Saturday, March 22, 2014
Will Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam dry the Nile in Egypt?
Ethiopia is pressing ahead with construction of a major new dam on the River Nile, despite stiff opposition from Egypt. BBC correspondents in both countries report from both sides of an increasingly bitter water dispute.
Emmanuel Igunza, Ethiopia
A vast section of northern Ethiopia has been turned into a giant building site.
Construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (known as Gerd) is now about 30% complete.
The whole project spans an area of 1,800 sq km (695 sq miles).
Continue reading the main story
Once completed, in three years, it will be Africa's largest hydropower dam, standing some 170m (558ft) tall.
At a cost of $4.7bn (£2.9bn) it will also be hugely expensive - mostly funded by Ethiopian bonds and taxpayers.
The dam is located in the Benishangul region, a vast, arid land on the border with Sudan, some 900km north-west of the capital Addis Ababa,
Temperatures here can get as high as 48C (118F). Most of the vegetation that existed on the dam site has been cleared to make way for the construction, and the area is now extremely dusty.
In May last year, the builders achieved their first milestone when they diverted the course of the Blue Nile.
What used to be the river bed is now being lined with layers and layers of concrete that will form part of the main dam.
Some 8,500 people working at the site, where construction carries on 24 hours a day.
Part of the actual dam structure is already taking shape. The workers are busy at work on what looks like a huge floor of concrete.
Downstream, Egypt - which relies almost totally on the waters of the Nile, says their supply will be under threat.
Egypt and Sudan currently get the lion's share of the Nile's waters under colonial-era treaties. While Sudan backs Ethiopia's plans, Egypt has remained opposed.
Talks to ease tensions between the two countries have collapsed.
Despite this, Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman Amb Dina Mufti describes the dam as a "win-win" project.
"Sudan has already seen the benefits and has come on board, we hope Egypt will see that too," he says.
Sally Nabil, Aswan, Egypt
The concern in Egypt is about the potential threat to its dominance over the Nile.
Egypt fears Ethiopia's dam will restrict the flow of this strategic waterway - the main source of water in a country where rainfall is scarce.
The row started in 2011, and Egypt has been worried ever since that its annual quota of the Nile water might be reduced.
This conflict comes at a time when different parts of Egypt are already suffering from a shortage of water. In the northern Nile Delta, the agricultural heart of Egypt, a lot of farmers are waiting with a heavy heart to see if they will be able to cultivate their land next summer.
"With even less water, we will die. We can't survive," says Hafiza, one of the farmers.
Ethiopia says its hydro-electric dam will not harm either of its downstream countries, Egypt or Sudan. However, Egypt is highly sceptical.
"It is a matter of life or death, a national security issue that can never be compromised on," says foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty.
Egypt is aware that some 30% of the Ethiopian dam is completed. It is still unclear what's Egypt's next step will be.
Dispatches: Removing the Bar for Ethiopia
Leslie Lefkow
On March 19, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) decided to admit Ethiopia as a candidate country. With this move, the EITI may have added a member, but it lost its credibility as a good governance initiative.
Bringing together stakeholders from government, industry and civil society organizations, the EITI is supposed to provide incentives for governments to improve transparency in the oil, gas and mining sectors. One key criterion for membership in the group is that governments commit to meaningful participation for civil society on issues related to natural resources. The EITI Standard instructs that, “government must ensure there are no obstacles to civil society and company participation in the process,” including with regard to “relevant laws, regulations, and administrative rules as well as actual practice in implementation of the EITI.”
The logic is simple: publishing data on natural resource issues can only lead to better government decisions if there’s real public scrutiny and an opportunity for civic engagement.
Ethiopia, however, is one of the most repressive countries in the world when it comes to the ability of independent civil society and media to function. Admitting Ethiopia to EITI isn’t just lowering the bar on the need for civil society participation, it’s removing the bar entirely.
The EITI decision is all the more disturbing because in 2010 the EITI Board rightly rejected Ethiopia’s candidacy. It recognized that a draconian 2009 civil society law fundamentally represses civil society in the country, and stated that it would reconsider Ethiopia’s application only when the law was “no longer in place.”
The law prohibits nongovernmental organizations from working in human rights and good governance if they receive more than 10 percent of their funds from abroad. As a result, today there are few organizations working on these issues and those that do, self-censor and straddle a knife-edge, always concerned about a potential crackdown. The situation for media freedom is equally dire: Ethiopia has jailed and forced into exile more journalists than anywhere else in Africa, except Eritrea.
Yet, in a complete reversal from its 2010 stance and despite considerable and sometimes bitter debate at a session in Oslo, EITI endorsed Ethiopia’s candidacy.Troublingly, EITI Chair Clare Short claimed that the decision showed “the Board was convinced by the government’s commitment to the EITI’s principles.”
But without a change in Ethiopia’s law, the EITI itself has undermined those principles.
=>hrw
Friday, March 21, 2014
Group: Ethiopia regularly records phone calls
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A rights group says that Ethiopia's government regularly listens to and records the phone calls of opposition activists and journalists using equipment provided by foreign technology companies.
Human Rights Watch said in a report Friday that the foreign equipment aids the Ethiopian government's surveillance of perceived political opponents inside and outside the country.
The group's Arvind Ganesan said Ethiopia is using its government-controlled telecom system to silence dissenters. The group says that recorded phone calls with family and friends are often played during abusive interrogations.
Human Rights Watch said most of the monitoring technology is provided by the Chinese firm ZTE. Several European companies have also provided equipment, the group said, including from the U.K., Germany and Italy.
Kibba Afriikaa Keessatti Hiriirro Mormii Guddaan Hawaasa Oromoo fi Ogaadeniin Gaggeefame
Bitootessa 21, 2014
Haala kanaan manni dhaabbataan African Parliament jedhamu salgalee mormii uumanni dhageessise kana dhagahuun waan barbaachisu maraan gaaffiin cunqurfamtootaa akka dhagahamu akka taasisaniif gaaffiin dhihaatee jira.
Walgahii Pan Africa kana irratti mootummaa Ethiopia bakka bu’ee kan argamu muummicha ministeera H/Mariyam Dassalenyii fi ministeera haajaa alaa akkasumas nama biro tokko ture. Haala kanaan H/Mariyam Dassaleny walgahii kana irratti kan argamuuf ture guutummaatti haquun walgahii kana irraa osoo hin hirmaatiin hanqachuu gabaasi achi irraa nu gahe addeessa.
Buqqifama Oromoota Shaggarii fi Naannoo Isaa – Kutaa Sadaffaa
Taammanaa Bitimaa irraa*-
DURADUBBII
Dubbiftoota barreeffama kanaa jaalatamoo fi kabajamoo, kutaalee lamaan dabran akka argattanii dubbiftan nan abdaddha. Xumura kutaa lammaffaa keessatti, kunoo akkana jedheetan buleeyyu: “Kutaa isa kanatti aanu keessatti waayee seenaa Oromoo Gullallee waggaalee hedduu dura walitti qabe keessaan waa isinitti qicaa, mee hammasitti nagaa fi nageenyi qeyee hunda keessanii irraa hin dhabamini!” Ilaamee, amma akkuma jedhame kanatti kallachumaan inni jedhame kun jalqabamaa, yoo yeroon fi wanneen biroo isiniif hayyaman mee duukaa-bu’uuf yaalaa!
Dubbiftoota barreeffama kanaa jaalatamoo fi kabajamoo, kutaalee lamaan dabran akka argattanii dubbiftan nan abdaddha. Xumura kutaa lammaffaa keessatti, kunoo akkana jedheetan buleeyyu: “Kutaa isa kanatti aanu keessatti waayee seenaa Oromoo Gullallee waggaalee hedduu dura walitti qabe keessaan waa isinitti qicaa, mee hammasitti nagaa fi nageenyi qeyee hunda keessanii irraa hin dhabamini!” Ilaamee, amma akkuma jedhame kanatti kallachumaan inni jedhame kun jalqabamaa, yoo yeroon fi wanneen biroo isiniif hayyaman mee duukaa-bu’uuf yaalaa!
SEENSA
Akkuman kanaan dura barreeffatoota kiyya garii keessatti deddeebisee ibse sana, Oromoonni kalachumatti daangaa Biyya Habashaa wajjin qaban, bara akkaan dheeraa tahe, waraana weerartoota Habashaa ofirraa ittisaa turani. Gaafiin: “Oromoonni kun eenyu fayi?”, jedhu dhiyaachuun isaa waan ooluu mitii, mee amma eenyu faa akka isaan tahan ibsama. Oromoonni duris, harras qarmammeettii-tti daangaleen isaanii daangaa Habashootaa wajjin waltuqu Oromoota: Raayyaa fi Asibuu, Walloo, Tuulamaa keessaa (Bacho Kaabaa, Jirruu, Abbichuu, Darraa, Jaarso Salaalee, Kuyyuu, Jidda, Galaan, Ada’a Waayyuu, Ada’a Liiban, Jillee Kaabaa fi Gimbichuu faa), Macha Bahaa keessaa Torban Kuttaayee, Calliya, Torban Guduruu, Jimma Raaree, Kudhalamaan Horroo fi Amuuruu fayi. Oromoonni kun gara waggaalee 300 olii akka dallaa sibiilaatti waraana warra Habashaa dura dhabatanii ofi irraayyis, Oromoota biroo irraayyis, dabraniituu uummatoota Kibbaa hedduu irraayyis dhoorkaa turani. Isaan warreen kanaa olitti kaafaman kanneen irraayyi waraana Habashaa dhoowwina jedhanii otoo hin taane, isaan ofuma irraa dhoowwuu sanatu mataan isaa weerartoonni kun warreen jedhaman kana akka hin qabamneef ittisaa ture.
Akkuman kanaan dura barreeffatoota kiyya garii keessatti deddeebisee ibse sana, Oromoonni kalachumatti daangaa Biyya Habashaa wajjin qaban, bara akkaan dheeraa tahe, waraana weerartoota Habashaa ofirraa ittisaa turani. Gaafiin: “Oromoonni kun eenyu fayi?”, jedhu dhiyaachuun isaa waan ooluu mitii, mee amma eenyu faa akka isaan tahan ibsama. Oromoonni duris, harras qarmammeettii-tti daangaleen isaanii daangaa Habashootaa wajjin waltuqu Oromoota: Raayyaa fi Asibuu, Walloo, Tuulamaa keessaa (Bacho Kaabaa, Jirruu, Abbichuu, Darraa, Jaarso Salaalee, Kuyyuu, Jidda, Galaan, Ada’a Waayyuu, Ada’a Liiban, Jillee Kaabaa fi Gimbichuu faa), Macha Bahaa keessaa Torban Kuttaayee, Calliya, Torban Guduruu, Jimma Raaree, Kudhalamaan Horroo fi Amuuruu fayi. Oromoonni kun gara waggaalee 300 olii akka dallaa sibiilaatti waraana warra Habashaa dura dhabatanii ofi irraayyis, Oromoota biroo irraayyis, dabraniituu uummatoota Kibbaa hedduu irraayyis dhoorkaa turani. Isaan warreen kanaa olitti kaafaman kanneen irraayyi waraana Habashaa dhoowwina jedhanii otoo hin taane, isaan ofuma irraa dhoowwuu sanatu mataan isaa weerartoonni kun warreen jedhaman kana akka hin qabamneef ittisaa ture.
Haatahu malee, bara 1868 irraa kaasee dallaan sibiilaa sun waan humna Habashootaa kan meeshaa Oroppaa irraa maqaa Kiristaanummaatiin argatee fi leenjiftoota-waraanaa, riqicha-tolchituu fi kaarta-qartuu warra Oroppaatiin gargaaramee dallaa sibiilaa kana olitti ibsame san cabsuu dandaye. Oromoonni kun Minilikiin cabsamanii qabamuun Oromoonni biroo fi uummatoonni Kibbaa akka cabanii qabaman taasise. Keessumaa erga akaakayyuun Minilik kan Sayila-Sillaasee jedhamu akka namoonni Oroppaa biyya isaa seenaniif karaa baneefii: imaltoonni, daldaltoonni, misiyoononni fi jabdooteewwan (“adventurers“) hedduun Biyya Habashaa isa karaa kanaan jiruu, gara Manjeetti yaa’aa turani. Inni yoo xiqqaate waggaatti yeroo lama Oromoota Tuulamaa: Abbichuu, Jirruu, Darraa, Salaalee, Bacho Kaabaa, Jillee Kaabaa, Gimbichuu, Galaan, Meettaa, Muloo (Sululta), Gullallee, Aabbu, Ada’a Liibanii fi Eekkaa faatti duulaa ture. Kun kan inni gaggeessaa waraanaa tahee, abbunni taabota baachisee duukaa-yaa’u malee, inni abbootiin duulaa (“raasonni“) duulchisan waggaatti jahaa torba faa ture. Namoota Oroppaa kanneen qeyee Saayila-Sillaasee turan keessaa gariin fakkeenyaaf, kan akka Major Harris (nama Biritaaniyaa guddoo), J. L. Krapf (nama Jarmanii) faa duukaa-deemuun oggaa warranni Habashaa kun qeyee Oromoo fi midhaanillee oobruu (maasii) keessatti ibiddaan barbadeessu, loonii fi fardeen kumaa hedduun lakkaawaman boojiyatu, namas gabaa baasee gurgursiifachuuf qabatu: ijoollee, dubartoota, daddhabdootaa fi dhukkubsatoota daggalaa fi tusii keessa dhokatanillee qabsiisee gorraasisu jarreen kun arguun barreessanii jiru.*
SEENAA OROMOO GULLALLEE
Warri abbootii ibiddaa, warri abbootii gabraa, warri abbootii qawwee kun, eekaa mootoliin Amaaraa garri irra caalan silaa shiftootaa, silaa gaadduu fi saamtuu dhaa, Biyya Oromoo isa Shaggar irraa gara kaabaatti argamu guubaa, barbadeessaa oggaa daangaa Oromoota Kurnan Gullallee gawuuf waa hafu, silaa Oromoonni naannoo kanaa marti oggaa san sirna gadaatiin buluu, yaa’iin Kurnan Gullallee hatattamaan waamame. Yaa’iin seena-qabeessichi kun wiirtuu Finfinnee Shaggar, bakka durattumaa yaa’iin Gullallee itti-tahutti ture. Bakki kun Tulluu Daalattii kan jedhamu iddoo amma silaa Mallas Zeenaa sokkee, amma Hayila-Maaram Dassaalany taa’ee, ajajaa fi abboommii warra Wayyaanee fixaan-baasu kana, isa afaan warra abbaa qawweetiin “Taallaaquu Beetamangist” jedhamu.**
Warri abbootii ibiddaa, warri abbootii gabraa, warri abbootii qawwee kun, eekaa mootoliin Amaaraa garri irra caalan silaa shiftootaa, silaa gaadduu fi saamtuu dhaa, Biyya Oromoo isa Shaggar irraa gara kaabaatti argamu guubaa, barbadeessaa oggaa daangaa Oromoota Kurnan Gullallee gawuuf waa hafu, silaa Oromoonni naannoo kanaa marti oggaa san sirna gadaatiin buluu, yaa’iin Kurnan Gullallee hatattamaan waamame. Yaa’iin seena-qabeessichi kun wiirtuu Finfinnee Shaggar, bakka durattumaa yaa’iin Gullallee itti-tahutti ture. Bakki kun Tulluu Daalattii kan jedhamu iddoo amma silaa Mallas Zeenaa sokkee, amma Hayila-Maaram Dassaalany taa’ee, ajajaa fi abboommii warra Wayyaanee fixaan-baasu kana, isa afaan warra abbaa qawweetiin “Taallaaquu Beetamangist” jedhamu.**
Yaa’iin Gullallee guyyaa guutuu wal-mariyaachaa oolee, booda sagalee tokkoon waraana Minilik dura dhaabachuuf murtii dabarse. Yaa’ii sana irratti yaada lamatu wal nama falmisiisaa ture. Inni tokko: “Sidaamni nuti dur eeboo fi wantaan (gaachanaan) ofirraa ittisaa turre, amma miya waraanaa Biyyoota Faranjii irraa argateen nutti dhufaatoo jira. Nuti garuu miya waraanaa kan akka eeboo fi wantaa faa malee, homaayyuu harkaa hin qabnu. Kanaaf, odoo hin lolin harka-kennannee wanna tokko tokkorratti waliigalu dandeenya. Waraanni Oromoota biraa kan nurra jajjaboo Abbichuu fi Galaan faayyuu moyamanii jiru.” Yaanni inni lammafaan garuu, “waanuma qabnuun dura gorra malee, diinatti harka hin keennannu. Oromoon diinatti harka keennatee hin beekuu, nuti kana gochuun maqaa Gullallee, maqaa Tuulamaa dabrees maqaa Oromoo hin balleessinu!”, kan jedhamu ture. Booda guyyaa guutuu wal-mariyachuu fi wal-amansiisuun sagalee tokkoon dura dhaabachuuf murtiin dabarfame.
Murtii yaa’ii seena-qabeessicha kanaa keessaa gariin Ernisto Cerulli: “The Folk-Literature of the Galla of Southern Abyssinia, Cambridge, 1922“, keessatti barreeffamee jira. Inni kanaa gaditti isiniif dhiyeeffamu garuu, kanan Oromoota Gullallee fi Oromoota ollaalee isaanii: Aabbuu, Eekkaa fi dabrees Oromoota erga Oromiyaan qabamtee asii dubbii, gibraa fi “waltaraa“-f Shaggaritti marmaaraa turan, kanneen gosaan Jahan Bachoo fi Afran Walisoo tahan irraan dhagayee walitti qabeeyyu. Namoonni kun Shaggar gayuuf, keessumaa ganna-ganna guyyaalee lamaa fi sadii faa isaan irraa fudhata ture. Otoo wiirtuu Shaggar hin dhaqqabin gandeen warra Gullallee keessa waan dabraniif yookaan bulaniif, gariin isaan wajjin firummaa hundeeffatu ture. Egaa, kanaaf namoonni Bachoo fi Walisoo kanneen akkanaa kun, seenaa Oromoota Gullallee akka gaariitti beeku. Naannoo kana: biyya Jahan Bachootti, Sadeen Sooddotti, Afran Walisootti, Jahan Ammayyaatti, Torban Kuttaayeetti, Sadeen Aabbuutti, Afran Abbichuutti, Jahan Galaanitti, maarree Tuulama guutuu fi Macca Bahaatti harrallee namni sirba geerrarsaa fi dhiichisaa keessatti maqaa jagnicha Oromoo Gullallee, maqaa Tufaa Munaa kaasuun sirba. Oromoota Gullallee gabroomfatoonni Habashaa isaan duris, isaan hardhas dachee isaanii irraa buqqisanillee maqaan isaanii buqqifamee hin bannee kunoo ni jira.
Egaa, isa kanaa gadii kana waanan kanaan dura, kitaabee “MANDIISUU” jedhamtu irratti baaseefan isuma keessaa waa isiniif tuqa. Ilaamee akkana jedha, murtiin yaa’ii Oromoota Gullallee bara sanaa (1875) inni walaloo-dhaan dabarfameeyyu***:
Koottu,
Dhufe, Akka ati dhufte,
Nagaan biyyattaa dhufu,
Toltuun warrattaa dhufu,
Kormi gorbattaa dhufu,
Midhaan qeyeettaa dhufu!
Dhufe, Akka ati dhufte,
Nagaan biyyattaa dhufu,
Toltuun warrattaa dhufu,
Kormi gorbattaa dhufu,
Midhaan qeyeettaa dhufu!
Tume seera,
Muree seera,
Seerri seera Gullalleeti,
Seerri seera Tuulamaati,
Seerri seera abbootii Oromooti,
Hin darbatamu,
Hin dagatamu!
Muree seera,
Seerri seera Gullalleeti,
Seerri seera Tuulamaati,
Seerri seera abbootii Oromooti,
Hin darbatamu,
Hin dagatamu!
Luugama fardarraan baasin,
Meendhacha harkarraan baasin,
Kan dhufaa jiru diinaa,
Diinatti harkan kennatin!
Meendhacha harkarraan baasin,
Kan dhufaa jiru diinaa,
Diinatti harkan kennatin!
Dhakaa kattaa tayii,
Dura jaajji,
Wantaa baldhaa tayi,
Dura jaajji!
Dura jaajji,
Wantaa baldhaa tayi,
Dura jaajji!
Tume seera,
Mure seera,
Hin darbatamu,
Hin dagatamu!
Mure seera,
Hin darbatamu,
Hin dagatamu!
Kurnan Gullallee murtee kana dabarsee, kutannoo daran jabaadhaan waraana Habashaa isa ibidda tufaa, margaa-muka, sa’aa-nama barbadeessaa deemu sana dura dhaabate. Booda dubbiin dubbii meeshaa waraanaa isa kan ammayyaatii, akkuma uummanni keenya jedhu sana “qawwee ibiddaatiin” gubatee moyamuu dandaye. Kutaan kun akka nutti hin dheeranneef, asuma irratti dhaabuun bullaa, mee nagaa fi nageenyaan naa bubbulaa!
============ Hubachiisota Miiljalee ============
* Barroolee Faranjoota kana lamaanii dubbisuun hedduu barbaachisaa dha. Fakkeenyaaf, Krapf Afaan Oromoo qubeedhuma (fidaluma) Saabiyaa (warra Gi’iizii) sanan barreessuu jalqabeet ture. Garuu, lubeewwan (qeesonni) Amaaraa daran isa rakkisani. Akka lammata gara Manjeetti hin deebinellee kan mooticha isaaniitti himuun dhoowwisiise abbootii bataskaanaa kana. Inni Biyya Oromoo isa karaa kanaan jiru, Oromiyaa seenuu dhoorkamnaan gara Biyya Oromoo isa Keeniyaa keessaatti qajeeluun, qorannoo isaa itti-fufe. Hubaddhaa, jarri kun oggaa sana, bara 1838 faa irraa qabaniiti kan farra Afaan Oromoo fi farra Oromoo tahaa deemani. Major Harris yommuu Amaartonni Habashaa Oromoota Tuulamaa irratti gara-bineensummaa isaanii agarsiisan sirriitti ijaan argee kitaabe. Dabaleesoo, barreeffata obboleessi keenya Barachiis (Pirofeesar) Makuraa Bulchaa nuuf dhiyeesse mee ilaalaa! a) J. L. Krapf: “Travels, Researches, and Missionary Labours, 1858″, b) Major Harris: “The Highlands of Aethiopia, 1844″, c) Mekuria Bulcha: “A DECADE AFTER THE ABORTED OROMO EVICTION FROM FINFINNEE - A Persistent Story of Expropriation, Humiliation and Displacement“, Gadaa.com, isa gaafa 10. 01. 13. 4) Tamene Bitima/ Jürgen Steuber: “Die ungelöste nationale Frage in Äthiopien - Studie zu den Befreiungsbewegungen der Oromo und Eritreas“, 1983.
** Tulluun seena-qabeessichi kun waan mukkeen isarra turan keessaa, kan akka heexoo faa bona-bona baalli fi midhaan baala sana irra jiru faa daalachaawanii muldhataniif, “Tulluu Daalattii“, jedhame. Akkanuma bakki loon Gullallee hammi tokko oolaniiyyu, urufni keessa oolan sun dhooqee loonitiin (faltiidhaan) dhoqqaayeef, iddoon sun: “Urufa Boombii” jedhama ture. Achi boombiin silaa akkuma nuti damma jaalannu dhooqqee loonii jaalattii, urufa sana keessa uursaa oolittiyyu. Warri abbaa geeddaraa isa kanas geeddaruun, “Jaan Meedaa” jedhaniini. Maqaa baasudhaan eenyutu Oromoo keenyaan morka-ree? Mee warri Shaggar shaggaa biyyaa kana beektan takkaa boombii, “Jaan Meedaa” isaanii kana keessatti agartanii beektuu? Jarri kun akkuma namoota keenya fixan sana: boombii keenyas, leenca keenyas, gafarsa keenyas, arba keenyas, mukkeen keenya faas lafarraa duguugani.
*** Taammanaa Bitimaa: “SEENAA OROMOOTA FINFINNEE SHAGGAR“, MANDIISUU, Hidhaa 6, Lakk. 1, Bitootessa 2004, fuulee 10-29.
Tamene Bitima: “ON SOME OROMO HISTORICAL POEMS” – in, PAIDEUMA 29, 1983, pp. 317-325.
Tamene Bitima: “ON SOME OROMO HISTORICAL POEMS” – in, PAIDEUMA 29, 1983, pp. 317-325.
———————–
*- Taammanaa Bitimaa: gurree@web.de
=>gadaa
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