Press Release of Oromo Community in the Netherlands on the killing in prison of Eng. Tesfahun Chemeda

                                                                                                                    August 29, 2013

When Would the Specter of Heinous Persecution Against Oromos End? We members of the Hawasa Oromo in the Netherlands are stunned by the death of Tesfahun Chemeda Gurmessa in Ethiopian dungeon on the 24th of August 2013.  

Tesfahun Chemeda was exemplary activist in Oromo student movement while he was studying in Finfinne/Addis Ababa University. After graduating in Civil Engineering, Tesfahun had served his people in his professional capacity as civil engineer for more than four years in Arsi, Ilu-Abbabora and in Wallaga.

More and above all, Tesfahun was a man of high sense of justice, vibrant voice and strong advocate of freedom for the Oromo people. For mere reasons of these activisms, he was made one of the prime targets of  persecution by the Woyane authorities and forced to flee to Kenya to escape the imminent danger from the perpetrators of the day. While in exile in Kenya, Tesfahun sought international protection and granted refugee   status by the UNHCR; and continued in his advocacy for freedom and justice among Oromo refugees in that country.

Irrespective of the international protection granted to him in accordance with relevant international instruments, here again, he came up against the ghost of persecution he left behind. There, along with his fellow national-Mesfine Abebe, he was arrested by Kenyan authorities and handed over to his persecutors.

In the hands of his persecutors Tesfahun suffered all and every inhuman and degrading treatment: he was handcuffed, blindfolded and coercively taken back to Ethiopia; was  victimized by kangaroo court verdict: detained in Maikelwai, the center that frequently houses political prisoners and is known for brutal abuse of detainees, including torturing during interrogations; was denied medical treatment and held in solitary confinement for  more than a year in darkness that resulted in  sight  problem  until and up to his death.

The death of Tesfahun Chemeda Gurmessa in such a situation  is a case book  of the current  circumstances of the Oromo people. On the one hand, it casts a long shadow of historical injustices. On the other hand, it reveals the continuity of cruel slaughter of our people in contemporary time by the perpetrators of the day.

Here,  it suffice to recall the recent massacre in Asasa, Garba (Wallo) and  Kofale under a blanket banner of the so-called  terrorism. In such testing time and circumstances, Oromos as people and their organizations as key players  must pose the question; when would the specter of heinous persecution against Oromos end? Not only posing,  the questions needs appropriate and timely answer. To this effect, we call upon our people-organized and unorganized to get prepared up to the challenge of the time.

In due course, the Hawasa Oromo in the Netherlands extend its condolence to the family of Tesfahun, to his relatives and friends and pray to have strength at this hours of grief.  

Hawasa Oromo in the Netherlands Executive Committee Amsterdam/ The Netherlands

=>oromiatimes

Frequent loss of lives in Moyale unacceptable

August 29, 2013 (Standard Digital) — It is inexplicable that innocent lives are being lost in Moyale in a country that prides itself as being peace loving. Or could the local anecdotes that the residents of the border town do not belong to Kenyabe true?

Surely, it is not beyond the ability of the police and other law enforcement departments to end the on-going bloodletting that has already cost six lives in as many days. The genesis of the regular conflicts should be well known to the local leaders as well as those in the national government whose raison d’être is to protect lives and property.

Ethiopian militia

As expected, many explanations have been offered for the recent violence ranging from a fight over land and water sources to a row over the seats in the County government. Others have attempted to argue that theEthiopian militia from Ethiopia is to blame because of its frequent incursions ostensibly in pursuit of fighters from the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), which is battling its government forces in a secession bid.

But irrespective of the reasons behind the recent clashes, the national government has a duty and a mandate to protect its people at all times throughout the country that it cannot shirk or devolve to any other entity. It is not enough for police to assureKenyans that normalcy has been restored while evidence on the ground suggests otherwise.

Destruction of property

A reasonable expectation would be that new police reinforcements would have been rushed to the area as soon as it was clear the forces on the ground would not be able to cope with the escalating situation.

Yet, contrary to these expectations, violence is still raging on the seventh day and there is no telling when it will be brought to an end. Worse, lives are still getting lost and the destruction of property continues.

Perhaps, it may not be too much to ask that the police do whatever is necessary to end the violence and then go after the perpetrators. For it cannot be overemphasised that the practice of individuals and groups attempting to get their way through violence will not be tamed until perpetrators are brought to book.

=>ayyaantuu