London, England: Public Rally for Oromo Human Rights and Freedom – September 13, 2013

The Oromo Community in the UK organized a public protest (rally) to protest and expose crimes against humanity by the current regime in Ethiopia, and seek justice for the victims. This protest aims to inform the international community not only to stop aiding the perpetrators, but also hold them accountable for planning and carrying out sustained crimes against humanity on the Oromo people.

Over the past two decades, thousands of unarmed civilians: students, human rights activists, political figures of all age, have been subjected to uninterrupted extrajudicial killings, mass arrests, tortures, kidnapping and disappearances etc. The recent killing of Tesfahn Chemeda, who was kidnapped in Kenya after being extradited back to Ethiopia, is one tragic example. Alemayehu Gerba was gunned down in the same way as Tesfahun while in prison. The continued harassment of Muslim community and killings of people in Kofele and other parts of Ethiopia demonstrated the scale of government brutality against the people, and its obsession to control and lead through its agents even in the faith groups – which has already been proved in the Orthodox church since the regime assumed power.

Hundreds of Oromo students have been killed, thousands of Oromo political activists, such as Mr. Bekele Gerba and Mr. Olbana Lelisa, were jailed for trumped up crimes while many others were killed. The mass dismissal of Oromo students from schools and the eviction of peasants from their livelihood, and the influx of Oromo refugees, who are arriving in Yemen in tens of thousands each month, is a worrying sign showing the unbearable yolk of repression that could ignite civil unrest in the country sometime soon. It is noteworthy that even refugees are hunted down like animals in neighboring countries and beyond. In the same way as Tesfahun Chemeda, many have been tracked down and harassed; others are killed in countries where they sought asylum including in Kenya, Somalia and South Africa.

The political, economic and social mess the regime has created a situation whereby it can’t hand over power through democratic mechanisms without holding its officials accountable for their crimes. TPLF cadres and its supporters are given exclusive control over political power, have preferential treatment in business and the entire economy of the country but at the cost of others. It is time to act before it is too late and let the international community know the extent of the crisis.

All who stand for justice and respect of human rights and freedoms of the oppressed people, and wish to see the end of this repression shall come out and take part in this rally. “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Place: Old Palace Yard, SW1 opposite to the West Minister building,
Date: September 13, 2013
Time: 01:00pm – 5:30pm

Stand up for justice and freedom!

=>gadaa