Sunday, June 9, 2013
Morsy, Qandil join Islamist talks on dam project
President Mohamed Morsy and Prime Minister Hesham Qandil will attend an Islamist-led conference to discuss the consequences of Ethiopia's controversial Grand Renaissance Dam project.
Thirteen Islamist political groups are set to attend talks at the Cairo International Conference Centre on Monday, according to a statement by the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Freedom and Justice Party.
“National groups, political parties, popular and political figures will convene, in the presence of President Mohamed Morsy, to take part in a conference on the preservation of Egypt's rights to Nile water," it said.
Besides the FJP, parties attending will include the Salafi-oriented Nour Party, Wasat Party, the Construction and Development Party, Asala Party, Fadila Party and Islah Party.
Ayman Abdel Ghany, the FJP's youth secretary, claimed the conference represents a cross-party bid to cooperate with the president and his government in attempts to solve the Nile water crisis.
Invitations to join had been extended to all political groups in Egypt, he added.
Safwat Abdel Ghany, a senior leader within Jama’a al-Islamiya, said participants still sought strong relations with African countries, particularly Ethiopia.
However, further action could still be on the table, he said.
“Diplomacy is the best solution for the time being. The military option will be last."
Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam project has created a political stand-off with Egypt, where many fear the initiative could diminish vital shares in River Nile water supplies.
Last month Ethiopia announced plans to divert the course of the Blue Nile before beginning construction on a hydro-electricity dam in the area.
However the move has rattled Egypt and Sudan, while the Ethiopian government has vowed the dam would not damage water supplies to downstream Nile states.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
South Africa: sanctuary at a price
Oromia Support Group Report 49 | June 9, 2013
This report is compiled from information obtained from Oromo and Ogadeni refugees in South Africa in October and November 2012.
The Oromia Support Group is a non-political organisation which attempts to raise awareness of human rights violations in Ethiopia. OSG has now reported 4498 extra-judicial killings and 1010 disappearances of civilians in Ethiopia. Hundreds of thousands have been placed in illegal detention, where torture is routine and rape is commonplace.
Report 49 is published in association with the Oromo Relief Association UK:
c/o Peace News
5 Caledonian Rd
London N1 9DY
ORA Office Coordinator:
Leencaa Aba-Gero
Telephone: 07852 105846
Email: aweytu@yahoo.co.uk
5 Caledonian Rd
London N1 9DY
ORA Office Coordinator:
Leencaa Aba-Gero
Telephone: 07852 105846
Email: aweytu@yahoo.co.uk
South Africa: sanctuary at a price
Summary
Fifty-eight Oromo and two Ogadeni refugees from Ethiopia were interviewed in Johannesburg, Alexandra township and Randfontein, in Guateng province, and in Kinross and Evander, Mpumalanga province, in October and November 2012. They reported serious abuse in Ethiopia and hazardous journeys to South Africa.
The 60 interviewees corroborated previous reports of extraordinarily high rates of torture in places of detention in Ethiopia. 26 (43%) had been tortured – 58% of the men and 26% of the women. Of the 38 who had been detained, 68% reported being tortured. All had been severely beaten. 76% of detained men and 54% of detained women were tortured.
Reported conditions of detention in Ethiopia were atrocious. Torture was routinely practised in military camps, prisons, police stations and unofficial places of detention. Methods included arm-tying (falantis), severe enough to cause nerve damage; flaying of the soles of the feet (bastinado); mock execution; whipping; immersion of the head in water and other forms of asphyxiation; walking and running on gravel, barefoot or on knees; suspension by the wrists or upside-down; stress positions; sleep deprivation by flooding cells; drenching and other exposure to cold; electrocution; suspension of weights from genitalia; and castration.
Previous reports of high mortality rates among detainees in military camps, especially Hamaresa in E. Hararge, were corroborated by former detainees. In addition to the many who were killed or died in detention, the interviewees reported 91 killings of family and friends. These included 21 summary executions, some of which were public. Interviewees reported 18 disappearances.
Only two of 13 women former detainees were raped in custody, considerably fewer than previously reported, but this probably reflects the small size of the sampled population. Another interviewee was raped in her home by a government official and then in Kakuma camp, Kenya, by an Ethiopian government security agent. Three interviewees reported rape of others in Ethiopia, including the multiple gang-rape of a 14 year-old in the Ogaden, who was strangled to death after ten days by the soldiers who raped her.
Travellers to South Africa were at risk of abuse, including rape, by people smugglers. Several deaths were witnessed during dangerous and harsh journeys lasting up to 12 months, during which migrants were often short of food and water. Detention in unsanitary, severely overcrowded conditions, especially in Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi, for up to five months, was experienced by 18 interviewees (21 episodes). Deportation and attempted deportation was reported by four.
Making a living in South Africa, although legal, is difficult and dangerous. The majority of interviewees work or have worked in township tuckshops, which are frequently subject to armed robbery and xenophobic attacks. At least five Oromo died in tuckshop attacks in 2012 alone. On average, tuckshops are robbed every 5-6 months. Several organised racist attacks against tuckshops were reported and xenophobic threats, direct and via distributed leaflets, were recorded.
Violence and robbery on the street is common. One young woman was raped on her way to work one Sunday morning, in central Johannesburg, a few days before interview.
The South African government appears unenthusiastic in tackling xenophobic violence and, at best, ambivalent in honouring its responsibilities to refugees, according to international law and its own constitution. It has failed to address the general high level of violence in the country. Xenophobia is fuelled by local leaders and politicians in order to bolster their popularity and power.
The refugee determination process is thoroughly corrupted and meaningless. Refugee status is virtually sold as a commodity.
Whereas refugees are able to make a living in South Africa better than elsewhere on the continent, this is at a price. The violence which is characteristic of everyday life in the country is particularly likely to impact on the poor and the immigrant.
A vibrant civil society stands in bright contrast to the ANC government and is a hopeful sign that prosperity and tolerance may eventually prevail in South Africa.
–Full Content South Africa June 2013
Muummeen Barnoota Afoola Oromoo (Oromo Folklore) Hundeeffama Waggaa 6ffaa Yuuniversitii Jimmaa Keessatti Kabajate.
Waxabajjii 09,2013 Jimmaa
Muummeen Barnotaa Afoola Oromoo (Oromo Folklore) Kuula Alaabaa ABOn if miidhagsee.Hundeeffaama waggaa 6ffaa Yuuniversitii Jimmaa keessatti sirna ho’aa ta’een kabajate. dungoo diimaa magariisaa diimaa halluu ABO qabsiisuunii fi dungoo qanqee diimaa magariisaa dimaa dhukaasuun qaanqeen halluu alabaa ABO mooraa Jimmaa Yuunivarsiitii keessaa facaasuun guyyaa har’a 8/2013 galgala keessaa sa’atii 12:00 irraa egaluun hanga sa’a 7:30 mooraa Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa keessaatti kabajate. Muummeen Afoola Oromoo (Oromo Folklore) kan hundeeffame Yuuniversiitii Jimmaatti Hayyuu Oromoo Barsiisaa Darajjee Fufaa Biduu tiin bara 2007kan hundeeffaame yoo ta’uu, Muummeen barnootaa kun: Afoolaa ,Afaan, Seenaa, Sabboonummaa, Aadaa , Safuu fi Duudhaa Uummaataa Oromoo bifa barreeffama fi saayinsiitti jijjiruun barsiisuu irraatti kan xiyyeefatudha.
Mummee barnotaa Afoola Oromoo kana mootummaan Wayyaanee, kun imammata qajeelfama ABO ti jechuun yeroo irraa gara yerootti dura dhaabbachaa kan jiruu fi hanga sadarkaa cufsiisuutti illee irraatti hojetaa kan jirtu wayyaaneen dura dhaabbaannaa barsiisotaa fi baratoota Oromootiin kunoo har’aa waggaan 6ffaan isaa Mooraa Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa Stedum xiqqichaa keessaatti bakkaa Qeerroon baratootnii fi barasiistotni Oromoo hedduuminaan argamanitti yeroo kabajamuu gammaachuu guddaatu ilmaan Oromootti dhagaahama. Ilmaan Oromoo garbummaa keessaa yoo jiraannee iyyuu bilisummaa keenyaa gonfachuu kan dandeenyu, qabsoo seenaa qabeessaa ilmaan Oromoo dhiigaa isaanii irraatti dhangalasuun nu qaqqabsiisan jabeessinee tikfachaa bilisummaa keenyaa gonfachuuf tokkummaa keenyaa jabeeffaachaa hanga bilisummaan Oromoo mirkanaa’ee mirgi abbaa biyyuummaa keenyaa nuf kabajamutti qabsoo diddaa garbummaa sochii warraqsaa qeerroo bilisummaa FDG biyyaa keessaatti bifa qindaa’een kan itti fufnu ta’a jechuun sagantaa kana irraatti labsii tokkuummaa labsachuun harka walqabachuun walleelee tokkuummaa faarsanii fi qabsoo bilisummaa Oromoof nama onnachiisaan sirbuun Oromummaa isaanii leellifatan.
Sochii warraaqsaa Qeerroo Bilisummaa Oromoo yeroo irraa gara yerootti jabaachaa jiruun sodaa keessaa galuun mootummaan
Wayyaanee humnotaa basaasa humna ol sagaantaa kana irraatti bobbaasuun Sabboontotaa Oromoo hordofsiisuuf yaalu illee sabboontotni Oromoo basaastotaa Wayyaanee tokkuummaan dura dhaabbaachuun of irraa kan deebisan ta’uun gabafame, keessaattuu basastotni lukkeelee Wayyaanee akka Badhaasaa Firraajaa, Caalii Rattaa, Miilkayas, Haptamuu Rattaa Jedhaman kanneen kannee Afaan Oromoo sirriitti dubbaachuu, barreessuu fi dubbisuu danda’an oddeeffaannoo haala sochii dargaggotaa Oromoo hordofuuf kan ergama diinummaa fudhatanii bakka sagantaan kun gaggeeffaamutti bobbaafaman dargaggotaa Oromoon sagaantaa irraa kan arii’ataman ta’uu gabaafamera.
Mummee barnotaa Afoola Oromoo kana mootummaan Wayyaanee, kun imammata qajeelfama ABO ti jechuun yeroo irraa gara yerootti dura dhaabbachaa kan jiruu fi hanga sadarkaa cufsiisuutti illee irraatti hojetaa kan jirtu wayyaaneen dura dhaabbaannaa barsiisotaa fi baratoota Oromootiin kunoo har’aa waggaan 6ffaan isaa Mooraa Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa Stedum xiqqichaa keessaatti bakkaa Qeerroon baratootnii fi barasiistotni Oromoo hedduuminaan argamanitti yeroo kabajamuu gammaachuu guddaatu ilmaan Oromootti dhagaahama. Ilmaan Oromoo garbummaa keessaa yoo jiraannee iyyuu bilisummaa keenyaa gonfachuu kan dandeenyu, qabsoo seenaa qabeessaa ilmaan Oromoo dhiigaa isaanii irraatti dhangalasuun nu qaqqabsiisan jabeessinee tikfachaa bilisummaa keenyaa gonfachuuf tokkummaa keenyaa jabeeffaachaa hanga bilisummaan Oromoo mirkanaa’ee mirgi abbaa biyyuummaa keenyaa nuf kabajamutti qabsoo diddaa garbummaa sochii warraqsaa qeerroo bilisummaa FDG biyyaa keessaatti bifa qindaa’een kan itti fufnu ta’a jechuun sagantaa kana irraatti labsii tokkuummaa labsachuun harka walqabachuun walleelee tokkuummaa faarsanii fi qabsoo bilisummaa Oromoof nama onnachiisaan sirbuun Oromummaa isaanii leellifatan.
Sochii warraaqsaa Qeerroo Bilisummaa Oromoo yeroo irraa gara yerootti jabaachaa jiruun sodaa keessaa galuun mootummaan
Wayyaanee humnotaa basaasa humna ol sagaantaa kana irraatti bobbaasuun Sabboontotaa Oromoo hordofsiisuuf yaalu illee sabboontotni Oromoo basaastotaa Wayyaanee tokkuummaan dura dhaabbaachuun of irraa kan deebisan ta’uun gabafame, keessaattuu basastotni lukkeelee Wayyaanee akka Badhaasaa Firraajaa, Caalii Rattaa, Miilkayas, Haptamuu Rattaa Jedhaman kanneen kannee Afaan Oromoo sirriitti dubbaachuu, barreessuu fi dubbisuu danda’an oddeeffaannoo haala sochii dargaggotaa Oromoo hordofuuf kan ergama diinummaa fudhatanii bakka sagantaan kun gaggeeffaamutti bobbaafaman dargaggotaa Oromoon sagaantaa irraa kan arii’ataman ta’uu gabaafamera.
Ethiopian refugees protest persecution over dam project
Dozens of Ethiopian refugees from the country's Oromia tribes staged a protest on Sunday, protesting alleged mistreatment by Egyptian citizens in the wake of the Ethiopian government's controversial Grand Renaissance dam initiative.
Demonstrators called for an end to persecution in Egypt outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in 6th of October, on the outskirts of Cairo.
One protester, Yahia Mohamed, told the state-run al-Ahram newspaper that Ethiopians are encountering hostility because of the Ethiopan government's decision to erect the dam on the Blue Nile.
Ethiopian refugees are unhappy with the divisive project and oppose the government, Mohamed claimed.
Many Egyptians fear the Renaissance dam project threatens Egypt's share of water supplies coming from the River Nile.
Ethiopia announced in late May it planned to divert the course of the Blue Nile, a main tributary of the River Nile, before constructing a hydro-electricity dam in the area.
The announcement has sparked fears in Egypt and Sudan that the project may reduce water shares, while the Ethiopian administration has strenuously denied the move will affect countries downstream.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Updated: Serious Security Concern for Oromo refugees in Egypt
June 6, 2013
Oboleewwan Nagaan Hadursuu.
- It is really sad today that serious security incident happened to Oromo refugees today in the evening of Thursday 6th June 2013, one of our friend was beaten seriously by a group of Egyptian youths and he was nearly killed if he was not saved by people, he was beaten by chain, metal and stick as he also defended himself. he was barely asked about his identity and nationality as Ethiopian. I and other community members rushed to see after being called and saw that he had head injury and other injury on his body and realized that it was my friend who was working at UNHCR as interpreter.the situation was tense as more than 50-60 Oromos have gathered to respond to fight or calm the situation. later after finding that situation was hot, we dispersed them and told everyone to go home and keep at home until the situation is calm.we took our friend to the police station to report but the other challenges was that the police men threaten us too, the policeman who was writing report aimed at myself as sign of shooting if possible for him, saying that we deserve to be killed, it was shock to me,we spent more than two hours asking for reports, one of the policeman refused to write down the report of incident, stating that his hand cannot do that. we found it wrong time to explain ourselves, but after that we were referred to hospital to do some check up to our injured friend, in the hospital, we found the same issue, we are asked our nationality for record, we were told that you are going to divert our nile and you pay more for hospital, we have to pay double amount of fees, we accepted topay double fee, accepting all this challenging issues, to see doctor was other problem,.. also while we were in the waiting place, Other Egyptian women asked our friend who beat him like this and what is our nationality. the policeman who accompanied us told them that we are Ethiopian, and without feeling shy the woman told us ” you deserve it ” we find sign of bitterness on their faces.at about 2am we took our injured friend to his hope and advised other Oromos Ethiopian Identity holder to keep at home.
- We have Executive community meeting tomorrow on Friday 7th June 2013 to discuss this urgent issue and how curb the situation from further deterioration. Sunday will be a painful demonstration infront of UNHCR for Oromos in Egypt. We found it very shocking and
- Request: 1- Oromo media to cover and spread the words 2- Oromo communities in diaspora to protest at the Egyptian embassies or counsel in the country they are in. 3-Oromo political parties or OSA to send letter to Egyptian government and embassies to take this opportunity to talk to them.
Contact information of the Oromo Community in Cairo, Tel: +201142431199, +201126643389
Official E-mail of the community: oromocairo_refugeecommunity@yahoo.com / orococa@yahoo.com
Website: www.osra-egypt.webs.com
Thursday, June 6, 2013
No to war over Nile/Abay/Abbayya
Upper Nile Basin. Source: Nile Basin Initiative, 2011
June 6, 2013 (Gulele Post) — Meles led Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) waged war against Eritrea over a piece of land that was eventually granted to Eritrea. Close to a hundred thousand people were killed but it benefitted TPLF because it helped them extend their power after ‘winning’ the war (and some support).
TPLF waged war against Somalia for no other reason than to obtain military and financial support from Bush led USA.
Meles Zenawi was amongst the first leaders to publicly support the Bush – Blair invasion of Iraq, so that they keep silent when he comes up with bogus ‘antiterrorism’ laws to terrorize innocent masses.
Meles/TPLF waged internal war against nations and nationalities they ruled over, the number one target being Oromia, followed by Ogaden, Gambella, Sidama(the Awassa massacre) and recently Amhara for no other reason than to extend their rule by force.
Meles/TPLF’s response was bullets to protests (the Addis Ababa/Finfinne massacre during the 2005 protest, the Asasa and Gerba massacres during the Muslim protest, shooting at elementary and high school students in Oromia … etc) Having witnessed all of these and more in the past two decades, how can anyone support any potential war between TPLF and Egypt (and possibly Sudan and Eritrea)?
The ‘Renaissance’ dam was no doubt Meles’s grand project to fill his big ego (I kind of think that his grooming of Hailemariam Desalegn, an Engineer, as his successor, among other reasons, was perhaps to have someone with interest to focus on this ‘grand’ project). The problem isn’t why he wanted to leave a ‘grand’ legacy for himself but how risky it was and still is for others. The timing of the project, when Egypt was at its weakest, is highly suspicious. He might have also calculated an exit strategy for Tigray, who was spared from all the TPLF inflicted conflicts and internal wars. The losers would be Amhara (the source of Blue Nile), Oromia (source of many of the tributaries) and Benishangul (where the dam is built). He also knew that his opposition would be divided over the issue (a good byproduct for him) and China is there to finance anything ‘grand’ in Africa. What he didn’t calculate was that he would die and Egypt would be stable again.
Currently under an immense political pressure as well as fierce opposition from diaspora over fund raising for the project, TPLF has more to gain from a potential war or tension. On the other end of the river, besides the undoubted significance of Nile for Egypt, the not so popular Mursi has also something to gain from a potential war – he would get more support and can consolidate power.
But this case is no longer about Meles(and his TPLF) and Mursi(and his Muslim Brotherhood). Any war over Nile has so many repercussions and will endanger millions in East and North East Africa.
That’s why, while I urge the equitable and fair share of the river, I say ‘No’ to war over Nile. Put the arms behind, leave the war mentality at home and go to a table of peaceful negotiation. If they can’t convince Egypt, Sudan and the rest of the world about this project or a reduced version of it, there are alternatives for energy – abundant geothermal, wind and solar energy and many other rivers for hydroelectric power. As for Hailemariam Desalegn, who was left with this ‘grand’ assignment from his former boss, he can have a lot of homework to deal with namely solving the internal crisis – a stop to mass eviction of farmers and premeditated inter-nation conflicts, thousands of political prisoners to release, a huge political space and media to free up as well as inflation and corruption to tackle. But he has to first convince his mini TPLF bosses to cut their losses, if they have to, and give him other priorities. Failing to accomplish this, TPLF can kiss good bye to any support. ‘Sogidda yo ofii jette mi’aayi yoo didde dhagaadha jedhanii sigatu (iddoo dhuftetti sideebisu)’ jedhu mitiree hayyuun keenya. Chew lerasih sitil taft aleziya dingay bilew (yemetahibet) yitiluhal [A rough translation of the wise advising salt goes ‘sweeten yourself up otherwise they will throw you back to the rock you came from’]
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