Opposition groups urge end to forceful measures, call for “meaningful dialogue” to resolve nationwide instability

  

The Caucus of Opposition Parties (CoP), an umbrella of eleven opposition groups in Ethiopia, said the government’s attempts to resolve conflicts and subsequent political instability across the country by force including declaring a state of emergency is pushing the country to the brink. 

The Caucus said in a press release, that the country is currently “experiencing a significant amount of chaos, stress, loss, and destruction not just sporadically but on a daily basis” and require prompt measures for a viable resolution.

“Conflicts, instability and public demands for good governance in all regions of our country are accompanied by people’s dissatisfaction and despair; and it can be said that the relationship between the government and the people in all regions has gone beyond mere questioning to total lack of trust,” reads the press release. 

The relationship, cooperation and trust between the federal government and regional governments, as well as among the regional governments themselves, have fallen into question, it added.

The press release which is an outcome of the Caucus’s evaluation of current affairs on 18 August 2023 stated the need for urgent and permanent action to spare the country further security crises, and absolve the people from pain and suffering of greater extent.

It elucidated that the government’s attempts in the past to forcefully resolve conflicts in North, and #Oromia, , “did not bring a lasting solution except to expand and worsen the political instability and tension, economic loss and destruction, loss of life  and social crisis”. 

The caucus which, among other parties, has the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), Hebir Ethiopia, Arena Tigray Party, Wolaita National Movement (WNM) and Afar People’s Party (APP) as its members said it “strongly advocates for prompt and meaningful dialogue aimed at fostering tranquility among all political factions, for an enduring and comprehensive resolution”.

“Although there is a fear that the problem will recur due to the delay in the implementation of the agreement or the failure to implement it according to the agreement, we have actually seen that the disaster, the massacre and the crisis were not stopped by force or the declaration of the  state emergency, but by discussion, negotiation and agreement”, the press release emphasized noting that the attempt to resolve the security crisis in the Oromia region was an “indicator peoples trust in dialogue and negotiation”.

The parties have called on the ruling party to respond positively to the call of comprehensive dialogue, and urged the media and all relevant stakeholders to refrain from portraying the present state of affairs as conflict among the people while calling on religious leaders and elders to rise up and discharge their social obligations. 

#EnoughIsEnough #Jstice #Democracy 

At least 12 civilians killed in Chobi, Oromia , residents and opposition parties accuse Abiy Ahmed forces of indiscriminate attack

 Abiy Ahmed forces deployed to Chobi district of West Shoa zone, Oromia  to fight the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) have allegedly killed at least twelve civilians and wounded four others, residents witnessed. Some of the victims were shot dead while they were in their houses, while others were killed on the road on the morning of 10 August, 2023 in two villages namely Qoricha Koticha and Hofu Bake of the district.

STOP THE KILLING!!!

A resident of Hofu Bake village who said two of his brothers were killed in the attack witnessed that the killing was perpetrated by government troops stationed in the village “campaigning to eliminate OLA”. The resident said the killing did not distinguish between age and gender, adding that an 11 year old child and a 70 year old elderly man were among the victims.

Another resident who fled the attack to neighboring Jalduu district said besides those killed and wounded, five women and 20 other men were abducted by government forces and taken to an unknown location. The resident noted that his wife and one of his sons are among the abducted. 

According to the two residents, among the dead are four members of the same family; Gurmu Jifara, Tasfaye Jifara, Abarra Jifara and Abishu Jifara. Abishu succumbed to his injury later, while others were killed on the spot.

The two major Oromo opposition parties, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) have both denounced the killings which they described as “heinous and indiscriminate”. In separate statements released on 12 and 13 August respectively, both parties vehemently criticized the government’s “dry the ocean, to eliminate the fishes” approach, targeting the civilian population in order to annihilate the OLA armed group. 

Further detailing the names of the victims killed in Chobi, and highlighting other atrocities committed by Abiy forces in other parts of Oromia in the context of the ongoing conflict in the region, the OLF called on the government to restrain from “a war that it cannot finish” and pursue an all inclusive dialogue.

The OFC on its part called for an independent investigation into the killings so that political and military leaders implicated can be held accountable. The party called on both warring sides to acknowledge the impossibility of defeating one another on the battlefield and return to the negotiating table to spare the people who are caught in the crossfires.

In October last year, at least 68 people were confirmed dead and over 100 people are wounded in a drone strike Hofu Bake village, Chobi district, as the five-year conflict in the Oromia regional state involving government forces and the armed Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) is still raging with no prospect for peaceful resolution.

Recent attempts to reach at a negotiated settlement through talks held in Zanzibar, Tanzania, ended without a concert outcome. Calls for peaceful resolution of the conflict, including from lawmakers representing Oromia regional state and the US government have so far yielded no result . 

Different countries are expressing the concern about Human Right violation carried out by Abiy Ahmed regime

 

Abiy Ahmed must resign!

Five countries express concern about violence in Oromia ; call for protection of civilians, respect for human rights

The joint statement from the governments of #Australia, #Japan, #New_Zealand, the #United_Kingdom, and the #US adds up to growing calls from #Ethiopia’s international partners over recent militarized violence that engulfed the regional state and the continued conflict in the Oromia regional state that have caused immense civilian deaths and destruction of civilian infrastructure including health and education facilities in Ethiopia’s largest regional state.

The countries also said they “encourage all parties to protect civilians, respect human rights, and to work together to address complex issues in a peaceful manner. The international community continues to support the goal of long-term stability for all Ethiopians.”

The International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia said  that it was “deeply concerned about the reported deteriorating security situation in the north-west region of Ethiopia, particularly in the regional state, and called “on all sides to respect human rights and take steps to de-escalate the situation and prioritize processes for the peaceful resolution of differences.”

In a phone call with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has already “expressed concern regarding the situations in Oromia Region.”

Although it is overshadowed by the recent fighting in the northern region, the five-year conflict in the Oromia regional state involving government forces and the armed Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) is still ongoing with no prospect for peaceful resolution.

Recent attempts to reach at a negotiated settlement through talks held in Zanzibar, Tanzania, ended without a concert outcome. Calls for peaceful resolution of the conflict, including from lawmakers representing Oromia regional state and the US government have so far yielded no result .

Disturbing footage reveals peasants’ abuse by Abiy Ahmed regime officials in Jimma Zone, Oromia

 A disturbing footage showing four peasants being abused both verbally and physically, including being ordered to undress, kneel and beaten in front of a crowd of local people, is confirmed to have taken place in Jimma Zone, Gera District, in a special location known as Borcho Deka.

the picture taken from the viral video

The widely shared video, which caused distress and uproar among Ethiopian online communities, shows four peasants lined up next to a group of local communities sitting in a field. One of the peasants, an elderly individual who is now identified as Raya Aba Oli, dressed in black, pleads with an unseen person, purportedly a local official behind the camera, and expresses his grievances. He also asks for forgiveness and says informing the law enforcement was “a mistake” he would not repeat. But in response, a commanding voice instructs him to “remain silent”; a few minutes later he was instructed to remove his clothes before he disappears from the camera’s view.

Amar Temam, a resident who closely followed the incident, confirmed to Addis Standard that the intimidating voice of the official in the video belonged to a one Dinka Aba Oli, chief of security in the district. Amar further says that Dinka directed law enforcement officers to inflict off-screen violence on the elderly peasant.

The video then captures the same authoritative voice calling for a man named “Asamnew” and instructing him to undress the elderly peasant behind the camera’s view. The orders are soon followed by sounds of a beating, with the bystanders gasping and turning around to watch.

The local resident Amar Temam further added context to the events leading up to this disturbing scene. According to him the four peasants had previously paid their annual land taxes and and requested for receipts from local authorities. However, their requests were refused. In search of justice, they approached the district administration, explaining they had fulfilled their tax obligations but hadn’t received any documentations. Their plight took a dire turn when, instead of receiving assistance, they were arrested and taken back to their local community. In a shocking public display, they were subjected to the humiliating treatment recorded in the video. Amar says that this was a calculated act by the authorities to shame them publicly, an action that has since caused widespread outrage and shock among community members and beyond.

The incident adds up to a growing pattern across the Oromia region of civilians being subjected to cruel and unhinged abuses in the hands of officials including law enforcement officers. Early this month, witnessed  a graphic picture showing five young men dumped in a ditch with their hands tied behind their backs was that of residents of Qilxu Karra town in Qilxu Karra district, West Wollega Zone of Oromia region. The pictured youth: Obsi Dinagde, Tesfaye Terfasa, Iyassu Kassahun, Abebe Dhufera and Dessalegn Bulcha, were being abused by security forces while they were under police custody.

#RespectHumanRight #Justice #Freedom

Human Rights Body Calls for Action in Ethiopia's Oromia

 In its annual report this month, the state-appointed Human Rights Commission urged officials to pay closer attention to the tensions and violence in the Oromia region.

The commission said there have been attacks in 13 of the 20 zones in the Oromia region, leading to an alarming number of casualties and an extremely concerning overall situation.

Deputy Commissioner Rakeb Melese said the rights commission is emphasizing the need for peaceful negotiations.

"The retaliation measures taken by government equally incurs human rights violations because civilians are affected, people are displaced, because of the retaliatory measures," Rakeb said.

Fighting between the federal government and the Oromo Liberation Army has caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people in the region over the past four years.

A former resident and teacher in the Horo Guduru Welega Zone, who wanted to remain anonymous, said school has been disrupted for the past two years where he used to live.

"I have taught for a long time there — for 26 years," he said. "But because of the security problems there, I left. I am now in Addis Ababa. Even the way we left was in special circumstances, we walked 90 kilometers on foot — those of us who were able to leave."

The resident said that the attacks are being carried out by militias, known as Fano, from the neighboring Amhara region.

"We know very well that it's the armed fighters, Fano. They are the ones stealing, killing and displacing people," he said. "Everyone knows this, including government bodies. They are creating major problems."

Amanuel Adinew, executive director at the Center for Development and Capacity Building, which works in Oromia, said the conflicts have created mistrust in the community.

"The state of anarchy created around these areas of conflict is behind increasing levels of cruelty. It has eroded the trust that people had in one another," Amanuel said.

In addition, he added, many social institutions aimed at helping people in need are no longer functional.

Peace talks between the Ethiopian government and the OLA took place in April, but ended without any agreements.

#Justice #Freedom #Democracy #EnoughWithDictatorialRegime #AbiyAhmedRegimeAreNotCapableOfGovernance

Tragic fact behind viral photo of five youth dumped in a ditch in Western Oromia

 The photo showing five young men dumped in a ditch with their hands tied behind their backs has been widely shared on social media over the past week. Some social media users claimed the disturbing image showed youth who were killed and thrown into the ditch, while others say they were buried alive.

According to the sources, the incident happened in Qilxu Karra town of Qilxu Karra district in West Wollega Zone, Western Oromia.

The five young men seen in the photo are residents of Qilxu Karra town are Obsi Dinagde, Tesfaye Terfasa, Iyassu Kassahun, Abebe Dhufera and Dessalegn Bulcha.

Around two weeks ago, they were detained by government forces on allegations of having links with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and were taken to a military camp stationed in the town near the Qilxu Karra secondary school.

A resident of Qilxu Karra town and one of the two witnesses who spoke on conditions of anonymity said, Obsi Dinagde, one of the five youth with whom the source has family relations was hospitalized following a “severe assault and torture” inflicted on the five victims after their detention.

 

They were able to speak to the victim while he was in a hospital and learned that the five victims were made to suffer in the ditch day and night for several days, blindfolded and their hands tied behind their back. They ere also forced to dig the ditch where they were left for days.

The source added that four days after Obsi recovered and was discharged from the hospital, local security forces took him back to a nearby military camp last week.

A second witness, who is a friend of one of the victims, and who also spoke on conditions of anonymity for fear of their safety, said that the victims “barely differentiate day and night as they were blindfolded” for days.

It is believed that they remain detained by the security, however their current circumstances is not known. “If they are still in the ditch they all certainly are ill and may need medical treatment,” the source said indicating that the location was the ditch is unknown.

The families were disallowed from visiting them in the military camp where they were supposed to be after their detention, and they know little about what is happening to them apart from handing food over to the security guards on a daily basis.

#EnoughIsEnough #StopKillingInnocentCivilians #Justice #Freedom #Oromia

The people in Western Oromia face hunger, malaria exacerbates already dire humanitarian situation because of the recent attack by Abiy Ahmed forces & fano

 Residents of Horro Guduru and East Wollega zones in Western Oromia who were displaced by multiple attacks allegedly perpetrated by Fano militants over the past month are suffering from a severe humanitarian crisis. The IDPs said they have not received any humanitarian assistance and are facing hunger, and exposed to further security threats in the absence of shelter and health services.

In June, reported two incidents where the Fano armed militants killed at least five in Amuru district of Horro Guduru, and eight in Kiremu district of East Wollega zones resulting in the displacement of thousands of civilians.

A farmer from Sidan Barkale village of Amuru district who spoke on conditions of anonymity said he lost his wife and son during the June attack in Amuru. The farmer who is currently in Gida town, in East Wollega zone said neither the government nor NGOs provided him with assistance since he was displaced.

“I beg around the town and feed myself,” he said, adding that the militants looted his cattle and other properties before burning his house. 

Dhaba, another IDP who fled Bute Gudina village in Gida Ayana district of East Wollega zone to Gida town said he and his family are in “heavy misery”. “We are in a terrible situation as we cannot go back to our villages and do our farming. The Amhara insurgents have set fire to our houses and crops,” Dhaba, who asked to be identified only by his first name, said.

He noted that the assistance provided to him and his 11 family members by the government is not enough even for one person. “We are in trouble that is difficult to speak about unless God brings us a year,” Dhaba said.

Local officials as well as officials from the Busa Gonofa Oromia, a regional relief commission were unavailable to comment on the dire situation in the two zones making it impossible to get data on how many people are displaced following the recent attacks.

In February, reported that nearly 30,000 people who were internally displaced following deadly attacks in Kiremu and Gida Ayana districts of East Wollega zone in November last year and have since been living in IDP shelters in the small Gida town were hesitant to return home citing lingering insecurity despite officials urging them otherwise.

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have repeatedly reported that the humanitarian situation in Western Oromia continued to worsen since 2020, and said in May this year, about 859,000 displaced people are in need of protection and other multi-sectoral support.

In its latest situation report released on 03 July, the OCHA said malaria is wreaking havoc in the four Wellega zones in Western Oromia worsening the humanitarian situation that is already on the edge. 

“Across West, East and Kellem Wollega zones, an estimated 272,400 people are reportedly affected, and at least 45 per cent of health centers and 63 per cent of total health posts across West, East, Horro Guduru, and Kellem Wollega zones are non-functional according to zonal authorities”. 

The OCHA said distribution of anti-malaria drugs in East, West and Horo Guduru zones beyond the zonal capitals, as well as humanitarian partners’ operations including the delivery of supplies to zones are constrained by sporadic hostilities or roadblocks.

“Besides access challenges, there remains a shortage in anti-malarial drugs and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), long lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLIN), and lack of insecticides to manage permanent breeding sites, and for which resources need to be mobilized,” the OCHA said.

The spread of malaria amid ongoing rainfall and waterlogging, is exacerbated by the weak health systems due to hostilities, OCHA’s report added.

On 22 June, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said critical infrastructures including health facilities and water systems have been seriously affected in the Oromia due the ongoing violence.