Huffisii Diinaa Oromoo hin Baaragsu

Guci Warraaqsa Oromo Ambott Jimaata,Caamsaa 2, 2014 qabsiifamee golee Oromiyaa hundatt boba’ee gidduutt kan dhaame fakkaate ture. Ni dibame malee akka hin dhaamne barattootii fi jiraattoti Giincii Sadaasa 12, 2015 deebisanii yoo qabsiisan ammas Oromoon bakka jiran hundaa walharkaa fuudhanii laboobsaa jiru. Silaayyuu mirgi Oromoo mulqamuun itt fufaa, dhiigi ilmaan Oromoo dhagala’aa, bakka akeekkatame utuu hin gahin attamitt dhaabbachuu dandah jedhamee yaadamaa? Gidduutt sochiin kan caame haa fakkatu malee ilmaan Oromoo tokko tokkoon dhossaatt ajeefamuu fi hidhamu hin dhaabne. Amma dhumnus jiraannus waliin, yeroo jedhamutu gahe. Sochiin akkasii empayerittii keessatt hedduminaan haa tahu akaakuun argamee hin beeku. Oromoon, tokkummaan saanii kan hin mamsiifne tahuu firaafis hamajaajiifis mirkaneessuuf carraa argatani.

Sochichi amma ji’a tokko caalaa fixuuf adeema. Haalli saa, Oromoott qaabannoo laalaa, miidhamaa, roorroo, tuffii, hidhaa fi ajjeechaa jaallewwwanii dhandhamatan baroota darban hundaa itt fideera. Utuu isaan akaakoliin tahaanii dhiigi daa’immanii dhangala’uu arguu caalaa sukeessaa, gubaa fi wajiijaan hin jiru. Waliin imimaa laalaa darbe keessa deebi’anii jiraachuu jala hin baane. Jabinaan kaayyoo keenyatt cichinaan Wayyaanee qofa utuu hin tahin rakkina qabnu hundarra ni Haannaa. Ayyaanni gootota Oromoo darbanii yoomu qabsoo faanaa hin hafu. Nuti engada Nugusa, kaleessa Dargii harras TPLF kabaa dhufeen mo’amaa jirra. Hariiroon kan nu qabate waliin qabnu hin jijjiiramne. Haala si’ana jiruun tokko tokko “Sonni Cehumsaa 1992” itt mullachuutt kaheeera. Gamaa gamanaa wal sadaa, akka warabessa raqa o’aa argateett, yuusaan wal waamaa jiru. Sana keessa ammas gaaffiin kolonummaa Oromoo irra dibaan darbuuf deemti. Seena gara dabarsuun, dhiiga dabaankufoota Oromoon, kanneen aangott bahuuf riqaa ijaarrachuu abjootan, dursanii hamaa dhufuu dandahuuf akeekachiisuun dirqama jaalbiyyummaatii. Sochiin keenya ni bargaawe malee hin bilchaanne.

Wayyaaneen akka feetutt gadi qabuu dadhabnaan utuu rasaasa hin fixatin jettee akka addunyaan leelloon isee hubatu wawwaachuun, labsa (Awaajii) baasuutt kaateettii. OPDOnis akka ajajamtett jalaa qabaa jirtii. Kan gaafatamee deebstee badu irra, hamma qawween harka buututt ummata fixuu filattee. Sochiin ummataa ka’e kun tokkoffaa labsi dubbii fide labsaan shaaramuu, yakkamtooti dhiiga ijoollee suduudaa fi harka lafa jalaan dhangalaasan xaddachatt dhihaachuun gaafa mirkaneeffame wanti araarri gumaa manguddoota Oromoo walii wanti hin jalqabamneef hin jiru. Ilmoon namaa, qawwee roorrisaa baatu, gaafa dammaqee nama tahuu saa hubatu, qawween qoraan akka taatuu waraana Dargii irraa agarreerraa. Rincica jabaa cunqurfamootaa qofa gaafata.

Labsi jennu kun qooqota tokko tokko haa jijjuuru malee, isuma Dargiin isaan irratt baasaa ture. Sun Dargii, ummata Wayyaanee caalu haammateefuu dhimma hin baafne. Dhugaan maaliinuu golgamtee hin haftu. Ummati Oromoo didaa jiru utuu arguu, naa tumsaa ofirratt ka’aa jedhee magana. Ummata Habashaas yoo tahe, kan Tigray hin beeknu malee, erga isaa ajeeffatee tureera. Qaanii hin qabanii, waa’ee kennataa, guddinaa, demokraasii argamsiise jedhu xibaaraa. Waa’ee nammi miliyoonii digdamaa gad hin taane jeejeen dhumaa jiruu hin dhofne. Wayyaaneen ummatoota Empayera Itophiyaaf balaa dhumiisaa malee waan fide hin qabu.

Gaaffiin ummati qabatee bahe lafti Oromiyaa keenya kan mootummaa Wayyaanee miti jedhaa. Hin gurguramu, ummati saas hin buqqifamu jedhaa. Wayyaaneen nu moo’uuf nuti hayyama hin laanneef hin laannuufis jedha. Abbaa feene kan filannu nuwi malee halagaan angoon nurra hin bahu jedha. Gaaffolii ka’an kanaaf deebii kennu malee, abalutu dhiibe, abalutu afaan kaa’e jechuun gaaffii saanii tuffatee bira darbuuf mirga hin kennuufii. Ummati Oromo tokko manatt hin hafin bahee gaafataa jira.

Maqii deggertoota saa sabgidduu ittiin waammatu “shororkeessituu” jedhu dhahuun labsi olitt kaafnen, Mudde 15,2015 ummata Oromoo irratt waraana labseera. “Xabbaabota” fi “Timkiitanyoota” balaaleffata. Murni maqaa dhahe lamaan namoota yk dhaabota Oromoo fi Habashaaf dubbatan jechuu saatii. Dhaabi Oromo, akka isaa digaluu utuu hin tahin hundee gadi fagoo fi jaalala ummata ofii kan qabu. “Timkitanyaa” kan jedhuunis ofirrumman kan isa caalan miti. Isa irra isaan “Itophiyummaan” of ijaaruun seenaa saanii irra ni argama. Farreen Oromoo tahaniyyuu, TPLFn yoo walbira qaban garlamaan dubulshootii. Haa tahu malee, ummati saanii eenyuun “shorokeessituu” akka jedhan hardha kana, mee bakka ragaan jirutt haa gaafatamanii. Yoos hamma ofii bara.

Ummati gaaffiin dhigi ijoollee saa itt dhangala’ee utuu deebii hin argatin warra dhiigaa gamanatt dhiisee manatt dacha’uun hin eegamu. Akka aadaa Oromoott hamma gumaan bahutt jara akkasii wajjiin jiraachuun, waliin nyaachuun cubbuu dhaa. Waldhabdeen jiru nagaan furamuun eebbifamaa dhaa. Araarri yoo bu’e jireenyaafis guddinaafis waayyaa dha. Obsi ummataa daangaa qaba. Oromoon nagaaf durfannoo kennuuf malee akkuma inni kaan hudhu, harka ittiin hudhan isa caalu qabu. Gaafa isaan harka saanii tokkummaan hiixatan akka qabaa saanii hin guutne diinnis beekaa.

Kanaaf ulfinaan hamaa marsaa jiru kana dabarsuun cunqurfamaa fi cunqursaafis anjaa qaba. Oromoon mirgaaf lolatu. Wayyaanee humna fi qabeenya saanii kan ofii godhee hambisuuf lolata. Hariiroon Oromoon Habashaa walii qabaatu kan ollaa gaarii irra hin darbu. Sanaa ala ummati hanga murteeffatutti eenyuu kana taana sana taana jechuuf wakkilummaa hin qabu. Wayyaaneen biyya ishee waan hin taaneef gaddhiiftee bahuu gadi filmaata hin qabduu. Gaaffii fi dhaadannoo ummata rincicaa jiru kan dhaggeeffate deebiin halagaaf kennu sanaa ala tahuu hin qabu. Ummatichi kan gaafatu walalbummaa dha; sabboonaan tokko sana jechuuf yeella’uu hin qabu.

Ummati Oromoo gootumman harka duwwaa, nagaa akeeka godhatee, diinaan nakkaraa jira. Hardha hobbatii yoo dhabe, bor hidhatee itt deebi’a. Mirga saa dhalootaa utuu hin deebifatin ilmoo namaati jedhe lamuu of himuu hin dandahu. Fashistii akka EPRDF waliin nagaan qabsaawuun of ajjeesuu akka tahe ummati mirkaneeffateera. Anga’ooti addunyaa qabsoo nagaa nutt afarsan yeroo ummati keenya isaan miidhamu callisanii ilaalaa jiru. Qubqabsiisoti saaniillee akka waan tisiisi du’eett nu hin laalle. Qawwichatu kan jara saaniitii. TPLF dhukaasa meeshaa haaraa fi komandoon shee isaan leenjisaniif bakka itt shaakalan argachuu saanii gammadu.

Dhalooti haaraan gadgalummaan jiraachuun abbooliin haa dhabbatu jedheera. Sochii baratoota si’anaa irraa kan diinatt galee firoota saatt dhukaasus barumsa yaacii keessaa barabaraan isa hin baafnetu kennameefii. Rafee hin buluu; ekeraan ijoollee inni balleessee siree saa biraa hin deemtu. Yokaan ni maraataa yk faloo bahee ummata saa bira goruun ujummoo qawwee gara diina hidhachiisett deebisaa. Du’i saa kan hin oolle qajeeltuuf aarsaa tahuu wayyaafii. Barataan hidhannoon utuu hin tahin qabsoo nagaan beekama. Yeroo inni qawween ari’amu kan harka irra qabu feesisa.

Kanaaf daangaa qawween diinaa hin dabarre sararamuu qaba. Wayyaaneen gantummaa dhaalmaa Nugusa Yohaannis duraa jelqabe qabdi; kanaaf amanamuu hin qabdu. Walitt dhufi akkamiiyyuu yoo jiraate bakka ofii filatanii fi ragan hin baabsine jirutt tahuu qaba. Gonka kophaa fi bakka iseen jettutt tahuu hin qabu; Gammachis Dhaabaa, hoggana ABO tokko, waajjira ofitt waamanii ajjeesuu saanii tasa irraanfatamu hin qabu. Akeeki malbulcha saanii guddichi Oromoo sadarkaa kamittuu hoggansa dhabsiisuu dha. Sochiin ummataa ka’e kun tokkoffaa labsa dubbii fide labsaan shaaramuu, yakkamtooti dhiiga ijoollee suduudaa fi harka lafa jalaan dhangalaasan xaddachatt dhihaachuun gaafa mirkaneeffame wanti araarri waa’ee abbaa biyyumma lafa ofii irrattt Oromoon qabuu fi gumaa, manguddoota Oromoo walii wanti hin jalqabamneef hin jiru.

Sabboonoti Oromoo fi nambiyyooti Oromiyaa bakka jireenya saanii tahe kan dandahan ummatatt qaamaan makamuu, kan hin dandeenye, dandeettii, beekumsaa fi qabeenyaan bira dhaabbachuutu eegama. Qoda fudhannaan qubqabsiisota biyya alaa jiran hanga yoonaa kan raajamu. Yeroo dhaaboti halagaa gurri kenya haa dudu hin dhgeenye jedhan kana, Oromoon isaaniif qubaa wal qabaate. Akka caalaatt jabatu Oromoo hundi, akka qaroo ijaatt eeguu qaba. Hawaasi Oromoo ala kana jiru tokkummaa saa cimsee karaa dandahame hundaan sochii ummataa irratt qooda akka fudhatu abdii hundaatii. Yeroon saa yeroo xaxaa waajjirbulchiin of xaxan mitii. Isaa alatt haala jarjarsaa kanaaf shaffisaan caasaa yeroof isaan hojjechiisu uumaanii sosso’uu qabu.

Oromoon biyya saanii irratt mirga abbaa biyyummaa fi ulfina saanii namummaa deeffachuuf sochii guddaa lubbuu ilmaan saanii galafate finiinsaa jiru. Sun laalaa guddaa, kan qaama fi sammuquwii akka qabu ifaadha. Itt dhiigan, madaawaan dhukkufatanii fi itt du’an malee ulfini namoomaa fi birmadummaan hin argamtu. Kanaaf biyya ofii keessatt halgaan gad ilaalamanii, deeganii, salphatanii jiraachuu irra didaa waliin dhumuu filatanii. Wayyanee fi kittillayyoon see yakkamoota yoo angoo irraa bu’an balaatu eeggata. Kanaaf haalli jiru akka hin jijjiiramne abbaa fedhe ni ajjeesti. Akkasumas Oromoon diddaa saanii yoo dhaaban kanneen qooda fudhatan mana fudhamanii rasaasa tokko tokko adda keessa buufamu yk guraarama fafeessaa fi hidhaan isaan eeguu mala.

Ijaajjanii du’uun surraa barabaraa argatu malee waan dhaban hin qabanii. Wareegama saaniin dhalooti egeree carraa ulfina, gammachuu fi nagaan jiraachuu gonfata. Daayaa qabsoon ummata saanii bartokko sadarkaa kana gaha jedhuuni, kan angafooti darban bara hundi waliigalatt ofbara malbulchaa hin qabaatin kumkumaan kan aarsaa tahan. Hardhas malbulcheesitooti Oromo sanumatu irraa eegama. Utuu akeeka bu’uura qabsoo Oromo roga hin dhabsisin ummata kutatee bahe kana gargaaranii gaaffii saa taliilaan hiriira saa nagaa irratt ifsatef deebii akka argatu gochuutu abdatama.

Ummati Finfinnee jireenyi saa araddoota naannaa saa jiran irratt hundaawaa.Yeroo akkasii callisee ilaaluu hin qabu. Akkuma ummati Masir godhe Waltajjiin Hulluuqoo Kormaa, “Waltajjii Tahiriir” tahuu dandaha. Finfinneen kan Oromooti yeroo jedhamu, rakkinni seef ballinni see fedha Oromoo irratt kan hundaawe jechuufii. Magaalaa guddoo ummatooti empayerittii fi ollootaa fi addunyaa keessa jiraatanii. Hamma isee keessa jiraatanitt fedhasee eeguun akka. Oromoon kan sodaachisan jara homaa hin hojjenne qabeenya isee qofa dhuufachuu barbaadanii. Namaaf hafee binoo fi naannaa uumaaf kan seera qabu akka Oromo hin jiru. Sochii Oromoo gargaaruun nagaa fi durooma ofii gargaaruu dha.

Reeffa keenya dhiichaa, ililchaa, weeddisaa awwaallana malee irra dhaabbannee hin gadoodnu. Kan keessatt boonyuu fi imimnu nu gaha. Haadholiin dabankufootaa sabbbataan garaa hidhatanii kan hafan qabsoott jajjabeesuu malee ijoolleen saanii gootummaan darbaniiruu, sichi hin deebi’anii. Dhigii saaniis utuu walabummaa hin magarsin tola dhangalaatee hin haftu. Haala hamtuu kana injjifannoon xumuruuf kan qabnett haa cichinuu.

Ulfinaa fi surraan gootota kufaniif; walabummaa, walqixxummaa fi bilisummaan kan hafaniif; nagaa fi araarri Ayyaana abboolii fi ayyoliif haa tahu!

Ibsaa Guutama
Mudde 2015

=>gubirmans

Ethiopia arrests journalist after channel reports on protests

Nairobi, December 22, 2015--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in Ethiopia to release news anchor Fikadu Mirkana. Fikadu, who works for the state-run broadcaster Oromia Radio and TV, was arrested at his Addis Ababa home on Saturday morning, according to news reports.

CPJ could not determine the reason for Fikadu's arrest. It comes as Oromia Radio and TV has, in recent weeks, covered protests against a plan to expand the Ethiopian capital, in a move that campaigners say would displace hundreds of thousands of farmers, according to news reports. Dozens of protesters have been killed during clashes with police during the unrest in the regional state of Oromia, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

"Journalists have a vital role to play in ensuring the flow of information, both from the Ethiopian government and also, critically, from those who will be affected by its decisions," said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Sue Valentine in New York. "We call on authorities to release Fikadu Mirkana immediately."

It is not clear where Fikadu is being held and neither his family nor his lawyers have been allowed access to him, an Addis Ababa-based journalist, who has spoken with Fikadu's family and who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, told CPJ.

The Ethiopian authorities in Addis Ababa and the Ethiopian embassy in Nairobi did not immediately respond to CPJ's request for details about Fikadu's arrest.

In recent weeks, the Ethiopian government has used anti-terror rhetoric against campaigners, with the communications minister, Getachew Reda, branding them "terrorists" and "demonic," according to a column by Awol Allo, a fellow in human rights at the London School of Economics and Political Science, published Saturday on Al-Jazeera's website. This language usually presages a crackdown on dissenters, the column said. Protests in Oromia, a region that stretches across central Ethiopia and is home to a third of the country's population, have affected at least 30 towns and prompted the arrest of more than 500 people since mid-November, according to news reports.

Ethiopia is the third largest jailer of journalists on the African continent, with at least 10 behind bars on December 1, CPJ's 2015 prison census shows.

=>cpj

Ethiopian Government Kill Protesters To Expand Addis Ababa

Protesters in Ethiopia reject authoritarian development model

The Oromo students’ defiant protests are a response to decades of systemic and structural marginalization

by Awol Allo   @awol_allo

Social media is full of images of dead and injured students from Ethiopia’s Oromia state. At least 50 protesters have been killed, hundreds injured and thousands more arrested in monthlong protests across the region. Tensions escalated sharply this week after authorities accused the demonstrators of terrorism and confirmed deploying military forces.

The government continues to take a hard line. On Dec. 17, Communications Minister Getachew Reda described the protesters as “terrorists” and “demonic.” Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has threatened to take “merciless action against any force bent on destabilizing the area,” echoing pronouncements by the country’s counterterrorism task force, which has promised “legal and proportionate” measures. 

This is an old tactic in Ethiopia, where protests and public proclamation of dissent are criminalized. Addis Ababa often dismisses genuine local grievances as evil designs of anti-development elements.  Over the last decade, the government in Addis Ababa used the “war on terrorism” and the rhetoric of development to silence independent voices and curtail democratic debate. The press is effectively muzzled, and independent civic and political organizations face an array of government tactics, including manipulation, co-optation and violent repression.

The immediate trigger for the crisis is the Integrated Regional Development Plan for Addis Ababa and the Surrounding Oromia Region, commonly known as the Master Plan, which aims to expand the Ethiopian capital’s jurisdiction to Oromia. But the movement is a reflection of long-simmering ethnic tensions and deeper historical injustices. The Oromo, who constitute nearly half of Ethiopia’s 100 million people, have long been pushed to the periphery of Ethiopia’s economic, social and political life. The anger and defiance of the last few weeks is a spontaneous response to decades of systemic and structural marginalization of the Oromo.

Despite the government’s claim, the ongoing largely peaceful protests pose no threat to Ethiopia’s economic or national security interests. However, the government’s heavy-handed crackdown on protesters and the implementation of the Master Plan presents a clear and present danger to the well-being of the Oromo.

Why are Oromos protesting?

These protests are not new. In April and May 2014, similar protests broke out when the government unveiled the controversial Master Plan. Dozens of people were killed and many more wounded. Authorities insist that the draft plan will better coordinate development activities and facilitate the delivery of public services to remote areas. The protesters say it is a blueprint for annexation and will displace millions of Oromo farmers.

Addis Ababa, one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, faces a population explosion. The city has sprawled into neighboring Oromo villages, farmlands and forests. In the last 10 years, more than 150,000 Oromo farmers have been evicted from their ancestral lands without adequate compensation and proper relocation. Displaced farmers are becoming daily laborers on lands taken from them. Oromo activists and opposition politicians fear that the Master Plan will lead to a new and unrestrained land grab that could radically alter the region’s demographics and cultural makeup. The protesters say such expansion would cleanse the Oromo people and culture from the area.

Oromo protesters want a human-centered development that places people at the center of government policies and programs and allows everyone to get a fair share of what belongs to all. 

Addis Ababa lies in the heart of Oromia. The Ethiopian Constitution recognizes the state’s “special interest” over the city and mandates Parliament to enact laws that would regulate the “provision of social services or the utilization of natural resources” between Oromia and Addis Ababa. However, two decades after the constitution’s adoption, no such laws have been enacted. Meanwhile, Addis Ababa’s expansion into surrounding Oromo towns continues unabated. This advance, which is in part fueled by demand for land by foreign and private investment, has had serious economic and ecological consequences for the area.

Human-centered development

The government has appealed to developmental goals to silence such concerns, but its approach to development is narrow. Ethiopia follows a developmental state model that doesn’t guarantee democratic participation and representative procedures necessary to scrutinize the legality, viability and proportionality of state-led projects. Its five-year Growth and Transformation Plan is mainly funded by foreign aid, including from the United States. The plan envisions the relocation of people from lands slated for infrastructure construction, industrial parks and large-scale agricultural development. These programs are often implemented through intimidation, violence and other repressive tactics.

Ethiopia happens to be a key U.S. ally in the “war on terrorism.” In 2006 the U.S. provided technical and financial support for Ethiopia’s invasion of Somalia under the pretext of targeting the Somali armed group Al-Shabab. Since 2011, the U.S. has beenflying armed reaper drones from bases in Ethiopia as part of its counterterrorism mission in East Africa. Washington acknowledges the ruling party’s increasingly authoritarian tactics but has consistently ignored human rights concerns. The U.S. State Department on Friday expressed concern about reports of deaths and urged the Ethiopian government “to permit peaceful protest and commit to a constructive dialogue.”

The protesters oppose policies that disregard the will of the people. They are calling for a system grounded in fair processes, driven by equitable outcomes and the effective participation of affected communities in defining the scope of development programs. In short, they want a human-centered development that places people at the center of government policies and programs and allows everyone to get a fair share of what belongs to all.

These protests are unprecedented in many ways. They are broad based and resilient as well as creative. They are using roadblocks, sit-ins, lunch boycotts and striking hand gestures and other symbols of civil disobedience to capture asymmetries of power and governance.

Their nonviolent resistance transcends deep political fault lines and is building interethnic solidarity among Ethiopia’s key political players. Over the last two weeks, several non-Oromo political parties and civic organizations have expressed solidarity with the protesters. This in and of itself is a remarkable achievement in a country sharply divided along ethnic lines.

This movement may not end the subordination of the Oromo people and the displacement of its farmers, but its legacy will endure. It leaves behind traces and reminders that will serve as the seedbed of indignation and frustration, providing inspiration for future struggles for equality and justice in Ethiopia.

Awol Allo is a fellow in human rights at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera America's editorial policy.

=>aljazeeraamerica

At least 75 killed in Ethiopia protests: HRW

Nairobi (AFP) - At least 75 people have been killed during weeks of protests in Ethiopia which have seen soldiers and police firing on demonstrators, Human Rights Watch said on Saturday.

"Police and military forces have fired on demonstrations, killing at least 75 protesters and wounding many others, according to activists," HRW said in a statement.

Rights groups have repeatedly criticised Ethiopia's use of anti-terrorism legislation to stifle peaceful dissent, with Washington expressing concern over the crackdown and urging Addis Ababa to employ restraint.

There was no immediate response from Ethiopian government, which has previously put the toll at five dead.

Government spokesman Getachew Reda said the "peaceful demonstrations" that began last month had escalated into violence, accusing protesters of "terrorising the civilians."

The protests began in November when students opposed government proposals to take over territory in several towns in the Oromia region, sparking fears that Addis Ababa was looking to grab land traditionally occupied by the Oromo people, the country's largest ethnic group.

Demonstrations have taken place in the towns of Haramaya, Jarso, Walliso and Robe among others.

- 'Dozens' shot -

"Human Rights Watch received credible reports that security forces shot dozens of protesters in Shewa and Wollega zones, west of Addis Ababa, in early December," HRW added.

View gallery

A burnt-out truck thought to have been set on fire by protesters pictured outside the village of Wol …

"Several people described seeing security forces in the town of Walliso, 100 kilometres (60 miles) southwest of Addis Ababa, shoot into crowds of protesters in December, leaving bodies lying in the street."

HRW also said "numerous witnesses" described how "security forces beat and arrested protesters, often directly from their homes at night."

Pictures have appeared on social media, apparently showing bloodied protestors and armed police firing tear gas at student demonstrators.

"The Ethiopian government's response to the Oromia protests has resulted in scores dead and a rapidly rising risk of greater bloodshed," HRW's Leslie Lefkow said.

"The government's labelling of largely peaceful protesters as 'terrorists' and deploying military forces is a very dangerous escalation of this volatile situation."

With at least 27 million people, Oromia is the most populous of the country's federal states and has its own language, Oromo, distinct from Ethiopia's official Amharic language.

- US 'deeply concerned' -

In a statement issued on Saturday, which did not directly refer to the HRW figures, Washington expressed grave concern over the unrest.

"The United States is deeply concerned by the recent clashes in the Oromia region of Ethiopia that reportedly have resulted in the deaths of numerous protestors," said the State Department.

"We urge the government of Ethiopia to permit peaceful protest and commit to a constructive dialogue to address legitimate grievances," it said, also urging protesters "to refrain from violence and to be open to dialogue."

Writing on Twitter on Friday, Washington's UN envoy Samantha Power spoke of "concerning rhetoric" from Ethiopia's prime minister, insisting the government "must use restraint" in its response to the Oromo protests.

Britain's Foreign Office also expressed concern over the protests in a statement issued on Friday, noting that some had "turned violent, resulting in casualties."

"There have been heavy clashes including gunfire between protesters and security forces" on December 17, it said, warning Britons against all but essential travel to western and southwestern parts of Oromia.

Some foreign-owned commercial farms have been "looted and destroyed" in the protests near Debre Zeit, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) southeast of Addis Ababa, HRW said.

HRW said the protests -- and bloody crackdown -- echoed protests in April and May 2014 when police were accused of opening fire and killing "dozens" of protestors. The government said eight people died in the 2014 unrest.

=>yahoonews

Silent Forces behind the Addis Ababa Master Plan and the Downside of Article 49 (5) of the FDRE Constitution

By Iddoosaa Ejjetaa

Why Article 49 (5) of the FDRE Constitution was suspended for the last 20 years?

TPLF is not the only force who is pushing the Master Plan. The neo-neftenyas, neo-liberals (pretenders of individual right, borderless, diversity blinded), those who have been against multinational federalism or ethnic based federalism are silent forces behind the Addis Ababa Master Plan, which is basically a land grabbing policy disguised as integrated development plan. Although the TPLF is at forefront who is spinning the gear, this should not turn our eyes blind and ears deaf to the mischievous behavior of the neo-neftenyas or pro-Menilk Addis Ababa or pro-unitary state groups. They are one of the silent forces behind the Addis Ababa expansion and the suspension or delay of Article 49 (5) of the FDRE Constitution (1995), which provided special benefits for the State of Oromiyaa. Recently, some power-seeking diaspora based individuals as usual crying for political alliance with the old masters who had sworn to crash whenever possible the Oromo aspiration for self-determination, Oromo identity and the State of Oromiyaa. We should also say NO to such undesirable moves, but yes to the Peoples’ Alliance.

Finfinneen lafaa fi laffee Oromoo ti. Oromiyaan lafaa fi laffee Oromoo ti. Lafaa fi laffee malee hindhabataani, jedha Oromoon.

Silent forces are visible through their work. For example, the architect of the plans was based on the lessons learned from France, Lyon city. France is a unitary state who speak just French language, which means homogenous in its culture and language. But Ethiopia has a federal system of government, at least in principle. If so why? My short answer would be a dream for Menlik of Addis Ababa and unitary state of Ethiopia where Amharic the only working language.
The other evidence is the suspension of Article 49 (5) of the FDRE Constitution, which provided special benefits to the State of Oromiyaa, as follows:

“The special interest of the State of Oromia Thin Addis Ababa, regarding the provision of social services or the utilization of natural resources and other similar matters, as well as joint administrative matters arising from the location of Addis Ababa within the State of Oromia, shall be respected. Particulars shall be determined by law”

If you look at the content of Article 49 (5), the provision of social services, utilization of natural resources and administrative matters. Let’s look in turn. Social services include the benefits and facilities such as education, health care, job training, housing, community development, policy research, language services, etc. to create effective and strong communities and promote harmony, equity and equal opportunities for all residences.

One of the key elements in social services is the language service for AA city as multilingual and multiethnic groups live in Finfinnee. Without effective and targeted language services, there will be no way to achieve the goal social services listed above such as education, training, equal opportunity for all citizens. The role of government is to facilitate and protect the right of citizens or communities on equal bases. Resources would be generated form the communities who have commitments to develop their cultural heritage, identity and languages. However, silent forces who are pro-Amharic only probably the most allergic to the use of Afaan Oromoo in Finfinnee than TPLF. There is no other economic or political reasons to exclude the native language, Afaan Oromoo, the majority primary language. This a disservice to the Constitution and universal human right law. If there is any reason on can find, it is arrogance or ignorantly chauvinism. It is mind boggling to see that the fate of indigenous population is determined by late settlers, which is unacceptable to normally thinking mind.

Land is the key resource for economic development. There are at least two forces who has strong barging position over the land in Finfinnee. They are the silent forces and the voiced or visible forces, TPLF and its stooge’s officials. These forces has been clouded to maximize their economic benefits. They have three common features: operating state machinery, economic self-interest and settlement status. As operator of state machinery, the silent forces had controlled the education and employment opportunities in the past regimes and use their technical skill and experience such as administration, planning, financing, policy research, etc. to influence the decisions made by the visible force, the federal officials. Undermining the right of Oromo ownership over Finfinnee and the role regional government of Oromiyaa the result of such practices by silent forces who are engaged in promoting Amharic only language policy and the Addis Ababa Administrative status toward full autonomy. The economic collusion between the two is much stronger. They designed the land grabbing policy collaboratively with the assistance foreign agencies who also in collaboration with them for other strategic interests they may have with the country. However, the driving force behind land grab is an obsession for wealth and power. They use government machineries to benefit themselves, stooges and collaborators by evicting Oromo farmers and their families from their home and ancestral land.

As to the joint administration of Finfinnee, the Constitution in Article 49 (5) has logical problems and does not make logical sense to me. The Article supposed to provide the right to the State of Oromiyaa to administer Finfinnee directly like any district in Oromiyaa than collecting special benefits from self-governing entity outside the scope of Oromiyaa State Government. In my view, therefore, the Oromoo people question should be revised in a way that to show the legitimate right of Oromo people over Finfinnee: the Oromo question should be restated as the right to administer Finfinnee like any part of Oromiyaa State. To put shortly, the Oromoo question is about the right to administer Finfinnee but NOT to collect special benefits from Finfinnee.

Although the Habasha dictators being advised, financed, and trained by Western powers and dispatched to kill, terrorize and prison a peace loving people, the Oromo national struggle for self-determination shall continue. In the end, slowly but surely the Gadaa Republic of Oromia shall be restored and free.

Dubiin Finfinnee dubii lafaa fi lafee ti.
Finfinneen lafaa fi lafee Oromoo ti.
Oromiyaan lafaa fi lafee Oromoo ti.
Jabaadhaa Ilmaan Oromoo/ Ilmaan Abbaa Gadaa, lafaa fi lafee maalee hindhabataanii.

=>ayyaantuu

Protests in Ethiopia leave at least five dead, possibly many more

By Aaron Maasho

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia's government said on Monday at least five people had been killed in protests against its plan to incorporate areas of farmland near the capital into a new zone to attract business, while an opposition figure said 30 had died.

Protesters, many of them students, have repeatedly clashed with security forces in several towns in the Oromiya region around Addis Ababa during the past three weeks over the government move that farmers say will be used to grab land.

Ethiopia has won international praise for transforming the economy, but rights groups say critics are stifled. There are no opposition figures in parliament and protests are rarely reported. Officials insist free expression is guaranteed.

Government spokesman Getachew Reda told Reuters that regional officials had so far named five dead but that this could rise as "armed gangs are terrorising civilians, killing government officials, unarmed security officers and farmers".

"If there are problems - and I do not believe they exist - they can only be addressed through consultations with the public," Getachew said.

Merara Gudina, chairman of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress, said: "The list we have shows more than 30 people have been killed by police and soldiers trying to stop the protests."

He told Reuters by telephone that most of those killed were students who had joined the protests, while a few were farmers.

Residents in the region also gave higher figures than the one cited by the government.

Ruling party politicians in Oromiya have accused opposition groups of stoking clashes between protesters and police.

Aman, a student at Ambo University, west of the capital, said police cordoned off his college and rounded up dozens of students. Aman, who did not give his full name for fear of reprisals, said some students had been beaten.

Officials say the administrative changes would create a new zone to draw investment and build infrastructure, part of a government industrialisation drive. The state has been building new roads, railways and hydroelectric dams across the nation.

Farmers and those opposed to the plan worry about land grabs. In the past, Ethiopia has been criticised for seizing property without consent for its industrialisation drive or without properly compensating those living on the land.

According to Ethiopian law, all land belongs to the state and those purchasing the land are only considered leaseholders.

(Editing by Edmund Blair and Alison Williams)

=>yahoonews