody has right to tell us about patriotism because we have nation of heroes, for century long there is no Ethiopian colonial rule survive without the patriotic act of Oromo sons and daughters.  But our price was humiliation and death  “when it comes to power and money Oromo’s are the last to touch the desk and when it comes to the human-right and equality Oromo’s are the first to be victim of the system”.  Now, when we say it is enough and it is time to build my country Oromia and regain my right as human being, individuals or groups with colonial system and mind have to setback and respect the demand of oppressed nations.  Refusing this fact and try to create all kinds of analysis, tactics and strategies will leads the Ethiopian Empire, horn of Africa and world in general to the hell of 21^st century.   

OLF recognize the critical role of empowering ourselves in order to keep up with the rest of the world and more importantly to keep pace with our enemies, implement proactive initiatives for adapting strategic and tactical approaches in order to bring effective solution. In order to facilitate the faction of our immune system-OLF, I call, To the Oromo people, to the Oromo intellectuals and to the Oromo political Organizations, dear brothers and sisters supporting and strengthen OLF means empowering our peoples struggle, promoting our goals and eradicating colonization.

Victory to the Oromo people!

Dr. B.K.DERESSA, Medical degree in internal medicine, specialized in Gastro-Hepatology diseases. University Hospital of Brussels-Belgium

The OLF believes the Oromo people are still being denied their fundamental rights by Ethiopian colonialism

By Kasembeli Albert, Nairobi, Kenya

These are Oromo University students, who protested at the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, being treated like terrorists in Guantanamo,Cuba. They did exactly what the Marathoner Feyisa Lilesa did, arms crossed.

Three years ago, in a stinging indictment of Kenya government’s involvement in the rendition of Oromo refugees, a paused a question: Oromo Liberation Front: Who is Fooling Who?

Then, Kenya authorities were accused of illegal rendition of Oromo refugees to Ethiopia   under the pretext of cracking down on the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) militias. While in Ethiopia, the individuals are allegedly arraigned before special courts where they are handed heavy jail sentences ranging from death to life in prison.

The Oromia have been isolated in the region. No single neighbour of Ethiopia,  IGAD and the AU has voiced concern over the treatment of the Oromo people. The fundamental objective of the Oromo liberation movement is to exercise the Oromo peoples’ right to national self-determination and end centuries of oppression and exploitation.

The OLF believes the Oromo people are still being denied their fundamental rights by Ethiopian colonialism.

For a week now, Ethiopia is facing a crisis of unprecedented magnitude, yet its government and Western enablers refuse to acknowledge and recognize the depth of the crisis.

The nationwide protests held by the Oromo people, the single largest ethnic group both in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, is clear evidence of a crisis that is threatening to degenerate into a full-scale social explosion.

The protests are the most unprecedented and absolutely extraordinary display of defiance by the Oromo people and it is by far the most significant political developments in the country since the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the strongman who ruled the country for over two decades.

The protests took place in more than 200 towns and villages across Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest region, and were attended by hundreds of thousands of people. According to Oromia media Network, security forces used live bullets against peaceful protestors, killing over 100 protestors.

Oromos have been staging protest rallies across the country since April of 2014 against systematic marginalization and persecution of ethnic Oromos. The immediate trigger of the protest was a development plan that sought to expand the territorial limits of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, into neighbouring Oromo villages and towns.

Oromos saw the proposed master plan as a blueprint for annexation which would further accelerate the eviction of Oromo farmers from their ancestral lands.  When the protest resumed in November of 2015, the government dismissed the protestors as anti-peace elements and accused them of acting in unison with terrorist groups.

The government used overwhelming force to crush the protest, killing hundreds of protestors and arresting thousands. In its recent report titled “Such a Brutal Crack Down”, Human Rights Watch criticized the “excessive and lethal force” used by security forces against “largely peaceful protestors” and puts the number of deaths at over 400.  The figure from the activist group is considerably higher.

The Oromo make up well over a third of Ethiopia’s 100 million people. Historically, Oromos have been pushed to the margin of the country’s political and social life and rendered unworthy of respect and consideration.

Oromo culture and language have been banned and their identity stigmatized, becoming invisible and unnoticeable within mainstream perspectives.  When the current government came into power a quarter of a century ago, it pursued a strategy of divide and rule in which the Oromos and Amharas, the two largest ethnic groups in the country, are presented as eternal adversaries.

Oromos are blamed as secessionists to justify the continued monitoring, control, and policing of Oromo intellectuals, politicians, artists and activists.

By depicting Oromo demands for equal representation and autonomy as extremist and exclusionary, it tried to drive a wedge between them and other ethnic groups, particularly the Amharas.

This allowed the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front and Tigrayan elites to present themselves as the only political movement in the country that could provide the stability and continuity sought by regional and global powers with vested interest in the region.

Although these protests are triggered by more recent events, they are microcosms [of] a more enduring and deeper crisis of political representation and systematic marginalization suffered by the Oromo people.

The United States see the Ethiopian government as a critical partner on the Global War on Terror.  This led administration officials to go out of their way to create fantasy stories which cast Ethiopia as democratic and its leaders as progressive. In 2012, then US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, described Meles Zenawi, the architect of the current system, as “uncommonly wise” and someone “able to see the big picture and the long game, even when others would allow immediate pressures to overwhelm sound judgment.”

In 2015, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman praised Ethiopia as “a democracy that is moving forward in an election that we expect to be free, fair, credible, open and inclusive.” She further added, “”Every time there is an election, it gets better and better.” That election ended with the ruling party winning 100% of the seats in parliament by wiping out the one opposition in the previous parliament.

In 2016, President Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Ethiopia amid widespread opposition by human rights groups. Obama doubled down on previous endorsements by administration officials by describing the government as ‘democratically-elected.”

Reign of Terror

The US led ‘war on terror’, started by President George Bush, provided the government with a political and legal instrument with which the government justified severe restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, and association.

The 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation, one of the most draconian pieces of anti-terrorism legislations in the world, enabled the government to stretch its power of prosecution and punishment beyond what is permissible under standard criminal and constitutional law rules.

In recent years, terrorism trials have become the most significant legal instrument frequently used by the authorities to secure and consolidate the prevailing relationship of power between the ruling ethnic Tigrayan elites and other ethnic groups in the country.

Kasembeli Albert is the Editor, Business Journal Africa, a regional business and finance magazine

By: Laalo Guduru

Nothing more vividly depicts the life contrast in today’s Ethiopia than the condition of the two 2016 Olympians, Robel and Feyisa.

On the one hand you have Robel, who is a Tigrian, whose father is the chairman of the Ethiopian swimming federation, and who may have got that position because of this ethnicity.  The son Robel, who looks very well-fed, and very un-athletic, by virtue of being his father’s son, became an Olympian representing his country. Above all, just because he is a Tigrean and well connected, he was chosen from among stellar Ethiopian world class athletes to be the flag bearer of this country. The choosing of this so-called athlete who is born with silver spoon in his mouth by virtue of his ethnicity to be a flag bearer, represents what is wrong in today’s Ethiopia.

You listen to Robel’s interview, you see a jovial personality who is even likable. You can see that he is not burdened by any worries or responsibilities. You can see that he is one of those Addis guys who paint the town red in the night. He can go anywhere, he can talk to the police as he wish without raising suspicion. Due to his ethnicity he is not a suspect and the wrath of anti-terrorism law is mostly inapplicable to him. He can go to any government bureaucracy and be treated with dignity and be given preferential treatment due to his ethnicity. If the low level bureaucrat gives him hard time, he can go up the echelon because it’s manned by his fellow Tigreans, who will look after the interest of their kin and kith.

On the other hand you find the skinny Feyisa Lelisa.  An Oromo, born in rural Oromia to a peasant family. By virtue of his Oromoness, he is a suspect until proven innocent. To be accepted he has to prove his allegiance to the country and government regularly, more often by being forced into joining the ruling party. If not, he will be a person who will have to function day and night under the prying eyes of the Ethiopian security forces. He is a person who lives with a sword of Damocles hanging over his head every day. He is a person who lives under a heavy burden of his people’s misery on his shoulder.  Because he is an Oromo in Ethiopia, he cannot be himself; he has to pretend in order to fit in.

By virtue of being an Oromo from rural Ethiopia, most probably, he has no city connections, that would have made his life just a little easier to navigate.  Unlike Robel, he cannot go to the government offices with confidence.  If a low-level bureaucrat gives him hard time, he has nowhere to go in a Tigre dominated bureaucracy. At most what he can do is give a bribe.  There is no question, compared to Robel, Feyisa had to endure overwhelming obstacles that life and the political system had to throw his way.  Feyisa, unlike Robel, is essentially a hardened, self-made, talented athlete who worked hard to reach this stage by training day and night.

There is at least a silver lining out of this. All the hurdles, challenges and the life experience that Feyisa faced as an Oromo in Ethiopia, made him an iron man, helped him achieve what he accomplished in Rio both in the athletic field and as a defiant activist. He truly deserves the epithet, “The Most Courageous Olympian” that some commentator have started to call him with. On the other hand, the EPRDF should be worried, because the corruption, nepotism and cronyism that they created in Ethiopian is producing spoiled second generation Tigrean the likes of Robel.

Ethiopia today is a country ruled by elites from Tigrean minority group that run the country like a private syndicate. The condition of the Oromo that has historically been a marginalized group is getting worse by the day. The Oromos who are close to 40% of the Ethiopian population are totally dominated by an ethnic group that comprises only 6% of the population. This shameful situation is unsustainable and something has got to give!

Feyisa Lilesa, who made arm gesture of support for his Oromo tribe as he finished race in Rio, says he fears going home

The Guardian | August 23, 2016

An Olympic silver medallist from Ethiopia is seeking asylum overseas after making a gesture of protest as he crossed the finishing line in the men’s marathon in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.

Hundreds of millions of people watched Feyisa Lilesa hold his arms over his head, wrists crossed, in support of members of his Oromo tribe in the east African nation.

“It is a very dangerous situation for the Oromo people in Ethiopia. In nine months more than 1,000 people died in protests,” Lilesa told reporters after the race.

The runner said he now feared detention or death if he returned home.

“They will kill me. I haven’t another visa. Maybe I stay here. If I can get visa I can go to America,” the 26-year-old said.

Lilesa’s protest prompted an outpouring of support on social media, while a crowdfunded effort to raise money to help him find a home outside Ethiopia had received nearly $40,000 (£30,000) in donations within hours.

Olympic athletes are prohibited from making political statements during the Games, but it appears unlikely Lilesa will face any sanctions from sport authorities.

Ethiopia has long been one of the world’s poorest nations but has experienced rapid industrialisation in the past decade. Authorities have been repeatedly accused of human rights abuses and of discrimination against the Oromo, the country’s largest ethnic group, comprising about 25% of the country’s 100m population.

Plans to allocate land surrounding the capital, Addis Ababa, for development prompted fierce demonstrations from members of the tribe in November. Many of those who would have been displaced by the new scheme were Oromo.

Authorities scrapped the scheme in January, but protests spread and continued for months, in the country’s worst unrest in more than a decade.

Several rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported that up to 400 have been killed in clashes between security forces and protesters.

In the wake of the violence, the United Nations urged Ethiopia to allow international observers in to the worst hit parts of the country.

“Oromo is my tribe … Oromo people now protest what is right, for peace, for a place,” Lilesa told reporters after winning his silver medal, adding that he feared his wife and two children might already have been arrested.

“Maybe I move to another country … you get the freedom if you support only the government. You cannot work without that.”

The government disputes the allegations of human rights violations and says illegal protests by “anti-peace forces” have been brought under control.

Ethiopia’s prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, described Ethiopia as an island of stability. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

In an interview with the Guardian earlier this year, Ethiopia’s prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, described Ethiopia as an island of stability within the troubled Horn of Africa region.

“We have clearly identified why this protest has come about: unemployment and lack of good governance. Building democratic culture will take some time. But we are on the right track. It’s improving,” Desalegn said.

Any sign of unrest is closely watched in Ethiopia with frequent detentions of alleged dissidents and pressure on the media. Ethiopia is 142nd of 180 in the Press Freedom Index compiled by the Reporters Without Borders campaign group.

In elections last May, Ethiopia’s ruling coalition and allied parties won all 547 seats in the federal parliament and 100% of legislative positions in nine regional councils.

The nation is seen in the west as a key ally in the campaign against Islamic militants from the al-Shabaab movement in neighboring Somalia and a center of relative stability in fragile east Africa. Criticism from Washington or European powers of any human rights abuses has been muted.

By Guluma Gemeda*

Gada system is the Oromo traditional institution involving political process, economical, cultural, ritual, spiritual, social and administrational system based on holistic ideas of participatory and representative democracy, principles in which power is both vertically and horizontally distributed, balanced, checked, controlled and limited among its three institutional pillars known as Yaa’a Gada Sadeenii (Gada Arboora, Medhicha and Garba institutions). Term limitation for every leader is eight years.

Current widespread protests, particularly in Oromia, and lately in Amhara and other regions, have highlighted the weaknesses of the ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front’s (EPRDF) regime. Opposition groups are predicting possible collapse of the regime in the near future. Even some former members and supporters of the EPRDF are waking up to the possibility of regime change, and have started criticizing it for its excesses. Joining the opposition, some are now calling for reform and more inclusive political process. But they also argue that the current constitution, drafted and implemented by the EPRDF and its supporters, should remain the basis of political discussion on the future of the country.

Welcoming such proposal, other Ethiopianists believe at least some parts of the constitution, specifically article 39 which allows decentralization and ethnic-based autonomy, had to be removed before accepting it as a basis for discussion on future political arrangements. For all Ethiopianist opponents of the ERDF regime, the territorial integrity and the national unity of Ethiopia is sacrosanct that they would not accept any loophole that may infringe upon this principle. For them, secession is anathema. On the other hand, ethnonationalist groups such the Oromo, Sidama and Ogaden liberation fronts may not even consider any political discussion that forecloses the option of secession. Given the autocratic nature of Ethiopian political culture, even some parties representing historically oppressed ethnic groups but favoring a genuine multiethnic federal state could be uncomfortable or unable to accept a unitary state agenda as a precondition for discussion on the future of Ethiopia. Thus, due to the complex historical circumstances and contemporary political experiences, any discussion on the future of Ethiopia is fraught with thorny issues.

Why are Ethiopian political groups so divided? Why is forming alliances against the incumbent regime so difficult for opposition political parties? What does each group want to achieve and how? What are the common goals around which political leaders can form alliances? To answer these questions, it is necessary to examine the underlying problems that complicate any discussion on Ethiopian politics. To begin with, modern Ethiopia, as it is constituted today, exhibits contradictory political traditions and governing principles. The contradictory approaches to politics and the aspirations of the peoples make it difficult to design a common agenda for the future of the country without recognizing and reconciling the historical differences and the contradictory governing principles. I call these traditions the atse and gadaa governing principles. The first is fully recognized and considered to be the official political tradition of the Ethiopian state. The second, although well known, has been ignored; and until recently, even suppressed.  The dominant Ethiopian atse culture has rendered the gadaa tradition as illegitimate to be of any use as a governing philosophy. The first two Ethiopian constitutions (1931, revised 1955) were anchored on monarchical mythology and the monarchy as central political institution. They re-enforced and codified the power of the king and his royal family more than defending the rights of the ordinary people. The third constitution (1987) relied and based on borrowed socialist principles while the internal history and political cultures of the society were given little attention. The fourth constitution (1995) instituted ethnic federalism but neglected the rich indigenous law-making traditions in the country. For example, the gadaa system which could have provided ample resources in drafting the constitution was totally ignored.  The document made no reference to this indigenous concept of law and governance. But the lawyers who drafted the constitution sought the advice of expatriate experts and consulted foreign constitutional models.

It is apparent that past or present Ethiopian leaders have not fully abandoned the mentality and practice of the atse political culture. Although the Ethiopian monarchy has been dissolved as of 1975, many Ethiopians still entertain special affinity to the historical image of what the institution represented. The effigies of modern Ethiopian emperors—Tewodros, Yohannes IV, Menilek II, and Haile Selassie—are still held high at homes and apparently in the hearts of many Ethiopianists. Those in the diaspora in particular are deeply attached to these anachronistic images; and their adorations of these kings sometimes parallels the Ras Tafarian religious view of Emperor Haile Selassie. Still, they nostalgically hold on to the myth of the ‘Solomonic Dynasty’ and decorate their homes with the old Ethiopian flag with the Lion of Judah, and paintings depicting the mythical stories of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. They still attempt to project the Orthodox Church as an official church of Ethiopia (not as historically significant church in Ethiopia); they insist that all Ethiopian languages should be written in Geez (Ethiopic) alphabet, and that Amharic should not only be the working language but the official language of Ethiopia. As one writer recently said “Amharic, and in the future Geez, should not only be national languages but also be developed as (languages of) instruction for science and philosophy” in Ethiopia (Fekadu Bekele, Ethiomedia, August 10, 2016). No doubt, these Ethiopianists are committed to the unity and territorial integrity of the country, which is understandable, but their failure to embrace diversity hinders any meaningful conversation with those coming from outside the core Abyssinian atse tradition and undermines the cause they indefatigably defend.  For this reason, political integration has remained very difficult and resistance to the ruling regime became inevitable at every generation in Ethiopian history.

The problem, however, is not only personal belief and sentimental attachment to some historical relics. Of course, many Abyssinians denounced the monarchy and joined the revolutionary camp in the 1970s either as supporters or opponents of the Derg regime. The TPLF leaders participated in the destruction of the monarchy and spearheaded the struggle for the downfall of the Derg. But despite the radical changes introduced by the Derg and the EPRDF regimes, and the different ruling ideologies of the last three Ethiopian rulers—monarchical, socialist and ‘federal democracy,’—the Abyssinian political culture has changed very little. Ethiopian intellectuals and politicians are still committed to the atse cultural tradition. This is probably because neither the Ethiopian state nor the Orthodox Church and the Abyssinian society in general had experienced any fundamental transformation from the atse tradition to modernity. Ethiopia entered the modern era without undergoing any transformation such as the Reformation and the Enlightenment that Western societies passed through as they built modern political institutions.  Instead, without any fundamental and organic changes, Ethiopia remained suspicious of Western culture but selectively adapted some ideas and technologies to build a modern state system. In the nineteenth century, Ethiopian leaders were particularly eager to receive the tools and technologies of violence that suited their interests rather than democratic ideas that facilitated political dialogue and peaceful transition of power. Since the mid-nineteenth century, Abyssinian leaders imported Western firearms that facilitated their territorial expansion and consolidation.

Thus, due to lack of genuine political reform and societal transformation as opposed to violent regime changes, the atse political culture remained unchanged. This political culture is characterized by autocratic practices, idolization of an individual leader (the atse, in earlier times), secrecy and conspiracies, court intrigues and betrayals, violence, humiliation and physical elimination of political opponents. Until the 1931 constitution under Emperor Haile Selassie (r. 1930-36, 1941-74), Ethiopian ruling dynasties never had written rules for an orderly transfer of power. The Kibre Negast, a document written in the fourteenth century, excludes from the throne all those who did not share the ‘Solomonic’ blood in their veins. Thus, succession and transfer of power always involved tensions and often bloody crises.

The atse or the ruling group in power sought safety by locking up or exiling all political rivals for life. The most celebrated periods in Ethiopian history were characterized by notorious royal prisons. In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries Amba Gishen served as a concentration camp of princes and all male relatives of the ruling monarchs. Similarly, during the Gondar period from the mid-seventeenth to the late eighteenth century, Wehni served as royal prison. It also became synonymous with modern Amharic term for prison. Now Ma’akalawi, the current equally notorious prison and torture house for the opponents of the Derg and EPRDF regimes, is serving the same purpose. In the past, kings coopted the clergy of the Orthodox Church who threatened the peasants and the whole Christian population with excommunication and expulsion from the Church if they disobeyed the monarch. In return, the clergy received generous land grants and free labor of the Christian peasantry. Now, the security forces and ruling party operatives accomplish the same job of coercion, locking up and terrorization of the citizenry. Earlier, the atse was portrayed as representative of God on earth. His (rarely her) person was sacred, his words were laws, and his judgements were final. Of course, he was also portrayed as a father figure and occasionally showed calculated sense of justice and generosity. When a vanquished leader submitted to the atse he carried piece of stone on his head and begged for mercy. The king occasionally commuted his sentence of death to life imprisonment to show his magnanimity. Emperor Haile Selassie used this tactic several times. The idea of dignity of a person and fair treatment of ‘worthy opponents’ did not yet enter into the Ethiopian political lexicon.

Under the atse political culture the leader is worshiped; although a human being, he is allowed to do anything he wished. This practice survived even after the monarchy ended. In this context, it is easy to understand why and how the Derg leader, Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam, emerged as a very powerful man, knowing everything and capable of doing anything, within a very short time. At the beginning of the revolution he was just one of those middle ranking officers, but he quickly emerged out of the collective leadership as a brutal and decisive leader. Then, all his colleagues obeyed his orders without any question while a few who dared to challenge him were eliminated mercilessly. Similarly, his successor Prime Minister Meles Zenawi became undisputable leader of the EPRDF and the country shortly after he occupied Menilek’s palace. His subordinates looked up to him for his ‘vision’ to lead them and the country out of poverty. Four years after his death, loyalists are still committed to his vision. Both Mengistu and Meles acted as ‘uncrowned kings’ and received enormous power and reverence while they were in power. Both leaders gained such respect and loyalty only because the people are accustomed to the atse tradition according to which a leader is considered anointed by God and obeyed religiously. While in power, the ruler is ‘beloved’, all-knowing, and infallible. So the Amharic saying goes: ‘The sky cannot be cultivated and the king (atse) cannot be criticized or accused.’  The first two Ethiopian constitutions (1931, 1955) make this point crystal clear. They state: “By virtue of his imperial blood, as well as by the anointing which he has received, the person of the Emperor is sacred, his dignity is inviolable and his power indisputable.”

Thus, as the cases of the last three rulers—Haile Selassie, Mengistu and Meles—show, even when the constitution guarantees individual rights, in practice, the power of the king is unbounded. Instead, their words were laws onto themselves. In the case of Meles and the EPRDF regime, the façade of autonomy and ethnic federalism in the constitution are tricks to deceive the public and the international community. Despite a lip service to modernity and modern democratic governance, the EPRDF leaders—the Tigrayan People Liberation Front (TPLF) in particular— practice undemocratic political culture in the best atse tradition. For this reason, it is irrelevant whether the constitution as whole, or some parts of it, is accepted as precondition for a discussion on the future of Ethiopia.  Unless the autocratic political culture changes, it is futile to put too much confidence in a constitution in the Ethiopian context. When there is no culture of democracy and no commitment to implement the document, it is difficult to expect anything better.

Yet, nor is it all the fault of political elite and rulers. If the constitutional contract has to be respected and the rights enshrined in it are to be enjoyed, the governed should boldly demand from the leaders that they abide by it and implement it faithfully. If they do not, the citizens should be prepared to make the necessary sacrifices needed to defend the constitutional contract. But the dilemma is, under the atse tradition, rulers are not supposed to be questioned, criticized or accused. That is how the Derg manipulated the land proclamation and dispossessed the farmers who thought they had earned the right to the ownership of the land they cultivated at the beginning revolution.

The 1995 EPRDF constitution was drafted by legal experts who consulted modern constitutions and legal experts. It incorporated ideas from previous Ethiopian constitutions. As a legal document, the constitution is reasonably well written. It is, however, defective on several grounds. It was written primarily for external consumption, to give the regime a democratic image and an aura of modernity. But the spirit of the law was not meant to be implemented because the leaders who sponsored it lacked neither the commitment nor the tradition to do so. For this reason, basic democratic freedoms enshrined in the constitution were routinely violated. The crucial article on land ownership was written in an ambiguous language to allow the government to manipulate it, as revealed in subsequent practice.  Farmers were once again cheated. Although the constitution is the supreme law of the land, several other laws, enacted after the constitution was approved, gradually eroded its effectiveness and made it hollow. Then, what is the value of a constitution if the atse (the ruling group) is regarded above the law? To be a stable progressive modern state, Ethiopia should get rid of its atse political culture.

In the final analysis, the root problem of Ethiopia’s political crises is the failure of its leaders to shed their atse ruling mentality and recognize that it is unfit to usher in modern democratic governance for the country. If Ethiopia had followed a genuine democratic path that incorporates alternative indigenous governing models such as the gadaa system, there would have been greater national integration and less ethnic groups yearning to get out of the empire now. Although, Western democratic model is always available to borrow, Ethiopian leaders could have adopted an alternative governing tradition—the gadaa system—long time ago and probably may have saved the country from its current impasse.

Besides the Oromo, the gadaa democratic system was widely practiced by several communities such as the Sidama, Burji, and Konso in the Horn of Africa before they were annexed by the Abyssinian state in the late nineteenth century. Gadaa is a democratic system which evolved over several centuries among the Oromo and their neighbors.  In an open public forum, the Oromo gadaa system involved all members of the society in decision making process. From birth to death, all male members were organized into ten gadaa grades. At each stage, the grades were assigned specific tasks appropriate to their age level, including warfare, governing and advising roles. Leadership was both collective and individual. Talented and tested individuals assumed positions of leadership, such as war leader (abbaa duula), leader of the gadaa assembly (abbaa gadaa) and advisors (haayyuu), every eight years. Collectively, each grade assumed leadership responsibility when its turn came. Transfers of power took place regularly and peacefully every eight years because the system was backed by rituals and religious practices presided over by the qaalluu (the high priest) and the abba muudaa (the anointer) and respected by all people.

Gadaa democracy was an open and participatory system. Governing laws were enacted through transparent and exhaustive processes. No disagreement was left to fester until it reached a crisis level. There was no physical coercion of dissenters because differences were settled through persuasion and consensus building discussions. The governing laws included the protection of all members of the society—men, women and children—and nature, including domestic and wild animals and plants. Of course, as all institutions of human societies, gadaa was not perfect. But it had mechanisms for reform and improvement. Such mechanisms allowed it to survive and flourish for centuries. It only started to decline in some parts of Oromia since the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as a result of some internal and external factors. Finally, it was totally suppressed when Oromo territories were annexed by the Abyssinian state in the late nineteenth century. In Borana and Gujii areas, however, it survived the challenges of the Ethiopian empire and continued to this day. Even with the current EPRDF coercion, the gadaa system has shown remarkable resilience; and it is swinging back to life. Oromo elders are trying their best to reconstruct this tradition and make it usable for Oromo democratic governance. But could it function well as a governing principle within the Ethiopian system dominated by the atse culture?  Are Abyssinian political leaders willing to accommodate an indigenous democratic institution which is antithetical to the atse tradition?  Or are the Oromo willing to sacrifice the gadaa system for the sake of Ethiopian unity?

Ultimately, Ethiopian politicians must make a decision. They have the option of living in the past with the autocratic atse tradition while claiming to be federalist democrats. But the country can’t be transformed into a modern democratic society while being led by politicians who pretend to adhere to democratic principles while practicing autocracy. To get to a democratic path, the mentality, the governance practices and political structures that sustain the atse culture should be totally revamped and replaced by open consensual democratic institutions. However, the mentality is so entrenched and the idea of integration seriously damaged, the chances of keeping the empire together is slipping away every day. On the other hand, Oromo political leaders have a hard choice to make as well. They can either continue to beg, cajole, and pressure Ethiopianist politicians hoping that they would change their behavior, reform and adopt a genuine democracy to save Ethiopia from disintegration, which may not happen at all, or they can boldly go forward with a project of rebuilding a democratic Oromia based on its rich gadaa traditions. At any rate, there is not much time left for all to ponder endlessly.

*Guluma Gemed is Associate Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Michigan-Flint. He can be reached at ggemeda@umflint.edu

By Getachew Jigi Demekssa, PhD

Qeerroon kana booda harka mata irra kawwachu hin qabu.

Akkeeki mariif qoopha’ee kun Wara Bilisummaa Oromoo fi Walabummaa Oromiyaaf falmatanfi malee Mediaf miti. Yaada Dhunfa koo ta’uu beeka.

Yaadi kun kan hara egalame utuu hin tane bara 2012 kasee  dargagoota kan marisisa turedha. Bayeen isaa yaadi kun kitaaba koo “Bu’aa Ba’ii qabsoo Uummata Oromoo Garbumaa irra gara Bilisummaati “ jeedhu irra balinan jira. Ammas yaada Gababduu kana gadii akkan dhiyeesu kan na goodhe ji’aa 9 gutuu uummanii Oromoo TPLF waliin wal lola erga ba’ee booda ji’aa 10ffaa keessa deebifne Harka mata irra kawwadha hirira ba’aa dhaga fi ulee harkati hin batiina qabeenya diina hin xuuqina erga jeedhu fi ajjajaa ittigaafatamumma hin qabne media irratti darbe ergan arge boodan dargagoota biyya jiranf dhamsa kana dabarsuuf dirqame. Dubsati irratti mari’adha. Kara nagaa TPLF busuu hin yaadina, Seyee Abraha waliin tokko ta’an  Melese Zenawi kufisuuf hariro ijjarachuun of gowomsu dha. Seyee fi Melese keessa enyutu hameenya cimma akka qabu dura adda basani beeku dhabuun walaaluma dha. Dr. Birhanu Nega Oromoo caalaa nati anuu hin danda’uu utuuma bor Oromoo bilisummaa basa ta’ee iyuu, Birhanu Nega na wayya jeechun kun hojii Abba Mela Habte Gorgis Dinagde hojjeete hojjeechu dha, inni Qeesoota Habasha fi H/Silaasee gurmeese Liji Iyasuu dhabamsise of ilee dhabame. Dogogori keenya yoomi dhabata? Moo ituma fufne saba keenya garbomsina akka OPDO?, OPDOn hara ilee damaqani uummata bira goruu dadhaban. Diina fi fira utuu addan hin bafatiin qabsooti seenun dogogra gudadha. Dhadannoon keenya ifa ta’uu qaba innis kan rakko Oromoo siiritti ibsuu, kan badii dalagama jiru mormu, kan feedhi fi galma qabsoo keenya akeeku ta’uu qaba, kana dura wa’ee Dhadannoo qabxi 10 qabu email isiinf ergen ture.

Qeerroon Harka mata irra kaawwatee hirira ba’uu hin qabu kun cubudha.

TPLF Mootummaa akka Sweden, Norway  ykn Belgium miti Hirira kara  Nagaa harka mata irra kawwadha adeema kan jeedhu hanqina hubannoo dhabuti, Adunyan akka nuu beekuuf wari jeedhan sobdu dha, Adunyaa irra dhugan hin jiru, Adunyan dhuga Oromoo wagga 150 baruu hin dandeenye hara akkan dhuga keenya baruuf jeedhamee qeerroon Oromoo dhumuu hin qabdu. Qeerroon Oromoo dura dursoo Hidhatoota Oromoo fi Kabinoota Oromoo akka isaan bira dhabatan kara jarsoli barsisu qabu. isaa dide immoo hikachisuu dhan  TPLF ittin of irra dhorku dha. Kabinoota fi TPLF wara Oromoo ajeesuu dura qabeenya isaani kara danda’amen barbadeesuu dha. Diina qabenya isaa barbadeesuudhan abdi kutachisuu dha. Kun ammoo murannoo barbaachisa malee mallaaqa ykn rasaasaa fi meesha nama hin barbaachisuu. Gamoon diina hundi gubate garaa Oromoo qabaneesuu qaba. Kana booda qeerroon harka mataa irra kewwate hirrira ba’u utuu hin ta’iin waan harka qabuun akka isaa mijateetti bakka isaa mijateetti diina irratti finciilee ykn itti dullee diina hikachiisee ofi hidhachiisu qaba.

Qeerron mal goochu qaba?

Qeeroon Saba gurmeesuu, ijjaruu, barsisuu, hidhachisuu sochii diina qoorachuu fi bobasuu qaba.

Atamiin akka gurmeesu, ijjaruu fi barsisuu bara 2012 – 2013 kaafne barsisa ture, Kitaabi kanaaf  qoopha’ee ilee Oromiyaa keessa jira. Hojiin gurmeesuu, ijaruu, hidhachisuu fi bobasuu akka nannoo isaatti fi akkata hordofiin diina cimee irrati hunda’ee akka nannoo isaatti qooratame hojii irra ola, haalaa amma yeroo namni wal sodatuu keessati nama 5,5nin nama gurmeesun bala qaba, tokko fi tokkon gurmeesun of egannoof garii dha garuu yeroo fudhata. Biyya ala ta’aan nama hin beekne walitti gurmeesun warreegama gudaa fida kanaafuu waruma biyya keessa jirutuu wal gurmeesuu qaba, kana media heeddutti bane dubacha fi barsisa waan turef irra deebi’uu hin barbadu. Nama gurma’ee, hubannoo siyaasaa cimma argatee, siiriti ijjarame diina isaa hubate fi meesha harka qabuu hidhatetu diina isaa injjifata. Hidhannoo siyaasaa qabachuun hidhannoo meesha caalaa onnee fi murannoo nama keena, beela fi dheebuu akka atti dandeesuu sii goodha.

Qeeroon biyyaa keessa hanga Oromoon abba biyyaa ta’uuti qabsoo itti fufuu qaba, jeequmsi ykn mormiin kamiyuu Oromoo irra Tigire midha, Oromoon waan qabus hin jiru, waan dhabuu ilee hin qabu, kanaafuu sababa qabsoo irra dhabanuuf hin jiru, Oromoon barumsaf jeedhe qabsooo irra dhabachuu hin qabu baratees dhaga bachuun ala caaraa hin qabu. Caaraa inni gudan TPLF buqiise garbumaa waggaa 150 of irra kassee lafa Oromiyaa dhunfachu qoofa.

Qeerroon dursee mal qoorchuu qaba?

Diini keenya enyuu? Essa jiru? Tarkanfi atamituu irratti fudhatamuu qaba? Qabeenyi diina essa jira?  Meeshan diina esaa jira? Atamitiin qabeenya fi meesha dhunfana?

Dura diina keenya Ganda hunda jiru beekuu qabna, isaa Oromoo ajjeesu, daraaru, basaasu, fi hidhu, diina fi ergamtu diina beeku qabna. Diina beeknan, bakka inni jiratu beeknan, qabeenyan isaa essa akkan jiruu beeknan tarkanfi fudhachuuf salpha ta’a, warreegama nuu kafaluus ni xiiqata.  Meesha fi qabeenyi qabsoo keenyaf ta’uu malu kan saba keenya irra diini samee tulate fi ergamtoon fi Tigiren nannoo keenya keessa jirtuu seeran ala wagga murasa keessati Ango TPLF da’oo goodhatan saman hundi fudhame qabsoof oluu qaba. Meesha Kabinnoon, Polisi , Garee fi Goxiin bakka hundati hidhatan jiran qooratamee beekamuu qaba, uumman tokkuuman ka’ee ykn ganda ganda isaati wal gurmeese meesha isaa ajjeesuuf qoopha’ee ta’uu kana fudhatee dhunfachuu qaba. Kana qeerootuu qindeesuu qaba.

Dargagoon mal goochu qaba?,

Dargagoon Oromoo Tigiren utuu quufte albatuu Qeeroo fi Dargagoon keenya Beela’uu hin qabu,  mallaaqaa fi meesha ala egachuu hin qabu, achuma wal gurmeesse Tigire gara gutate warqee morma fi gurati gutate deemtu utuu hin hafiin irra fudhachu qaba. Oromoon kana booda wardiyaa TPLF ta’ee mana Tigire eguu hin qabu, Magaalaa keessa Dhaga bachuu hin qabu, biyyaa baqatee Galana Mederitreaniya fi India Ocean keessatti du’uu hin qabu, Ongee Sudan, Egypt fi Libya keessatti dhumuu hin qabu, biyyaa Yemen fi Araba deemee Arabi tortortun itti xabachuu hin qabdu, Qabeenya Oromoo Tigiren samtee deebisee fudhachu qaba.

Daldalan  fi abban qabeenya mal goochu qabu,?

Diina irra bituu fi itti gurguru dhisu qabu. Diina waliin hidhata daldala qabu dhabuu qaba, qeeeroo baratoota Oromo sochii isaan goodhan harka lafa jalan gargaru qaba, qabsa’oota Oromoo dheebuu fi beela basuu qaba, daldaltoon diina kisara keessa akka galan waan danda’ee hunda sabotage hojeechuu qabu. Abootiin qabeenya waan isaanf danda’ame, mallaaqaan, yaadan, goolga ykn gadiissaa ta’uun, hojii keenuufin ykn qacaruun, odeefannoo keenuufin, qabsoo Oromoo tumsuu qabu, Daldaltoota lammii horma ta’aan Oromiyaa keessati dalagaachaa TPLF mallaaqaa fi basaasa ta’uufin gargarani qeerrooti saxiluu qabu.

Abbootiin amanta mal goochu qaba?

Abbootin Amanta Qeesoon(Luba) fi sheekoon yeroo amma TPLF jala butani ergamtuu tatan Oromoo irratti murtee du’aa murtesa jirtan, lafeen Lubu Gudina Tumsa isiin warraanaa, goocha yakkaa raawwacha jirtan kana irra atataman dhabadha. Waldan Amanta Oromiyaa keessa jiru, Church fi Mazjidi hundi kan uummata Oromooti malee kan keessan miti, Ijoole Oromoo ajjeesisa Amanta lalabuu hin dandeesan dhabadha, dhiigii Oromoo dhangala’aa kan jiru Oromoo waan ta’eef qoofa kana beeka, isiin Ogannota Amantati jeene yeroo isiin TPLF waliin dhigga Oromoo irratti dhichiftan caalisuu hin dandeenyu waaqayyoo nuuf hin hayamuu. Dafa ofi siiresa yeroon dhuma jirti, TPLF kufee jira, nama awwaluu dhabe malee nu gargara awwalaa, kana booda TPLF fayyisuu hin dandessani, Abbootin amanta hundi tajjajiltoota saba Oromoo ta’uu keessan beekuu qabdu, Waldaan Amanta hundi Church fi Mazjidi Qabsoo Oromoof golga fi gadiisaa  ta’uu qaba male bakka dabbaleen TPLF itti dhadatuu ta’uu hin qabu, Qeerroo fi haawwasi Oromoo Abbooti Amanta TPLF jala adeeman harka qabu ykn lalaba isaan dhageefachuu hin qabdan, lalaba sheeki ykn Lubii wayyane (TPLF) tumsuu Oromoon dhageefachuu hin qabuu dhiftan ba’uu qabdu. Sheekin ykn Lubii TPLF birra olee Oromoof waaqaa kadhachu hin danda’uu.

Qoote bulan mal goochu qaba?

Qoote bulan Homishaa isaa Oromoo qoofati gurgurachuu qaba, waan isaa barbaachisuu ammoo Oromoo irra bitachuu qaba. Ijoolle baratoota ammoo qoote bula aboota isaan barsisuu qabu, Qoote Bulan Garee fi Gooxii isaa keessa jirtu akka isheen qabsoo Oromoo deggertuu barsisuu qaba. Qoote bulan abba qabsoo kana isaa guda fi humna guda ta’uu hundi keenya beeku qabna. Qabsoon Bilisummaa Oromoo kan bate jiru Qoote Bula Oromoo ta’uu isaa Jaal Dauwd Ibsa naaf ibsee ture,  Oromoon erga  harka 85 qoote bula ta’uu bare human gudaa kana irratti  seeran hojeene itti fayadamuu qabna, kan du’aa jiru ilee qoote bula sana Hararge irra jarsi Hagayya 6 warreegame laga meeqa ce’ee dhufee hirira Magaalaa dura bu’ee utuu adeemu ajjeefame. Jaldu, Ginci, Guliso, Gadabasasa, Masala  fi Mandi  keessati kan hirira dura bu’aa jiran qoote buladha. Baratoon fi Dargagoon Qoote bula waan hunda hubachisuu qabduu, yoo rakkane ilee Qoote bulatti baqana, kan beela nu basuu ilee isaa network Qoote bula waliin qabnu siibla irra cimma ta’uu qaba.

Baratooni mal goochu qabuu?

Baratoon qabsoo wal barsisa, Maati keessan barsisa, wa’ee dhiiga ijoole, jarsa fi jarti dhangala’aa jiru walitti dhamadha, Dadoo, daboo ijjaradha, waliin qayabachuuf gurmuu ijaradha, wal ijaruun gurma’uun siyaasaa qoofa miti, lubu of bafachuuf, beela fi dheebu of basuuf, diina jala ba’uuf isiin gargara. Baratoon Sadarka hunda jirtuu akka wal beektuun waltii dhiyyatun wal gurmeesi, du’aa wal olchii, Media hunda hordofi , waan baratee wal barsisii, keesumati diina fi fira kee bari, Afaan Oromoon baratee hojii biyyoleesa Afaan amhara ta’ee jeechuun Oromoo lammii lamffaa ta’ee jeechuu dha yoomi ilee Federala keessa hojeechuu akka atii hin dandenye sii goodhan jiru, Tigiren Afaan Amhara beeka Saba fi Sablamiin Kibba Afaan Amhara beeku, Beneshanguli fi Gambelan Afaan Amhara dubatuu Oromoo qoofatu akka Masara biyyolessa hin seeneti Afaan Oromoo qoofa baratee “Kobel Stone” Dhagga bachuuf Kadhimamtee jirta. Akkasi biyya kee irrati lammi lamaffaa tatee jirachuu irra dute TPLF buqisuun ala caaraan bira hin jiru.

Hojeetan mootumma mal goochu qabuu?

Hojeetan Mootumma Qabsoo saba deggeri, Sabotage hojjeechun, Icciti Qabsa’ootaf dabarsuu, Icciti medialee Oromoof dabarsuun, Qabeenyi wajjiralee (Mallaaqaa ykn Meeshan) bakka jiru Qeerroti saxiluudhan akka samamuu goochun qabsoo gumachuu qabdu. Qabsoo deggertes dhiftees Oromummaa keeti yakkamuun kee erga hin olee siiriti dhoksan qabsoo deggeri. Waan dandeesun utuu of hin saxiliin qooda kee gumachii, qabsoo waan ittin deggertuu qabda, Namni Finfinne keessa taksi ofuu tokko ilee qabsoo fi qabsa’aa lubuu hambsuuf waan inni hojjeechu danda’uutu jira, nama tufachuu hin qabnu, namni dhalootuman dandeeti tokko qaba akkuma dadhabina tokko qabu.

Qabsoo kana enyuu Ogannu qaba biyyaa keessa? Oganni mal goochu qaba?

Oganni Qabsoo bakka qabsa’oon Oromoo jiran Ganda fi Aanaa hunda keessa jirachuu qaba. Namoon Kalatiin Oganna barbana jeetan na gaafateef deebin koo Oganna qabsoo anna isaa Europa jiru miti, sii isaa diiree qabsoo jirudha. Seerna Gadati deebi’uu qabna, siirni gadaa nannoo hundati Oganna mata isaa qaba Oganna waloo ammoo qaba, Ganda fi Aanaa  hunda keessati Oganna keessan ijaradha. Dhaabilee ykn Actvistoon biyyaa ala jiru kan isiin gargaruu gorsa fi hamile yoo dandenye ammoo mallaaqaa ykn meesha dha. Ganda, Aanaa fi Zoni hunda keessatti qeeroon qabsoo geggesuu danda’an caasaan ijjaraman akka dandeeti fi beekumsa isaanin hojii waliif qoodani caasaa dirirfachuu qabu. Kun hin jiru jeechu koo miti inni jiru cimuu qaba, bakka hin ijjaraminiti ammoo ijjaramuu qaba dha. Caasaa Adda addaa kana dura ture heeddutuu jira, kun hundi deebi’ee lubuu goodhachuu qaba, fakeenyaf bara 2005 yeroo filannoo geggesiinu Ganda hunda keessa Caasaa ciima qabna ture, Caasaa dargaggoota,  Dubartoota, Jarsooli fi Abbooti Amanta wara qabsoo deggeran amalee  ni jiru kun hundi socho’uu qaba.

Diasporan mal goochu qaba?

Diasporan Oromoo QBO gargaaruuf caaraa heedduu qaba ture caaraa media amayya fi media haawwasuma fayadamee saba Oromoo gargaaruu ni danda’a ture. Garuu Diasporan Oromoo harkii caaluu media Haawwasumma fayadame Haawwasaa fi caasaa Oromoo hunda digee. Ganda fi amantan walgurmesan qabsoof qabsa’oota irratti boba’an booda ammoo Embassy TPLF galani dhichisu egalan, kun fara qabsooti, kana dhisan lammi isaan biyyaa keessa hidhachisu qabu, Oromoo sagalen isaa dhokateef sagalee ta’uu qabu, qabeenyan qeerro Oromoo gargaaruu qabu. Diasporan Oromoo TPLF irra lafa ykn Konduminyem 40X60f jeete TPLF jala hin hiririn Oromiyaan yoo Bilisommte hundi kan keeti. Diasporan dhabbilee Oromoo bilisummaa Oromoof qabsa’aniif deggersa goochuu qaba male habashaa jala hiriiruu hin qabu.

Actvistoota Oromoo biyya ala jiranfi

Actvistoon ykn Xiinxaltoon siyaasaa jeechun wara seena fi gaafi uummata isaan irratti hunda’aan Ogantoon siiyaasaa, Dhaabbileen siyaasaa ykn Oganni biyyaa isaa akka isaan hin dogogoreefi siiresan, qoorannoo adda adda goochun akeeka tokko tokko kan gumachan ta’uu qaba. Keenya garuu ofi ilee dogogorani Ogannota siyaasaa, dhabbilee siyaasaa fi media Oromoo utuu dogogorsan argina mal argitee yoo jeetan waan bayee dha mee murasan isiinf ibsa:-

1. Gaafa seena Dr. Haile Fida ( MESION) dubatamuu egaluu qabsoo uummata Oromoo MESION walti hidhuu barbaaduu xifuma iyuu Nafxanyoota fara Oromo EPRP akka deggertoota qabsoo Oromooti mediati dhadesun qabsoo Oromoo Habashati hidhuu yaaluu kana hundumti keessan dhiyenyuma kana argitan jirtu. Ragga yoo barbaadan heeddu dhiyeesuu ni danda’ama.
2. Gaafa dhaabbi jijjirama Keeyata 39 fara Ethiopiati Kayyoon ABO dulomeera jeedhan Minsootati Oromoo Gurageesu yaalan Actvistoon (Xinxaltoon) media hunda dhunfatan Ethiopia farsuu egalan, Paltakin hundi Afaan Amaharnya dubatee Oromoon afaan Amaharifa baraachuu egale.
3. Dhengaduma ilee Amahari Gondori hirira guyya tokko banan media hunda irratti dhadannoo fi ibsi ba’uu Oromoon Afaan Amahran bareese maxansuu egalee, Qabsoo qeerroon Oromoo ji’a 9 qoofa itti du’aa ba’ee, Protesti sabi Ethiopia ji’a 9 geggesa ture keessatu sabi Amaharaf Oromoo geggesa turan jeedhamu egalee, Mana Paltaki Oromoo cuufan ganda Habashati galan kun salphina. Gaafa ODF AG7 waliin waligalte mallateesu ammoo Oromoon Alabaa Habasha batee egaluuf wa’ee Ethiopiuma farsee bareesuu egale, Paltakiti ba’ee Dhiphuman essanu nu hin ga’uu anna akka Gondere fi Goojame na goodha jeedhe dr. Oromoo Actvisti ofin jeedhu dubacha ture. Actvistoon gaafa isaanti tole Qabsoo Oromoo Amanta jala hirirsan “Dimitsachin yisama “ gaafi ammoo “qabsoo Oromoo qabsoo saba Ethiopia” gaafi ammoo Neo Minilikan Nafxanyoota EPRP waliin dhichisun Oromummaa fi saboonumma isaani madalii isaa gadi busa. Qabsoon Bilisummaa Oromoo waggaa 40 ol geggefama jiru abba qaba, gootota heeddutu itti warreegame mana meeqatuu iti diigamee, goota meeqatuu ilmoo male jiracha jira, ilmi koo Walabumma Oromiyaati jeedhe, Ilmi sun dhalachuu qaba jeedhe diiree irra kan beela’a jirutu jira. Median Jall Dhugasa Bakakko hin beekne EPRP saba Oromoo fi qaroo Oromoo fixee warii dhadesan Oromummati deebi’uu qabu. Actvistiin saba dhabateefi falmata malee waan sabi itti dhuma jiru hormaf hin keenu. Kanaafuu activistoon Oromoo qabsoo Bilisummaa fi wallabummaa Oromiyaa mirkanesuuf irratti xiiyeefachuu qabu.

Hayuuleen mal goochu qabu?,

Hayuulee Oromoo wagaatti Article tokko bareesan OSA irratti dhiyeesun yeroo hafee hunda of dagatan jiruuf jireenya isaan jirachuu qoofa utuu hin tanee samuu isaan cuunfani rakko uummata isaan mudatee kanaaf fala barbaaduu qabu, Hayuulee Oromoo gosa ogumma isaanin OSA jalati ijaraman beekumsa isaani Oromoof waan goochuu malan itti yaaduu qabu jeedhe bareefama koo bara 2009 OSA irratti dhiyeesen ture bara 2014 ammoo Kitaaba irratti balinan bareesen ture. Fakeenya hayuuleen seena  Oromoo garmalee miciramee bareefame siiresan bareesuu irratti wal ta’aan hojjeechu qabu, Hayuuleen Seera ammoo yakka duguga sanyii baleesuu  TPLF Oromoo irratti geggesa jiru kana amumma qooratani ICCti dhiyeesun TPLF mana murti Adunya dhabuu qabu jeedhen ture bara 2009 OSA Atlanta irratti. Kana akka fakeenyatin kasse malee hayuuleen Oromoo hundi ga’ee isaan ba’uu qabu jeechu kooti Hayuuleen Seena, Adda fi Afaan, Hayuulee Barumsa, Fayyaa, Qoonnaa, Seera, Siyaasaa, ICT, Qunamti fi Media, Kununsa Nannoo, kkf hunda waan Oromiyaan isaan irra egidu guumachu qabu. Kana goochuuf ammoo Adunya irratti hayyuuleen Oromoo gosa barumsa isaantin wal gurmeesuu qabu, yoo ijjaraman malee yaadi qoofan galma hin ga’uu, humna hin ta’uu ijjaramun humna namaf keena.  Qabsoo biyyaa keessatti  geggefama jiru kara gurmu isaan dandeeti fi ogumma isaani garggaruu danda’uu. USA Dcti hayuu Ogeesa fayya Oromoo gudan Arge Ogeesi kun qoofan isaa yoo haali mijateef Skype qoofan Hospitaaloota Oromiyaa jiran heeddu keessa Ogeesoota Oromoo jiran barsisuu ykn gorsuu ni danda’aa garuu hayuu keenyati fayadamuu dadhabne.

Dhabbilen siyaasaa mal goochu qabu?

Dhaabileen siyaasaa waan hunda dura yaada uummata, yaada miseensoota isaan yaada hayyuulee Oromoo dhaga’uu qabu. Dhaabilee Oromoo jara 21 keessa doggogora Gobana Dacee, Fetuwerari Habte Gorgis Dinagdee, Tefari Banti, Dr. Haile Fida, kkf raawwatan hara ilee raawwachuu hin qaban. Habaashaa Amanu hin qaban, West amanu hin qaban, wali keenya amanu qabna, Dhaabaa Oromoo keessati iftomina qabachuu qabna, sagalee uummata dhagefachu qabu, waan nu jeenen ala namni dubate ykn yaade diina jeechun garii miti, akkas tanan namni dhugaf dubatu hundi diina ta’uu isaati, kun jeechun ergama diina fudhatan yeroo hunda wara dhaabba Oromoo balaalefacha olan TV TPLF ijarteefin Ogannota Oromoo wara maqa xureesa olan ilee dhageefadha jeechu koo miti. lote galtuun ergamtun habaashaa dhaabba keessa qooratamete qulqula’uu qabdi, dhaabilee Oromoo Bilisummaa Oromoo fi Walabummaa Oromiyaa deggeran haalaa dure tokko malee tokko ta’uu qabu, kun ta’uu banan diinaf caaraa keenya dabarsine laachuu ta’aa, ykn diini unni akka debine wal waraanu nu goodha, gorsa koo kana kudhamadha. Ayyanalalatoota Angoo fi Mallaaqaaf folatutu jira isaa rakkoo Oromoon keessa jiru kuni itti hin dhaga’umu Mallaaqaa jalaachuun dhukuba gadheedha, OPDOn yeroo Oromoon du’uu kan itti dhaga’amuu didef Mallaaqaa amma itti gara guutatan kana dhabuu waan hin barbaaneef, Dhaabilee Waraqa of keessatti bayyifachuu qabu, kan kayyoo qoofa dhabatuu fayyidan isaa hin binee saboontoota horachuu qabu. Bara 2009 OSA Conference irrati dhaabilee Oromoo Mootummaa Oromiyaa Baqaa irrati tokko dhabatan Gadiisa tokko jala jirachuu qabu, Oromiyaa akka biyyati Alaba Abba Gadaa Haluu Gurcha, Dima fi Adii walooti qabachuu qabna jeedhen ture, gaafasi yaada koof nami xiyeefana keene hin jiru, Kitaaba koo irrati kanuman bareese, nami kun maliif kana jeedhe kan jeedhe ilee hin ture, hara bakuma gaafa sana iyuu hin jiru. Yoo tokko ta’uu  fi waldhaga’uu banee gidiira saba keenya itti dheeresina kana beeka.

Ganda hunda fi Aanalee hunda keessa maltu goodhamu qaba?

Oromoon Oromoo irratti yakka dalage gara lafina tokko malee tarkanfiin dhumma irratti fudhatamu qaba. Uummani Aanaa Tokko keessa jiru 300,000 ol ta’uu Kabinoota, Polisi fi Gare fi Goxii Aanaa isaa kessa jiru hikachise hidhachu yoo dadhabe namni biyya bakka birati dhufe bilissa isaa basuu hin jiru, Uummani Oromoo erga du’uun isaa hin olee ajjeese gube diina isaa barbaadese du’uu qaba malee akkasiti tola reebamee, tourchi ta’ee, hidhamee ajjeefamuu hin qabu. Kanaafuu sabi wal gurmeese tofta barbaade fayadame Meesha fi qabeenya diina Aanaa isaa keessa jiru dhunfatee fayyida qabsoof olchuu qaba malee diina irra bituu fi itti gugura waliin nyacha fi dhuga diina irratti qabsa’uun hin danda’amuu diina irratti ugura waligala (boycoat) diina irratti gochuu qaba.

Qabsoo Oromoo keessatti midha kami iyuu wari irra ga’ee hin gataman, beenya fi bakka argachu qaban ni argatu.

TPLF ilman Tigiray Oromoo biyya isaa irratti tarkanfi sukaneesa fi gara jabina akkasi erga saba keenya irratti fudhate, Oromoon tarkanfi isaaf mijate hunda fudhachun yoo xiqate gumma midhamtoota basu qaba.

Namoon lubun warreegaman, kan qama hiratan, kan hidha turan, kan hojii irra dhorkaman, Baratooni barumsa irra dhorkaman, namoon siyaasaan biyya ari’ataman, kan lafa isaan irra buqifaman, kan ijoollen isaa qabsoo irratti warregamtee hundi Qabeenya lammi Tigiren Samame fudhame irra shalgame  kaffalamaf:

1. Namni lubun warreegame Gumma lubu akka kaffalamuuf ibsu qabna,
2. Kan qama hiratee fi mada’ee rakata jiru hundi kan hirina qama fi waan inni yeroo  argachuu male shalagamee akka kaffalamuuf ibsuufi;
3. Namni Mana hidha ture  mindan argacha qabu fi beenya hamilee (moral kassa) waliin akka kaffalamuuf ibsu qabna,,
4. Namni hojii irra ari’ame biyyaa ba’ee minda inni argacha ture shalagame kan waggoota sana hunda akka kaffalamuuf ibsu qabna,
5. Loltu Qabsoo irra ture mindan argachuu qabu madallamee kan wagoota hunda sana shalagamee akka kaffalamuuf ta’a.
6. Baratoon University irra dhabatan Minda argacha biyya keessa fi biyya alati akka baratan kan godhamu ta’u isaa  ibsufi qabna, ;
7. Haati ykn Abban ijoolleen isaan Qabsoo Oromoo irratti warreegaman beenya kaffalamaf, soruma akka argatan goodhama. Kkf ammuma seeran qoophefamu qaba. Kun hamilee qabsa’oota keenya kan jabeesuu fi warregamtoon kan hindagatamne ta’u isaa mirkanessa.

Mal Goonu? Furmaati mali? Tarkanfin itti anu mali?

1. Mari’achuu qabna, wal gorfachuu qabna, tokko ta’uu qabna.
2. Dhaabileen Oromoo kayyoo  Bilisummaa fi Walabummaa Oromiyaatti amanan haala dure tokko malee walti deebi’uu qabu.
3. Dargagoota Qeerro, Baratoota Oromoo kara qajeeltoon gorsuu qabna;
4. Hidhannoo, meesha fi mallaaqi saba keenyaf ni barbaachisa tokko tanee waan qabnu gumachuu qabna, yoo tokko tane qabeenyi keenya dargagoo biyya keessaf bu’aa busaa, dhabbileen Oromoo, abban qabeenya Oromoo  fi sabni Oromoo qabsa’oota keenya ataataman meeshaa  hidhachiisuu irratti waligalu qabna.
5. Yoo xiinate waan Oromoon irratti waligaluu tokko jirachuu qaba innis Bilisummaa fi Walabumman Oromiyaa hunda keenyaf kudhama ta’uu qaba,
6. Ijoolleen Oromoo Afaan Amahara hin beektuu Oromoon abba biyya sana ta’uu banan lammi lamaffaa tatii kanaafuu waan hojeenu fi dubanuu waa’ee egeree Ijoollee Oromoo ol adeemtu kana yaadachaa murtesuu qabna malee wa’ee keenya ta’uu hin qabu.
7. Habaasha waliin yeroo dubbatan hin tufatina Amahari ykn Habaashan kana booda waan tokko goochu hin danda’an hin jeedhina, diinna tufatantu nama injjifataa, kanaafuu dura Gobana Dace, H/Gorgisi, Tefari Banti fi Dr. Haile Fida,dr. Sanaye Like dr. Nagasoo Giidada kkf… dogoogora isaan hojjeetan yaadacha dubadha.
8. Waan anni jeedhe qoofatu wayya anna qoofatu beeka dha , yoo yaada koo fudhachuu dide ati diina jeechun dhabachuu qaba,
9. Waan wari West nu gorsan hunda amanu hin qabnu, isaan feedhi isaan qoofafi hojeetu utuu dhugaf hojeetu ta’ee Ango Ethiopia Tigire %5f keenan waraanaa ABO Kampy hin galchan ture.
10. Biyyotiin  Oola keenya ilee Jabina Oromoo fi Oromoon akka Abba biyya ta’uu hin barbaadan isaan ilee feedhi  Oromoo to’achuu qabu, Oromoo laftuu fi ergamtuu barbaaduu Oromoo haqaf falmatuu Habaashoon fi fakatoon isaan hin barbaadan
11. Qeeroo Dargagoon Oromoo kara itti isaan Meesha argachuu danda’aan atataaman tarsiimoo cimman tokko ba’uu qaba.
12. Oromoon Tigire fi ergamtoota TPLF irra Bituu fi Ittigurguru dhisuun Ugura irra ka’ee akka isaan Oromiyaa keessa ba’an goochu qaba.
13. Yakka suukanessa video kana irrati argitan kan raawwatan lammiin Tigiray lafa Oromoo irra guyya tokko ilee buluu hin qaban. https://www.facebook.com/bontuu.lammii.10/videos/vb.100009428095556/1678009995856587/?type=2&theater
14.  Yakka TPLF raawwatuu hundaf Oromoon tarkanf wal fakkata lammi Tigiray irratti fudhachuu qaba.
15. Qabeenyi lammi Tigiray hundi kan Oromoo ta’uu isaa seeran labsamuu qaba, namni lammi Tigiray irra qabeenya tokko ilee bitee seera qabeesa akka hin tanee amuma labsamuu qaba.
16.  Oromoon kara kamn iyuu Qabeenya fi meesha TPLF fi kan ergamtoota isaan hunda dhunfachuu qaba;
17.  Tofta ittin Konkoolata fi Tanki diina ittin guban dargaggoota leenjisuuf fi barsisuu qabna.

Wara Maliif WFDO gate jeetani na qeeqitan fi wara Qeesi hin xuuqin jeetanf deebi gababduun qaba.

Ati dhaabbilee hundaaf maliif barreesita ykn maliif dubata WFDO maliif gate jeedhan Miseensoon WFDO na qeeqitanf ilee deebin qaba,Wfdon abba qaba abban muca isaa hin gatuu, ani Bu’uureesa WFDO hunda natu mana irra deeme wamee walti fide erga tokko tane humna guda tane ture bori ilee ni tana amma garuu maqa kanan biyaa ala ta’ee fayadamuu hin danda’uu nageenya keessanf jeecha yoon maqichaa faayadamu badheiyuu hojii hojeechadhuman jira . WFDOn gaafan ani galee Afaan Oromoon hojeechuu egala kayyoo dhabateef hunda akkan galma ga’u goodha. xiiqoo naa obsa,  amma akka bakka bu’aa uummata Oromooti waan Oromoof maluu hundan deggera, waan Bilisummaa Oromoo fi Walabummaa Oromiyaa midhuu hunda duran dhabadha.  Warii qeesi sodadhu  nan jeetanf waan Oromoo midhu irratti qeeesi miti waqayoon yoo ta’ee ilee duran dhabadha.

Ani kayyoon koo feedhin koo Bilisummaa Oromoo fi Walabummaa Oromiyaa qoofa, Angoof ykn Mallaaqaa argachuuf utuu hin tane saba koo abba biyya goochuuf. Namni akka na jalatuuf miti  namni kan jalachuu qabu bifaa  ykn amalaa koo utuu hin tane kayyoo kooti, wari qeesi fi sheeki hin xuqiin namootatu sii jiba jeetan deebin koo ifadha “ Oromoo abba fedhe yoo ta’ee, qeesii fi sheeki dhisaati Oganoota QBO ilee yoo ta’ee yoo isaan TPLF jalaa adeemuu egalan yoo isaan Habaashati fulaa garagachatan  QBO dura dhabachuu egalan yoo isaan kayyoo dhugaa gootoon itti warreegaman gurguru egalan dhiifama hin goodhuf” gaafan diina jalaa hiriree Oromoon ilee dhiifama na goochuu hin qabu. Harki koo qulqulu dha waan anni nama sodadhuuf hin qabu, waa nama irra hin funee haqa nama hin xuqine, mirga nama hin dhibne, mirga Oromoofn falmadha kaanfin hin sodadhu.

Kana irratti mari’achuu qabna yeroo hunda Bilisummaa Oromoo fi Walabummaa Oromiyya irratti garaa qulqulun hojeechuu qabna. Oromoon tokko, kayyoon keenya  tokko kan gooti fi qaroon Oromoo hanga yoona itti warreegame fi itti beela’e.

Na ofkalcha !!

Yoon dogogre na siireesa?

By Baro Keno Deressa, Dr.

The colonial state of Ethiopian empire is/was the machinery of disaster and total domination established to facilitate effective control and exploitation of the colonized nations. The Ethiopian colonial ruler imposed and maintained their ruling system by force, without the consent of the people, the colonial states never had the effective legitimacy of normal governments.

Oromo’s and other oppressed nations are put up the best resistance with the resources they had/have and armed with their truth. The current colonizers of Oromo peoples and oppressed nations TPLF junta fighting the innocent civilians, with more deadly firearms, machines guns, new rifles, and artillery guns. It is quite clear that most Oromo peoples fought and still fighting fiercely and bravely to retain control over their countries and to regain their right against Ethiopian colonialist. As TPLF intensified pressure to impose its colonial rule against Oromo and other oppressed nations, the Oromo’s and other oppressed nations are organized to resist. These organizational resistances become superluminal, goes faster than the speed of light. Now the question is the act of pacing up with the world!!! In order to give the proper answer to our colonizers.

In my previous article on August 11, 2016 under Oromummaa cures the world cancer I wrote:

• I would like to congratulate the powerful western nations, the world leaders and the international institutions by announcing the remedies to cure world cancer. The remedies called Oromumma. The name of the therapy originates from the root of the truth called Oromo nations.
• Oromo people are nation of peace, nation of democratic rule, nation of justice and equality, nation of heroes, nation of generosity, nation of rich in culture, tradition and nature.

Our hero MR. Feysia Leelisa: I am proud of you the Oromo nation are proud of you. You showed to the international community the heroism act of your people, the greatness of your nations, the truth of the fact and you expose the inhuman atrocities of the TPLF junta against Oromo people and sufferings of millions of our brothers, sisters and fathers in the hell of TPLF prison camp. You reminded me also the life of our WBO “we never surrender to our enemy during the worst and harsh period. We put our peoples goal more than our life’s, our family and personal luxury”. You did exact the same. The Opportunistic ambassador, minsters, military forces and business peoples under the brutal TPLF-government of Ethiopia has to learn more from you.

All those facts confirmed the Oromummaa vision is the best remedies for international crisis. The protest of Oromo people with cross hands over the head are the question of all oppressed nations around the globe, the message of the gallant sons and daughters of the Oromo people are the heartbeat of the life of the oppressed nations and the proposal of Oromo people are the best remedy to cure the disease.  The enemy of peace, freedom and democracy is the enemy of Oromo people.

What is the formula? First let me describe consolidation therapy

Consolidation therapy is: Cancer treatment given after induction therapy to consolidate the gains obtained, further reduce the number of cancer cells and enhance the likelihood of a durable complete remission. Often just called consolidation. The overall sequence of therapy may be induction, consolidation, and maintenance therapy. Induction therapy is the initial step toward reducing the number of cancer cells. Consolidation is designed to further diminish the number of cancer cells and enhance the likelihood of achieving a durable complete remission. Maintenance is given to maintain the remission and further prevent a relapse.

So, my people induction therapy is already completed and consolidation therapy is essential to diminish the power of colonialism internally and externally to enhance our freedom and in order to accomplish maintenance therapy. Let me clarify my point:

Induction therapy (first initiatives in order to solve Ethiopian empire complexity): In 1991 the OLF leadership accept a peace plan and form a transitional government in order to solve all questions of Oromo people and oppressed nations peacefully. This induction therapy was refused by patient (TPLF junta). The doctor (OLF) was forced to leave the infected area. Now the patient is suffering from metastasis.

Consolidation therapy was applied by qeerroo leadership and popular revolution. Popular revolution under qeerroo leadership offer consolidative therapy to reduce the metastasis in order to destroy the disease gradually (Colonialism).  But still the patient (TPLF junta) is refusing the therapy and choose to suffer.

Maintenance therapy: This one is especial one. Our hero Feysia Leelisa is the magic one of Oromo name (fayisa: healing, Leelisa= continuing, growing)→summarize in medical term →keep up healing or Maintenance therapy. This is now what we call it tissue is the issue. Brother fayyisa is born to heal his peoples wound, to elevate his people’s unity in order to be mighty force, to reinforce lesson of our vanguard organization OLF, to heal the wounds that our enemy create through divide and conquer dirty politics, to empower the qeerroo leadership to accomplish consolidative therapy in order to finish our mission.

The prosperity, and social vitality and technological progress of a people are directly determined by the extent of their liberty. Freedom honors and unleashes human creativity — and creativity determines the strength and wealth of nations. Liberty is both the plan of Heaven for humanity, and the best hope for progress here on Earth.

How we are transforming this international awareness to practice? In order to answer this question, I would like to look the lesson of our immune system OLF.

Our vanguard organizations OLF, taught Oromo people to be an engineer (inventor and master of the invention) instead of a mechanic (reformer of decaying ..). The fact of this truth are

• The imprinting of Oromummaa in 1991
• The birth of qube generation with an engineer feeling
• The action of Qeerroo movement, confronting our enemies with bare hand but armed with truth
• The changing pace of our struggle from regional to international issues
• The act of responsibility from organization to popular revolution and now to individual Oromo person (example, brother Feysia Leelisa).

Here, we as an Oromo we can conclude confidently, now our struggle for peace, freedom and democracy is unstoppable. Our colonizers have tried many tactics and strategies to destruct the justified question of our nation (their tactic was: changing the name of people, changing the name of our cities, divide and conquer and forming puppet organization like OPDO). All those tactics are expired and now the question of our nations is knocking all doors of the Oromo peoples and Oppressed nations in Ethiopian empire, healing the blind western governments and become the sign of freedom, peace and democracy. Let me quote the former USA president: George W. Bush, farewell speech to the nation (15 January 2009) “When people live in freedom, they do not willingly choose leaders who pursue campaigns of terror. When people have hope in the future, they will not cede their lives to violence and extremism. So around the world, America is promoting human liberty, human rights, and human dignity. We are standing with dissidents and young democracies, providing AIDS medicine to bring dying patients back to life, and sparing mothers and babies from malaria. And this great republic born alone in liberty is leading the world toward a new age when freedom belongs to all nations”.

The answer is keep up your struggle and be the engineer of your people’s question and master of your destination. Our current colonizers TPLF-junta sticks a knife in our back ten inches and pull it out six inches, there’s no progress. If they pull it all the way out that’s not progress. Progress is healing the wound that the blow made. And they haven’t even pulled the knife out much less heal the wound, they won’t even admit the knife is there (thousands of our brothers and sisters are died/dying, millions of Oromo peoples are languishing in the prison camp, sick people from Oromo and oppressed nations are suffering from natural disease and manmade disaster-but TPLF is talking about double digit growth and growing democracy).

Conclusion:

The war we Oromo people and oppressed nations are fighting today is more than a military engagement; it is the decisive identity struggle of the 21st century. On one side are those who believe in the values of freedom and moderation; the right of all people to speak, master of their fate and worship, and live in liberty. And on the other side are those driven by the values of tyranny and colonialism; the right of a self-appointed few to impose their colonial rule on all the rest.  As Oromo’s, we have seen this kind of enemy before. They’re successors to Fascists, to Nazis and other totalitarian regimes.  And history shows what the outcome will be. This war will be difficult; this war will be challenging; and this war will end in the defeat of the colonialist and totalitarians TPLF junta and a victory for the cause of freedom and democracy.

Victory to the Oromo people!

Dr. B. K. DERESSA, Medical degree in internal medicine, specialized in Gastro-Hepatology diseases. University Hospital of Brussels-Belgium

Analysis | AllAfrica.com

By Asafa Jalata, University of Tennessee.

Country-wide demonstrations by the Oromo in Ethiopia have flared up again. Ethiopia’s authorities reacted with heavy force, resulting in the death of 100 civilians. The Conversation Africa’s Samantha Spooner asked Professor Asafa Jalata about the country-wide protests.

Who are the Oromo people?

The Oromo are the single largest ethno-national group in northeast Africa. In Ethiopia alone they are estimated to be 50 million strong out of a total population of 100 million. There are also Oromo communities living in Kenya and Somalia.

Ethiopia is said to have about 80 ethno-national groups. The Oromo represent 34.4% while the Amhara (Amara) 27%. The rest are all less than 7% each.

The Oromo call themselves a nation. They have named their homeland “Oromia”, an area covering 284,538 square kms. It is considered to be the richest area of northeast Africa because of its agricultural and natural resources. It is often referred to as the “breadbasket” of the region. 60% of Ethiopian economic resources are generated from Oromia.

The capital city of Ethiopia is located in the heart of Oromia. What the world knows as Addis Ababa is also known to the Oromo as their capital, “Finfinnee”. When the Abyssinian warlord, Menelik, colonised the Oromo during the last decades of the 19th century he established his main garrison city in Oromia and called it Addis Ababa.

Despite being the largest ethno-national group in Ethiopia, the Oromo consider themselves to be colonial subjects. This is because they have been denied equal access to their country’s political, economic and cultural resources. It all started with their colonisation by, and incorporation into, Abyssinia (the former Ethiopian empire) during the Scramble for Africa.

Today, comprising just 6% of the population, Tigrayans dominate and control the political economy of Ethiopia with the help of the West, particularly the US. This relationship is strategic to the US who use the Tigrayan-led government’s army as their proxy to fight terrorism in the Horn of Africa and beyond.

The Oromo community has been demonstrating since November last year. What triggered the protests?

The Oromo demonstrations have been underway for over eight months, first surfacing in Ginchi (about 80 kms southwest of the capital) in November 2015. It began when elementary and secondary school students in the small town began protesting the privatisation and confiscation of a small soccer field and the selling of the nearby Chilimoo forest.

The sentiment quickly spread across Oromia. The entire Oromo community then joined the protests, highlighting other complaints such as the so-called Integrated Addis Ababa Master Plan and associated land grabbing. The master plan was intended to expand Addis Ababa by 1.5 million hectares onto surrounding Oromo land, evicting Oromo farmers.

Last year’s demonstrations were the product of over 25 years of accumulated grievances. These grievances arose as a result of the domination by the minority Tigrayan ethno-national group. Because of this dominance the Oromo people have become aliens in their own country, lost ownership of their land and have become impoverished.

What was different about these demonstrations was that, for the first time, all Oromo branches came together in coordinated action to fight for their national self-determination and democracy.

Which part of the Oromo community is organising the rallies?

It is believed that underground activist networks, known as Qeerroo, are organising the Oromo community. The Qeerroo, also called the Qubee generation, first emerged in 1991 with the participation of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in the transitional government of Ethiopia. In 1992 the Tigrayan-led minority regime pushed the OLF out of government and the activist networks of Qeerroo gradually blossomed as a form of Oromummaa or Oromo nationalism.

Today the Qeerroo are made up of Oromo youth. These are predominantly students from elementary school to university, organising collective action through social media. It is not clear what kind of relationship exists between the group and the OLF. But the Qeerroo clearly articulate that the OLF should replace the Tigrayan-led regime and recognise the Front as the origin of Oromo nationalism.

What are their demands?

Their immediate demands are for the Ethiopian government to halt the so-called Addis Ababa Master Plan, land grabbing, corruption, and the violation of human rights.

Their extended demands are about achieving self-determination and sovereignty by replacing the Tigrayan-led regime with a multi-ethno-national democratic government. These demands gradually emerged to create solidarity with other ethno-national groups, such as the Amharas, who also have grievances with the regime.

How has the government reacted to the protests?

The government reaction has been violent and suppressive. Despite Oromia being the largest regional state in Ethiopia, it has been under martial law since the protests began. The government has been able to use this law to detain thousands of Oromos, holding them in prisons and concentration camps.

Security structures called tokkoo-shane (one-to-five), garee and gott have also been implemented. Their responsibilities include spying, identifying, exposing, imprisoning, torturing and killing Oromos who are not interested in serving the regime.

There have also been deaths and reports of thousands of Oromos who have been maimed as a result of torture, beatings or during the suppression of protests. For example, during the Oromia-wide day of peaceful protest on July 6 the regime army, known as Agazi, massacred nearly 100 Oromos. According to Amnesty International, 400 Oromos were killed before July 6. But in reality nobody knows exactly how many Oromos have been victims of violence.

What impact have these protests had on the country?

The Oromo protest movement has started to change the political landscape of Ethiopia and shaken the regime’s foundations. Erupting like “a social volcano”, it has sent ripples through the country with different groups changing their attitudes and standing in solidarity with the Oromo. The support of the Ahmaras has been particularly significant as they are the second largest ethno-national group in Ethiopia.

For the first time in history, the plight of the Oromo people has also received worldwide attention. International media outlets have reported on the peaceful protests and subsequent government repression.

This has brought about diplomatic repercussions. In January the European Parliament condemned the Ethiopian government’s violent crackdown. It also called for the establishment of a credible, transparent and independent body to investigate the murder and imprisonment of thousands of protesters. Similarly, the UN Human Rights Experts demanded that Ethiopian authorities stop the violent crackdown.

Not all global actors are taking a strong stance. Some are concerned about maintaining good relations with the incumbent government. For example, the US State Department expressed vague concern about the violence associated with the protest movement. In sharp contrast they signed a security partnership with the Ethiopian government.

Nevertheless, the momentum of the Oromo movement looks set to continue. The protests, and subsequent support, have seen the further development of activist networks and Oromo leadership, doubling their efforts to build their organisational capacity.

Is this the first time that the Oromo have demonstrated their grievances in this way?

No. The Oromo have engaged in scattered instances of resistance since the late 19th century when they were colonised.

In the 1970s the Oromo started to engage in a national movement under the leadership of OLF. The front was born out of the Macha-Tulama Self-Help Association, which was banned in the early 1960s and other forms of resistance such as the Bale Oromo armed resistance of the 1960s. Successive Ethiopian regimes have killed or sent Oromo political and cultural leaders into exile.

How do you believe their grievances can be resolved?

Critics believe the Tigrayan-led minority regime is unlikely to resolve the Oromo grievances. Oromo activists believe that their national struggle for self-determination and egalitarian democracy must intensify.

I am sure that, sooner or later, the regime will be overthrown and replaced with a genuine egalitarian democratic system. This is because of the size of the Oromo population, abundant economic resource, oppression and repression by the Tigrayan-led government, the blossoming of Oromo political consciousness and willingness to pay the necessary sacrifices.

Disclosure statement

Asafa Jalata does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above.

By Tsegaye Ararssa

Recently, someone asked me to state what was so important about Feyisa making a “statement” at the Olympics and what Oromos and their community associations are doing about it in response. The following was part of my response to him.

Source: Advocacy 4 Oromia

I.
Athlete Feyisa took the Oromo protest to the world stage. And he did so in the most dramatic fashion in the marathon race just before the closing ceremony. In doing so, he unveiled the long suffering Oromo struggle to the entire world. By using the only platform he has a professional athlete—and by putting his professional and personal life on the line—he brought the Oromo cause to the attention of the world community.

It is important for all Oromos because Oromos have long been suffering from lack of voice. As people rendered inaudible and invisible by the conspiracy of the dominant politico-legal systems of the international (the West, the EU, the UN) and the national (Abyssinia-Ethiopia), they struggled to get a hearing. The notion of sovereignty of nation states exerted on the international plane was deployed to full use in order to silence and mute the voice of sub-state entities such as the Oromo and other indigenous peoples that suffer from the legacies of settler colonialism across the globe.

The Oromos were not legible to the international system. For over a century now, they have been rendered virtually invisible and their voice was made completely inaudible. It is this invisibility and inaudibility that Feyisa’s gesture of resistance in the Olympic village of Rio broke through. His extraordinarily brave act shattered the ‘polite’ silence of the world, especially that of Ethiopia’s Western allies that serve as its patrons (such as the USA), around Ethiopia’s practice of mass murder, mass arrest, dispossession, and unrelenting displacement of the Oromo and other indigenous peoples of Ethiopia’s wider South.

At home, the Oromo have been in a continuous protest movement, especially since the unveiling of the Addis Ababa Master Plan in April 2014. After an initial violent repression by the regime of the predominantly student-led series of demonstrations in 2014 (in which over 140 Oromos were killed), the protests were reignited in November 2015. Since then, the Oromo people from all walks of life have been demanding a hearing from the regime.They were trying to reclaim a voice in the country they were rendered invisible except for bearing the heavy brunt of suffering.

They were demanding to be taken seriously. Throughout, they have been presenting their historic demands for sovereignty over their land; a referendum for exercising the constitutional right and basic human right of self-determination, autonomy in the form of self-rule in the Ethiopian federation; a halt to land grab policies AND practices of the regime that are virtually dispossessing and displacing the Oromo from their ancestral homes; and respect for their right of identity, cultural integrity, and linguistic justice in Oromia and in the wider country. They were demanding social justice (freedom from exclusion, exploitation, and oppression). They were seeking for their human right to be free from arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, and insinuations as terrorists, separatists, extremists or otherwise criminals under unjust set of laws and judicial practices. They were demanding that Finfinnee/Addis Ababa, as their own city, be accommodative of the ownership right and, that at the very least, the regime sees to it that the so-called ‘constitutional special interest’ of Oromia be fully and completely implemented. They were thus demanding a fairer share of capabilities, resources, and opportunities in the city. They were seeking a better cultural presence and representation in the city. In short, they were seeking a genuinely co-equal citizenship and co-equal ownership of its state.

By this, they were simply asking a complete structural transformation of a polity that is historically constructed on an unjust foundation at the expense of the Oromo and the ‘other’ peoples in the wider South. As we all know, of course, these are demands of the Oromo national struggle since the Second World War and beyond.

It was this long suppressed demand for a hearing that finally found expression in the immensely courageous act of Athlete Feyisa Lelisa as he crossed his hands while crossing the victory lines of his marathon race. It was this long suppressed, contained, and/or repressed voice that exploded into the global stage on the 21st of August 2016.

It was this attempt by Oromo activists and political leaders to unmask the true face of the Ethiopian regime that finally found expression in his acts. Since this dramatic act of the athlete was seen, hundreds of media outlets have reported on the Oromo protests throughout the whole week non-stop. The silence was finally broken. The appeal to the global public conscience has finally found a traction. Through one heroic act, Athlete Feyisa could beautifully galvanize the world’s media and could force them to pay attention, and to bear witness, to the Oromo suffering.

Because of Feyisa’s act, the Oromo resistance movement now seems to gain a new momentum that can possibly get a traction in the diplomatic corridors of the international community. The issue of the Oromo cannot be wilfully hidden any longer. Nor can it be conveniently ignored. However imperfectly at times, it has been extensively reported upon.

Feyisa’s act of solidarity with the Oromo protests is this big, this significant, for the Oromo struggle for emancipation. I think the nation is eternally grateful to him for his immensely courageous and patriotic act.

I, for one, will never tire of singing his praises.

And of course, the response to stand with him in this season of difficulty for him and his family is simply unbelievable. The love, care, concern, and best wishes extended to him from people from all walks of life is simply astounding. Quite literally, he is flooded with love. The nation embraced him. Thousands, perhaps millions, of people have been asking us if there is a way to help him be safe and well.

II

How is the community of Oromia people in the United States and around the world helping him and making sure he will be safe in Ethiopia or somewhere else?

Well, Oromos from across the globe have been reaching out to him for help.

I know that the International Oromo Lawyers Association (IOLA) has volunteered to offer necessary legal assistance services. A team of lawyers are coordinating their efforts to ensure that he is safe and will get to a place where he can resettle. The same team is also working to see to it that his family is safe and their needs are properly met until they get reunited with Athlete Feyisa.

I also know that a team of social media activists have raised over a 150, 000 USD through GoFundMe.

Numerous Oromo individuals are reaching out to him to wish him well, to ensure his safety, and to assist him in any way they can. As I said earlier, the nation has embraced him as its most distinguished hero. His name has been transfigured to take a different politico-theological meaning. I am sure his story will take up a pride of place in the more glorious archives of history. History owns him now. He belongs to the category of the immortals.

Oromo Community associations in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, and other places are trying to organize themselves in extending help to the athlete. They are also trying to regroup and support the protest movement by further intensifying their engagement with the international community including the governments of the countries they are living in.
I think the Community Associations will have more extensive answers on this matter than I do. So I would rather say nothing much on that. It needs to be said strongly however that now is the time for a more robust, a more effective, a more systematic engagement with the powers that be. Now is the time for action. The polite silence of the regime’s patrons is broken. The veils are removed. The regime is now exposed to the light of the world’s public opinion.

And so, let us get to work.

We owe it to Feyisa Lelisa and the martyrs he represents, those he ‘spoke’ of and spoke for with grand eloquence last Sunday.

We cannot afford to fail him. We cannot afford to fail them.

This story is from https://www.facebook.com/tsegaye.ararssa/posts/619461238214887

By Worku Gadissa

*INTRODUCTION

The abstract of this paper was submitted to OSA under the title of “Negotiation Politically Correct Lunacy” for presentation at the Conference of July 29-31, 2016, but has not been accepted.

It must be noted that in August 2015, OSA Annual Conference I gave analytical report on the history of land robbing “The Territories Surrounding Finfine and Evil Master Plan.” It is not coincident I presented that paper and what has happened then and the event that led to the Oromo up rising. Now I see new major danger that our rulers are trying to use negotiation/mediation deception tactics as new weapon to stop Oromo struggle. With tens of thousands in prison and hundreds being killed the Woyane regime is ready to hijack our struggle by negotiation. As a two way process the use of force and  mediation is their new tactics as a prelude to the next phase land robbing and ethnic cleansing. It is important that we wake up and reject any negotiation with the dangerous consequence for Oromo people.

There are hundreds of failed negotiations and mediations made by Oromos with Habesha rulings classes, but I have included only a handful of examples that will help you as you read them.

 *The Revision History of Negotiation with Habesha Rulers.

The purpose of this paper is to learn and refresh ourselves from past negotiation the Oromos have made with Habesha rulers. It tells how prominent Oromo leaders were cheated and fooled many times in their attempt to negotiate with the Habesha rulers.

We live in a time when people can instantly search for answers to their problems, how to make peace and unite through negotiation and reconciliation. Negotiation or reconciliation is a means of building consensus through dialogue and compromise.

Recently, there has been a great deal of discussion on public media  about negotiation and reconciliation among various Ethiopian political groups, including the Oromos.

We are also facing the worst racism, hate, and war of genocide in our history. I want to make sure you were aware of the negotiation or mediation scam that is circulating in Ethiopia and abroad. As part of this scam you may attend conference calls from various political groups abroad and even with the Ethiopian Government. These scammers will often try to coerce you into negotiation engagement and signing up a deal with the oppressive regime in Ethiopia. Their goal is get you out of the present Oromo struggle.

Historically the Oromos pride themselves in solving their common disputes and quarrels or wider conflicts with their tribal neighbors through “jarsuma” a tradition of mediation and arbitration. To settle their differences, the opposing sides select wise and pious elderly figures [adage] for mediation and reconciliation. Any peace agreement reached is concluded by oath or kakuu and it is binding.

Over a period of 130 years there are ample historical records and evidences where Oromo were engaged in political peace negotiations and treaties with feudal kings and other rulers and where all ended up in betrayal and double-crossings. It simply means it is difficult to negotiate in fairness, openness and truth with our governing classes.

To learn how the Habesha rulers cheated and fooled the Oromos, let us travel to the late 1870s from Atse Yohannes IV. And work our ways through the event that lead up to the short lived OLF. partnership with TPLF.

Atse Yohannes IV.

Yohannes concurred  Wollo and forced Oromo Muslims to accept Christianity or be killed. Wollo was conquered and more than 40,000 Oromos  died  at the Battle of Boru- Medaa.

Kubee the Rayaa Azeboo ruler was converted to Christianity with Yohannes as his   godfather. Kubee revolted against Yohannes but surrendered without fight and after peace negotiation and reconciliation. Once he  surrendered and gave himself up, vengeance begins. All of his fighting force of 2,000 men were lined up in a narrow passage and were mercilessly beheaded one – by- one while Yohannes watching the execution with pride. Kubee was beheaded and his head was carried around as a victory trophy.

Here is a poem of Yohannes cruelty:-

“Atmenew Tigren bemil begezete”
Kiristina  ansitew Kuben gedelut
“Yabelutal enge yatetutal enge”
“Endet yigedelal lehonulet lije”

A short translation; never trust the Tigreans even if under oath.

Workit,  The Wollo Ruler 

Workit   (balabat) of Wollo Oromo played a prominent role in helping Menelik to escape from Mekdela prison. Workit  and  Gobena Dache helped Menelik to fight and defeated Bezabih who was then ruler of Showa. Menelik then took control of Showa and become king.

Despite her great contribution in helping Menelik gain back his Showa kingdom and establishment of empire building, Workit was betrayed and at last thrown into  prison and her kingdom given to Ras Ali the father of Lij Eyassu.

Gobena Dache

Even Gobana Dache who played the major role in the conquest of Oromia was at last poisoned to his death. Gobena was given a sub- kingship as a ruler with Menelik. Without Gobena it was unlikely that Menelik would have conquered Oromia.

Despite the central role the Oromos have played in shaping present Ethiopia, Oromos history has been neglected, ignored, twisted and even actively suppressed.

Gobena , because of his role in the conquest of Oromia is greatly respected in Habeshas  circles, while because of his selfish ambition and vain glory, the Oromos recognize him as a traitor.

The genocide Of Anolee

A clear example how negotiation works is the Anole Genocide.

After his victory in Arsi, one of Menelik’s war lord,  Ras Darge invited the Arseans for peace talk and reconciliation at a place called Anolee. Darge put people march into narrow passage and the mutilation began of men’s right arms and women’s right breast chopped off one- by-one. Many hundreds of men and women were mutilated. The most heinous and most cruel crime of which Oromo history has recorded have been committed by Menelik.

Menelik committed ethnic cleansing in Oromia and all other nationalities in the South. In the face of such a horrific tragedy, instead of asking full responsibility and remorse, the Habesha rulers deny the massacre in Anolee and justified the massacre without shame and regret. In the event of such horrific tragedy, even the pop star singer Teddy Afro, in his glorification of Menelik recently commented that, the war of conquest of Oromia  was  a “ holy war of unity” ( jihad war)

The Ethiopian leaders deny the crime of shame committed and when you feel shame, you start to lie.

This is one of the many examples where mediation or reconciliation (erqe, deredir or shimgelina) does not serve at all. It only prolonged our sufferings and enslavement.

Lij Iyasu

The Wollo Ras Ali also known  as Negus Michael, the father of Iyasu was one of those Oromos who played a prominent role keeping Ethiopia united during Atse Yohannes and Menelik’s era. Ali marched to Showa with a large Wollo Oromo army to fight Haile Selassie who was then a crown prince. The Showeans had no knowledge of the surprise advance and were not prepared for war. Before the war began, Haile Selassie sent his wise man F. Habte Georges, a skilled master of  Habesha intrigue for a peace treaty with Ras Ali. While negotiations was going on Haile Selassie was secretly receiving  more arms from abroad and  getting ready for war.

The Wollo army had a devastating defeat at the Battle of Sagaale. Lij Iyassu was captured and deported to Gara- Mulata, Hararge.  The battle of Sagalle was not only a catastrophic defeat to Ras Ali but also the end of Wara -Himenu and Yeju Oromo dynasty as rulers. We should also to remember that the battle of Sagale changed the course of history as it was the launching platform for Haile Selassie to rise to power as Emperor of Ethiopia.

The Bale Oromo Revolts

One quick example of how mediation was used as  traps is the Bale Oromo revolts

The Bale people who suffered under feudal rules had many armed revolts and uprisings  during Haile Selassie’s rule.  Small groups of revolutionary freedom fighters like General Wako Gutuu often fought against Ethiopian Government forces and Neftegna land owners. All of the revolts were put down under dubious peace treaty and reconciliations.  Once they surrendered and gave themselves up, vengeance began. Those who had risen up in rebellion, were expelled from their land or killed

Many Oromos are lied to, deceived and fell into the trap of clever scam of mediation. After the peace treaty and surrender, people were falsely accused, tried and thrown into prison or even killed.

Gen. Tadesse Biru

Even the legendary G. Tadesse Birru who earned admiration and respects for being a hero for Oromo cause was cheated by negotiation tactics. G. Tadesse was the champion of Literacy Campaign, active supporter of Metch Tulama and bold fighter of Oromos cause.

Quite often when the Ethiopian leaders wanted negotiation scam and vicious mediation with the Oromo’s, regular method was to deploy popular Oromo leaders. However incase of G.Tadesse, their tactics was to use the church. The Orthodox Church is historically in holy alliance with the government and work in tandem to rule over Oromia.

After failed coup d’état attempt and accusation for treason the General fled to Meta Robi.  Quite often Ethiopian rulers deploy God’s concept to accomplish their political tactics.  Abune Tewoflos and Aba Habte Mariam (present Abune Melketsedik of California) went after him for the arbitration and mediation. They made him change his mind and he return to Finfine with them.

They gave him assurance that no criminal charges be made against him by the emperor. Tadesse from his strong religious believe and faith obeyed the two religious leaders and followed them back to Finfine and asked the king for apology.

As usual mediation is a ploy, with double standard and betrayal and criminal charges loaded against the General and he was thrown into prison. Well the rest is history.

Many Oromos leaders have been lied to and deceived in similar manner after entering mediation deal with the Abyssinians.

Do we Oromo’s learn from past mistakes? The wise learn from the mistakes of others, while fools repeat them.  Remember that those who enter into negotiation signed their own death warrant! The historian, Edo Boru said “ woorii harkaa kenne Harkaa  dhaabe.”

Villagaiztion Program

After the Land Policy of 1974 the Derg regime introduced the huge Villagaiztion Program for development of rural inhabitants. The government forcibly moved rural farmers to new location under its false policy of Villagaiztion scheme.

Tens of millions to abandon their homes move to new locations with their cattle, promising the basic services, roads, electricity, water health centers etc.  Massive eviction by force was carried under the pretext of better services and improvement of the life style of rural farmers.

Villagiztion was a deliberate plan specially targeted Oromia for the destruction of socio economical and cultural structure of Oromos. It was also a wicked and deliberate scheme by neftegnas to permanently removing the  Oromos from their land and impoverishing them.

Zgebla Conspiracy

1968 TPLF.  invited  Amhar political party EHEDN.  to peace  and unity meeting at a place called Zegebla in Tigray where  all the participants were killed.

Do you want negotiate with regime that carries AK- 47 in one hand and peace treaty on the other? They will stab you from the back !

Article 39

The famous constitution of ethnic federalism and self-determination, Article 39 was immediately scrapped, tossed out and nullified by TPLF. Everybody knows that Article 39 is an empty phrase, a scam and mean nothing. Why it is so hard for the Oromo’s to learn from history?

The Algiers Agreement

Here is another dubious negotiation scam example

I have no time, but we all remember the Algiers agreement between EPRDF and Eretria that was voided and nullified by EPRDF.

Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)

There is other case in which the lesson of the past negotiation is sadly ignored and unlearned by Oromo leaders and political groups.

We all have witnessed how the short lived partnership of OLF with the EPRDF ended. While OLF leaders were engaged into peaceful negotiation, with Shabia being intermediary, TPLF was plotting, surrounding and attacking OLF forces. The ABO army was tricked, voluntarily disarmed and put into camp and at last systematically eliminated. Having said that, I do not want to pass judgment to those martyrs and fallen heroes who paid heavy price in their lives for the cause of freedom. I do not want to say how it happened and why it happened into the politically correct lunacy negotiation, but the fact that 20,000 fighters laid down their arms and surrendered is shocking and mind boggling! How could such a terrible mistake happen?

The Woyane regime is forcing new war on the Oromo people, harsher and more evil.  And today, more than ever, there are some specific Oromo political groups

and individuals who like to negotiate with TPLF.  The TPLF puffed up with their victory, greed, pride, fear and hatred will never treat us with dignity or equals. In an attempt to buy time or for their strategy and tactics they may embark to negotiate but do not expect any rational thinking from negotiations with the TPLF. Negotiation from your weakness, you can only decrease your potential, increase their appetite for more aggression and suppression. It is better people understand that Ethiopian rulers socio-political system have no mentality or common sense of negotiation with Oromo’s. There is political, economical and cultural divide between us.

Guess what I am afraid of? I am afraid of those specific groups at home who were handpicked by Woyane regime and opposition political factions abroad who are trying to make negotiation engagement with Woyane. There are also some self appointed individuals who directly or indirectly are trying to negotiate at any price, ruining and throwing down the drain the sacrifices gained by QERROO.

I hope you will remember when one of the political faction group delegates last year went to Finfine to negotiate with the TPLF. They were kicked out of  Ethiopia same day with first available flight before even the negotiation began. Why are the lessons from history so easily forgotten?

No one should be under the illusion that constructive engagement to promote peace negotiation with Woyane is hard if not impossible. If something is going on and on, we must stop and ask ourselve, why would anyone enter into discussion with the Woyane regime? The regime that loots our land , deliberately killing and torturing peaceful unarmed civilians.

What Do 0ur Rulers Want?

That is one question, but the better question is what do the Oromos want? How do we get there the way our rulers wants us to be. We tried for more than a century but, we can’t be good enough to achieve equality and respect. So then, you may ask me, the terror regime is killing our people daily, every day hundreds are going to prison, thousands are disappearing and millions are dying of hunger, what sense does it make to refuse not to negotiate? To which I answer, there can be no compromise to our freedom! Freedom is not for negotiation. In the first place how can you negotiate with those who do not even accept your values as Oromos?

Oromia is always in crises but today may be more serious suffering, more racial hatred than ever. It is a period of unparallel land-grabbing, death, terror and a period of sheer cruelty manifested against the Oromo people. We gave them our land, culture, adopted their language even our identity as an Oromo.  They have taken away everything they wanted and they did everything in their power.  They leave no stone unturned until they destroy Oromuma. They are never satisfied. They do not settle for anything.!

In 1939, Mussolini asked Hitler “what do you want”? “You want land corridor”? Hitler replied “I want war! war!, Douches umber ales”! (Germans above all)

That is exactly what Woyane regime wants.

Make no mistake, even if you are really going to try to meet all their demands, it will not have enough left over to live on, the more you obey and accept their terms it will not help you at all.

WHY DO THE OROMOS INTER INTO NEGOTIATION? 

Throughout history the Oromos were cheated so much that we must continue to ask ourselves, why do we enter into negotiation?   

There are no easy answers but, although the issues are many, for simplicity, can be categorized as follows:-

Many do not know or understand the history of political peace negotiation with Habesha rulers and have fallen into traps. So often we do not understand what they are up to. We do not understand how certain events could have resulted after negotiation. It is only after terrible results we start to see how mediation might works.

There are those opportunists who have got responsibility without authority who enter into negotiation from their selfish ambitions and vain glory. They exchange Oromuma for glory and getting high rank and serving their slave masters as an instrument of suppression. In some cases our self-inflicted problems and wounds are worse than by our enemies

In many cases ignorance and an attitude of slave mentality lead them to accept “gabruma.”  So they do not believe in themselves, they sell their Oromouma to resemble Ethiopiawent or Amharanet. They are forged Amharas or call them counter -fit Amharas.

An old adage, a friend Obo Dissasa Bitma from Ambo who was put into prison by the Derg regime told me that “ I have never bowed down , bend my knee and beg for pardon from Derg. If you do, they will stand on your neck and knock you to the ground.” You are trying to find better ways to explain it and you are begging and pleading and doing your best to convince them but you will achieve nothing!

Thanks to Woyane; the Oromos are more  united and stronger today than before the “ Oromo Spring”[ Arab Spring]. There is a great mystery in the reality, the one in which we are strong when we are weak. It was Charles Dickens who said “ It was the best of time  and the worst of time”

We are strong in our patriotism, solidarity and resilience among us is even stronger today than any time.

Look, from what is going on in Oromia today. I see it as proof that we have never been more energized and united in our desire to take Oromia in a new direction. We will never go back to slavery! This Kerroo movement will convey a powerful history that will inspire all of us to build a better Oromia.  There is a better tomorrow for us! KEERROO KEEP OUR HOPE AND ASPIRATION HIGH!

NEGOTIATION AN OLD HABESHA GAME

But you may say that, it is not easy when you are defeated and weak and it feels like there is little chance for success?  We do not have a choice. Negotiation or no negotiation is the lesser of two evils!  But know this, even if you give all they demand and surrender, you find yourself in far worse danger. You keep on trying to submit to their demands forgetting all their evil deeds to you and get nothing. There is no shame or sorrow to their actions. Look what the Agazi is doing to innocent empty handed peace demonstrators? The TPLF regime is leading state sponsored terrorism. They are purposely and systematically carrying out war of ethnic cleansing against Oromo people. They are killers and corrupt from top to bottom. Make no mistake that our rulers  are very clever people, that when they call for reconciliation and peace engagement, they just have very different ideas in mind than true and honest reconciliation. Their strategies is one in which they sweet talk, while cooking up a scheme to destroy you. Those who inter into negotiation with Woyane are those who do not understand the Woyane DNA.  The Woyane  DNA. is quite different from any other human being.  I am sick and tired hearing the rhetoric of illusive idea of negotiation with our rulers! Some of you might say, “let old wounds must be healed and let us forgive and forget the past”. My friend, there are new constant wounds added every day and no time to heal.  Notice in the entire list of names given above not only did negotiation failed but all the participants were punished, either thrown into jail or killed. Negotiation is designed to punish those who surrendered. I want make clear that not one among many mediations or negotiations were accepted and honored.

There is a saying in Afaan Oromo “gufuun dhagaa yoo ganama manaa batu yoo sirukutee, galgala moo  yoo debitu yoo sirukute, si tuu dhagaadaa! [”If you hit a stone at your door step in the morning and you hit the same stone in the evening, then you are a stone.]

Generation comes and goes, rulers rise and fall, the feudal kings Menelik and Haile Selassie, or the military junta Derg, and the Woyane terror regime comes, Ethiopian leaders never change their attitude towards Oromo.  If there were changes, it is only in style. There is a metaphor in Amharic : “Nebir zengurgurnatun aylewitem”.

CAN WE GO INTO NEGOTIAION ?

Negotiation is an old tactics often used by Ethiopian ruling classes when they are treated. We want no evolution or transformation, no cosmetic change, no time buying change, we want real change. We want freedom, justice and equality.

For more than a century we were cheated so much that we continue to ask ourselves if we can get into any negotiation? The answer is yes you engage into negotiation but you have to be very conscious that negotiation past and present is a scam. That is why I said above “ negotiation is politically correct lunacy”  If you want to engage in negotiation be aware and vigilant. You ought to take heed of making foolish agreements. In your negotiation with the Habesha leaders think trice not twice. It may be necessary to enter into negotiation, but, never pin your whole faith in any of their leaders!

Negotiation can be like “ opening the Pandora box” [the first mortal women, she opened a box letting all human ills into the world]

There are lots of nice things you can do with sands. But do not try building a house on it. That is what negotiation is like with Woyane junta regime.

Negotiation is like a double-edged sword to Oromo’s. If you handle it improperly, it will cut you. It is not something to be handled carelessly and like being cut by a razor blade, you won’t even know you are bleeding until you got a mess on your hand.

Notice in all of the above examples, not only did negotiation fail but the participants were punished. They all met the same fate, imprisonment or death. They pronounced their own death warrant. Make no mistake, we are seized by force and they do not want sharing political power with us.

Where there is no liberty, freedom, equality or justice, negotiation or any agreement has no meaning at all. The TPLF has been intoxicated with greed,

corruption, ethnic hatred, cruelty, deception, lies, you name it. They will never negotiate even on basic human right issues.

Remember that you are trying to negotiate peace in an honest manner but from experiences and observations it is difficult, if not impossible to even seat and discuss in honesty, fairness and truth with our rulers. That is why I say to you, negotiation is politically correct lunacy.

There  is a saying “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me”

Say to a person seating next to you, if you not learn from history, you will live and die like – Kube, like- Gobena, like Iyassu etc.

Here is a poem by the writer Kebede Mikael

“ Yalefew siresagne mechewn salawkew”
“Ene meche yihon yemitanekekew”?

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

Remember what Nelson Mandela said “Never make deal under defeat. Only free man can negotiate.”

Freedom is achieved, never given!
THERE IS BRIGHT TOMORROW FOR US.!
KERROO IS OUR HOPE AND ASPIRATION!

Dr. Merera  Gudina is one those Oromo leaders who wants to engage in negotiation with our ruling classes and Woyane regime. After his keynote speech at OSA. Annual Conference Aug 2016, he concluded his speech by quoting Kuwame Nikruma “divided we fall, united we stand”.

We met after the speech and I told him of Nelson Mandela`s speech “Never make deal under defeat and only free man can negotiate”.

He was quick to respond  by saying “Yes we are ANC ,we like to negotiate”!

To which I asked him if he is ready to go to Ziway [Robin Island] prison for 26  years  like Mandela and then negotiate with Woyane regime?

Dr. Merera, your negotiation or mediation with Woyane is similar to those mentioned above and I hope it will help you as you read them. Please remember the lesson of history of negotiation with Habesha  rulers. Anyone who enter into negotiation and compromise with TPLFon Oromo cause, could destroy the hard fought battle in life and blood by the heroic Kerroo  martyrs . I pray and hope this warning will follows you while negotiating.

But negotiation for what?

Of course the Woyans loves negotiation, because after robbing our land, using terror killing innocent peaceful demonstrators, their next frontier is the deception tactics of negotiation. With tens of thousands of innocent people put into prison and hundreds being killed, negotiation engagement with tyrant regime is just like saying ” Thank you for killing us”!

References:

Atse Yohannes: – Tabor Wami, yewogena disetochina, yemaninet tiyake
Workit: –   Paul Henthy and Tabor Wami
Lij Iyassu: –  Tabor Wami,
Zegbela : –  Ethiomedia Aug. 2016
Gen. Tadesse Biru:-   Olana zogaa, gizitina gizot

Getachew Jigi Demekssa irraa

Qabsoo biyya tokko bakkan gaa’uf waan gutamuu qabu heeddutu jira, gurma’iina, humna nama, caasaa, meesha fi mallaaqaa (dhiyeesu ykn logistic), duda dube, Oggansa Cimmaa fi gorsitoota gosa hunda qoophefachuu barbaachisa. Qabsoo amma adeemsia jiru kanaaf kana keessa maltuu guutamee maltuu hanqatee jira yoon jeedhe Oromoo gaafadhee qabsoo keenya kana waan baayetu hiratee jira. Hanqini inni gudan fi dursa furmata argachuu qabu ammoo wal dhaga’uu fi wal dhageefachuu dhabuun dhabate wal dhageefachuu fi wal hubachuu qabna. Namni yoo waa qeequu ykn  mormii kasuu namni kun maliif kana mormee ykn balaalefatu rakkoo mali arige ta’a lataa maliif mormee jeedhani dhabatan of ilaaluu barbaachisa, ofi dubatan of dhageefachuu qoofa utuu hin tanee saba ofi, loltu ofi, hayyuu ofi fi lammii ofi dhageefacha adeemuu qabna.

Qabsoo kami fi lola kamiyuu keessati waan gutamuu qabatu fi waan heedduu barbaachiiftootatu  jira. Isaan kessa, Waaraani Ajjeeja Qabachuu qaba, Madoo loltu isaa kan walanuuf duda dube qabachuu qaba, qabsoo kamiyuu keessatti haawwasi hidhamatoota isaa fi maati isaan kununfachuu qabu. Keenya isaa kamtu hirate jene wal gorfacha fi wal dhageefacha hin jiru, qileensa keessatti fi media irratti ajjaja dabarsuun ,Face book fi Twitterdhan labsii basuun bu’aa fiduu irra gaga’ama guda fida.

FDG fi FXG kan abbuman gegesuu Qeerroo Biyoolesa Oromoo ta’uun isaa ni beekama. Qeerroon ani caasaa qaba, Ogansa mata koon qaba, kara deggersaf na qunamtanin qaba jeedhe Qeerroon Idila Adunya herregaa Bank akka qabu ibsate ture, Qeerroon Idila Adunya sana iyuu al tokkicha herregaa  Bank  isaa ibsee achuman haacaaliisu iyuu malee, barii kun bara Tefozo waan ta’eef Qeerron Idila Adunya Diaspora keessa jiru sochosu dhisee akuuma Diaspora Oromoo ol debi’ee waan rafee nati fakata. Qeerron idla Adunya Mariin goochun fi deggersa mallaaqaa isaa qeerroo biyya keessaf walti qabuu argee hin beeku, Diasporan ilee ofi isaa yaade mallaaqii bank Qeerroti erga hin jiru kun dogogora gudadha. Qeerron Biyyolesa Oromoo Ogana qabsoo  gegesa FXG ta’uu isaa fi sochii isaati boona jirachu keenya malee garggarsa goodhamaf jiru hin argine. Hanga Fayyisa Lelisa ilee dirmanan hin goodhamnef kun siirrefamuu qaba. Ogannon Qeerroo baratoon University heeddun Mada’an jiru, Mana hidhati guramani dararamani qamaa hiratan jiru. Oromoo loltuu isaa nyachiisu,   madoo isaa walanachuu fi hidhamtoota isaa kununfachuu qaba, kana goochuuf ammoo mallaaqa fi deggersa gosa hunda barbaachisa.

Maliif qeeqa kana kafte yoo jeetan garbuman hirba na dhorke halkan rafuu dadhabeen bareesuu egalee rakko nama hin rafifnetu jira. Madoo keenya biyya keessatu yaalamaa hin jiru, hidhamtoon keenya fi maatiin isaani rakkacha jiru, jeequmsa kanan jarsa fi jaartin hojjeeta fi baratan naannoo isaa irra buqa’uu biyya keessa faca’ee jira. Finfinnee keessa kan kara irra bula jiru, Baratoon University nannoo isaaniti galuu sodatani Finfinne keessa rakkacha jirantu jira. Nan yaadadha bara 2002, Bara 2004 yeroo ijoolleen University mana barumsati jeequmsaf ari”amani abba dhaban, yeroo Macaaf Tulaman diigamee namoota Walda Waqeefataa Oromoo keesa jiran murasa waliin tane Nyata fi bakka da’oo ijoollee Oromoof barbaada ture, Churchn Ortodoksi Ethiopia gaafa inni ijoollee Oromoo qabee gara Ijoollee 600 waraanaati latuu ishee hafte Walda Mekane yesusi Gulaleeti akka qubatan goone luba Tesgara Jamootu Keesumuma dhufani isaantu Bilbila na jala kasee “anni ilee keesuma dha Oromoo biyya isaa irratti bakka fi da’oo dhabe bakkeeti hin ganuu tokkoo tokkoon ergi ni simmana” na jeedhan Waldan kuni lubu meeqa du’aa olchite.

Hara’oo maltuu jira Zoon Oromoo hunda keessatti Waloo fi Wambara dabalate yakki goodhama jiru fi dararamni lammii Oromoo irratti goodhama jiru wal fakaataa dha bakka hundatuu, Kokosa fi Gadab Asaasaa, Awaday fi Haromaya, Masala fi Dadar, Manasibu fi Najoo, Ambo fi Gincci, Medaqanyi fi Jaldu, Wadeesa fi Obora, Gimbi fi Nekemte, Gujii fi Borana, Iluabbabori fi Jimma, Kamisee fi Wambara keessatti waan saba keenya irratti deemisfama jiru gadisisa fi yaadeesa dha. Mee Aanaa tokko akka fakeenyati waanin qabataman beekun isiinif ibsa kana jeechu Aannalee Oromiyaa 700 ol fi Ganda Oromoo Oromiyaa 8000 ta’aan keessatti yakka akkasitu adeema akka jiru waanin beekuufin tokkiti qoofa akka fakeenyati kasse.

Aanaa Manasibu baran Bartaa ture  bara Dargi namoon waliin hidhamne keessa tokko Henok Dagimi Jeedhama namni kun fi Hiriyoon isaa akka Hirpha Disasa, Bulti Jalata, Qajeela Abdata, Waljjira Dibari, Jirata Terfasa, Birasaa Riqitu, Marga terfasa, Youhans Gudina, Mijana Gemeda, Waljira Dibari, Mohamed Negara, Rega’a Mulatu, Iyasu Kasahun, Qajeela Farada, Waljjira Guta kkf bayeen isaan hanga haraati bara isaan itti hin hidhamin haafan hin jiru. Bara 1980 kassan hanga haraati ABO jeedhaman yakkamani hidhamu namon kun erga ABOn ba’ee yeroo WFDOn ijaramee ilee miseensa WFDO ta’aan ABO jeedhaman hidhamuu, biyya ari’atamuu. Bara 2014, bara 2015 yeroo amma kana ilee Hirpha Disasa, Raga’a Mulatu, Bulti Jalata, Iyasu Kasahun, Mohamed Negera fi kkf kan biroon  Maikalawi fi Qalenxoo Mana hidha jiru. Jarsoolin beekamon Manasiibu umuri wagga 70 fi 80 akka Obbo Waljjira Dibari fi Jirata Terfasa kkf jarsolii soramuu fi kununfamuu qaban, jarsaolii kabajamo Agaziin biyya ari’ee Finfinnee keesatti bakketi kufan jiru, Kantiiba Magala Mandi fi Ittiaanaa durta’aa WFDO kan ture Yohans Gudina fi namootaa heeddun yakka fi badii tokko malee Agazii fi ergamtoon diina Kabinooota Manasiibu biyya ari’ataman jiru. Haawwas Manasiibu Jarsoolii Uummata birrati kabajamoo fi namoota jalatamoo kana biyya ari’achu saba sana xifuma mootumma waliin wal dura dhabuu ta’uu isaa mirkanesuun jarsooliin kun umuri kanati yakka tokko ilee raawwatan kan hin beekne ta’uu ibsan.  Yakka kana Agazii kan raawwachisan fi  Namoonni yakka kana uummata kana irratti raawwatan:-

1. Waannaa Qixxaataa,
2. Tasfaayee Qajeelaa fi
3. Cuulaa Toliinaa ti yakkamtton sadan kun seerati akka dhiyaatan gaafacha jiru.

Kun gutuumaa Oromiyaa keessatti kan deema jiru dha Manasiibu akka fakeenyatin kasee malee.  Kun kan argisisu Mootumman Ethiopia saba kana bulchuu hin dandeenye, Kabine OPDO Aanaa fi Ganda Oromiyaa jirtu hunda keessatti uumata naga jeequn xifuma jeequmasa babaalisa jiru. Namoni kun maatiin isaan diigame jira ijoolleen isaan barumsa irra dhabatan jiru, beelaa fi rakkof saxilama jiru. Deggersa tokko malee gaafi tokko malee, hamilee fi kununsa tokko malee jirenya gidiira gegesa jiru, lammi Oromoo, Haawwasi Oromoo biyya keesa fi biyya ala kan humna fi mallaaqa qabu kana caalisee ilaaluu hin qabu, gargaruu qaba.

Lola fi Qabsoo kami iyuu keessati waan 3 barbaachisadha jeedhera, Qeeroon kana 3 keessa  Ogaansa fi Caasaa qaba jeenera, Duda dube (Lojistic) fi tumsi jiru garuu hin jiru. Kana qoofa miti Qeerron saganta mata isaa qaba humna isaa fi qabeenya isaa irratti hunda’uu waa inni hojjeeta jirut jira. Garuu Actvistoon biyya ala humna qeerro utuu hin madaliin fi deggersa tokko utuu hin goodhinif afaan qula yeroo ajeeja fi dirqama siiriti hin qoratamin fi siiriti hin madalamin media irran labsi basan gaga’ama utuu fidu argina. An yeerro dheeraf nama FDG kana ergan jalqaba kasse hordofa jiru. Kanaafuu ji’aa kana keessa FXG waamiichii akka Labsiti Face Book fi Median darba turan morman ture.  Hirira fi FXGn mormu miti akkata isaan itti nama wamani fi tofta dadhaba diinaf nama saxiiludha jeedhen morma ture, fakeenyaf Finfinne, Naqamte, Gimbi fi Mandi irratti hiriraf nama yeroo waman bakka akkas, sa’aa akkasi, qixa akkasi, yeroo tokkon, bakka sanati argamtan gara magaalaati socho’uu qabdu jeedha. Kana Mootumman biyya bulcha jiru iyuu kan waraana qabuu akkasti waamuu ni sodata. Kana jeechun waraana Wayyanen bakka sanati argamtun uummata hirira ba’ee rukuti jeechudha jeedhen morme, namni kun mal rakkate morma jira namni jeedhe hin jiru nama tokkotu Naqamte irra wamiichii kun dogogora qabachuu mala dhugadha nan jeedhe.

Waamiichii media fi Facebookn wamame kun bala guda fide Finfinne kara fi bakka Oromoo itti bayyatu jeedhame yaadamee hunda irratti humna waraana heeddu boobafte kampy itti Oromoo guran qoophesite keesumati Burayuu baridha ka’aan Oromoo hunda ID isaa ilaalan sasabuu egalan Vedio kana ilaala yakka hama fi suukanesa finfnfinneti Hagayya 6 raawate, https://www.facebook.com/bontuu.lammii.10/videos/1678009995856587/  waan kana fakkatuu bakka wamiichi seeran ala wamame kanati hundati gaga’ama wal fakatatuu ga’ee Finfinne, Mandi, Gimbi fi Naqamte  bakka uumman itti walga’uuf wamame durse waraani qabate uummata egachuun tokko tokkon qabe hidhu egale Finfinnee keessa qoofadha  namaa 3,500 akka Vedio irratti argamuu kana reebame Matahaarati ( Awash Arba) ti gurame torban lama hidhaman kan amayuu achit hafee Godiinalee fi Aanaalee Oromiya keesa wari guraman Dedhessaa, Xolayi, Sanqalee, Balee fi shawa roobiti guraman.

Gaafa Mata haadadha, wayya gurcha ufadha jeedhan ilee nan morme toftan kun qeerroo ijoollee Oromoo biyya jirtu diinaf saxila, biyya ala namni jiru goochu ni danda’aa. Namni biyya ala jiru Mata Haadachuu fi wayaa gurcha ufachuu qoofa utuu hin tanee quulaa isaa iyuu dhabate mormii isaa argisisuuf mirga qaba, ijoollee biyya keessa harka diina jirtun kana goodhi jeechun deemi mana hidha dhaqi jeechu dha. Waan hojeenu waan bu’aa fiduu ta’uu qaba malee waan lammi bala gudaf saxiiluu ta’uu hin qabu. Waan hojjeechuuf jeenuu dura Oganni waan sana gegesuu ta’ee bu’aa inni fiduu fi bala hin qabuu wal birra qabee madaluu qaba. Sochiin qabsoo goodhamu dura siiriti qooratamu fi irratti mari’atamuu qaba. Malee qabsoo gegefama jiruti mirqanee  dirama gaga’ama fidu uummata ajaajjuu hin qabnu, uummani fi qeerron diina falma jiran kun harka qula jiru.

Diaspora biyya ala ta’ee ajaajja dabarsuu kun Qeerroon meesha waraanaa waan ittin bitatuu gargara hin jiru, Ijoolle qeerron hidhamte fi Hospitala jirtu Ufana dhisati waan nyatu hin qabdu. Mecha fi Tulami Prof. Asafa jalatan Oganamuu garggarasa hanga tokko akka goocha jiru nan beeka. Garuu Haawwas Oromoo Adunya irra jiru wara qabsoo haqa gegesa jiran kana akka itti gargaran qindoomini gariin hin jiru. Hundi nama waan barbade goodha jira, kun siiri miti, ABO fi WBO maaf loluu didan kan jeedhan wara komatuu malee WBOn maliin lola nama jeedhu dhaga’ee hin beeku. Giduu kana namni tokko Suura WBO mila qulaa adeemu maxanse ture heeddun gade, waraanaa qoophe hin qabne bosonatti naqne dhifne maliif lolu dide jeedhan komachuu irra of gaafachuu qabna.  Ano maliin goocha jira jeedhan of gaafachuu wayaa, nami hundi waan dandeesu goodhi. Ani fi maatiin koo ilee erga mana bane waan dandaye hunda caraquu irra guyya tokko ilee sa’aa tokkof of qusane hin beeknu.

Torban darbe Mal goonu ? kan jeedhu Bareefama tokko qoophese dhaabbilee Oromoo fi deggertoota Bilisumma fi Walabummaa Oromiyaa hundaf ergen ture, namoon yaada na gumachiftan asuman hundi keessanu galatoman jeedha. Dhaabbileen Oromoo umuri keessan gutuu yaada uummata gorsa nama hin dhageenye ilee galatoman isiinin jeedha.  Garuu Actvistoon Oromoo (Diaspora) utuu iyyata koo kana dhageessan qabsoo Qeeroon ijoollee Oromoo ji’aa 10 gutuu utuu wal irra hin citiin itti du’aa jiran kana buutani Habaasha jala galchuuf katan hubadha dogogoraa jirtu. Lakkisa dhabadha yaada diina hin tufatiina gara keessan hin laatiinafi, guyuma tokkooti gamadani diina duka hin utalina, torbanuma tokkooti Afaan Oromoo lagatani Afaan Amharan bareesuu warii egaltan dhaabbadha. Nama yaada keessan dhageefatee isiin irra fudhatuu ilee dhabuuf deemtu qubee generationin Afaan Amhara hin beeku, Diaspora mee of qusadha.

Oromoo yeroo meeqa dogogoruu qabna ?.

• Gobana Dacee Duran Ethiopia tokko goodhe ergasi Minilikin buqisee angoo qabadha jeedhe ture jeedhama, garuu yeroon Ethiopia hunda qabate tokko goodhe Finfinneeti deebi’uu minilik durse Summi keenamef awwalcha garii ilee dhabe.
• Fewuterari Habte Gorgisi waldhabde xiinoo Lij Iyasu Ali waliin goodhate waan guda goodhe qeesoota Habaashati michoome  lij Iyasu dhabamisise Teferi Angese of ilee Sumiin dhabamsifamee
• Gaafa Teferi (Haile Silasen) kufuu Oganoon Warana heeddun Oromoo dha Dhaabilee siyaasaa jiran tokko irra kan hafee kani Oganni isaan Oromoo dha garuu hundi isaan Oromoo dhisan Ethiopiaf dhaabatan utuu wal lolan Habaashan Dargi dhuma isaan ijaran itii galagalachite hunda isaan dabare dabareedhan rukute Qarroon Oromoo hundi dhabaman.
• Bara Dargin kufe ilee Habaasha Amanani Waraanaa Kampy galchani ofi deemun hanga yoona lammii Oromoo keessa isaa madeese jira
• Inni amma ammoo kan caaluu Dhaabbilee Oromoo tokko ta’uu dadhabani diina Oromoo waliin yeroo tokko ta’aan ijan arga jira.

1. Waga 6 dura gaafa dhaabi Oromoo tokko Habaashan wal ta’ee Minisoota USA bakka Oromoo kumi 50 jiratuti Sirba Gurage dhichisaa bulaan vedion arge gade garatu na cite. Habaashan garuu isaan gowomsine jeedhe video dhan media hundati gadi dhisan http://www.ethiotube.net/video/17946/ginbot-7-s-andargachew-tsige-on-oromummaa-oromiyaa-self-determination-wbo
2. WFDO fi KBO ilaalcha adda adda qabatan ilee utuu beeknu akka Oromoon tokko ta’uu goone erga tokko ta’aan booda KBO ilaalcha nu irratti jibinu sana ol base MEDRAKti gale Arena Tigira fi Sayee Abirha faa waliin dhichiisuu egalan, jeequmsi hin wayyuu jeene caailfne obsneef, asii irratti dhabachuu dhisee ammiyuu Neo-minilikan Samayawi Party fi MEISOn waliin hojjeechuf deema. Ijalaafeetiin obboleessaf deesi jeedhama OFC asi irratti dhabachuu qaba, WFDOn kayyoo inni dhabateef hundi haqame waan jiruf kana booda waliin deemu hin danda’an kan jeedhu ejjennoo Miseensoota WFDO hunda ta’ee jira. Wajjira OFC cufa ta’uu sun gaafa banamu iyuu Afaan Amharan nu dubsuu kan jeedhan Oromoon wajjiricha baqachuu isaan fi akka WFDO qoofati soocha’a jirachu isaan ibsacha jiru.
3. Bara 2011 kessa ammoo du’aa Melese Zenawi booda ‘secessionists’ Nationalistoon ango akka hin qabaneef mootumman USA fi Sabi Ethiopia waan goochu qabu qabxilee 5 lafa ka’uun qabsoo Oromoon wagga 40 gooti heeddun itti wareegamee kara itti cufuf akeeka kawamee sagalee fi bareefaman ragan guda na harka jira.
4. Torban kana ammoo Oromoo fi Amhari hiidi keenya tokko warii gargari nu basuu feetan fi warii tokkumma keenya hin jalane daftan bakka barbaadachuu qabdu isiin dhabamsifna kan jeedhu of egannoon saboontota Oromoof keenama jira.
5. Barana ammoo Medical Doctorin Oromoo (ODF) of jeedhe tokko ani Gondore dha ani Gojamee dha ani kana boode secessionists miti, ani kana booda ‘zerenya’ miti, ‘zeranyoon’ fi nationalistoon baduu qabu jeechun yeroo lama fi sadi Paltak Habaasha keessatti dubaacha ture, kun Oromoo heeddu gadisise jira;
6. Ibsi fi dhadannoo ba’uu hundi Afaan Amharan ta’aa jira, wal ta’aan diina TPLF hama kufisun garii dha. Garuu haruma diina amanan saboontoota Oromoo sosodachisuun kun bala qaba. OPDOn Oromoo qulquluu Haacuce Tigire fi Amhara Afaan Oromoo dubatan hunda Koree Hojii raawachiftuu fi kore Gidugaleessa akka goote bori ilee akkas goona jeedhan Actvistoon Diaspora Oromoo Makoo, jaldhufa, Gudifacha fi Neo-Nefxanya Afaan Oromoo beekuu ijjaracha jiru, garuu hin milka’an.

Dhamasan isaanf qabu tokkiti dhaabbi Oromoo ykn Namni Oromoo Habaasha waliin hariroo ykn waltajii ijjarate milka’ee beeku hin jiru, akkuma gararati jeedhe Dhaabbileen ykn namoon Habaashati froman   hundi booden isaa badiituu isaan qunamee. Gobana Dace, Habtegrorgis Dinagide, Tefari Banti, Icaat, MEISON, OPDO, OLF (Chartaraa Wayyaanee) ti hin milkofne. Kana irraa maaliif baraachuu dadhabdan. ODF fi Actvistoon Oromoo Habaasha jalati gurma’uu yaalaa jiran ilee hin milka’an 100 % isiinfin mirkanesa, ofi ilee badani Oromooti ilee dhiiga dhangala’uu ba’isuu, Oromoon isaa durii miti TPLF siiriti reebde of barsifte jirti. Kana malee ammoo akkuma OPDO saba guda kana takalani saba xiiqa jala galchuuf yaadun matan isaa Oromumaa of keessa dhabu dha  ykn rakko enyuuma wara qabantuu biyyoota wara lixaa jala seene Oromoo takkaluu yaala. Oromoon wara lixaa ilee Habaasha ilee hin amanu sababin isaa laachun isaantu waligalee waga 150 nu garbomfate. Yaada furmata yoo barbadan email dhan mali goonu kan jeedhun  isiin erga  ykn Kitaaba Bu’aa Ba’ii Qabsoo uummata Oromoo Garbumaa irra Gara Bilisummati jeedhu dubisa.

Ani tokkumma Oromoo fi Amhara hin mormuu garuu dursa nu Oromoon tokko ta’uu qabna, tokkuman keenya kun kabaja fi sadarkan keenya akka gudatuu goodha, lamaffaa feedhi fi haalaa Qeerroo dargagoota Oromoo xiyeefana keessa galcha mari’achuu qabna, kayyoon fi feedhin Oromoo maritti hin dhiyane jirachuu qaba, fakeenyaf wa’ee Afaan Oromoo, wa’ee lafa wa’ee hirre murtefana Oromoo kkf gaafi fi feedhi uummata ta’a kabajuu qabna. Waan wal qeeqnu ilee Afaan Oromoon goochu qabna. Waan walii keenya qeeqnu Afaan Amhara ykn Afaan English bareesun maliif tokkoffaa Afaan Hojii Oromoof Afaan Oromoo hata’uu jeecha Afaan biran fayadamuun seera of murtesite cabsuu dha isaa kana yeroo birra irrati dubana.

Bilisummaan Oromoo fi Walabumman Oromiya ni mirkna’aa !!!

Na ofkalcha

Getachew Jigi Demekssa PhD
Founder member of Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement
Ex- Member of Ethiopia Federal Parliament
Chairman of Oromo Parliamentarians Council
Ernest Claesstraat 10 GLV, 2050 Antwerpen  Belgium
GSM +32 488 47 93 60,   skype gadaa.oromoo ,
facebook gummi paarlamaa Oromoo
Email: opc.gpo@gmail.com  personal email getachew.jigi@gmail.com
Visit our website: www.oromoparliamentarians.org;

Note: Dear Readers, this is just to let our readers understand how the bloody struggle and heavy price that the Oromo people have been paying is sabotaged by western writers and their media outlets.

Will Its Experiment With Ethnic Federalism Work?

By Harry Verhoeven, ForeignAffairs.com | August 29, 2016

When U.S. President Barack Obama visited Africa a year ago, he ended his five-day tour by visiting Ethiopia, the continent’s second-most-populous country. He ­enthusiastically praised Addis Ababa for its role in regional peacemaking, most visibly in and between Sudan and South Sudan, as well for as its careful management of its diverse population; the country is home to tens of millions of Muslims and Christians, who, for the most part, live together peacefully. Obama also highlighted Ethiopia’s track record as a developmental state. In the last quarter century, it has lifted millions of people out of extreme poverty, cut child mortality rates for those under five by more than two-thirds, and overseen a decline in HIV/AIDS-related deaths by more than 50 percent. With Somalia haunted by the jihadist group al Shabab, South Sudan facing an all-out civil war, and Eritrea hemorrhaging thousands of young people fleeing to Europe via the Mediterranean, Ethiopia stood out as a bastion of progress and stability.

Yet today, Western diplomats and intelligence services are scrambling to assess a series of alarming protests in Ethiopia—what activists have labeled #ethiopianprotests—that are raising questions about whether Africa’s brightest growth story of the last decade is about to unravel. There have been months of demonstrations in Addis Ababa and the surrounding region of Oromia, where more than 35 percent of the Ethiopian population lives. Thousands of Oromo are contesting the unequal gains of the country’s developmental programs, even in the face of live bullets. But what has really instilled a sense of crisis is the violence that has rocked the Amhara region, where long-standing tensions boiled over into the ambush of a senior federal police commander and Amhara protesters, armed with guns, fighting street battles with soldiers. Nobody knows the official body count, but at least several hundred have died over the past few months.

Understanding the demonstrations, and their violent escalations by both security forces and protesters, requires a look at the ideology and political practices of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which has governed the country since its overthrow of a military dictatorship in 1991. The protests, which are neither a new phenomenon nor uniform in their demands, revolve around the fundamental question at the heart of Ethiopian politics in both the twentieth and the twenty-first centuries: how to turn a violently built, multiethnic former empire into a modern nation-state.

Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration over what they say is unfair distribution of wealth in the country at Meskel Square in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, August 6, 2016.
Tiksa Negeri / Reuters

Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration over what they say is unfair distribution of wealth in the country at Meskel Square in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, August 6, 2016.
The answer for the EPRDF has always been a combination of ethnic federalism, revolutionary democracy, and state-led development. The party emerged out of decades of civil war, in which ethnically based rebel fronts confronted central (or rather, centralizing) governments in Addis Ababa, and it consists of a coalition of several of these groups. Among them, the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front is the first among equals, even though it hails from a region where only seven percent of the population lives. Because the EPRDF came to power by drawing on resentment against the ethno-chauvinism of successive Amhara-dominated regimes, there was a real risk that the country would disintegrate into the kind of anarchy that characterized Somalia at the time. The Front’s solution was to grant self-determination, including the right of secession, to all of Ethiopia’s nations and nationalities: instead of denying ethno-regional identity, the EPRDF turned it into the cornerstone of its new state, hoping to draw out the venom from the imperial legacy of coerced assimilation. After decades of civil war, Eritrea peacefully left Ethiopia in 1993, but the other ethnic groups—including the Oromo, Tigrayans, and Amhara—remained, having been granted self-rule within regional states.

This solution struck many constitutionalists as unworkable because it appeared to institutionalize inter-regional confrontation, thereby merely postponing Ethiopia’s dissolution. But because of the EPRDF’s Marxist-Leninist leanings, its interpretation of ethnic federalism was borrowed from Stalin’s template for how to organize a multinational federation: autonomous states can be kept together only by the ironclad grip of a vanguard party. This ideology continues to guide the Front today. As a result, the EPRDF dominates all regional states through satellite parties in an attempt to harmonize socioeconomic policies and prevent a resurgence of ethnic antagonisms. Political organization is everything for the Front: it rejects Western liberal democracy and instead practices “revolutionary democracy,” which prioritizes Leninist democratic centralism while recruiting millions of Ethiopians from all ethnic groups into party ranks. The role of the masses is hence framed in terms of revolutionary and administrative mobilization, not liberal participation.

Initially, the idea of retaining local language and identities, of nations and nationalities electing their own representatives, was genuinely popular.

The endurance of this ideology is also evident in the EPRDF’s long-term strategy to overcome ethno-regional rifts. Marxist ideology posits that ethnic identity is “false consciousness” and that the only true division in society is class; the political gamble underpinning the EPRDF’s developmental state project is that the material transformation of Ethiopia, particularly its rural areas, will ultimately lead people to forget the identity politics of old. The historical materialism of the Front, along with an organiz­­ational culture of secrecy nurtured by the armed struggle, also explains its distrust of liberal democracy: the people simply cannot yet be trusted with bourgeois freedoms.

For years, the triad of ethnic federalism, revolutionary democracy, and state-led development allowed the EPRDF to claim that it embodied legitimate and, above all, highly effective government: if Ethiopia receives several billions of dollars annually in overseas assistance it is not just because it has been an indispensable partner in the global war on terrorism but also because aid experts remain thrilled about the success of pro-poor government programs in education, health, and infrastructure. But now, the EPRDF is facing a crisis of authority, with both its legitimacy and its effectiveness in question.

Take ethnic federalism. Initially, the idea of retaining local language and identities, of nations and nationalities electing their own representatives, was genuinely popular. From the start, conflict within and between the new regions—often about the status of minorities within the redrawn administrative borders—was expected and, indeed, has claimed hundreds of lives annually since 1994; in that sense, #ethiopianprotests is nothing new. But the EPRDF always argued that ethnic federalism would decentralize violence, thus removing an existential threat to Ethiopian unity, and ultimately cause parochial attachments to wither under a new nation-state identity. A quarter century later, however, ethno-regional loyalties seems to have lost little of their mobilizing appeal, including their incendiary potential to be manipulated by zealous diaspora politicians. Ethnic-tinged antigovernment protests and violence have recently rocked places that have been transformed by economic growth, such as the Amhara capital, Bahir Dar, and Adama, Oromia’s most dynamic city, but have occurred for years in long-marginalized peripheries, such as Gambella, in western Ethiopia, and the Somali region. For all the talk of cross-ethnic alliances by some commentators, little unites the opposition: while Amhara chauvinists fly the flag of the old unitary state, Oromo secessionists demand the country’s breakup. Yet even if Ethiopians can’t agree on what constitutional reform should look like, ethnic federalism faces existential questioning from the peripheries to the center.

People attend a demonstration organized by opposition party the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum (MEDREK) in Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa, May 24, 2014.
Tiksa Negeri / Reuters

People attend a demonstration organized by opposition party the Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum (MEDREK) in Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa, May 24, 2014.

Revolutionary democracy has also run into trouble. The ethno-regional satellites that, with the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front, compose the EPRDF have been increasingly delegitimized by corruption scandals and ineffective leadership. Their role in implementing ethnic federalism and developmentalism is pivotal but they are widely seen as feeble. Some Oromo and Amhara politicians within the Front are trying to use the protests in their regions to gain greater influence and resources, arguing that only they can act as middlemen between the overbearing center and the restless masses, but such scheming is resented by the politburo in Addis. Nationally, the EPRDF has large problems of its own; the 2012 death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who expertly but ruthlessly ruled Ethiopia for 21 years, created a leadership vacuum that has not been filled, leading to institutional paralysis and Machiavellian jockeying in a party and country used to the strictest application of democratic centralism. For example, in March 2016, just after the new prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, apologized for the shooting of Oromo protesters and promised that the repression would end immediately, the Tigrayan-controlled security services intensified the crackdown, making their “boss” look powerless.

This highly combustible mixture—a divided political center, an ineffective and ambiguous regional elite, and the ideological legacies of Marxism-Leninism and the liberation struggle—is at the root of today’s unrest. To quell the masses, the EPRDF must face the ironic predicament in which it finds itself: economic development and ethno-regional empowerment have, predictably, lead to a classic revolution of rising expectations. The Front’s problem is not that ordinary Ethiopians deny the country’s progress—that so many of them can put their children in school or receive electricity at home. It is that millions of them—whether or not they participate in, or even approve of, the protests—feel that the current dysfunction within the political system is hampering an equitable partaking of the economic boom. In a striking parallel with the dilemma facing the Chinese Communist Party, with which it maintains excellent ties, the EPRDF knows that it has the most impressive track record of any Ethiopian government in modern history but that its control is being undermined by soaring levels of internal rent-seeking. If the party wants to survive, it must address the corruption that so angers its citizenry. In doing so, it will not only further raise expectations, but also be compelled to confront its delusions about what the theory and practice of ethnic federalism can achieve and, above all, question the privileges select elites have so far enjoyed.

By Alemayehu Kumsa, Ph.D

Ebbisan waggaa digdama harra uttuu innii mana issa siree isaara rafuu, loltuun mootummaa kolonefata Habasha, warra gartuu haarra Tigrai’in gegefamuun rasaassa itti roobsani lubuu isa muchumaati kutan. Biyya akaakile isaati, diini daanga Oromiyya ceete dhufte dhiiga Oromoo hammaa haraati iddoo hundaati dangalaasa jirti.

Akkuma Oromoon hunduu beeku, kan diini kun ajjesu moo beeka, sooresa, artistoota, oladeema/ oladeemtu, kan ta’ani kunis aggaamsaa sanyii duguugu -targeted genocide jedhama. Imaammati gartuu Tigrai (TPLF) saba Oromoo doofaa, iyeesa taasisani achumaan akkuma namichii Waaqayyoo jibe sun Malas Zenawi wa’ee Oromo “saba lakkofsi issa bayyee xiqeesun salphadha” jedhe kakate, oladeemtota Oromo fixaa jiru. Kan TPLF hin beekin garu, akkuma Oromoo ajjecha deemtu, Oromoon tokko ta’ee kibba hamma kabaati dhi’aa hamma ba’aati kuno diina olachisa jira.

Alaaban ABO jaal Elemo Qilxuufa bara 1973 qabatanii diina offira buqisanii Oromiyya Republika taate dhaabuf bosona (Tullu Carcar) seenan kuno dachee Oromiyya hunda irrati Oromoon qabatee “Abban Biyyaa Oromoo dha” “hormii nun bulchitu” Biyya keenya walaba taate nutu bulcha jedhee alaaba isa qabatee yeroo diini saba harqa duwa haqa isaaf falmatu, isaa harka diinati ajjefame, awaalate Alaaba ABO awaala irra dhaaba jira.

Mirgga mulqammaan deebisanii gonfachuuf Haatif ilmi hiriira ba’aani, gaafa loltu’un diina rasaasa itti roobiste mucaase ajjeftu, haati Oromticha sanaa “gumaan ilma kiyya bilisuma Oromiyya hata’u” jettee Oromiyyaati kutanoo ishe dhaamte.

Ebbisan , “siifan lolaa Oromoo narra hingortu?

Jettee kan atti akka gaafiti saba keeti dhi’eesinan diini si nyaate, garuu arra waamichi kee qeerro sibooda dhalataniin kan gegeefamu sabi kee deebisa jira.

Jaali kee, Usmaayyoo Musa waggaa sadeet (1995-2003) mana hidha diina keesati dararammaa ture eega ba’ee, saba durati gaffa as ba’uu sii (Ebbisa Adunya fi Dhugumaa Ayyana) yaadachudhan walisa isa jalqabe.  Kan Usmaayyoo gaafas walise keesa:

Garbummaa manna du’a filane

Saniif finchillee dagala seenne

Seenadhaaf duuna lubbu hinqusannee

Usmaayyoo Musa, darara mana hidha diina keesati irra gayeen lubbun isa dargagummaati qurxame.  Lubuun artistota Oromoo kunif kan isaan fakatan darbuun, hiri’ota isaanif dhalota isaan booda dhufe ibidda sammuu itti naqe.

Isaan booda artistoti dhibaan laqahaman sagallee isaani kan fagoo nama hawatu, ergaan saani ani Oromoo mittii?  maalifan walaabummaa kootif hin lolu? jedhee kan samuu  qirqidu, xiiqii qabachiisu,  tokko ta’ee akkan diina biyyaa isa qabate irraati mormuu kan godhee keesa isa tokko. Artistooni Oromoo wallaansoo walaabummaa Oromiyyaa ta’aa jiruuf aarssaa isaan baasa turan/jiraan seena saba issani keesati bo’oo olaana qaba.

Jaalan: Elemo, Ebbisa, Usmaayyoo fi kan walaabuma Oromoofi kuftanii, sabi keesan akka damaqee waanjjo kolonii ofirra darbatee, biyya bilisa taate (sovereign state) ijaarachuf tarkaanfi xumura irra ga’aa jira. Yoo isin lubuun jiraatani saba keesan arguu baatan ille hojjin keesan Oromoo karaa walabummaati luucessera.  Qeeransi Oromoo diina isa Oromiyyaa irra ari’a jira, akkuma Mulluu Baqqaalaa wallifte.

Jaalan, maqaan keesan bara barran seena Oromoo keesa hajiraatu.

Qabsa’aan hindu’aa qabsoon Oromiyya Walaabuman xumurama.

Abbaa Urjii tiin  

Qabsoon bilisummaa ummata Oromiyaa, arra sadarkaa if duuba hin-deebinee fii abdachiisaa geeysee jirti. Dhuma bara 2015 irraa kaasee hamma yoonaatti, lammiin Bahaa-Dhihaa fii Kaabaa-Kibbaan mirga isaanii tiif anaannata bira dabranii xiqqaa fii guddaan dhiiraa fii dhalaan wareegamaa, caphaa, dhiigaa jiran. Wayyaaneen, warra waraana Dargiirraa boojitee fii abbootii garaa kanneen ummata Oromiyaarratti muuddeen irreen aangorra jiraachuuf ijibaanni godhaa jirtu guyyuma-guyyaan bu’ura dhabaa jira.

Qabsoo bilisummaa tan arra xiqqaa fii guddaa lammii Oromiyaa Bahaa-Dhihaa fii Kaabaa-Kibbaan, “bilisummaa ykn du’a!” jachisiisaa, Wayyaanee dhaabaa-dhaabbata waakkachaa jirtu bu’ureesuuratti qabsaawaan qoonni isaa hundaa ol tahe Elemoo Qilxuu ti.

Elemo, arra, gaafa ummanni Hiddii Lolaa keessaa “Burraayyuun teenya”! ja’an, warri Gincii “dhiiga nama keenyaa kan Aaw-Wadaayitti dhangala’e ni baafanna!” ja’an, haala kanaa fiis, xiqqaa guddaan – dhalaa dhiiraan, diina ibidda itti harutti, harka duwwaa deeman, odoo hin taane, gaafa haalli kanaan faallaa, gaafa ummanni Oromoo ifii fii waliis wallaalanii dukkana keessa turan “akki kuni isaaniin hin malle” jachuun, jiruu sadoo tan keeysa ture dhiisee, maatii isaa biyya alagaa keessatti gatee, qaanqee qabsoo hidhannoo bilisummaa qabsiisuuf nama Adanirraa biyya seene.

Maqaan warri Elemoof moggaasan Hassani. Akka aadaa hawaasa Baha Oromiyaatti maqaan buruja ykn haala dhalataa ykn dhalattuu laaluun moggaafama. Maqaan afaan Arabaa kan haala san hordofuun Elemoof moggaafame, hiikkaa sadii qaba. Isaaniis, Bareedaa, Gaarii ykn Tolaa fii, Nama rakkataa ykn dhimma kabajamaa tahe gargaaru kan ja’u. Namni akkuma dhalateen haalli armaa olii irraa calaqqise kuni, Abraahim Umarii fii Aashaa Aammad irraa Baha Oromiyaa, Godinaa Bareentumaa Konyaa Gaara Mul’ataa, Aanaa Qarsaa, Ganda Galaan kan Raaree Bululoo keessatti arkamutti, toora bara 1936 keessa dhalate.

Elemo akka barnoota Amantii Islaamaa kan ganda itti dhalatetti barsiifamu xumureen, dabalataaf odoo daddeemuu, toora bara 1956-aa magaalaa Diree Dhawaa seene. Akka achi dhaqeen, jaalalti magaalaa Dirree Dhawaa qoma seentee, darasummaa mana bahee fiin adda baaftee, if keessatti qubsuma murteeffachiifte. Jireenyaaf, dukkaana nama Haaji Umeerii ja’amu, kan meeshaa adda addaa alarraa fidee jimlaa fii takkeen gurgurutti mindaawe.

Elemo, faxinummaa waa barachuu biratti naamusaa fii amanamummaan yaroo gabaabduu keessatti onnee Haajii seene. Akka magaalaa baree, hawaasaa fii amala biyyaa tiin wal fudhateen, eega hujii isaa raawwate booda, galgala-galgala, uffata adda-addaa, kopheelee fii faaya dubartii, Haajirraa fuudhee dukkaannan irra daddeemee jimlatti gurguruun mataa isaa tiif waa jalaa buufachuu jalqabe. Abbootiin dukkaannanii, kanneen Elemo irra daddeemee meeshaa itti gurguru, akka wal-baraa dhufaniin, akkuma Haajitti, haalaa fii amala isaa jaalatanii, daldala isaanii tiin barbaadutti seenan. Haalli kuni, Elemoof, hammaa fii miyoota gurguru baayyiseef. Heddominni gurguraa bu’aa jalaa arkatu fijaa dukkaana keeysa oolee horu caal’chisaa dhufe. Hoggaa kana, yaroo dukkaana keessa hojjatu xiqqeeysaa tan daldala ifii isaarratti bobbahuu dheereeysaa deeme.

Gama biraa tiin, Elemo, gaafa magaalaa Dirree Dhawaa qubaterraa kaasee, daldala malees, karaa raadiyoo fii gaazeexoota afaan Arabaa tiin haala siyaasaa adunyaa, keessaa huu, kan sossooha bilisummaa kan yaroo sanitti biyyoota Afrikaa fii Laatiin Ameerikaa keessatti gaggeeffamaa jiru, akkaan hordofuu jalqabe. Haalli kuni, yaroo hiriyoota waliin wal-arkuu fii barcaaf taa’u, akka nama qamahutti, muka jimaa if dura qaqqabaa, hunda caalaa waanuma qabsoo bilisummaa qofa haasawuu isa jaalchiise. Hoggaa hiriyoonni oduu dubartoota tiin wal booharsan, haala rifeensaa, tafaa fii guntutaan bareedina dubartii madaalan, Elemo, seenaa Jamiilaa Buuheerd, qabsooytuu biyya Algeeriyaa tan yaroo sanitti oduun isii raadiyoo fii gaazexaalee adunyaa dhunfate odeeysuun, bareedinaa fii dhiira gammachiisuun alattiis, dubartoonni, qabsoo bilisummaa tii fiis qooda guddaa gumaachuu akka dandayan haasawaa ture.

Bayyanoota akkanaa tan qaburraa ka’uun, bara 1962 keessa yaroo kaa’imman Oromoo naannoo Dirree Dhawaatti sossooha aadaa tiin hawaasa dammaysuuf gurmaawuu jalqaban, sossoohinsi afaanii fii aadaa eenyummaa beeysisuu qofatti kan hin dhaabbanne tahuu warra jalqabaan hubatan keeysaa tokko Elemo tahe. Haala kanaa fiis, hoogganota kaa’immanii, keessaa huu Abuubakar Muussaa waliin, qunnamtii addaa horuun hawwisoolee Afran Qalloo diinaggee fii yaadaan tin’isaa ture.

Elemo baadiyyaarraa magaala Dirree Dhawaatti godaanee qabeenyaan if dandayaa dhufullee, amaloota badoo magaalaan guddoon qabduun in hawadamne. Jimaa fii sijaaraan namoota daadda isaa biratti faaya tureeniinillee isa fudhachuu hin dandeenye. Toliinsa haalaa fii amalaa biratti, hojjataa haraaraa fii araadarraa qulqullaawe tahuun, Elemo, hawaasa guddaa bira kutee, Haaji Umeerii malees, naaduraa sooreeyyii magaalaa kanneen meeshaa jimlatti irraa bituu, warra akka Hassan Foorsaa fii Saalim Abuubakar Ba-Mihdaar jala naqe. Hundinuu, daldala isaanii bira taranii, shamarraan isaanii tiin warra kajeelu tahan. Haaluma kanaan, warri Baa-Mahdar, daldala isaanii kan Adan jiruuf isa qaadhimatanii, Dirree Dhawaa irraa akka gamas sossoohu amansiisan. Akkasiin, walakkaa bara 1963, karaa Adan sossoohe.

Akka Adan dhaqee biyya bareeniis, warra achi geeysaniif hojjachaa, akkuma Dirree Dhawaatti, seedata dhunfaa cinatti ooffachuu jalqabuun, daldaloota biyya sanii tii fii kanneen biyyaa dhufanitti miyoota barbaadamoo gurgurutti seene. Haala kanaan, daldalli isaa yaroo gabaabduu keessatti toleefii mindooma namaa jalaa if baase. Akka qabeenyi walitti kuufameefiin, achumaa bitee achitti gurguruu mannaa, Taaywaan, iddoo warri inni irraa bitu meeshaa irraa fidanitti sossoohuu jalqabe. Adanirraa Taaywaanitti bobbahuun, yaroo gabaabduu keessatti, Elemo, sooreeysa beekkamaa, akkuma hiikkaa maqaa isaatti, nama if bira dabree rakkataa gargaaru godhe.

Yaroo Elemo Adan seene, biiyti bulchinsa Ingiliz jala turte. Elemo akka bubbulee biyya bareen, dargaggoota biyyaa kanneen dhaaba maqaa Adda Bilisummaa Ummataa, الجبهة القوميّة ykn National Liberation Front (NLF) ja’amuun gabroomsaa ifirraa kaasuuf qabsaawaa jiraniin wal fudhatee, yaadaa fii diinaggeen gargaarutti seene. Sadaasa 30, bara 1967, gaafa sossohinsi riphee loltummaa dhaaba armaa olii, gabrummaa Ingiliz buqqisee, biyya Bulchiinsa Ummata Yaman Dhidhimaa (People’s Republic of South Yemen) gonfachiise, akkuma warra biraatti, Elemo deeggaraa galmaawaa tahuun isaa ifatti beekkame.  Deeggaraa NLF tahuun, Elemo, Falasxiinota bilisummaa biyya isaanii tiif qabsaawan walii niis jaala godhe. Kaayoo qabsoo isaanii galiin gayuuf, walakkaa bara 1964, gaafa dhaaba PLO gurmeeyfatan irraa kaasee, gama waajjira isaanii kan Adaniin, diinaggeen gargaaruun, hariiroo jaallummaa waliin uummate. Isaan malees, Elemo, qabsaawota Adda Bilisummaa Eertiraa (ELF) kanneen yaroo san Adan keeysatti cimoo  turan waliiniis qunnamtii walitti dhaabbatte qabaachuun wal’aansoo isaanii hordofaa ture.

Gama biraa tiin, Yaroon Elemo Adan itti dhaqe, yaroo sossoohinsi qabsoo bilisummaa fii yaanni sirna siyaasaa wajji qabeenyaa kan maqaa Soshalizimiin beekkame hawaasa adunyaa itti dhunfatte. Yaroo sanitti, hawaassan adunyaa hedduu keeysatti, qabsaawonni haala armaa olii kanaan gabroomfataa alagaa malees cunqurfamaa fii saaminsa Abbootii Lafaa jalaa bahuuf wal’aansoo cimtuu godhaa turani. Akka yaadaa tiin sirni wajji qabeenyaa faallaa daldalaa fii sooroma dhunfaa ti. Haalli kuni, silaa, nama akka Elemoo kan qabeenyii amma walitti kuufamaafii jiru, kan makiinaan haarayni, reefu baate, mooraa keessa jaajjitu, kan harkisu hin turre. Garuu, Elemo, nama dantaa mataa isaa caalaa kan ummata bal’aaf irra hadooduu fii yaadu waan taheef, sirna kana qaamaa fii qalbiin fudhate. Kaayoo sirna kanaa fiixa baasuu fiis, akka Yaman Dhidhimaa bulchiinsa Ingilizii jalaa walaba taateen, dhaaba NLF jalatti, goblaa Markisizim keessatti galmaawee, kitaabban Shuu’ii dubbisuun dhorame. Seenaaleen qabsaawota akka Chee Guveeraa fii Ho Chi Miin niis sammuu fudhatanii yaroo hunda afanii bu’uu didan.

Elemo qabeenyaan sooromuu fii mootummaa biyyaa waliin hariiroo jaallummaa qabaachuun, ilmaan Oromoo kanneen haala adda-addaa tiin biyyaa bahanii achi seenan akkaan gargaare. Elemo, warra baqa dhufaniif dahoo tahe. Nyaataa fii dhugaatiin gargaaruu bira taree, hamma qubatanitti, mana isaa bira taree, kophatti iddoo galan horii isaa tiin kireeyseef. San malees, warra daldalaaf achi dhufan, kani duubbee isaanii hin-beeyne, miya isaa liqitti kennuuf jalqabe. Haalli isaa kuni, Elemo, rakkoo keessa galche. Walakkaa bara 1968-ii, namicha tokko kan miya irraa fuudhee achumaan biyyatti hafe irraa maallaqa isaa barbaada Finfinnee dhaqe. Namichi, miya liqiin irraa fuudheef horii isaa erguuf mannaa, Elemo hidhaaf qaadhime. Mootummaa Hayle Sillaasee tan warra dura dhaabbatu akka boombiitti ifirraa eegaa jirtutti, “Elemoo warra biyya alaa keessatti mootummaa dura dhaabbatan waliin nama jiru,” badii jattuun akka qabamee hidhamu godhe. Gama biraa tiin, namichi, durumaanuu tahe ja’amee, mootummaa Xoophiyaa irraa nama itti ergame ja’ama.

Dimshaashatti, gaaroominni, Elemo, goda itti hin qophaawin keessa naqe. Namichi bu’aa akka irraa arkatuuf miya liqiin kenneef, “Adan dhufuu ani hin dandayuu, sumaa tu narra wayyaa, ati as koottu. Noolii baaftu horii keetirratti ida’een siif kenna. Achumaanuu biyyaa fii haala daldala Finfinnee tiis laalta,” yaada ja’uun sobee, Shaggar fidee, illima qopheeyseef keessa naqe.

Qaruuteen mootummaa Hayle Sillaasee, Elemoo keeysaa waan beeku baasuuf, akkuma mana hidhaa ol naqataniin, uleen irra gattaa’an. Harkaa fii miila hidhanii, eessaa tu irra laalataan, akka nama uuda bishingaa tumuutti qaama mara cafaqan. Akkasitti, waan dhagayuu fedhan afaanii baasuu dadhabnaan, dumucoo carqii afaanitti takashanii, akka siilchoo waadanitti sibiila furdaa keessa loosaa tuman. Akka foon suguyyaatti, mataa isaa gadi rarraasanii fannisuun, hamma coraan irraa solloqee foon diimaan mul’atutti, faana keessa tuman. Afaan cancalanii tumuu fii akka foon suguyyaatti fannisanii garafuun, wahuu afaanii baasuu dadhabnaan, warri zaalla-gaaffii, “kuni nama humaa takkallee keeysa hin jirre,” murtii jatturra gayan.

Tumiinsarraa kan ka’e, faanti madooytee, Elemo ejjechuu dadhabee, mana fincaanii dhaquuf gargaarsa barbaade. Mana isaa oowwaa fii jiruu isaa mi’ooytuu keessaa, malaan yaamamee kana mudachuun haalaan garaa gube. Horii isaa barbaadaaf, mana hidhaa kan miila isaa tiin dhufee if naqe keeysaa bahuuf, horii biraa dhangalaasutti seene. Mootummaa gunaan aadaa isii taate jalaa maallaqaan if baasuuf, kan arke hundatte harka hiixaachuu jalqabe. Akkasiin maa-na-uumtetti, hidhaa ji’a jahaa booda, walabummaa horii isaa tiin bitatee, mana hidhaa keessaa bahee, Adanitti deebi’e.

Hidhaan mootummaa Habashaa Elemo haalaan jijjiirte. Eega Adanitti deebi’e, sammuun isaa waan dalagaa dhiiftee, gadadoo balleessaa takka malee biyya haadhaa fii abbaa isaa keessatti mudate, halkanii fii guyyaa, yaaduu irraa hara fudhachuu didde. Saba irraa dhalate, kan biyya isaa keessatti mirga tokkollee qabaachaa hinjirreef, humaa godhaa jiraachuu dhaba isaa tiif gaddi weerare. Haalli kuni, isa dhunfatee, fedhii dalagachuu keessatti laamsheesee, karaa fii haala qabsoo bilisummaa ummata Oromoo irraa qooda itti fudhatu qofa akka yaadu goodhe. Yaada isaa kana hujiirra oolchuuf, odoo iyyaafataa fii qorannoo godhuu, Kaa’imman Oromoo kanneen qabsoo bilisummaa jalqabuuf fedhii qaban biyyaa baqatanii Soomaaliyaa keessa jiraachuu dhagaye. Dhageeytii faana-dhawee akka mirkaneeyfateen, qunnamuuf karaa Maqdishoo barare. Achitti, Jaarraa Abbaa Gadaa tii fii sab-boonota biroo kanneen wal’aansoo qabsoo bilisummaatiif qophii tahaniin walitti dhufe.

Elemo, Jaarraa Abbaa Gadaa tii fii sab-boonota biroo kanneen fedhii qabsoo bilisummaa akka isaa qaban arkuun haalaan gammachiise. Nama qabsoo akka isaanii tiif murate, kan mootummaa Adan waliin jaallummaa qabu, kan qabsaawota Falaxiinii fii kanneen biroo waliiniis hariiroo qabuun walitti dhufuun, Jaarraa Abbaa Gadaa faa keessattiis gammachuu daangaa hin qabne uumte. Hawwii qabsoo bilisummaa tan mootummaan Soomaalee keessatti ukkaamsitetti hafuurri deebi’eef. Marii godhaniin, akkaataa yaada isaanii if dura itti tarkaanfachiisanirratti mala tarrifatanii, Elemo hujii adda fudhatan fiixa baasuuf Adanitti deebi’e.

Ji’a sadii booda, haala sab-boononni soomaalee keessaa itti bahanii fii Adanitti leenjii tooftaa lolaa itti baratan qopheeysee, horii nooliif barbaachisu waliin sab-boonotatti deebi’e. Gabaasaa Elemorraa arkamtetti irkachuun, ji’a Abraashaa/Muddee 12, bara 1969, magaalaa Maqdishoo keessatti teeysuma dhooysatti gaggeeysaniin, qabsoo hidhannoo bilisummaa ummata Oromiyaa jalqabuuf murteeyfatan. Ji’uma tana keesa, warra tooftaa lolaa barachuu irratti ramadaman, qaruutee Soomaalee jalaa mimmiliysaa, tokkoo-lamaan, dooniin bahara ceesisanii Adan naqan.

Elemoo fii sab-boononni Soomaalee irraa Adan dhufan, kanneen Yamanii fii biyyoota adda-addaa irraa itti dabalaman waliin, tooftaa lolaa barachuuf, moora leenjii Falasxiinotaa tan Adanitti arkamtu seenan. Jaarraa Abbaa Gadaa, tooftaa lolaa biratti tan riphee loltummaa fii hoogganummaa akka baratuuf gama mooraa leenjii waraanaa tan Falsxiinoonni Suuriyaa keessaa qaban dhaqe. Akka barnoota barbaachisu fixateen, Adooleeysa 23, bara 1970, Adanitti deebi’e. Miyni waraanaa kan arkamee akka naannoo san dhufeen, warra leenjii barnoota lolaa fixatan keessaa qabsaawonni soddomii jaha, karaa Soomaaliyaa tiin Oromiyaa seenanii qabsoo hidhanoo bilisummaa ummata Oromiyaa jalqabuuf, Onkololeessa 17, bara 1970, hoogganummaa Jaarraa Abbaa Gadaa tiin, dooniin, Bahara Diimmaarra, Adanirraa karaa Soomaaliyaa sossoohan.

Qabsaawonni 36-n, seenaa qabsoo bilisummaa ummata Oromiyaa keessatti Qeeyroo Ganamaatti beekkaman, gaafa biyyatti deebi’uuf murteeffatan, “hujii fii hariiroo biyyoota alaa keessatti jalqabamte isa caalaa kan fiixa baasu hin jiru,” murtii jattuun, Elemo odoo diduu, akka Adanitti hafu godhan. Qabsaawoni qabsoo hidhannoo bilisummaa ummata Oromiyaa jalqabuuf, leenjii lolaa fudhatanii karaa biyyaa sossoohan, Soomaalee keessaan biyyatti hulluuquuf tattaaanni godhan milkooma dhabe.

Bahara Hindii, kan bitaa-mirgaa fii, gadii fii oliin isaa, kan irra daddeebi’u afanfaajjeessu, guyyaa aduu, halkan urjii hordofaa irra deemanii lafa garaa gayuun rakkisa. Haala kanaan, amniti doonii tan kiiloo-meetira dhibba lamaa fii shantamii olii, qabsaawota Qeeyroo Ganamaa, iddoo tilmaammatan irraa maysitee, halkan dukkana, malkaa Bulloo-har ja’amtu, tan Zeeylaa fii Barbaraa jidduu jirtu geeysite. Achitti, ganama, isaanii hirriibaa hin ka’in, waraana Soomaalee tiin marfamanii, eega dhukaasa walitti banan booda, malaan harka isaanii seenanii, mana hidhaa Man-Dheeraa ja’amutti darbaman.

Qabsaawonni Qeeyroo Ganamaa hidhamuun, Itti Gaafatama Dhimma Alaa tan duraan itti kennamterratti, dirqama waliigalaa, qonyee Elemoorratti dabalte. Elemo, ulfina dirqamaa tan haalli mudeen odoo hin baaragin, yaada qabsaawota Qeeyroo Ganamaa bakkaan gayuuf, hifaata malee warraaqutti seene. Dhimma kanaaf, dooginyoota (Bakka bu’oota) waajjiroota mootummoota Arabaa tii fii biyyoota qabsoo bilisummaa gargaaran waliin hariiroo uumuuf Iraaq, Kuweet, Ordon, Libnaan, Suuriyaa fii Misra keessa daddeeme.

Tattaafanni Elemoo, maqaa fii seenaa Oromoo gurra mootummoota hedduu naqe. Haaluma kanaaf, yaada “Laalcha Sadaffaa Adunyaa” ja’u babal’isuuf, walgayii bara 1973, ji’a Eblaa keessa, Koloneel Gadaafiin Liibiyaa keessatti qopheesserratti, akka qabsaawota bilisa baaftuu Oromootti afeerraan godhamteefii, jilaa waliin, Tirippoolii dhaqe. Teeysuma bakka bu’oonni dhaabota qabsoo bilisummaa biyyota Afrikaa, Aasiyaa, Oroppaa fii Ameerikaa Dhidhimaa irratti arkaman tanarratti, Elemoo fii jilli waliin dhaqan, qabsaawota achitti arkaman, seenaa Oromoo tii fii kaayoo qabsoo bilisummaa ummata Oromiyaa tiin wal-barsiisan.

Elemo, haala armaa olii tiin, Oromoo fii dhibdee isii lammii fii mootummoota biyyoota alaa beeysisaa, karaa kaaniin, karoora Qeeyroo Ganamaa bakkaan gayuurratti qophii barbaachiftu-rratti bobbahe. Haala kanaa fiis, akka karaa ittiin biyya seenamu qoratanii fii caasaa saniif barbaachiftu diriirsaniif, qabsaawota dhimma kanaaf muratan, karaa adda-addaa tiin biyya naqe. Akka qophiin haala kanaaf barbaachiftu xumuramteen, fuula karaa biyyaa deebise. Dhimma kanaaf, Sadaasa 04, bara 1973, sab-boonota leenjii waraanaa fudhatan waliin, mana isaatti teeysuma qopheeyse. Qabsoo hidhannoo bilisummaa ummata Oromiyaa jalqabuurratti marii godhaniin, warra kaayicha hujiirra oolchuu fedhan waliin biyya seenuu murteeyfatan.

Yaroo sanitti, Elemo, qabeenya gayaa malees, haadha warraa, Aammuun Umar, tan bareedina daawwatamee hin quufamneen faayamtee fii ilma isaa kan maqaa Kallachaa, Abdukariim, moggaaseef fii intala isaa Hanaan, tan reefu dhalatte, qabaachuu ture. Horii fii matii biratti, hoogganoota biyya Adan waliin jaallummaa qabuun, biyya san keessatti, jiruu nagayaa, sadoo fii qananiin jiraachuu isaaf salpha ture. Saniin alattiis, achuma jiraatee, maqaa qabsoo Oromoo tiin yaroo-yaroon biyyoota alagaa keessa daddeemuun jiruu isaa itti fufuu ni dandaya ture. Garuu, fedhiin bilisummaa tan onnee keeysaa belbeltu, sadoo fii qananii gatee, maatii isaa Rabbitti dhiisee, qabsoo hidhannoo jalqabuuf, karaa daggala Oromiyaa akka sossoohu goote. Akkasiin, qabsaawota waliin biyya seenuu murteeyfatan waliin, miya waraanaa hamma dooniin deemuun dandeeysu fe’anii, Arfaasa 06, bara 1973, Adanirraa ka’anii, qilleensaa fii dambalii hamilee cabsuu barbaaddu keessa hulluuqanii malkaa Asabitti tarkaanfatan. Achirraa, lafa ummata Affar keessa loohaanii hawaasa isaaniitti fullahan.

Elemo faan, odoo biyya hin seenin duratti, qabsoon bilisummaa ummata Oromiyaa, jalqabumaan, Oromoota nannoo adda-addaa akka haammattuu fii hooggana isii keessattiis martinuu akka if arkan godhuun barbaachisaa tahuu hubachuun, hoogganummaa isii falmachuurraa if qusatan. Yaada kana bu’ureeffachuun, akka biyya seenaniin, sab-boonota magaalaa Finfinnee keeysa jiran qunnaman. Arfaasaa 27, bara 1973, Finfinnee keeysatti sab-boonotaa garii waliin teeysuma godhaniin, yaada isaanii kana gayaniinii, hamma qabsaawonni naannoo adda-addaarraa keessatti heddommaatanuu isaan Wiirtuu Gola Qindoominaa (Central Coordinting Body) akka tahan murteeysan. Sanumaa waliin, bara lama keeysatti, Dirreen Qabsoo tan jabaatte keessatti, Walgayii Idilee tan hooggana if keeysaa filtu qophooysuurratti waliigalan.

San booda, Eleemoo fii Qabsaawonni, miya waraanaa kan fidatan iddo adda-addaatti dhooyfatanii, haalaa fii naannoo qubsumaa qorachuu irratti bobbahan. Qormaata yaroo xiqqoo boodaan, Gaara Gubbaa Qorichaa hundee godhatanii, Daloo ifii olitti laalaa, gadiin Galamso daawwachaa, Shaggariin, “kiiloo meetira dhibba lama qofa sirraa jirraa, nuu obsi,” ja’chuun, hidhannoo isaanii tan waraanni mootummaa hin qabneen hawaasa keessa daddeemaa dammaqiinsaa fii hamilee ummataa kakaasutti seenan. Gandi keessa bobbahan, kan itti aanuuf haala isaanii odoo hasaasuu, oduun isaanii yaroo takkatti lammii walgeeyse. Dhaadannoon isaanii tan, “ummanni keenya biyya isaanii keessatti, mirga abbaa biyyummaa mulqamanii, gabrummaan jiraachuun raawwachu qaba!” tan jattu, hawaasa Oromoo bira tartee, tan diinee seente. Nafxanyoonni naannoo Gubbaa Qorichaa dhunfatanii ummata keenya-rratti roorrisaa jiran yaroo tana dhagayan gurra isaanii amanuu dadhaban.

Mulaatuu Tamany tuni natti hin taatu je’e. Mulaatuun, nafxanyaa, lafa guddoo mootummaan ummatarraa fuutee badhaafterratti abbaa lafaa tahee, hawaasarratti roorrisaa ture. Lafa fardaan irra gulufee, fudhatee, irratti qanani’aa jiru, irreen tiiyfachuuf hamma funyaanitti hidhatee, bakka deemu mara ash’karoota hidhannoo qabaniin nama dabaalamaa deemu. Ilmi Temeny akkuma afaan isaatti, onnee horee, Caamsaa 01, bara 1974, guyyaa Isniinaa, jalee waliin, midhaan isaa fidachuuf, Har-diimi-tti ganame.

Qabsaawonni hammi tokko isaanii iddoo itti bobbahan irraa gala deeman, harroota gooroo jala dhunfatan halaalaa arkanii, itti achi deeman. Dargaan Mulaatuu kanneen alaa isa eegan, warra hidhannoon itti achi deemaa jiru agarraan, dhukaasa banan. Namicha dura Dimitfoor dhukaase, Qeeyroon Kilaashiin adda keessa dhooynaan, warri hafan harka samitti ol qabanii Mulaatuu dargaa malee hambisan. Qabsaawonni midhaan boolla torba, kan nafxanyichi harroota shantamiin fe’achuuf deemu, geejjibaa waliin manguddoo biyyaa harka kaayanii, Mulaatuu Waaqatti galchan.

Oduun haala Mulaatuu mudatee, Galamso qaxxaamurtee, Finfinnee baatee gurra mootummaa Habashaa seente. Hayle Sillaasee fii dooginyoonni isaa shororkaa biraa keessa jiraatanillee, tana gurraan dhagayuun taan daran yaachisee, hatattamaan humna daddaffii tan Faxnoo Daraashiitti beekamtu naannoo sanitti ergan. Faxnoon, nafxanyoota naannoo sanii waliin tahuun, manneen irra daddeemanii manguddoota, sheekkotii, daldaloota, barattootaa fii kaa’imman Galamsoo fii naannoo sanii kanaa-sanii malee, hidhatti guuran. Dargaggoonni, nafxanyoota akka saree maraattee Oromoota hidhuuf ganda keessa o’orihan jalaa jalaa miliquu dandayan, qabsaawota biratti jalaa baqatan. Guyyaa sanirraa kaasee, irreen qabsaawotaa cimaa dhufte. Ummanni keessa jiran gadaameysaa tahaniifii caasaan isaanii guddachaa, marsaan bal’achaa deemte. Gama kaaniin, wal’aansoon naannoo sanitti finiintee, lolli walitti dhaabbate. Nafxanyoonni baadiyyoota Gubbaa Qorichaa keessa jiran darsa guurratanii magaalatti godaanuu jalqaban. Baadiyyaan nagaya arkatte. Abbootiin biyyaa xixa nafxanyootaa irraa hara baafatan.

Odoo haalli akkanatti deemaa jiru, Waxabajii 28, bara 1974, Dargiin jaaramtee aangoo biyyaa Hayle Sillaaseerraa fudhatte. Akka barcuma tottolfatteen, rakkoolee biyyaa kanneen muddamsiisaa jiran caalaa, kan naannoo Gubbaa Qorichaatti nafxanyoota mudachaa jiruuf durummaa kennitee, miseensoota isii keeysaa, Koloneel Zallaqaa Bayyanaa naannoo sanitti ergite. Zallaqaan, nafxanyoota baaraga duuti Mulaatuu itti fidde keessaa baasuuf, irbuu seeneef. Ummata Galamsoo dirree magaalaa-tti walitti qabate. Loltootaan marsee, walakkaa dhaabbatee, “isin ummanni Galamsoo fii naannoo isii, shiftoota isin keessa daddeeman fiduu ykn dhabamuu keessaa tokko filadhaa,” jachuun doorsise. San booda, murna waraanaa kan Shaalaqaa Kaasaahun Alamaayyoo tiin hoogganamu, Galamsoo fii Gubbaa Qorichaa jidduu, Gooroo Khinteerii ja’amturra qubachiise.

Akeekni guddaan waraana achi qubachiisuu, ummata naannoo sanii anfariirsuun, qabsaawota isaan keessa jiranitti quba laachisiisuu fi. Ummataa fii qabsaawota duuydaa-garaa godhuufi. Jarri galii tana fiixa baasuuf, hidhannoo guutuun hawaasa keessa bobbahanii galuu jalqaban. Yaroo qarmaammee isaanii-rraa bahanii deebi’an mara, ummata zaalla-gaaffiin rakkuu, doorsisuu fii sodaachisuu hujii godhatan. San isaan hanqatee, gaafa kaan nama tokko galaafatan.

Guyyaa Faxnoon lubbuu nama Oromoo galaafatan, qabsaawonni Amaarota baadiyyaa keessa jiranitti dhaqanii hulaa dhadhawanii, qabsoon manaa bahaniif, tan hiyyeessa Amaaraa, kanneen hawaasa Oromoo keessa nagayaan jiraatan miidhuu akka in tahin mirkaneessaniif. Gochi Faxnoo isaanii fii Oromoota jiddutti garaa-garummaa uumuuf waan karoorfame tahuu beeysisuun, dhaamsaa waliin jaratti ergan. Dhaamsa Faxnoof barreessan irrattiis, akeeka deemaniif ifa baasaniif. Wal’aansoon itti jiran tan gabrummaa Habashaa ifirraa buqqisuu fii, tan abbaa biyyummaa ummata Oromoo mirkaneeysuu tahuu adeessaniif. Sanumarratti dabalanii, ummata nagaayaan jiraatan irratti ajjeechaa hojjatamu akka balaaleeffatan hubachiisan. Akkasumaa waliin, kana booda, yo nama Oromoo tokko ajjeesan, dhiiga gama kaanirraa dhangalauuf warri itti gaafatamu isaan taachaa beeysisan.

Shaalaqaan, yaroo Amaarota qabsaawonni itti erganiin wal-qunnamee, dhaamsa irraa dhagaye, tooftaan isaa jalaa fashaluu hubate. Yo ajjeechaa ummata Oromoo itti fufe, lubbuu Amaarotaa tan galaafatamuuf jiraattuuf itti gaafatamuu isaa arke. Haalli qabsaawotaa kuni hatattaamaan ugguramuu baannan, caalaa hammaachuun isa yaachisee, tarkaanfii isaan dhabamsiisuu tiif waraana isaa qopheessee, Birraa 05, bara 1974, guyyaa Kamisaa, subiin, Gooroo Khinteerii irraa gama raaree Xirrootti sossoose.

Qaruuteen qabsaawotaa sossooha waraana Kaasaahun arkanillee, akkuma aadaa isaaniitti, bobbahanii deebi’anitti waan fudhataniif, hordofuuf itti hin-rakkanne. Kaasaahuniis faana arraantanaa dhooyfachuuf, guyyoota hedduu kan humaa hin balleessin nagayaan, waraana isaa diiramaan bobbaasee deebisaa ture. Arra garuu, midhaan boqqolloo kan hojjaa namaa liqimsuun if dahaa, bakka duri-rra miila dheereeffate.

Waraanni diinaa shokomsaa malee mayra boqqoolloo keessa deemanillee, ilaaloo Qeeyroo jalaa dhokochuu hin-dandeenye. Sayliin Qeeyroo, warri akka hireetti naannoo san turan, akka odeessa arkataniin waraana Faxnoo afaan bahanii, isaanii quba hinqabne dhukaasa bakka takkaa tiin baareeysan. Waraanni diinaa dhokochuuf goda seenan dhaban. Shaalaqaan, zarraafii isaa tiif odoo yaroo hin arkatin, dachii fii samiin itti garagaggalan. Lolli akkaa fii bakka inni hin barbaadinitti itti jalqabamee, xiyyitii fii boombiin karaa hundaan itti xiixan.

Dhukaasni jalqabamnaan, Qeeyroon naannoo jiranirraa karaa sagaleen qawwee itti dhagayamtutti orihan. Waraana diina kan duruu afanfaajjawaa jiru, olii-gadiin, bitaa-mirgaan, itti dhukaasanii lafaan dhawutti seenan. Kaasaahunii fii waraanni isaa, ibidda qaban, ija cufatanii karaa arkan haru malee waan godhan wallaalan. Ummanni naannoo sanii yaroo qawween qabsaawotaa diinaa akka kubbaatti ol kaaftee lafatti gadi deebiftu, halaalaa mil’atanii dinqifachutti seenan.

Lolli ganama jalqabe, dafee raawwachuu dhiisee, lakkumaan, aduu waliin oowwutti seene. Ibiddi gooroo gubbaa itti roobu, baayyina waraana diinaa xiqqeeysaa dhufe. Haalli akka mooraa itti baheef tahuu dhabnaan, ajajaan waraana diinaa, kanneen mooratti hafan dhufanii akka gargaaraniif dirmachuu lallabate. Tanaa-tana jiddu mudaamuddii ol, bakka miilaa fii garaan Elemoo walitti jaajju, xiyyitiin diinaa takka dhuftee seente. Elemo dhawamuu isaa kan hubate yaroo humniti diinaa akkaa-gara dhabdee, dhukaasni gama isaanii tiin itti ol roobu qabbanaawe.

Waraanni mooratti hafan akka iyyannaa dhagayniin, dirmachuuf orihaa dhufanii waaheloota du’aa fii madaawuu irraa hafanitti hafuura lubbuu deebisanii, waliin, qabsaawotatti dhukaasuu jalqaban. Yoona, Elemo, qabsaawonni tokko-tokkoon suuta lola keessaa mimmiliqaa akka lubbuu boruuf baasan ajaje. Haala miliquu isaaniif aanjeeysuuf, ansoolaa deemmatuun irraa fiinxa dhoosee bakka dhiiyni irraa yaa’aa jirutti maree, dhagaa guddaa dahoo godhatee, waraana diinaatti dhukaasa banuuf  jilbiiffate. Qabasaawonni haala isaa kana arkan amrii isaa dura dhaabbachuun, biraa deemuu didan. Elemo garuu, isa caalaa kan arraaf lubbuu baafachuu qabu isaan taachaa itti hime. San malees, “manaa kaniin baheef qabsoo bilisummaa ummata kiyyaa fi. Haala kanaan du’uu caalaa wanni na gammachiisaa hin jiru. Qaanqee qabatte tana akka hin dhaamne godhuun dirqama isinirra jiru. Kanaaf, na dhiisaa deemaa. Ani hamma lubbuun na keeysa jirtu diina isinirraa hiin ittisa.” Jechuun bakka riphiserraa diinatti dhukaasuu jalqabe.

Waraanni Kaasaahuun, gama isaanii tiin, iddoo dhukaasni irraa itti as dhawamutti, xiyyitii malees madaafaa haraa, karaa maraan dooyatti ol yaa’an. Elemo bakka jilbiiffaterraa waaraana diinaa kanneen itti ol yaa’an hamma dandayu odoo lafaan dhawuu, sagaleen kilaash isaa callifte. Waraanni diinaa bakka irraa itti dhukaafamaa ture hoggaa gayan, ibiddi itti roobaa ture qaama adda bittinneessee, haabee nama itti dhukaasaa turee dhaban. Yaroo dilli kuni tahu, dachiin Xirroo maaltu na mudate jette. Samiin naannoo sanii waan jalatti deemaa jiru laaluu jibbite duumeeysa hagooggatte. Aduun kana hunda daawwachaa ooltee, Asrii, lubbuu Elemoo Qilxuu, jeeyna qabsoo bilisummaa Oromiyaa keessatti gita hin qabne, umrii soddomii saddeetitti fudhattee, Gaara Bubbee tiin gadi qaarte.

Oromiyaan ni bilisoomti!

Bahar Ali Yousuf is a 27-year-old journalist from Ethiopia who had to flee the country last month to avoid being imprisoned by the government.

Yousuf gave an exclusive interview to Al Bawaba about his plight, which provides a glimpse into the Ethiopian government’s ongoing crackdown on the ethnic Oromo.

With a population of at least 35 million, the Oromo are the largest tribe in Ethiopia. They’ve suffered discrimination at the hands of the ruling (minority) Tigray tribe for decades.

The Ethiopian government, which is dominated by the minority Tigray, is a key ally of many Western countries in the “War on Terror.”

Yousuf is from an Oromo Muslim family in the eastern city Harar. He began working as a radio and TV journalist in 2013, covering Ethiopian politics and the Oromo protests that began in November 2015 when the government attempted to appropriate Oromo farmland to expand Addis Ababa, the country’s capital.

The government responded to mostly-peaceful demonstrations by beating and arresting people and opening fire on the crowds. Since November, Ethiopian soldiers have killed 500 demonstrators, Human Rights Watch says.

The government has also cracked down on journalists who publish things that go against the party line.

Last year, Yousuf was imprisoned for three months for his coverage of the ongoing Oromo demonstrations.

“As a journalist, I did my professional job, which is reporting,” he told Al Bawaba. “But the government doesn’t like journalists. They want to hide what’s going on in our country. That is why they arrested me. Because I exposed that youth were being imprisoned and killed.”

Yousuf said he was tortured while he was in prison.

Though he was released after three months’ detention, Yousuf said the government tried to arrest him again, which led him to flee the country for neighboring Kenya.

Yousuf said goodbye to his family and took a series of buses with what little money he had to travel from Harar hundreds of miles south to the Kenyan border.

At the border, Yousuf was forced to spend the night in a hotel room while waiting for the crossing to open the next morning. He said the Ethiopian intelligence services were looking for him and others in area hotels, and he had to flee his room and sleep in the street to avoid getting caught.

The next day he crossed in to Kenya, and rode more buses to get from the border to Nairobi. He arrived in Nairobi on Aug. 16, and is now trying to win asylum from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Yousuf was a reporter in Ethiopia who covered the government’s violent repression of the ethnic Oromo. (courtesy: Bahar Ali Yousuf)

Yousuf said part of the reason the Ethiopian government doesn’t like him is that his father was a supporter of the Oromo Liberation Front, a political party that the Ethiopian government declared a terrorist organization in 2011. Yousuf said his father was imprisoned and killed by government agents in the early 1990s, when Yousuf was only three-years-old.

In August, civil unrest in Ethiopia intensified, as a second ethnic group, the Amhara, joined the demonstrations. Over the course of three days in early August, Ethiopian soldiers killed an estimated 97 people during protests in half a dozen cities around the country.

“Hospitals have been filled by dead and wounded victims,” one witness told Reuters.

The US, which gives millions of dollars in aid to the Ethiopian government every year in exchange for military cooperation in the volatile Horn of Africa, has refused to condemn the government’s massacres, saying only that it was “deeply concerned” with the violence.

Other Western nations, who also use Ethiopia as a military and security partner, have been similarly tight-lipped.

It seems obvious that the inaction of Western powers is perceived by the Ethiopian government as carte blanche to continue beating, arresting and slaughtering its own citizens.

“Still now the Ethiopian government are killing the Oromo people and taking their land and resources,” Yousuf said.

-By Hunter Stuart

Follow me on Twitter @hoont

Email me at hunter@corp.albawaba.com