3. We Fled, But Could Not Escape
By Ibsaa Guutama*
It is long since the Oromo rebelled and started to defend itself against the colonial harsh rule. Enemy and cruelty have continued increasing by folds since it started organizing and strengthening its resistance. Political suppression and economic plunders, imposed on the nation, have denied the youth to live in peace. Imprisonment, tortures and killings started to get out of bounds. As a result, when they could not live in their country in peace, they started to seek for solutions. Many in different countries started to clandestinely organize the means of escape and transportation to benefit from such human mishaps. For the survival of their bloodline, relatives started collecting aid and giving provision for their loved ones. They were many who crossed boundaries of the empire by paying whatever it costed. Closing their eyes, they flocked to escape from abuses in their country – without knowing what might wait for them on the other end. Their aim was first to reach countries like Kenya; South Africa; Arab countries through Djibouti and Somalia; and Europe through the Sudan and North African countries. Very few reached the desired destinations; many perished en route.
Those who went to Kenya hoped the UN would resettle them in Western countries. Because of the great influx of refugees to Kenya, resettlement started to drag and take much time. As a result, many left and headed through dangerous routes to South Africa. Before reaching there, many were eaten by wild animals; drowned in waters; abused and imprisoned, etc., as was told periodically. Because the Sudan route had the same peril, similar incidents beheld those who took that way to reach Libya and Egypt. Many of those who tried to reach Israel through Egypt were slain in the desert and their internal organs sold as spare parts, as were also heard. Those who reached Libya during Gadhafi’s era, though discriminated and despised by individuals, they were able to work for their living until they reached their intended destinations. Many who went to Somalia were followed by Wayyaanee and were killed, or taken back to the country to subject them for more suffering. In particular, those who fled to Puntland, other than being handed over to Wayyaanee, observed indifferently when hate groups burned with fire Oromo nationals who went to them for protection.
Promising to help them escape from Wayyaanee and Puntland unobserved, they loaded them on unworthy boats to Yemen after charging exorbitant amounts of money, but many were drowned on the way without a trace. Similar ventures did not stop; preferring to try their chances, even under risk of drowning, than to continuing living the Oromo way. And more catastrophes are taking place than previous times. Boats that carry immigrants from Libya to Europe are also facing similar dangers with those of Yemen again and again.
These days shocking news are reaching from South Africa and Libya. What happened in South Africa emanated from hatred for refugees from other parts of Africa and from Asia. Many homes and shops belonging to those immigrants were looted and burnt down, and several immigrant lives were lost. The unemployment rate in that country is said to be well above 24%. It is said, the people complain about the immigrants stealing their jobs. That, many South Africans lived scattered all over Africa only yesterday during the Apartheid era, is already forgotten. For a country praised as a powerhouse of African economy, to reach a level where it cannot control the fury of its own people seems to be an indicator of bad times ahead for Africa and the world. For immigrants of Oromo and other peoples of the empire, that amounts to jumping from fire to land, only in boiling cauldron.
The killing of their strong man and the destruction of the system he built might have given benefit for those who destroyed it; as for Libya, it has not become a country since. The man had forcefully brought tribes with different interests under one rule. With his demise, all were dismantled and started shooting at each other from their bunkers. Now, it has advanced beyond that and become a land where fanatic groups, like ISIS and Al-Qaida, are making efforts to implement their policies. Nothing positive, but only negative, is taking place. The reported slaying of Christians from Ethiopia is difficult to understand what it benefits and who might be behind it. One will not perform such an atrocity without return. Slaying poor travelers, who fled their country unable to live in peace, affects only those left at home, parents, siblings and relatives, not anybody they complain about. This action has infuriated many peace-loving people around the world. The Oromo are both Christians as well as Muslims. For this reason, they all are equally affected by those slain and those awaiting their turns to be slaughtered. Because Oromo are numerous, they are found in all mishaps.
In Yemen, too, many Oromo nationals are cornered lacking a place to run to and an opening to escape through. When Arabs on Arabs and Yemeni tribes on Yemeni show cruelty, it will not be difficult to imagine what could happen when it comes to aliens. What can be done for now and what about for tomorrow? To start brainstorming fast is now. Starting from when the Yemeni ran away from colonizers until they got independence, the Oromo had hosted them with love and care. They have married from and into them. That remained only memory of yesteryears. Many Oromo shared their faith, but that did not reward them with preferential treatments. Oromo youth, that ran to them for protection, found itself in boundless difficulties. Relations with the Saudi and Djibouti were similar. But they have given back their Muslim co-religious, even during the Darg, to a government that had denied the existence of God. That shows that national interests of a country supersedes having a common faith and being in-laws. The Oromo – be them Waaqeffataa, Muslim or Christian – have no one to depend on, except each other. In common, they have country, history, culture and tradition. No one will be expected for the rescue, if not each other.
Above, it is tried to touch on some of the happenings. When such a disaster befalls our nationals, the remaining should have deliberated on it and come out with a decision that could serve as a solution. The Oromo have many political, economic and social organizations that have been there for long. But they are unable to break out of different entanglements, and help each other. They ought to discuss in groups in a manner convenient to them as to what would be better. In particular, much is expected from political organizations. More hope is placed on them to coordinate and deploy the force the nation could generate in order to protect Oromo interests and reach for those in difficulty. But they themselves seem to need being rescued. Delaying until they are out of depression is to sanction further calamity.
In particular, if Oromo nationals out of their country get organized for help and rescue, it could be a panacea for what is happening now, for possible catastrophe to come, and for the continuing of Oromummaain foreign lands. Instead of running up and down in search of water and branches to extinguish fire, it is better to make borehole ready beforehand. One who has an organization can reach wherever one wants – be it through land or the sky. In general, it is one who is determined to take necessary risks who can achieve something. Peace and freedom cannot be achieved without daring to take risks.
The root cause for problems of nationals that flee their country is colonial system led by dictators. Killings, exile, hunger and terror cannot go away from the people unless this cause is uprooted. A country less person has nowhere to appeal or no one to sympathize with him/her. His/her death cannot move feelings even equal to that for a fly. That is why one is slain kneeling; left in a burning house; thrown from a boat to become feed for fishes; and one is loaded on broken boat and left to his destiny. To be free from such a debacle the root cause has to be uprooted; that demands to get organized swiftly. Today those who are fleeing are subjected to suffering. Tomorrow it will be the turn of those that think they have escaped the sufferings and are relaxing. The world is shaking, it is difficult to predict where it is heading.
But those who are on first line of vulnerability are those who settle last. To search for a way out, for those who are in trouble today – amounts to preparing for whatever may happen on one tomorrow. Therefore, time of awakening for immigrants is now. Let those who selfishness and narrowness have closed their eyes wake up, and keep them open and reexamine themselves. Time to choose between alternatives of being spared or getting destroyed together will not be far off. Encouraging those we have to come to their senses; let us build our capabilities more to get stronger. Running tears is of no solution for the problems one is in. The first attempt we make towards a solution is what gives hope. For this reason, for Oromo communities and Oromo NGOs in the world, to start coordinating each other’s efforts in the field of their operation is now.
This must be the time when Oromummaa comes out and unites all. Unless short-term plan is drawn to rescue nationals from problems at home and in foreign lands, all are on the verge of perishing. This will not be a lasting solution. The system that has caused their abuses and subsequent fleeing has to get uprooted. Otherwise, many youngsters are going to face similar problems all over again. Those who can flee the country are the strong and productive. Those who are spared death and imprisonment are little ones and old people, who are easily abused and have no energy for production. The sorrow and the suffering that befell are on all Oromo. However, the grieving is greater on parents, siblings and close relatives. All Oromo are expected to remain strong and help them overcome their grief. Their blood will not remain unavenged; it will not be far off when its primary cause shall be destroyed.
Honor and glory for the fallen heroines and heroes; liberty equality and freedom for the living, and nagaa and araaraa for the Ayyaanaa of our fore parents!
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