Qube Afaan oromo (oromo language) and Ethiopian government discouragement.

Gezahegn Lemma Fituma | February 27, 2015

Gezahegn Lemma

There have been times in history where language was culturally superior, and some languages were banned or discouraged or unfortunate (unfavourable) against. This is happening everywhere today as well, take Ethiopia as example ,The Oromo people constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, where the Oromia region contains a third of Ethiopia’s land area and population. The Oromo language, also known as QubeAfaan Oromo, is spoken by about 30 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Egypt and is the 3rd largest language in Africa.  Meaning native Oromo speakers is about 30 million in Ethiopia. About 500,000 more live in Kenya and Somalia. Many others (as yet unquantified) speak it as a second language. It is the most spoken language in the Cushitic family, which also includes Somali, Sidamo, and Afar. Cushitic peoples were present on the central Ethiopian plateau as early as 5000 B.C .in Ethiopia qube afaan oromo(oromo language)  can be found all over Ethiopia and particularly in Wollega, Shoa, Illubabour, Jimma, Arsi, Bale, Hararghe, Wollo, Borana, and the southwestern part of Gojjam.

But the TPLF advocated the language that isn’t linguistically superior to the other languages. Between 1974 and 1991 under the Mengistu regime (derg) the writing of Oromo in any script was forbidden.This day under TPLF oromo language (Qube Afaan Oromo) is discouraged or unfortunate. For example Finfie which is a capital of Oromia practice governmet advocated language as official language.

This have passed a direct impact on sociolinguistic, psycholinguistic, therapeutic and chain reaction factor

Oromo students attend their education in others (government advocated), which is second language to Oromo students. It is strongly argued that using the native languages of students as a medium of instruction is a decisive factor for effective learning However, this situation, failure to give a role to native languages and largely depending on second/foreign language instruction, brought various difficulties to students. The students are expected to entangle not only with learning the subject matters but also the language itself. It also creates difficulty to students in expressing themselves and as a result it limits their classroom participation as there is fear of making mistakes and shortage of vocabulary. In addition, it is a barrier to smooth classroom communication. It is also argued that use of a second/foreign language in education negatively affects the ability and the ease with which knowledge is acquired by students. It also affects the performance of students and creates difficulties in developing their cognitive skills. Moreover, giving low status to native languages of students in educational setting leads to marginalization of majority of all the citizens from active engagement in the development arena. Oromos educated in Ethiopian schools forced to know at least two other languages. “They can read and write the other two or more languages except, for the most part, their own first language“. (Tilahun Gamta (2000))

The other problem is limits the socio interaction between students. This day there Oromo’s who do speak their mother tongue specially those Oromo born in Finfinne, shewa, gojam, kemise (welo).etc.… this people not only facing what I mentioned in the above, also losing their trust from other Oromo  brothers and sisters whether they are Oromo’s or not because of their language they happened to be a speaker of different language .this situation seen due this day .

However, some people might consider this situation in different way especially once you understand the factor of government on language advocating in favour of his own advantage which unfortunate the other language.

Turning the Table on Abaye Tsehaye and the TPLF Gangsters: The Oromo Master Plan for National Survival

By Akaaku Qerro | February 27, 2015

At stake in that God- forsaken land known as Ethiopia today is the survival of Oromos as a national entity. The clique at the helm of the Tigrean People’s Liberation Front, TPLF, has declared an all-out war on Oromos and is hell bent to commit physical as well cultural genocide against us. The so-called Addis Ababa Master Plan—better designated as the Master Plan for Oromo Genocide— is the grand TPLF scheme intended to evict Oromo farmers, seize Oromo land, loot Oromo resources, all with ultimate goal of establishing a permanent Tigrean domination and hegemony in rural Oromia.

This thinly-veiled attempt at neo-colonization and carried out in the 21 st century no less has been characterized as an act springing out of naivety and ignorance by some. But there is no doubt it is an act arrogance of arrogance bordering on insanity.

Naive and ignorant because, having been numbed and blinded by the amount of loot and comfort they have come to wallow in during the last quarter century of their reign, Abaye Tsehaye and his TPLF cohorts have become oblivious of the existence of other peoples around them. The TPLF fat cats are apparently incapable of rational thought and are unable to see, or do not care less, about the long term consequences of the crimes they are committing against the Oromo people on a daily basis. And insane and arrogant because, having most entirely relied on coercive power to keep the “peace” and to perpetuate their tyranny over the millions in the country, those TPLF gangsters have lulled themselves into believing their own hype that there is no force in the universe that can move, let alone remove them. In their own small minds they are good to extend their tyranny ad infinitum.

Hence Abaye Tesahaye’s stupid bravado and superciliousness in declaring that TPLF would proceed with their Master Plan for Oromo Genocide come what may and the accompanying threat directed at Oromos that they would be dealt with harshly if they dare stand in TPLF’s way. This is most outrageous but not surprising coming from one of the leaders of the Ethiopian a fascist state.

The Oromo answer must be unequivocal and clear: the table will be turned and the TPLF strategy to literally eliminate us from the face of our land will only add fuel to the fire of the Oromo war for liberation. While Abaye Tsehaye’s contemptuous utterances to push ahead with their Master Plan will represent a watershed in the Oromo struggle in so far as it galvanizes the Oromo nation, the same blunder will come back to haunt the TPLF and will forever be a source of regret.

That Oromos have the legal as well as the moral right to wage a war of resistance against TPLF aggression is beyond dispute. It’s a fact  that no one can deny, not even the Western countries who have chosen friendship and cooperation with a government led by the TPLF gangsters over the observance of human rights, the rule of law and the fundamental principle of self-determination for a people facing the danger of mass extermination.

The Western countries have been looking the other way when tens of thousands of Oromos are languishing in Ethiopian jails, hundreds of school children, as young as nine years old, were massacred by the TPLF soldiers for the crime of demonstrating peacefully in protest of government policy and millions of Oromo farmers are being evicted of their lands. All this crime is being committed against Oromos just because they are Oromos , a people constituting the single largest majority in Ethiopia and occupying a good chunk of it.  It’s a sad footnote in the history of the Oromo struggle that Western countries are continuing to bankroll the TPLF junta in Ethiopia despite the fact they are fully aware that hundreds of Oromos have already perished as a result of eviction and displacement caused by the government’s land grabbing and urban expansion. Partly duped by the cunning posture of the Ethiopian governments posing as the champion of the fight against terrorism and undoubtedly driven by short sighted self interest, Western governments are overlooking the fact that the very policies of the Ethiopian government that they are bankrolling—repression, political murders, looting, detention without due process …etc is fast turning Ethiopia into failed state and a breeding ground for terrorism. Another Somalia is right round the corner. And the story of the so-called opposition operating legally in Ethiopia makes for no better reading. For in all their protestations and noise they are making against the TPLF junta, the Habasha have elected to be mute when it comes to the plight of Oromos. It’s almost  as though the mere mention of the name “Oromo” was going to cause the instant break-up of what is left of the rump state.

The old political elites, who go to make up the leadership of those parties, find themselves on the Ethiopian political scene in a new democratic garb. But without exception, Andinet, ENTC, Semayawi… and son on have similarly turned a blind eye to the plight of the Oromo and some are in fact mocking us as the perennial victims. They seem to be content with their wait and see disposition ready to jump in to fill any power vacuum that may follow the demise of the TPLF. They cannot stand either antagonist but seem to harbour a lot more fear of Oromos in strategic terms than the Tigreans. They continue to go on whining about TPLF’s sinister design to destroy Ethiopia’s unity, and that merely because the Oromo language has become a working medium, by and large, in Oromo regions. But not only are they incapable or unwilling of putting forward a viable alternative to the Oromo question, the very issue on which the survival of the Ethiopian polity is predicated. The old elites are blissfully unaware or are in pathological denial that the future of their ”beloved motherland” will be determined only by the young militant Oromo generation whether they or the TPLF likes it or not. Henceforth, the settlement of the Oromo issue will be determined by Oromos regardless of the manner of its disposition. Whether Ethiopia will break up into multiple states, or it will evolve into a genuine multi-national federation, or it will develop into a unitary democracy with Oromos as the political pivot; the accomplishment of anyone of these options or others will require, unlike in the past, Oromos playing a central role as warranted by the dynamics of geopolitics and demography.

We see even Oromos, idly theorizing and quibbling on forums like this one what the goal of the Oromo revolution must be. Some, like Fayyis Oromia, have tried to delve  into formulating various theoretical models that a future Oromo state could assume. While the likes of Fayyis Oromia are commendable for their fertile imagination, hair splitting debate on the shape of a future Oromo nation could be counter-productive. We have enough contentious and more urgent issues on which to focus at this moment in our struggle. The mission and of the Oromo revolution should be to enable the masses of our people to decide their destiny. It will be their sovereign right thenceforth to choose whether they want to establish their own state or live in a mutually agreed federation with the peoples within and around them. It was the failure to recognize this simple fact, albeit a cardinal principle, that has led to internecine war between compatriots resulting in costly loss of life and putting the struggle years back. In recent years, there is no doubt the rapid rise of a revolutionary Oromo generation, the Qerro, has sent terror down the spine of the members of the TPLF kleptocracy in Ethiopia. With Qerro fuelling the Oromo struggle, the TPLF junta knows full well that the Oromo revolution is attaining a new and dynamic dimension. They know the days of TPLF terror unleashed on Oromos are numbered. And they know that they got to stop this inexorable force if they have to continue their looting, killing and political repression in Oromia. But alas what the TPLF do not know, or chose to ignore to their own ultimate detriment, is that they cannot stop the march of history, not even the might of TPLF can.

Since they cannot stop the march of history, the TPLF thought it best to resort to attacking Oromos through delegitimizing their cause and thereby their quest for freedom and self-determination. And the TPLF reckon the way to attain their criminal goal is by evicting Oromos from their ancestral land.

Oromos are now pinned against the wall and the only way is out and up. They are left with no choice but to strengthen their resistance against TPLF’s expansionist policy and onslaught and ascertain their existence as a community. Or do nothing and gradually perish from the face of Ethiopia. That is the stark choice staring us in the eye today.

Hence, Oromos are rising up ever stronger and more determined to kill in the bud the TPLF Master Plan intended for their genocide. This Master Plan will never be allowed to succeed. It can only succeed over our dead bodies, all 40 million of us.

It should be clear to all Oromos that this war of resistance is going to require a greater level of sacrifice from us all, at home and abroad. While waging an all-encompassing resistance to oust the TPLF out of our lands, at this stage we are primarily looking to ourselves in terms of support. We can be sure of the Habasha parties falling over each other making a belated rally of support at the eleventh hour, when the Oromo struggle becomes a fait accompli. Victors are not short of friends and Oromos have always been brothers after all, the TPLF taking the blame for having planted discord and conflict among the two peoples. As for the West, the excuse will be convenient ignorance of the gravity of the crimes committed by the TPLF against Oromos in broad daylight, apologies being not atypical.  But for now Oromos will have to slog it all alone toward freedom and nationhood. They need to rely on themselves to consummate the struggle, and they possess ample resources to do so.

Above all, the Oromo resistance demands a greater level of commitment and performance from its leaders, without naming any organization in particular. The objective situation—to borrow a phrase from a bygone revolutionary era—calls for the leaders to lead by example. They need to shift their operational base from the capitals of America and Western Europe to Oromia where our youth are being murdered and jailed by TPLF every single day. No war of liberation that I know of has consummated successfully directed from abroad. Oromos won’t be an exception. The Tigreans mock our leaders as managing the Oromo revolution by remote control and sadly there is a lot of truth in that.

To reiterate, at this moment in history, geopolitics is not in our favour but this is no sudden revelation; we have known it for as long as we have been conscious. And unfortunately there are no signs that the status quo is changing anytime soon. Oromos are surrounded by peoples and nations with axes to grind (casting covetous eyes on our lands) and we cannot expect them to do us any favours. So Oromia remains to be the rear as well as the center for our leaders, not Oslo, not Asmara, not Washington DC, not London.

Ambo comes with immense physical danger but that is where a glorious chapter of the Oromo revolution is being written. So are Borana, Naqamte, Bale, Jimma, Arsi and so on. When the chips are down, we know that Oromos can count on their leaders and one can’t think of a time more critical in the Oromo struggle when the leaders need to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Oromo people and lead them to victory.

ABBAY TSEHAYE: 21st CENTURY NAZI TPLF’S CHIEF OF GENOCIDE AND A DIABOLIC MAN

Bulbulaa Tufaa | February 26, 2015

Finfinnee Master Plan is in reality designed to mass exterminate Oromo farmers and partition Oromia Region into two segments.

In the first half of the 20^th century on the continent of Europe, Fascism in Italy and Nazism (national Sozialismus) in Germany had erupted and claimed to lead socialist governments. The leaders of Nazism and Fascism pretended to dictate themselves to their peoples’ national interest, national cause, national wellbeing, national purpose and all in all to   their peoples national goal.

In the first half of the 21^st century, Ethiopian Nazi-Fascism under the leadership of TPLF-Tigray of Ethiopia emerged and gripped on power, by overthrowing the “Itiyophiya tikidem” regime of Col. Mengistu Hailemariam, The Nazi TPLF leadership, which is now and then, supported by the USA and UK, in particular, pledged to establish a democratic government whereby those ethnically so diverse peoples in the Empire would be governed on the basis of federal arrangement. Accordingly, sham regional governments were established following the communist era of the Soviet style. Based on the Soviet model, a Tigre man is routinely posted in every regional office and controls the activities of regions and local administrations. Without the final approval of the assigned Tigre man, the surrogate OPDO officials cannot issue even a single letter of their own independent mind nor can they take their independent decision to be implemented.

On the other face, Fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany had attempted to draw the whole population of their respective nations, using socialism as a cheating mechanism. TPLF-Tigray of Ethiopia has also deceived the peoples in the Empire by taking and preaching two important words from government’s theory of principle: democracy and federalism. Even Habasha’s traditional politico-military advisers and economic supporters of the West, notably UK and USA, did not get the initial promise of TPLF in the fields of the Empire except in ammunition depot.

The establishment of democratically organized governance on the graveyard of the fled away ‘tikidem’ regime of Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam has been nullified and voided. Notwithstanding, the USA and UK in particular, continue to support Nazi TPLF-Tigray regime of Ethiopia to protect their substantive politico-military interest.  The regime in Addis Ababa, being commander in-Chief of “anti-terrorism” in  the Horn of Africa and a “peace keeping” force on the continent, has been zealously serving to implement USA and its satellites’ “Favourable New  World  Order” strategy  in the Red Sea region.

Nazi TPLF’s Abrogation of   Its Constitution

On a piece of paper, Nazi-TPLF regime pledged to respect any decision made by regional states pertaining to their internal affair and local administration.  This has been beautifully adorned by the constitution it threw to the people. In article 39 of its constitution, for example, TPLF has clearly stated how each regional state has full right to secession and be able to form an independent country of its own. Opposite to this,  however,  TPLF-Tigreanism of Ethiopia, both in essence and in action, is  proved  to be  a political system of  Fascism  and Nazism  where  the rule of law  becomes  the only  rule  of terror, the  elimination and suppression of democratically organised groups, where outstanding leaders are either brutally suppressed,  incarcerated, exiled or killed.

Just like Fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany had done, Nazi TPLF- Tigray leadership of Ethiopia marshals the total resources of the country behind its Nazi-fascist government. It controls every resources of the Empire from the centre to the periphery and channels everything to the development of its homeland, ‘Independent Tigray’.  Thus, by Conclusion, Nazi-Fascism is proved to be the only system of government TPLF-Tigray of Ethiopia has to solely rely on. Otherwise, its existence in Finfinnee will be severely jeopardised and may go beyond Finfinnee to cripple the survival right of ‘Independent Tigray’.

Nazi knows No Concession or Compromise

The question of compromise or concession on common goal for common advantage is totally out of Habasha’s traditional political culture. Their authoritarian political culture is grounded on the deadly principle of no concession and no compromise. They hold annihilation and elimination as the only viable way of life. For Fascism and Nazism, too, the feasible form of international organisation or national association is neither by compromise nor by concession but only by victory, annihilation and elimination.

Nazi’s Racial Theory and Practice

Nazi’s racial theory and its parallel supporting theory was Aryan-Germanism.  By the same token, TPLF Tigray’s racial theory and its practical implementation are Tigreanism, at supra-ideological level and Ethiopianism at advantage level.

Hitler’s theory of Lebensraum which denotes the creation of enough space for the growing German population constitutes one of the kernel parts of    his   “national Sozialismus”, a propaganda tool he effectively used to rally people behind him. The question of Lebensraum was repeatedly hammered on as a necessity to be conquered and achieved.

How the Nazi intended to achieve Lebensraum out of Germany’s Territory?

The ideology of Aryan-Germanism, as a rational superior ideology was adopted and attempted to be implemented. Using this erroneous ideology, Hitler had murdered and butchered those peoples he considered were culture destroyers and inferiors.

TPLF Nazi leaders’ creation of Lebensraum for the destitute population of the district of Tigray and the provision of lebensmittel (food) has been imposed on the people as a national ideology to be followed. Soon after TPLF, assisted by Shabiya EPLF, came to substitute the century old Amhara Neftegna rule, it put all resources of the Empire under its control. Thereafter, TPLF leaders declared in Amharic: Tigray kengidih temellisa attirabim, meaning, Tigray will not die of hunger anymore.

To keep Tigray away from lack of physiological and mental nourishment, the ideology of “Greater Tigray” for the endogamous band of Tigray folks has been Nazified. Thenceforth, the ideology of Greater Tigreanism has inhumanly embarked on slaughtering those peoples it considers are ‘garbage’. The creation of enoughLebensraum (space) and the provision of surplus Lebensmittel (food) has become TPLF’s fundamental struggle.  Hence, the Addis Ababa Master Plan must be blended to the maxim of   the Lebensraum, which is diabolic in nature. It is fascistically architected to resettle closed and endogamous folks around Finfinnee so as to bring into existence providence and permanent luxury for them.

Abbay Tsehaye’s Nazi–fascistic Tones

Abbay Tsehaye, The Goebbles  of  Nazi-TPLF regime  of Ethiopia in the 21^st century

Who is Abbay Tsehaye? He was formerly a minister of federal affairs and now one of the top advisers of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. He was also head of the Addis Ababa Master plan designers when Kuma Dammaqsa was the mayor of the city.

Kuma Dammaksa (OPDO), Nazi TPLF’s right hand and Abbya Tsehaye’s senior office boy in the municipality of Addis Ababa at the time of  designing the Addis Ababa Master Plan. The photo show here when he was making speech on the funeral of his master, Mele Zenawi.

In his recent speech, Abbay Tsehaye, on a meeting he has summoned together in Hawasa city, has delivered a diabolic propaganda speech against Oromo people. He appealed to his likes to rally behind him in accomplishing the genocidal war his fascist government has declared on the Oromos. He strongly underlined to crash those Oromos who may intend to resist the implementation of “ Integrated Master Plan”.

In his speech, Abbay Tsehaye unambiguously exposed how his government is a Nazi-fascist regime; how he himself is Ethiopia’s diabolic chief of genocide. He directly says in Amharic, “If they do not accept and implement the Master Plan, “likki innasgebbachewallen,—yistegebberal….”, meaning, we will punish them, finish them off. The Master Plan shall be uncompromisingly implemented “(OMN Nerws; Febuary 14, 2015)

Conclusion

 “Tigren [Habasha] attimenu bimil bigezziti, Kiristinna anstew Kubeen geddeluti” (Kibroom Aseffa Molla. In: YeRaya Hizb Bahil inna Tarik. Tikimt 2005, p.103)

“Never trust Tigre men/women even if they swear or excommunicate themselves. That, they killed Kubee [One of the Raya Oromo community leaders during King Yonnes VI of Tigray] after  converting him to Christianity.”  (Translation: Mein).

From the very beginning, Habasha’s (Amhara-Tigray) common national interest has been the seeking of the total demise of the Oromo people. It has, without interruption, been practised by successive Habasha Kings like Tewodros, Yohanes IV, Minilik II, HailesellaseI, Col. Mengistu Hailemariam and now by the TPLF led Abbay Tsehaye’s Nazi regime.

With no hesitation or remorse, Habasha scholars and Debteras have also been writing in their book of history, calling the Oromo, “Gallas”, as the bloodiest enemy of their Habasha people, Amhara-Tigray (See Aleqa Kidanewold Kifle: 1948 E.C).

By keeping on hating and detesting the Oromos, Habasha elites and their clergymen are the major causes for the erosion of peace and stability in the region. That is why, in the history of Habasha–Oromo relationship, a common interest, good neighbourliness or common worldview has not been able to be consummated. Past centuries blind hatred is re-testified in this first half of the 21^st century by Abbay Tsehaye, TPLF-Tiray’s Nazi chief of genocide. Therefore, the question is, can cosmetic changes be a panacea to heal the heavily inflicted wounds of the Oromo nation?

Calling for the resignation of chief of the genocide, the making of Afaan Oromoo an auxiliary federal language, the begging for the establishment of “Oromo cultural Centre” in ADDIS ABABA, shouting for free and fair election being under the gunpoint of the Nazi control, is dead rhetoric. They do not help either in liberating the Oromo from the Nazi regime or in empowering them to govern their own internal affairs, leave alone to run the affairs of the Empire. Dwelling on these issues as a national panacea is no more workable. It has officially been buried down by the recent speech and action of the regime’s diabolic chief of propaganda, Abbay Tsehaye.

Then, what should Oromos do as a last resort in order to get-healed the endangered survival right on their ancestral homeland? Should they, from every walk of life, prepare themselves for the worst scenario marching against them?

In our life time, we have seen the exhaustion of all venues of peaceful struggle, peaceful dialogue, and peaceful co-existence with Habshas in the Ethiopian Empire but with no avail at all.  For the Oromos, the choice is only one and one. It cannot be two or more. That is, to get back their God-given natural right and the invaded ancestral homeland by paying common-sacrifice for the common cause.

The Oromo youths, the Qeerroo, are paying valorous price right now. They are directly facing Abbay Tsehaye’s Nazi bullets. Hence, Qeerroos’ just struggle should be genuinely endorsed and supported. They are marching to the bright future road for the total liberation of Oromia from the collective rule of Habasha Nazism.

May our Almighty Waaqa help them prevail over the diabolic tones of Abbay Tsehaye, whose speech and action represent the Nazi system of the Empire!

Bulbulaa Tufaa

Konyaan ABO Victoria, Australia Haala yeroo irratti marii gaggeeffate, Murannoo fi Ibsa ejjennoo dabarse;

Guraandhala 24, 2015

Miseensonni ABO Konyaa Victoria guyyaa 22/2/15 walghii hatattamaa godhateen, haala yeroo ammaa mpayera Ethiopia keessatti sirni gita bittuu Wayyaanee/TPLF Ummata Oromoo irratti gaggeessaa jiru, aala qabsoo bilisummaa oromoo ABOn durfamu fi haala bobbaa diinaa biyya alaa ilaalchisee marii bal’aa eega aggeeffatee booda murannoo fi ibsa ejjennoo dabarfachuun milkiin xumurate.

J/Gaashuu Lammeessaa miseensa GS fi Birkii Beeksisii fi Odeessii biyya alaa ABO irratti argamanii ibsa bal’aa kan kennan yeroo ta’u mariin kun itti fufinsa marii sabboontonni Oromoo hangi tokko hawaasa Oromoo lbourne, Australia keessaa Guraandhala 20, 2015 walitti dhufuun dhimmoota bobbaa diinaa biyyoota alaa fi dalagaa abdii kutannaa mootummaa Wayyaanee biyya keessatti yeroo ammaa Oromoo dhabamsiisuuf alagaa jirtu irratti marii’achuuf walitti dhufuun marii gadhatanii ta’uu dura ta’aan konyaa ABO Victoria J/ Abdataa Homaa ibsaniiruu.

Wayyaaneen waggoota 23n darban kana cunqursaa, dhiibbaa, hidhaa, biyyaa ariisaa fi ajjeechaa Oromoo fi saboota cunqurfamoo Impaayerattii keessaa irratti raawwataa turera. Saamicha dinagdeef jecha bulchitoonni biyyatti duraan turan misooma biyyaa ykn “maaqinat” jechaa turan jijjiirun har’a Wayyaaneen maqaa “Investment” jedhuun uummata afaan faajjessaa qabeenya uumamaa saamaa baate hanqatee har’a ammoo lafa dhaloota isaanii irraa buqqisuun hundee jireenya eenyummaa fi egeree borii dhabamsiisaa akka jirtu J/Gaashuun ibsaniiruu. Wayyaaneen qabsoo uummatni cunqarfamoo ta’an mirga isaanii gonfachuuf gaggeessaa turan fi itti jiran dogoggorsuun dinagdee kaleessa saamaa turteen of ijaartee qabsoo sabaa bifa jijjiiruu yaaluun ni muldhata. Shira Wayyaanee har’aa keessaa Oromoon hara’a qabsoo falmaa abbaa biyyummaa irraa gara falmaa of jiraachisuuttii akka ta’e tokkootti fakkeessuu fi qabsoo dureessaa fi hiyyeessaa gidduutti akka deebi’u gochuu, amaloota duraan hin turre walitti bu’iinsa sabaa fi sab-lammoota biyyattii sanaa keessatti bu’uuressuun uummata kaleessa ollummaa gaarii qabaachaa ture waldhabsiisaa fi walitti diinomsaa akka jirtutu muldhata jedhaniiru.

Itti fufuun garboomfataan yeroo baduu jala ga’u tarkaanfiilee abdii kutannaa uummatuma bulcha jiru irratti fudhachuu eegala. Kun ammoo amalootuma warreen garbaamfattotni raawwatan waan ta’eef uummanni Oromoo isa yeroo kamii irrayyuu caalaa humna dinagdee, beekumsaa, waraanaa fi siyaasaa isaa bifa hundaan qindeeffatee qabsoo hidhannoo finiinsuutu roorroo halagaa jalaa nu baasuu danda’a jedhaniiru.

Miseensonni ABO Konyaa Victoria, Australia dhimmoota ciccimoo bifa gaaffii fi deebiidhaan marii gurguddaa eega gaggeeffatanii booda akka miseensa jaarmaayaa dhaabaa tokkootti hojiilee fuula duratti nu eeggatuu fi sochii diinaa qabatamaan yeroo ammaa uummata keenya irratti raawwachaa jiruu fi raawwachuuf akka haaraatti akeekkatee ka’e dura dhaabbachuu bira darbee xumura itti godhamuu danda’u, fedhummaa uummata keenyaa bakkaan ga’uuf gaaffilee uummanni keenya kaasaa jiru dhaggeeffatee dhaabni keenya ABO hojiitti hiiku, uummanni keenyas hawwii qofaan qabsoo duuba taa’ee dhaaba irraa bu’aa eeguu irraa gara hirmaannaatti akka as ba’u fi teenyee “diinni kana nu godhee” irraa gara tarkaanfii fi daandii injifannootti ceesisu irratti akka hojjennu kan jedhu jala muranii hoggantoota dhaabaa ABOf dhaammataniiru.

Xumura marii kanaa irrattis hanga gaaffiin uummata Oromoo fi cunqurfamoo deebii argatuutti mariin jalqabame bifa adda addaan kan itti fufuu fi sochii diinaa farrummaa sabootaa ta’e kanatti xumura itti gochuun rakkinootaa fi hanqinoota qabsoo keenya sakaalanii yoona ga’an fi furmaata akeekuuf kan itti fufu ta’uu jala muruun murannoo fi ibsa ejjennoo armaan gadii dabarsaniiru.

Murannoo fi Ibsa Ejjennoo ABO Konyaa victoria, Australia:

1. Qabsoo ABOn geggeefamu akka galii gahuuf waan dandeenyu undaan cina dhaabbachuuf hirbuu keenya ni haaressina.
2. Qajeelfama dhaaba keenyaa hojiitti hiikuuf kutannoon hojjenna!
3. Qabsoon hidhannoo jabaatee weerartuu Wayyaanee dhabamsiisuuf WBO ni tumsina!
4. Filnnoo kijibaa wayyaanee addunyaatti ni saaxilla!uummanni Oromoos filannoon afaan faajja’uu dhiisee qabsoo isaa jabeessuun galii isaa rukutuu qaba!
5. Bobbaa diinaa ergamtoota wayyaanee dura ni dhaabbanna!
6. Hawaasi Oromoo biyya ambaa jiraatu gowwoomsaa misoomaa wayyaaneef gurra kennuu dhiisee qabsoo abbaa biyyummaa isaa akka jabeessu dhaamsa dhaamna!
7. Lafa akaakilee fi abaabilee keenyarraa qote bulaan Oromoo akka hin buqqaane ni akeekkachiifna!
8. OPDOn Wayyaanee jalaa baatee gara qabsoo sabaatti makamuun yeroon isaa amma tahuu dhaamnaaf!
9. Ummanni Oromoo bara baraan diina komachuu irra dadhabina isaa irraa baree qabsoo gita isaaf malu akka godhu dhaammanna!
10. Tokkummaa akeekaa fi kaayyoo irratti wal tumsuun biyya isaa qawween sarbame qawween deeffachuuf uummanni Oromoo falmaa akka godhu ni dhaamna!
11. Dhaadannoo aangawota Wayyaaneen haamilee bu’uu dhiisnee meeshaa aadaa qabnu cufa diinatti garagalchuun qawwee diina irraa hiikkannee seenaa Oromoo yeroon itti haaramsinu amma tahu ni hubachiifna.
12. Uummanni Oromoo biyya alaa jiraatu afaan faajjii diinaa hordofuun qabsoo isaa deggeruu dhiisee manatti galee ta’ee, yeroon inni qabsoo isaa cina dhaabbachuun itti fufinsaan WBO humneessee isa dhumaatiif diina dhabamsiisuun bilisummaa hawwinu geenyu amma jenna. Kanaafuu Oromummaa badii irraa baraaruuf harka wal qabannee haa kaanu jechaa waamicha Oromummaa isinii dabarsina.

Injifannoo Uuummata Oromoof !

Konya ABO Victoria, Australia

Ethiopia: TPLF’s Leaders Arrogance and Contempt: Inviting Further Bloodshed and Loss of Lives

HRLHA Statement

February 23, 2015

Since the downfall of the military government of Ethiopia in 1991, the political and socioeconomic lives of the country have totally been controlled by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front/TPLF leaders and business institutions. As soon as the TPLF controlled Addis Ababa, the capital city, in 1991, the first step it took was to create People’s Democratic Organizations (PDOs) in the name of different nations and nationalities   in the country.   With the help of these PDOs, the TPLF managed to control the whole country in a short period of time from corner to corner. The next step that the TPLF took was to weaken and/or eliminate all independent opposition political organizations existing in the country, including those with whom it formed the Ethiopian Transitional Government in 1991. Just to pretend that it was democratizing the country, the TPLF signed seven international human rights documents from 1991 to 2014. These include the “Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment”. Despite this, it is known that the TPLF has tortured many of its own citizens ever since it assumed power, and has continued to the present day.

The TPLF Government adopted a new constitution in 1995; and, based on this constitution, formed new federal states. The new Ethiopian constitution is full of spurious democratic sentiments and human rights terms meant to inspire the people of Ethiopia and the world community. The TPLF’s pretentious promise to march towards democracy enabled it to receive praise from people inside and outside including donor countries and organizations. The TPLF government managed somehow to maintain a façade of credibility with western governments including those of the USA and the UK. In reality, the TPLF security forces were engaged in intensive killings, abductions, disappearances of a large number of Oromo, Ogaden, Sidama peoples; and others whom the TPLF suspected of being members, supporters or sympathizers of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), Ogadenian National Libration Front (ONLF), and Sidama Peoples Libiration Front (SPLF). The TPLF high officials to ordinary level cadres in the various regional states engaged in enriching themselves and their family members by looting and embezzling public wealth and properties, raping young women in the occupied areas of the nations and nationalities in Ethiopia, and committing many other forms of corruptions.

After securing enough wealth for themselves, the TPLF government officials, cadres and members declared, in 2004, an investment policy that resulted in the eviction of indigenous peoples from their lands and all types of livelihoods. Since 2006, thousands of Oromo, Gambela, and Benshangul nationals and others have been forcefully evicted from their lands without consultation or compensation. Those who attempted to oppose or resist were murdered and/or jailed by the TPLF[1]. The TPLF government then cheaply leased their lands, for terms as long as 50 years, to international investors and wealthy Middle East and Asian countries including Saudi Arabia[2] .  The TPLF government has done all this against its own constitution, particularly article 40 (3)[3] , which states that “ The right to ownership of rural and urban land, as well as of all natural resources, is exclusively vested in the State and in the peoples of Ethiopia. Land is a common property of the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia and shall not be subject to sale or to other means of exchange”.  These acts were also against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 17 (1 &2)[4] , which says, “1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. 2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property”

In order to facilitate further corruption and embezzlement, the money paid for the leases as long as 50 years were received in cash. For example, the Indian agro investor Karaturi explained to a Guardian Magazine reporter that the TPLF government officials asked him to pay in cash in order to get the land, which he called “green gold”[5]. These gross human rights violations by the TPLF leaders against the Oromos, Gambelas, and Benshanguls have been condemned by many civic organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa, Oakland Institute and others.

The giving away of Oromo land in the name of investment also includes Addis Ababa, the capital city situated at the center of Oromia Regional State. 30,000 Oromos were evicted by the TPLF/EPRDF Government from their lands and livelihoods in the areas around the Capital City and suburbs, and their lands were given to the TPLF officials, members and loyal cadres over the past 24 years. In order to grab more lands around Addis Abba, the TPLF government prepared a plan called “the Addis Ababa Integrated Master Plan”, a plan that aimed at annexing about 36 towns and surrounding villages into Addis Ababa was first challenged by the Oromo People’s Democracy Organization/OPDO in March 2014. The challenge was first supported by Oromo students in different universities, colleges and high schools in Oromia, and then spread to Oromo farmers, Oromo intellectuals in all corners of Oromia Regional State and to Oromo nationals living in different parts of the world. The Oromo nationals staged peaceful protests all over Oromia Regional State. In connection with this Addis Ababa integrated master plan, which had the risk of evicting more than two million farmers from around the capital city, about seventy Oromo students from among the peaceful protestors were brutalized by the special TPLF Agiazi snipers and more than five thousand Oromos from all walks of life were taken to prisons in different parts of Oromia Regional State. The inhuman military actions and crackdowns by the TPLF government against peaceful protestors were condemned by different international media such as the BBC[6], human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and the HRLHA[7]. The government admitted that it killed nine of them[8].  The unrest that started in central Oromia suddenly escalated to such a high level that the TPLF leaders suspended the expansion plan for a while. However, recently, without the slightest regret and sense of remorse over the massacres committed against peaceful protestors of Oromo Nationals by his government in May and April 2014, the TPLF’s co-founder, top official and the current Prime Minister, Hailemariam Dessalegn’s  special advisor, Mr. Abay Tsehaye, vowed in public that anyone who attempts to oppose the implementation of the so-called Addis Ababa Master Plan would be dealt with harshly. In his speech he confirmed that the TPLF government is determined to continue with the master plan, no matter what happened in the past or what may come in the future.   In a manner that Abay Tsehaye was reiterating that the annexations of towns and cities in central Oromia into the capital Addis Ababa will go ahead as planned regardless of the absence of consultations and consent of the local people and/or the officials of the targeted towns and cities. Besides displaying his extreme arrogance and contempt for the Oromo Nation, Mr. Abay Tsehaye’s speech was in direct breach of constitutional provisions of both federal and regional states.

The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) would like to express its deep concern that this TPLFs leader’s speech not only encourages violence against the country’s own citizens, but also invites further bloodshed and loss of lives; it leaves no room at all for dialogue, consultation and consent – norms which are at the core of a genuine democracy. This is still happening despite the killing of more than seventy Oromo youth and the arrest and incarceration of thousands of others as a result of violent and deadly responses by armed forces of the TPLF and the government to peaceful demonstrators in May and April, 2014.

Conclusion: The HRLHA believes that the gross human rights violations committed by the TPLF government in the past 24 years against Oromo, Ogaden, Gambela, Sidama and others were pre-planned and intentional all the times that they have happened. The TPLF killed, tortured, and kidnapped and disappeared thousands of Oromo nationals, Ogaden and other nationals simply because of their resources and ethnic backgrounds. The recent research conducted by Amnesty International under the title “Because I am Oromo”: SWEEPING REPRESSION IN THE OROMIA REGION OF ETHIOPIA’ [9] confirms that peoples in Ethiopia who belong to other ethnic groups have been the victims of the TPLF.  The TPLF inhuman actions against the citizens are clearly a genocide, a crime against humanity[10] and an ethnic cleansing, which breach domestic and international laws, and all international treaties the government of Ethiopia signed and ratified.    The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa wants to hold the TPLF government accountable as a group and as individuals for the crimes they have committed and are committing against Oromos and others.

The HRLHA calls on all human rights families, non-governmental civic organizations, HRLHA members, supporters and sympathizers to stand beside the HRLHA and provide moral, professional and financial help to bring the dictatorial TPLF government and officials to international justice.

The HRLHA is a non-political organization which attempts to challenge abuses of human rights of the people of various nations and nationalities in the Horn of Africa. It works to defend fundamental human rights including freedoms of thought, expression, movement and association. It also works on raising the awareness of individuals about their own basic human rights and those of others. It encourages respect for laws and due process. It promotes the growth and development of free and vigorous civil societies.

Letter to World Bank Vice President for Africa Re. PBS (II-AF) and PBS (III) Ethiopia Action Plan

Dear Vice President Diop,                                                         February 23, 2015

As you are aware, Human Rights Watch has researched and documented human rights violations that the government of Ethiopia has committed in the course of its “villagization” program in both Gambella and in the Lower Omo valley. We have also reported on the links between villagization and the various iterations of the World Bank’s Promoting/ Protection of Basic Services projects. With this in mind, I write to you as your staff are working to prepare an action plan responding to the Inspection Panel’s findings of non-compliance in its Ethiopia investigation.

We urge you to ensure that World Bank management responds to the Inspection Panel findings comprehensively in its action plan. Human Rights Watch has been profoundly disappointed by the lack of constructive engagement of World Bank management on the problems of villagization in Ethiopia and its unwillingness to work to address a range of human rights risks in its programming. The concerns raised in the Investigation Panel’s report are an opportunity to adjust management’s course on its Ethiopia programming and address these issues.

We believe the Action Plan should include a commitment to:

1.    Enhance Management’s High Level Dialogue with the Ethiopian Government

Whenever World Bank staff, particularly you or President Kim, meet with the Ethiopian government, we urge you to raise the continuing negative impact that several Ethiopian government policies and practices are having on development efforts.

First, forced evictions and development-related displacement continues to have serious negative effects on communities in various parts of the country, well beyond Gambella. While the government has officially finished its villagization program, it continues to forcibly evict people, including indigenous peoples, from their land ostensibly for development projects, including large-scale agriculture, including for sugar plantation development in the Lower Omo Valley. Bank staff should work with other donors to highlight problems with ongoing practices, as well as pointing to key standards (which should include the UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on Development-based Evictions and Displacement, and standards and jurisprudence of the African regional human rights institutions). While we recognize bank management has discussed some concerns about villagization before and supported the development of standards for involuntary resettlement, relying on the Bank’s safeguards, dialogue needs to recognize the problems with the existing practices and advise on how to address them.

Second, it is crucial that the Bank asserts the importance of civic participation and social accountability for effective development. This means consistently raising concerns, and urging reforms of the Ethiopian government’s Charities and Societies Proclamation and Anti-Terrorism Proclamation, which have had such a devastating impact on the ability of Ethiopians to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. It is also crucial that the Bank and other donors press the Ethiopian government to reverse the practices of arbitrary arrest and detention, and politically motivated prosecutions of independent journalists, activists, and opposition party members including media reporting on problematic “development” initiatives. Independent nongovernmental organizations and media are essential for accountability, and these repressive policies undermine both civic participation and social accountability.

Third, you should raise concerns over discriminatory practices in the country, both on the basis of ethnic background and political opinion. President Kim has spoken passionately about the scourge of discrimination. This should translate into a dialogue with the government not only about how discrimination is wrong, but how it undermines development. Human Rights Watch and others have documented discriminatory practices against individuals not supporting the ruling party in the distribution of the benefits of development, including access to agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilizers, micro-credit loans and job opportunities. In this context, bank management should highlight these ongoing discriminatory practices, including against those who do not support the ruling party and against indigenous groups in areas where villagization occurred including Gambella and the Lower Omo valley.

Finally, it is essential that Ethiopia respect and protect the rights of indigenous peoples. You may want to consider the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which has on several occasions discussed indigenous rights within the African context. The African Commission’s Working Group on Indigenous Populations/ Communities has suggested that, in determining whether groups fall within the definition of indigenous peoples, the:

focus should be on … self-definition as indigenous and distinctly different from other groups within a state; on a special attachment to and use of their traditional land whereby their ancestral land and territory has a fundamental importance for their collective physical and cultural survival as peoples; on an experience of subjugation, marginalization, dispossession, exclusion or discrimination because these people have different cultures, ways of life or modes of production than the national hegemonic and dominant model.

The Commission has helpfully addressed common misconceptions regarding indigenous peoples in Africa, paraphrased in attachment 1.

2.    Address Risks at the Project Level

The report of the Inspection Panel shows that the World Bank needs to have systems in place to analyze and avoid or mitigate the above and other human rights risks linked to its projects in Ethiopia. The Bank should acknowledge that the repressive environment in Ethiopia requires an entirely different approach to participation and social accountability. It should work with other donors to develop creative methods for participation that avoid risks of reprisals against those who express dissent and to encourage fearful individuals to use mechanisms and institutions that ensure participation and accountability, free of intimidation and fear. In recognition of the difficulties of ensuring participation and effective, secure avenues for accountability, the Bank should routinely identify security risks for project-affected persons including the risk of reprisal if individuals criticize a project or oppose resettlement.

Considering the high-risk environment, World Bank management should explicitly report to the board on how it has analyzed and addressed all risks of social and human rights impacts in each project in Ethiopia at least annually. Such a report should outline how management has addressed security risks, risks of all forms of discrimination, potential obstacles to participation and accountability, and risks related to land rights or forced evictions, as well as any other potential adverse social or human rights impact.

The World Bank should also ensure that it comprehensively complies with its Indigenous Peoples’ policy in all projects in which indigenous peoples stand to be impacted, directly or indirectly. Compliance needs to go beyond consulting with indigenous peoples in the course of undertaking a social impact assessment, and instead involve comprehensive participation of indigenous peoples in all bank-projects that affect them beginning at the project proposal stage and throughout the entire project cycle. The World Bank should only proceed with projects that affect indigenous peoples with their free, prior, and informed consent as provided by international law.

Furthermore, the bank should require independent third party monitoring and independent grievance redress mechanisms for all of its projects in Ethiopia. Until the environment for independent organizations, including nongovernmental organizations and the media, improves substantially, there is little opportunity for individuals to report problems with World Bank projects. Many of the existing grievance redress mechanisms lack independence from the government or, equally important, are perceived to lack independence.

While the bank has championed its “social accountability mechanisms” in Ethiopia, we question the effectiveness of these mechanisms within the current repressive environment. Statements from the requesters indicate that they would never utilize such mechanisms because of government involvement, and the Bank should heed these concerns. Unfortunately, to date, the bank does not appear to have addressed the question of how these mechanisms can be effective within the current repressive environment. The World Bank needs to find alternative, effective mechanisms to supervise its projects and permit people to safely complain about grievances.

Finally, in accordance with the World Bank’s commitment to and expertise regarding fiscal transparency and accountability, management should only support projects for which funds can be tracked. Tracking the funding is necessary for tracking the full impacts of a World Bank-financed project. It is also particularly relevant considering the bank’s decision not to provide direct budget support to Ethiopia because of the high-risk environment. The Inspection Panel pointed to the challenge of tracking PBS’ financing, in particular, because the government did not share key financial information. This is immensely problematic and should be promptly remedied.

3.    Provide the Requesters with a Remedy

The requesters have proposed measures to remedy the problems they highlighted in their complaint and a strong Action Plan is needed to address these concerns, which Human Rights Watch supports. I attach their letter for ease of reference.

The Action Plan should provide effective development and much-needed basic services to the people of Gambella, free of the requirement to be supportive of the ruling party. As indigenous people, the requesters should be partners in the World Bank’s development initiatives, which includes the right to be meaningfully consulted and for development projects to only go forward with their consent, free of any intimidation.

Given the climate of fear and repression that exists in Ethiopia, it is unlikely that many requesters will feel safe to return home to Gambella. In light of this, the Action Plan should address some of the most urgent needs of the requesters in the refugee communities including the lack of education and livelihood opportunities.

Finally, we urge the World Bank management to present the final Action Plan to the requesters in person in Kenya and South Sudan, comprehensively explaining it and responding to the requestors’ letter.

Thank you for considering our recommendations. I would be most happy to discuss them with you or your staff further. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Jessica Evans

Senior Advocate on International Financial Institutions

Business and Human Rights Division

Human Rights Watch

Annex 1

The African Commission’s Working Group on Indigenous Populations / Communities has debunked several misconceptions regarding indigenous peoples in Africa:

Misconception 1: To protect the rights of indigenous peoples gives special rights to some ethnic groups over and above the rights of all other groups.

Certain groups face discrimination because of their particular culture, mode of production, and marginalized position within the state. The protection of their rights is a legitimate call to alleviate this particular form of discrimination. It is not about special rights.

Misconception 2: Indigenous is not applicable in Africa as “all Africans are indigenous.”

There is no question that Africans are indigenous to Africa in the sense that they were there before the European colonialists arrived and that they were subject to subordination during colonialism. When some particular marginalized groups use the term “indigenous” to describe themselves, they use the modern analytical form (which does not merely focus on aboriginality) in an attempt to draw attention to and alleviate the particular form of discrimination they suffer from. They do not use the term in order to deny other Africans their legitimate claim to belong to Africa and identify as such.

Misconception 3: Talking about indigenous rights will lead to tribalism and ethnic conflicts.

Giving recognition to all groups, respecting their differences and allowing them all to flourish does not lead to conflict, it prevents conflict. What creates conflict is when certain dominant groups force a contrived “unity” that only reflects perspectives and interests of powerful groups within a given state, and which seeks to prevent weaker marginal groups from voicing their unique concerns and perspectives. Conflicts do not arise because people demand their rights but because their rights are violated. Protecting the human rights of particularly discriminated groups should not be seen as tribalism and disruption of national unity. On the contrary, it should be welcomed as an interesting and much needed opportunity in the African human rights arena to discuss ways of developing African multicultural democracies based on the respect and contribution of all ethnic groups.

Source: Paraphrased from Report of the African Commission’s Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities, Adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights at its 34th Ordinary Session, November 6-20, 2003.

Norway Oromo Youths protest against the ongoing of human rights violation in Ethiopia

By Kiyyaa Gonfaa |February 20, 2015

On Saturday, February 14, 2015, members of the Oromo Community in Norway protested in front of Trondheim Torg against the repressive and dictatorial Ethiopian regime. The demonstration was organized by the Oromo youth in Trondheim. The aim of the protest was to condemn the human rights violations against the Oromo people – as a result of which, many Oromos have been arrested, tortured and killed, and thousands have disappeared. The trend of repression is increasing alarmingly and a huge number of Oromos have been jailed, tortured and exposed to inhuman conditions under fabricated charges. The TPLF/EPRDF leadership has a standing policy of protracted attacks against the Oromo people – irrespective of age, sex, profession and occupation. To criminalize Oromo, being only Oromo is enough in Ethiopia.

The recent Amnesty International report says, at least 5,000 ethnic Oromos have been arrested between 2011 and 2014 based on their actual or suspected peaceful opposition to the government. These include peaceful protesters, students, members of opposition political parties and people expressing their Oromo cultural heritage. After the Amnesty International report, the human rights violations against Oromos have continued. Just two month, on December 9, 2014, in Oromia, Salale province – Darra district – Goro Maskala town, the government soldiers killed Katama Wubatu and his comrade in front of the public.

The Ethiopian ruling elites are most likely will continue their wild acts of killing, torturing and forcing millions Oromos to flee their homes. We are calling on the international community to stand against the brutality of the Ethiopian regime – particularly Norway, U.S.A., the UK and EU governments – to stop their relationships with the Ethiopian dictatorial regime and to stop sending their taxpayers’ money to TPLF. There are reports by international organizations that the aid has been used against the people to whom the money has originally been sent for.

Finally, the organizers of this demonstration delivered a letter to the Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende at Clarion Hotel Trondheim.

The slogans raised and chanted during the demonstration were:-

– JUSTICE for massacred Oromo students;
– STOP killing and imprisoning innocent Oromos;
– FREE all Oromo political prisoners;
– STOP selling Oromo land to foreign and local investors;
– Ethiopian government, STOP evicting Oromo farmers from their land;
– TPLF is brutalizing people in Ethiopia for 24 years;
– Killing Oromos will never stop the Oromo struggle;
– TPLF, you can kill thousands, but you can not kill 40-million Oromos …