Waaqeffannaa Association Condemns Human Rights Violations in Oromia

(Melbourne, Victoria, 27 May 2014) – The Waaqeffannaa Association in Victoria Australia
(WAVA), a non-profit religious organization incorporated under the Associations Incorporation
Reform Act 2012 in Victoria, condemns the killing, torturing, and arresting of students in
Oromia. As religious organisation, we affirm that life is sacred.
The situation in Oromia has been very disconcerting. The vast ongoing human rights violation by
the government has urged the Waaqeffannaa Association in Victoria Australia (WAVA) to speak
and condemn the ongoing onslaught on peaceful Oromo protestors. The level of instability in
Oromia has never been more apparent than ever before.

Oromo students have been peacefully protesting against a land policy where the government
intends to implement. Largely, the protests took place in universities and various schools in
towns such as Robe, Bule Hora, Haromaya, Dire Dhawa, Ambo, Jimma, Naqamte and so on.
According to BBC, in Ambo, 125km (80 miles) west of Finfinne, eye witnesses reported at least
47 students were killed by security forces during the days preceding May 2, 2014.

Instead of addressing the issue peacefully the government security forces used live ammunition at
unarmed protestors killing and leaving several hundred causalities in various universities,
colleges and schools of Oromia. However, the killing of defenceless civilians by live ammunition
for no other reason than exercising of their Waaqaa given right is inhuman, unconstitutional and
unacceptable at any international standard. Killing of civilians just for participating in a peaceful
rally is a violation of human rights and a crime against humanity.

According to human rights watch the Ethiopian government is, “showing increasing intolerance
of any criticism of the government and further restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression
and association.” Hundreds of students and perhaps in the thousands now have been so far
imprisoned and expelled in relations with the protests.

The regime has been systematically implementing an ethnic cleansing and marginalisation policy
in Oromia. The land policy is a façade to extend its systematic implementation of confiscating
land from poor Oromo villagers around cities, especially around Finfinne. The regime also
systematically incites violence between ethnic groups to create mistrust and hate among them.
This agenda disguised as policy is eroding the communal relationship and harmony that has
existed for centuries.

The Oromo students, as any other group of students, have the right to peacefully protest and be
herd, Oromos have the right to live where they wish, and Journalists and bloggers have the right
to free speech without any form of repression and intimidation. As a religious organisation based
in democratic country, we support and believe in these basic human rights ideals. Preserving and
promoting Waaqeffannaa’s religion is only possible when the rights of the people are respected.
Thus, WAVA decries the cruel act of violence that ended the life of more than 200 Oromo
students and condemns the government for its heinous crimes.
 
Waaqaa knows best!

Waaqeffannaa Association in Victoria Australia


=>waaqeffannaa