Because OLF party leaders have been illegally detained for a long time and should be released immediately and compensated for the damages they sustained

 Human Rights Commission confirms OLF leaders detained against due process, subjected to abuse

Free Them All !!!

In February the leaders went on hunger strike for more that a week protesting against their prolonged unlawful detention, which led to the deterioration of their health conditions have deteriorated. Family members are also prevented from visiting them.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission released the findings of its monitoring on the detention of senior leaders of the opposition, Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in various police stations in Oromia regional state. The report confirmed that several OLF leaders and members are “detained without due process.”

On 09 February this year, the federal supreme court closed the case file of Colonel Gemechu Ayana, a senior OLF official, and four other ranking members of the party after the defense team filed complaints of human rights violations and defiance of court orders by prosecutors and the police. Only 3 of the defendants including Colonel Gemechu was arraigned in court today and the whereabouts of the remaining two defendants are “unknown.

EHRC’s new report confirms OLF’s repeated please asking for the release of its leadership, and accusing the police of torturing them while in detention.

We asked for the immediate release of all detainees held without due process, for Oromia state to investigate its security officers and officials who beat prisoners and held them to account, as well as for compensations to be offered to the detainees.

#Justice #Freedom #FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners #StopKillingInnocentCivilians

Federal, Oromia police trade blame over detention of Col. Gemechu Ayana , 3rd defendant allegedly killed by security forces

 

Free Colonel Gemechu Ayana

Colonel Gemechu Ayana, senior Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) leader was arranged at the federal supreme court cassation bench alongside four other ranking members of the party over 3 months after the court closed the file but ruled that the defendants remain under the custody for the court ‘didn’t know who arrested them’. One of the defendants on the file, Amanuel Ejigu Merga, is allegedly killed by government security forces according to Lammi Gemechu interim public relations head of the OLF.

The case of Colonel Gemechu was brought to the cassation bench on Monday after the prosecutor filed an appeal against the decision by the supreme court to suspend the case until the prosecutor finalizes its investigation. The cassation bench scheduled a hearing on Monday to see the case of the five defendants but the prosecutors failed to appear in court according to the defense team.

So the hearing was postponed to Wednesday, May 18, 2022, where members of the federal police commission were asked by the court to explain the conditions surrounding the detention of Colonel Gemech et. al. The policemen responded by explaining that they don’t know about the detention after which the court ordered the director of the federal police investigation bureau to be summoned to court for the following day.

Accordingly, the head of the federal police investigation bureau was summoned to court today to provide an explanation. He stated that the federal police commission was not entrusted with the Colonel by the Oromia police commission as proclaimed by the prosecutor at yesterday’s hearing.

Yesterday, the prosecutor said that the Oromia police commission entrusted the federal police with Colonel Gemechu and that it asked them to keep him under custody in a letter. “We don’t have a copy of it but the prosecutor showed the letter to the judges,” Tuli said.

The police commander who was arraigned in court today however refuted the prosecutor’s claim and asserted that the federal police brought the defendants to the federal supreme court in November last year as per the court order. The police commander explained that the federal police commission later found out that the defendants were under the custody of the Oromia police commission, then brought the defendants to the federal court from there.

At today’s hearing, the prosecutor was ordered to provide an explanation surrounding the killing of one of the defendants, Amanuel Ejigu, Tuli said. Additionally, the court ordered the arraignment of the Oromia police commission to explain the detainment of Colonel Gemechu. Moreover, the cassation bench ordered the arraignment of 3 out of the five defendants, Kisu Qituma, Usman Hassen, and Lemmesa Takele, and adjourned the hearing until May 23, 2022.

Speaking on the death of Amanuel Ejigu, the PR head of the OLF told that Amanuel Ejigu was taken out of Kilinto Federal Prison and killed by security forces on December 18, 2021. He detailed that Amanuel was killed in the East Wollega zone, in Nekemte town at a place called Jato around St. Gabriel church while the hearing was ongoing.

Lammi further explained that Usman Hassen and Lemmesa Takele who are detained with Colonel Gemechu in the federal police commission headquarters in Addis Abeba were released eventually in the following weeks after the case file was closed in February. Similarly, Kisi Qituma, who was detained at Kilinto federal prison was also released.

DRONE STRIKES AND ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIANS REPORTED THROUGHOUT OROMIA AS PART OF MILITARY OFFENSIVE, LEADING TO 278 DEATHS

 

Since the Ethiopian federal and Oromia regional government announced the launch of a new military operation inside Oromia in early April, we are received numerous reports from sources on the ground regarding violent attacks against civilians, including drone strikes in West Shewa and East Wollega zones. Over the past weekend, the OLF and the OFC both released statements further detailing the effects of the military campaign on the civilian population of Oromia.

the OLF claimed that the Ethiopian government was conducting a campaign designed to, “damage the lives and livelihoods of every individual Oromo as well as weaken Oromo institutions and destruct the nation as a whole”, including by, “intentionally making Oromia a war zone.” They noted recent attacks against civilians, both by the Ethiopian federal government, and by the Amhara regional state into the Wollo Oromia Special zone. Inside Oromia, they noted that the current regime had committed “shocking atrocities” in Central Oromia, West, Arsi, East Wollega, and Guji zones, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, the destruction of property, and enforced disappearances.

In their statement, the OFC also discussed the ongoing military campaign in Oromia, which they said was led by the principle of “drying the sea to catch fish,” and was leading to the targeting of civilians throughout Oromia, particularly in the Wollega zones, West Shewa, North Shewa, East Shewa, West Arsi, East Guji, West Guji, and the Borana zones, as well as inside the Wollo Oromia Special zone in the Amhara region. They also alleged that the Ethiopian government had ordered drone and helicopter strikes within Oromia, leading to mass displacement and the death of at least 30 civilians. Overall, they calculated that at least 278 civilians had died throughout Oromia in the past two weeks due to the military offensive.

we also condemns these attacks against civilians, and calls on all actors, including those inside Ethiopia and the international community, to issue strong statements condemning the decision to launch a military campaign inside Oromia and calling for the Ethiopian federal and Oromia regional government forces to immediately cease efforts to “eliminate” the OLA militarily and instead seek peaceful means to address the conflicts inside Oromia. We further call for the Ethiopian government to protect its civilian population, to launch independent investigations into all allegations of abuses committed against civilians in Oromia, and to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. We also call on the international community to consider launching independent investigations into these, and other, allegations of human rights abuses throughout Ethiopia

Violence in western Oromia displaces half a million, leaves hundreds of schools, health facilities non functional

 

The humanitarian situation in Western Oromia has further deteriorated in 2022 due to intensified hostilities and inter-communal violence. Reportedly, some 500,000 people have been recently displaced in the sub-region, including thousands displaced multiple times from Kamashi zone (Benishangul Gumuz Region, BGR) since 2018, who are unable to return to their place of origin due to insecurity. Aid workers, mostly Ethiopian nationals, continue working to deliver humanitarian assistance in a volatile environment where humanitarian principles are continuously challenged. In 2022, partners have come under increased security threats, including two shooting incidents, various harassment, temporary detention, and forceful commandeering of their vehicles.

In 2018-2020, inter-communal violence between Oromo and Gumuz (BGR) communities as well as hostilities between security forces and armed groups impacted humanitarian access mainly in West and Kellem Wollega zones. Since 2021, clashes have expanded to East and Horo Guduru Wollegas as well as to North, West, South-west and East Shewa zones, prompting forced displacements within Oromia and into Amhara region. Further, insecurity has impacted partners’ movements along the Addis Abeba – Ambo – Nekemte road and into Assosa, impending the movement of supplies and fuel for relief operations to thousands of IDPs and refugees in Assosa and Mao Komo Special Woreda (BGR). On the other hand, some areas in Kellem Wollega that were hard to reach for years have now become accessible, and access to southern parts of East Wollega has improved.

The humanitarian response is severely impacted by a combination of access restrictions, inadequate funding, and limited partners’ presence. Subsequently, global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates among children under five years old have risen to 22 percent, and among pregnant and lactating women to 42 percent (source: Rapid Nutrition Assessment). Meanwhile, partners report not being able to distribute nutrition items – particularly high-energy biscuits – in certain areas due to security considerations, which is restricting the impact of the nutrition response. Insecurity is forcing partners to restrict activities along main roads, away from rural areas, which limits the number of people reached, leaving thousands of IDPs without assistance in Horo Gudru Wollega and those who moved back from Kamashi (BGR) and who have not been registered until now.

The population’s access to essential services such as education, healthcare or water and sanitation in recent years has been highly compromised because of violence and the destruction of existing infrastructure. Through Western Oromia, 426 health facilities are reportedly non-functional due to looting and destruction. In East Wollega, 144 schools remain closed and over 62,000 children out-of-school. Similarly, in West Wollega, 184 schools are closed and 89,000 students out of school. Partners are unable to re-stock essential health and nutrition supplies due to insecurity and other restrictions. Access to markets from rural areas is hindered, while woreda centers are facing shortages of essential supplies due to road blockage. Food deliveries to the affected population are intermittent and incomplete due to a combination of insecurity and budgetary/logistical challenges faced by authorities. Partners are considering ways to ensure food aid is delivered to remote locations.

Aid workers continue to operate in a high-risk environment often undergoing serious threats and risks such as intimidation, harassment, attacks on ambulances and medical missions. In recent months, Western Oromia has also experiencing a rise in criminal activity, with several incidents of abductions and carjacking reported, particularly along the Ambo-Nekemte Road.

Condolences and Brief History of Dr. Taddesse Ebba (aka Dr. Fido)

 Condolences and Brief History of Dr. Taddesse Ebba (aka Dr. Fido)

OLF Press Release

May , 2022

Dr. Fidoo Taddasaa Eebba aka Dr Fidoo Ebba was born in 1943 from his father Obbo Eebbaa Fidoo and his mother adde Dashii Tufaa in Guduruu village, Qote Gennaasii, Najjoo, Western Wallaga, Oromia. He grew up in in rural agricultural environment helping his parents with all sorts of farming hardship activities.

He attended elementary school from grade one to eighth grade at Swedish Evangelical Mission School in Najjoo, West Oromia. He pursued his high school education at Jimma Agricultural School, University education at Haroo Maya Agricultural College in East Oromia, graduating with a distinction for BSC degree in 1965. By continuing his post-graduate education, he earned an MSC degree from Wisconsin State University in the USA, and a Ph.D. degree in Genetics from British Columbia University, in Canada in 1974. Returning to Ethiopia, he taught at Haroo Maya College and worked at Ethiopian Research Institute until 1978. He established the Ethiopian Gene Bank under the Research Institute and became one of the known scientists of his day.

His remarkable achievements are not only success in his profession but also he made huge contribution to the Oromo freedom struggle. From his early age he was gathering information about Oromo history, culture, administrative system and ways of lives to raise the awareness of Oromo people. He authored a book known as “Oromia: A Brief Introduction to the history of the Oromo People” that was a ground-breaking contribution in revealing the Oromo identity and creating Oromo nationalism we are proud of today.

He joined the Oromo Liberation Front at his early age, was one of founding members of the OLF and continuously participated in the struggle at various levels including at top leadership for more than 40 years with a high level of determination for his people’s cause. He was arrested for some months in 1978 allegedly for being an OLF member. Dr. Fido was self-exiled in 1979, leaving behind his wife, two infants and a high-paying professional job as a scientist. Due to his great contribution, high level of commitment and patience he has become a central pillar of the Oromo struggle for many years.

His contribution in the struggle for freedom and democracy goes beyond Oromo people and Oromia. He was collaborating with other Kush people and other oppressed communities including Nubiya, Dungula, Nuwer, and Dinkaa, to campaign for freedom, democracy and equality to all peoples and to establish lasting peace and co-existence in the horn of Africa.

Dr. Fido was a scientist, a political, human rights campaigner and peace-loving individual that is missed not only by Oromos but by all peace-loving peoples.

The OLF would like to pass heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and all Oromo people. OLF also would like to pass its message to the Oromo people, Oromia citizens and other oppressed people to commit yourself to struggle for freedom and democracy for oppressed people and realized the cause that Dr. Fido has committed to throughout his life.

Victory to the masses!

Oromo Liberation Front

May 6, 2022

Finfinne

Oromo journalists Dessu Dulla and Bikila Amenu face death penalty on anti-state charges

 Ethiopian authorities should immediately release journalists Dessu Dulla and Bikila Amenu, drop all charges against them, and stop targeting members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.

On April 7, authorities in the Ethiopian region of Oromia charged Dessu and Bikila, both journalists with the social media-based broadcaster Oromia News Network, under Article 238 of the country’s criminal code, which bars “outrages against the constitution,” according to  news reports and Gudane Fekadu, a lawyer representing the journalists, who spoke to CPJ in a phone interview.

If convicted, the journalists could face three years to life in prison, or the death penalty, according to the criminal code. Prosecutors have also invoked Article 258, which compels courts to issue death sentences in cases of outrages against the constitution under aggravating conditions, including if the alleged offenses were committed during a civil war or with the support of foreign actors, Gudane said.

Authorities arrested Dessu, ONN’s editor-in-chief and the host of its “Under the Shadow of Democracy” program, and Bikila, a reporter and news presenter, on November 18, 2021.

The journalists are being held at Daleti Prison in Oromia Regional State’s Finfinne Surrounding Special Zone, according to Gudane and those reports; hearings in their cases have been repeatedly adjourned, and they are next due in court on Tuesday, May 3.

“After months of arbitrary detention, the anti-state charges filed against Ethiopian journalists Dessu Dulla and Bikila Amenu, potentially carrying the death penalty, are outrageous. Authorities had months to bring credible charges against the journalists, and the fact they did not only exposes the retaliatory nature of the proceedings,” said CPJ’s Africa program coordinator, Angela Quintal, in New York. “Dessu and Bikila should be freed immediately and unconditionally, and those who abused the justice system to keep them behind bars should be held to account.”

Dessu and Bikila are facing trial alongside 15 co-defendants, all of whom are accused of connections to the Oromia Regional National Transitional Government, a regional body established by the Oromo Liberation Front and Oromo Federalist Congress opposition parties, according to Gudane and those news reports.

Gudane said that authorities’ chargesheet does not specify exactly what offenses the defendants are alleged to have committed.

On “Under the Shadow of Democracy,” Dessu covered threats to democracy in Ethiopia and specifically in Oromia.  Bikila hosted daily and weekly news roundups on issues including the wars in the country’s Tigray and Oromia regions and human rights violations in Oromia.

Gudane told CPJ that the chargesheet did not mention either ONN or the Oromo Liberation Front by name, but said that Dessu and Bikila told him they could not think of any reason they would be targeted for arrest other than their journalistic work.

Dessu and Bikila were detained in a crackdown following authorities’ declaration of a state of emergency in late 2021, according to CPJ’s reporting from the time. Other journalists arrested at the time were released between January and April 2022, and the state of emergency was lifted in February, but Dessu and Bikila remained behind bars, according to media reports and CPJ research.

Police previously arrested Bikila in 2019 and held him for weeks without charge; authorities detained Dessu in March and September 2020, according to CPJ reporting and other news reports.

When CPJ called Oromia Police Commissioner Arasa Merdasa in November 2021, he said he was not aware of Bikila and Dessu ’s detentions and promised to investigate. When CPJ called again last week and sent questions via messaging app, he did not respond.

CPJ also emailed and called the Oromia Communications Bureau, a government communications office, for comment, but did not receive any replies. When CPJ called Hailu Adugna, a spokesperson for the bureau, the call did not connect.

Source ; Cpj

Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) condemns intensified military operations in Oromia state

 In a statement released yesterday, the opposition Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) said the Oromo people and Oromia are under unbearable constant attack in many ways since the government of Prosperity Party (PP) led by Abiy Ahmed(PhD) came to power.

“The current campaign against the Oromo people is multi- dimensional and widespread than ever aiming to damage the lives and livelihoods of every individual Oromo as well as weaken Oromo institutions and destruct the nation as a whole,” OLF said.

It added that the atrocities that are being committed in the ongoing war in Oromia. The party lambasted the ruling Prosperity Party for “intentionally making Oromia a warzone.”The statement recalled what it called a state sponsored violence on civilians in the Oromo special zone of the Amhara region in April 21, 2022 and said, “It is with sadness that we inform the public other shocking atrocities perpetrated by the PP regime on Oromo civilians in various parts of Oromia including Central Oromia, West Arsi, East Wollega and Gujii zones.”

FULL STATEMENT 

The Oromo Liberation Front statement on the multi- dimensional war enacted on Oromo people and Oromia citizens by the government of prosperity party

OLF Statement- April , 2022

Since the government of Prosperity Party (PP) led by Dr Abiy Ahmed came to power, the Oromo people and Oromia citizens are under unbearable constant attack in many ways. Currently, the PP regime is using different means to make the Oromo people submit to the ruling group and their revival of old colonial project. The current campaign against the Oromo people is multi- dimensional and widespread than ever aiming to damage the lives and livelihoods of every individual Oromo as well as weaken Oromo institutions and destruct the nation as a whole. The PP regime is implementing systematic strategy designed at the beginning of Dr Abiy Ahmed’s leadership tenure aimed to destroy Oromo identity, dismantle Oromo institutions, and weaken the Oromo nation. The whole range of multi- dimensional campaigns of the PP tyranny is to force the Oromo people and other nations and nationalities to submit to the chauvinist ruling class empire system guided by the principle of Menelik II revival project. The campaign involves creating systematic poverty by confiscating their lands based on their ethnicity and political view, favoring the expansionist group to take Oromo land, ethnically motivated killing and displacement, bribe and corruption by the PP armed forces, and security personnel.

In this respect the Oromo people are exposed to ethnically motivated mass massacre, poverty and facing day to day harassments, displacements and various sorts of conflicts. By instigating conflicts among peoples, the PP regime is creating instability with neighboring nations and nationalities that damages the peaceful co-existence of peoples. The PP regime is not only intentionally making Oromia a war zone but also immensely hindering individual’s basic rights including belief, identity, educations and social bonds. The recent attack of Muslim from oppressed peoples in Northern Ethiopia by the government sponsored terrorist groups because of their religion is one concrete evidence of religious impartiality. These clearly undermine religions rights of certain groups of people who do not belong to the ruling system. Also, several evidence can be mentioned regarding the impartiality of education system, development program and peace and security issues. Harassing Oromo and trying to weaken the political and social institutions in Oromo and other oppressed peoples is another evidence of undermining democracy and enforcing oppressed people to submit to the dictatorial empire system.

Currently, the Oromo people and Oromia citizens cannot carry out their day to day works to earn their daily livings due to harassment and lack of peace and stability in the region. The current nonstop military campaign against the Oromo people is widespread and more brutal than ever. On April 21, 2022, we have issued a statement on Invasion of Wallo Oromo Civilians by the Government of PP and the Amhara Regional State that caused huge destruction to the Wallo Oromos. Again, it is with sadness that we inform the public other shocking atrocities perpetrated by the PP regime on Oromo Civilians in various parts of Oromia including Central Oromia, West Arsi, East Wallagga and Gujii Zones. The details are as follows:

1. On 28 April 2022, in Central Oromia, Ada’aa Bargaa District the regime’s armed forces have killed 15 Oromo civilians including 70-year-old man. The armed forces are looting properties including cash, jewelry, furniture and burning individual houses. As we speak the families, children and elderly are escaping to the jungle to save their lives. Lists of victims will be available for those interested.

2. On 28 April 2022, the PP security forces have mass arrested over 31 Oromo civilians across various districts in West Arsi including Digaluu, Xijjo, Xiyyo, Hexxosa, Ittayya, Munessa, Leemmuu Hilbillo, Boqqojji, Roobee, and Ziway Dugda. Curreently these civilian victims are detained at various detention camps and being tortured by the regime’s armed forces. Not only torturing but also the regime’s armed forces are commanding the detainees to pay 20, 000-30,000 ETB per head to be realized while the release itself is not guaranteed. They have also been threatened to be banned from tilling their farms and if necessary, they would take away their land unless they bring and handover the members of the OLA in the region to the regimes armed forces.

3. On April 26, 2022, in Horro Guduru Zone (Finca’aa) three civilians have been killed and three disappeared and in the same zone (Kiramu) one student of the Qabridahar University has been killed by the Government forces. Previously on 16 April 2022, in Horro Guduru Zone (Kiramuu), 36 Oromo civilians have been killed by the Government armed forces.

4. This week in Northeast Finfinnee and Salaale Zone (Abootee, Harro, Kuyyuu, Meettaa, and Gindabarat), over 30 civilians have been killed including by Air attack.

5. From 23-27 April 2022, in West Shawaa (Ambo and surrounding areas) 19 civilians have been killed.

6. On 28 April 2022 in Gujii Zone (Bule Hora District) 11 civilians have been killed en mass.

7. Although we mentioned these few atrocities similar harassment and killings of Oromo civilians are widespread across Oromia.

The OLF strongly denounces this multi-dimensional war on Oromo civilians and citizens of Oromia, and we demand the immediate release of the detained civilians in West Arsi and central Oromia and return of their confiscated properties and compensate for the houses burned and properties destroyed.

We would like to remind the PP regime that it is impossible to make the Oromo people submit to the empire ruling system by war and conflict. Rather than continue committing crime over crime against Oromo people and Oromia citizens we would urge the ruling group to seek for peaceful solution to the perennial political crises in Ethiopia. The ruling group must know that intensifying conflicts and bloodshed over innocent civilians will not bring peace and stability but rather intensify division and disintegration. Also, the PP regime obsession of one- party -one religion- one country ruling system would not be successful by nonstop military campaign and deploying terrorist groups to Oromia and undermining the rights of oppressed nations and nationalities in Ethiopia.

The ruling regime is accountable for the current killings and destruction in Oromia and the future consequences it will have on Ethiopia. The OLF would again like to emphasize that rather than expanding instability and conflicts in Oromia, which would have far reaching consequences on peace, security, and co-existence of the Ethiopian peoples, we urge the withdrawal of the armed forces from Oromia, put down the guns and genuinely work to solve the crises in a peaceful political negotiation process.

Finally, we would like to reiterate to the Oromo people that this time is the matter of life and death for you; and you must defend yourself and your identity in unison. You should work to collaborate with other nations and peoples to fight for your freedom and democracy. Also, we call up on the wider Oromo community and Oromia citizens inside and outside the country stand with your brothers and sisters in Oromia. The Oromo people and Oromia citizens inside the country to stand in solidarity with Oromos in West Arsi, Ada’aa Barga, Gindabarat, Horro Guduru in whatever means you can including material support and getting their voices heard to the international community. We also call the oppressed nations and nationalities collaborate with the Oromo people and citizens of Oromia.

We also, appeal to the international community and international human rights organizations to urge the PP regime to stop committing crime over crime on citizens and gross human rights violations to stay in power. We also ask the international community including Governments, the UN, AU, EU, and other concerned humanitarian and human rights organizations to put pressure on the Ethiopian regime to refrain from committing crime against humanity and urge them to seek peaceful solution to Ethiopian political crises.

Victory to the Masses!

Oromo Liberation Front

April , 2022.

Finfinne