March 22, 2020
The HRLHA has organized a half-day Public Consultation on February 29, 2020 at Finfinne on the current human rights situation in Ethiopia- with a particular emphasis on Oromia. The Consultation was mainly aimed at generating firsthand insights and reflections from various stakeholders on the human rights situation in Oromia region since Dr. Abiy became PM on April 2, 2018. Human rights defenders, activists, students, elders, lawyers, religious leaders, representatives of political organizations, civic association leaders, victims and families of victims of human rights violations, and others took part in the Consultation.
No doubt, in the last two years, Ethiopia has undergone tremendous justice, legal and institutional reforms in response to popular uprising conducted for years. The Ethiopian people from all corners made significant contributions in persuading the ruling party, EPRDF, came up with a reformist team led by Mr Lemma Megersa and PM Dr. Abiy Ahmed, from within itself. Especially, years of struggle made and bitter sacrifice paid by the Oromo people, spearheaded by Qeerroo Bilisummaa Oromo [QEEROO], occupies a lion’s share to bring about the ongoing political transition in the country.
Nevertheless, it is very embarrassing that the very change agents, QEERROOS, are becoming victims of the brutalities of government forces even than ever before. Shockingly, the human rights violations being committed all over Oromia are completely in contrary to the promising reforms witnessed in the country in those early days soon PM Abiy took power. It is of the HRLHA’s belief that the current human rights situation of the country is hostile and would be a dangerous threat to the much-expected reform. The HRLHA has time and again expressed its concern and forwarded recommendations to federal and regional government bodies regarding the atrocities being committed especially in Western and Southern Oromia region under the ‘Unofficial State of Emergency’ or literally called “Command Post” administering these areas for over the past one year without approval of the Parliament.
It was against this backdrop that HRLHA found necessary to hold Public Consultation. Almost all participants of the Consultation expressed their concern on the deteriorating human rights situation in Oromia region. Political parties have expressed their concern that their members and supporters have been facing arbitrary arrest, forced disappearance, killings and other harassments by government security forces all over Oromia especially in the Western and Southern Zones. The party representatives also alleged that the federal and regional government security forces have recently launched a hidden military operation in Western and Northern Shewa Zones in which innocent civilians and residents were made victims of various human rights violations. As a result, the security men have destroyed dozens of houses and properties of residents by fire in these two Zones. For instance, it has been mentioned that about 20 houses of residents were destroyed in Gindabarat (Kachisi); Metta Robi and Kuyu districts of the above mentioned two Zones alone between February 21, 2020 and March 04, 2020.
Elder participants of the Consultation has strongly advised civic associations including HRLHA to urge the government (also play their part) peacefully resolve armed conflicts going on in Western and Southern Zones of Oromia as well as elsewhere in the region. They called upon neutral third party intervention to ensure genuine negotiation between the government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a rebel group allegedly operating in the wider parts of Western and Southern Oromia.
Among 200 students who have been dismissed from different universities, some took part in the Consultation expressed the threatening situation they are facing and appealed to the audience stand by their side. They also mentioned that the dismissal measure sadly made students from western Oromia a primary target. The students further contend that their dismissal was dishonest and unlawful since the university did not produce any accusation supported by credible evidence than mere allegations. They were denied to be heard and defend themselves against the accusations. Nor they were given an opportunity to appeal on the dismissal measure. The truth behind their dismissal measure, the students argued, was merely for expressing their grievance peacefully against killings of Oromo students in the universities found in Amhara region and for protesting against telephone and internet blackouts in Western Oromia. Oromo lecturers of some universities were also targeted by the dismissal measures.
For example, one person who became victim of such measure has attended the consultation. He has been a lecturer at Wollo University and he is one of the victims from among Oromo academics totally dismissed from their teaching career in the same way Abeya Degefe, Assistant Professor in Developmental Psychology has dismissed from his position as a vice-president of Dire Dawa University
The Consultation also addressed the issue of internet and telephone service shutdowns in the Western Oromia and its indisputable socio-economic impact affecting the lives of millions of residents of the area. The participants have criticized such action of the government for it is contrary to the right to access to information, and freedom of thought, opinion and expression as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution of Ethiopia and other international human rights treaties ratified by the country.
Overall, the Consultation came into end with a unanimous resolution among the participants to keep on fighting for the betterment of human rights in Ethiopia and beyond, and to stand by HRLHA’s side in this regard. To this end, participants have reached upon a consensus that HRLHA has to take a lead to write an Urgent Appeal directly to the PM Dr. Abiy addressing the threatening human rights situation in Oromia.
The participants of the public consult has passed the following resolution urging the PM Abiy’s administration as follows:-
- Give explanation about the deteriorating security and human rights situation in Oromia Regional State in general and Western and Southern zones in particular.
- Establish an Independent Inquiry Commission that would investigate and bring to public attention human rights atrocities committed in the areas administered under “Command Post”.
- Restore telephone and internet services in Western Oromia especially for the sake safeguarding the safety of millions of residents against the epidemic COVID-19 virus to which Ethiopia is already exposed. It would be no less than a Crime against Humanity; if the government insists on communication blackouts and the virus infect the areas consequently.
- Stop brutalities, crackdowns and vicious actions of the Oromia Police against the members and supporters of political oppositions.
- Acknowledge soon the whereabouts of hundreds of QEERROOS and QARREES abducted by government security forces and missing for several months.
- Pave a room for a genuine and sustainable dialogue with the oppositions towards ensuring lasting peace and stability within the region as well as the country at large.
- Release soon hundreds of supporters, members and officials of opposition political parties arbitrarily arrested and languishing in different official and unofficial detention centers.
- Ban the unofficial Military Rule in the Western and Southern Zones of Oromia and resort to peaceful negotiation with the armed group, namely the OLA, operating in those areas.
- Order the management of universities reconsider and reverse the dismissal of hundreds of Oromo students who are currently facing the grave socio-economic situation.
