HRLHA Statement
Jan 11, 2019
The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa is seriously concerned about the current mass arrests and killings in Oromia regional state in Ethiopia in connection with the recent unexpected differences that have appeared between the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO). The two sides are accusing each other of not obeying the implementation of the agreement reached in early July 2018 in Asmara (Eritrea) to work together to enhance the transition to a democratic system.
Both sides have made an agreement to work together to further the political change brought by the Oromo’s peaceful struggle beginning in 2014 and running until 2018 in which thousands of Oromos, especially young Oromos, have been killed, imprisoned and injured by the TPLF/EPRDF government security members.
However, after months of working on the process of the agreement’s implementation, nothing has mended the differences between both Organizations. The OLF & ODP continue accusing each other of failing to comply with the bilateral agreements they reached in Asmara/Eritrea regarding the process of merging the OLF fighters operating in all Oromia zones into the Oromia police and military.
As the result of failing in the implementation of the agreement, military clashes have been reported in Western and Eastern Wallagga, Southern Borana and Gujii, Eastern Hararge and South Eastern Bale in which several Oromos have been killed and others imprisoned by the federal forces and many others have been wounded and taken to hospitals for treatment.
The HRLHA confirmed that the situation in western and eastern Wallagga (Nekemt, Gimbi, DanbiDollo, Begi, Shambu, Harato, and Fincha) towns are under tension, since Federal Government military personnel using military vehicles entered into those areas from different directions in the middle of December 2018 .
The recent reports the HRLHA received from its informants in Gimbi, Nekemt, Shambu, and Harato towns show there are gross human rights violations committed by the Federal Military in different districts in Western Wallagga including Begi, Lalo Nura, Dalasi, Kamisa, and Eastern Wallagga (Shambu, Ficha, Harato) towns and others in which dozens have been detained and other hundreds have been killed.
For example, on Jan. 09, 2019 among hundreds of Oromos detained are Abba Gada Getachew Tefera in Begi and the previous prisoner of conscience, Chaltu Takele Abetu, Sanyii Takele Abetu, Merga Wirtu (Teacher), and Desta Leta (Businessman), in Shambu town have been arrested by the Federal militaryAmong several Oromos killed by the federal military in Western Wallagga districts some are the following
1. Ayub Abdissa Ayanna, West Wallagga, Begi 18 Student, killed
2. Yenus Mohamad Gete West Wallagga, Begi,35 Preacher (Muslim), Injured
3. Abdissa Teressa Dicha, West Wallagga, Begi,40 Peasant, killed
4. Fekadu Kebede Tola, West Wallagga, Lalo Nura, Peasant, injured
5. Mohamed Fayisa, West Wallagga, Lalo Nura,Peasant, Injured
6. Amadu Mohammaed Fayisa,West Wallagga, Lalo Nura,Peasant, Injured
7. Alamin Mohamed fayisa,West Wallaga, Lalo Nura, Peasant, Injured
8. Abdulkarim Galata Gete,West Wallagga, Dalasi, Peasant, illed
9. Zakir Nuredin Haji,West Wallagga, Kamisa,20, Student,killed
10. Ramadan Musa Itana, West Wallagga, Kibi, 18,Student,killed
11. Faris Jamal Jalata, West Wallagga, Tobi Dalle,20, tudent,Killed
Abbaa gadaa Getachew Tefera Chaltuu Takelle Abetu
12. Sh/Jamal Tufa, West Wallagga, Tobi Macho, M, 35, Peasant, Killed
13. Tsion Moti, West Wallagga, Gaba Kamisi,M, 40, Peasant, Killed
14. Alamin Mohamed Imana, West Wallagga, Haro Kobe, M, 40, Peasant, Killed
15. Jamal Mohamed, West Wallaga, Jimma Horo,M, Businessman, Killed
16. Caali Ganjosaa, West Wallagga, M, OLF member, Killed
17. Roobsan Gannati, West Wallagga, Gawo Qebe, M, OLF member, Killed
18. Tabsisa Diriba, West Wallaga, Gawo Qebe, M, OLF member, killed
19. Abdi Ayyana, West Wallagga, Gawo Qebe, M, OLF member, killed
20. Mosisa Temesgen, West Wallagga, Gawo Qebe, M, 18, Student, Killed,
21. Misgana Temesgen, West Wallagga, Gawo Qebe, M, Driver, Killed
22. Iyasu Gashura, West Wallagga, Dalle Wabera, M, Driver, Killed
23. Indalu Tefera, West Wallagga, Yamalagi Walal, M, Government Employee, Killed
24. Lata Waqgari, West Wallagga, Yamalagi, Walal, M, Government Employee, Killed
The Federal Government military also committed murders in Gujjii, and Bale zones of Southern Oromia in which at least 13 Oromos were killed in Gujii zone in one day.
The invasion by the Somali Liyyu Police continues unabated in Eastern Oromia , Chinaksen border and South Moyale , Oromia in which many Oromos have been killed. The people of these areas suspect that the federal military is cooperating with Liyyu police to open fire against the Oromos since the Federal Military didn’t tried to stop the invasion.
Background: It has been over four years since the longstanding grievances of the Oromo people exploded in 2014 as people sought to end the suffering of the Oromo people. To end this suffering, the Oromo people staged protests in all corners of the regional state of Oromia, resisting the heavily armed crackdowns from theTPLF/ EPRDF military. These Oromo protests, led by Oromo young generation under the name “National Youth Movement for Freedom and Democracy (Qeerroo)”, inspired the whole world including human rights organizations, governmental agencies, and all peace- loving people. The EPRDF government forces mercilessly killed thousands of unarmed protestors, most of whom were children and women. Oromos continued their peaceful protests while the killings, imprisoning and forceful disappearing by the EPRDF killing squad “Agazi Force” continued unabated. The outcry of the International human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International (AI), the Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) and others exposed the inhuman actions which were taken by the dictatorial TPLF/EPRDF government killing squad against the Oromo nation in Oromia. Later the peaceful protests slowly spread to the other regional states such as Amhara, and the Southern people Regional States which incapacitated the TPLF/EPRDF military as they attempted to stop the unrest which almost covered the whole country in 2016. Finally, the government led by TPLF/EPRDF has been changed to OPDO/EPRDF in 2018 with high sacrifices from Oromo youth for freedom and Democracy “Qeerroo”.
The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) urges the Ethiopian Prime Minster and commander in chief, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, to use his legitimate power stated in the 1995 Ethiopian constitution Article 74 (1) ” The Prime Minister is the Chief Executive, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, and the Commander-in-Chief of the national armed forces” and abide by Article 74 (3), He shall follow up and ensure the implementation of laws, policies, directives and other decisions adopted by the House of Peoples’ Representatives” and international human rights standards Ethiopia signed and ratified to protect civilians from gross human rights. The HRLHA also urges the PM of Ethiopia: Respect your promises which you made public during your past public speeches “no one will be arrested because of his political believes” and release detainees unconditionally Make sure the peace accord reached between the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), and the then Oromo People Democratic Front (OPDO) in Asmara/Eritrea has been implemented Abort this unlawful State of Emergency imposed on Western Oromia
Release, unconditionally, all prisoners of conscience, those recently detained in Oromia different towns including those kept in confinement over the past 28 years
Keep the inauguration promises in which the PM Abiy Ahmed said that no person shall be arrested because of his/her political affiliation or opinion in Ethiopia Bring to justice National Military members who have committed mass murders in Begi, Lalo Nura, Dalasi, Kamisa and others
Allow neutral investigators to probe into the conflict areas in the country as the precursor to international community intervention The HRLHA also calls upon the international communities, major donor governments, including the USA, UK, Canada, Sweden, Norway and Australia to put pressure on the government of Ethiopia to respect the principle of Responsibility to Protect (R2P), and shoulder its primary responsibility to prevent and protect its own citizens against horrific acts.
Copied To:
UN Security Council
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