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By Leenjiso Horo, September, 2016

Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it.

—Frantz Fanon

The Great Oromo Generation of 1960s

The great Oromo generation of 1960s chose to fulfil its mission. Its mission has been and still is

the liberation of Oromia. It rejected any political line of betraying this mission. .It is a

generation of heroes and heroines of utmost patriotism. It is a generation that gave its live for

political independence of its country and its people, for justice, unconditional political freedom,

and democracy. Its members are too many to remember and call their names. In this national

liberation struggle, hundreds of thousands of its members were martyred and buried in shallow

graves; in ravines, plains, hills, and mountainsides in unmarked holes. Many of its members are

still in the struggle. At the same time, thousands upon thousands have also fallen in the cities; in

towns, and in villages murdered by the sadistic, cruel and barbaric fascist TPLF and Dergue

regimes in front of their houses and in front of their families. Tens of thousands tortured and

maimed in the prison cells and hundreds of thousands kidnapped and disappeared without trace.

In this struggle and selfless-sacrifices, this generation has made eight distinctive achievements.

Namely, Oromia is put on the world map, the Oromo people are made known to the world

community, the Oromo Flag is raised over Oromia, Qubee-the Latin Oromo alphabet was created

and made the official script for Oromo Language; the Qubee generation-a new generation was

born; Oromo language is made official language, the Oromo unity is made a reality and the

Political Program for independence was charted as political program of struggle.

In so doing, this generation demonstrated the highest measure of patriotism and selfless sacrifice

for its country. For this, this Oromo generation has won the right to the eternal love of their

people, the love of the present generation and the love of the generations yet to come.

In this national struggle, it maintained the mission, the objective and the goal of the struggle

despite all obstacles posed by internal and external forces to undermine them. With unity, it

overcame adversities. Above everything else, the generation of the 1960s set a shining example

of faithful devotion to the objective of the Oromo struggle, to the oneness of Oromo and to

Oromoness/Oromummaa. For so doing, this generation chose its unity unto death by accepting

death over betraying the national struggle. This is the first time in the history of national

liberation movements that the leadership of a Liberation Front was killed and buried together in

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one unmarked grave for rejecting political line advanced contrary to the mission, the objective

and goal of the national struggle and contrary to the oneness of Oromo and the Oromoness. This

historical martyrdom was made by the leadership of the OLF- the leadership of the great Oromo

generation. In its death and in its blood, the leadership of this great Oromo generation and the

millions of the Oromo nationals who sacrificed their precious lives in this struggle together

cemented the Oromo unity and guaranteed the continuity of the Oromo struggle for liberation.

The Oromia Flag

This is the Oromia flag. It is the flag of the Oromo nation. It is created with the blood of

millions of Oromo heroes and heroines. Today, this flag is the symbol of struggle for liberation.

This flag is a symbol, an identity, and an emblem of the Oromo nation. It symbolizes the honor,

the inherent dignity, the identity and the beauty of the Oromo nation. It displays the pathos and

ethos of the Oromo people. This flag has important interpretive features. It has red, yellow, and

green colors, and Bakkalchaa, the star, and the Odaa, each of which represents an important

aspect of the Oromo nation. Here I only give simple rudimentary truth of the interpretation of

the Oromia flag as to what it symbolizes. Here is it. The red represents the selfless-sacrifice,

fearless courage, integrity and the devotion of Oromo people in the struggle for the national

independence and freedom. It symbolizes the bloodshed for over a century by the successive

Oromo generations including the present one in their struggle for freedom, and independence of

Oromia from Abyssinian colonial occupation. On the whole, red represents the war of national

resistance against the enemy and our vigilance for protection and defense of Oromia after

independence. The yellow represents the happiness, the wisdom, the power, the peace, and our

love for Oromia and for the humanity. And it further symbolizes, the beauty of Oromia’s sky, its

land, and its people and the kindness, the generosity, and the hospitality of the Oromo people.

And the green symbolizes the land, the lakes, rivers and the natural and man-made wealth of the

Oromo people, the fertility and richness of Oromia. Bakkalchaa with its rays of light represents

the bright future, the hope, the liberty and freedom. The star represents unity, equality,

fraternity, strength, justice and the harmony of our people. It symbolizes one nation and one

Oromia. The Odaa represents the cultural, political, economic, social, and democratic tradition-
freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home and judicial aspect

of our people as practiced under Gadaa System. All in all, this Oromo flag symbolizes the unity,

democracy, the fertility of Oromia, and the power of the Oromo nation.

Indeed, under this flag millions of the Oromo nationals have sacrificed their precious lives for

the independence of Oromia for half a century to-date. For the love of this flag and for what it

stands for, the Oromo people have dearly paid in human and material resources at the hands of

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the colonial rulers. For the ownership of this flag and for the defense of what this flag

symbolizes and stands for millions of Oromo heroes and heroines- men, women, youths,

children, and elders have been sacrificed their precious lives and hundreds of thousands have

been beaten, tortured, maimed, deprived of their property and ganged into the prison cells of the

colonial empire. So, this flag by the Oromo people’s interpretation represents the ideals of

ultimate sacrifice to liberate Oromia and establish people’s Democratic Republic of Oromia. It

does not belong to anyone except to the Oromo nation.

The Oromo nation has raised this national Flag so high for the world to see. In totality, this flag

represents the values of unity, freedom, liberty, justice, independence and hope for the citizens of

Oromia. Indeed, this flag is a declaration for independence of Oromia, and of the struggles, the

Oromo people have been going through for over a century to achieve their independence. Thus,

this flag is not a slogan, not a decoration, not a piece of cloth, not a flag of a group, but it is the

symbol of a living nation-the Oromo nation. Indeed, this Oromo flag remains a living piece of

history for the generations to come and it is a source of pride and unity for the Oromo people. All

in all, the Odaa, the star, the rays of sun and the red, green and yellow colors embody the very

qualities that make our nation great: liberty, justice, freedom, democracy, love of country and

national purpose.

Here, one must understand that we do not know the names of millions of the Oromo farmers,

peasants, and their sons and daughters who fought and perished in this national liberation

struggle, and the names of those tens of thousands who had perished in the Dergue’s notorious

torture Chambers. And, of course, we do not still know the names of hundreds of thousands of

Oromo nationals who have already been perished in the Tigrayan regime’s notorious torture

concentration camps. Still arrests, tortures, mass murders, annihilation and the evictions of the

millions from their lands are continuing. The colonialist crime must be stopped. It can only be

stopped in unity. This is the Oromo way to defeat the enemy.

The new Oromo generation: The Qubee Generation

Now, it is time for the Qubee generation to take up the torch of struggle that commenced with

the great Oromo generation of the 1960s. The ultimate aim of the Oromo struggle is total

political independence. For this, many forms of strategy and tactics have been used. In this

struggle, a partial victory has already been won by the generation of the 1960s. The Oromo

unity is achieve; Oromia is put on the map, Oromo are known to the world community, the

Oromo flag is made a realty, Qubee has been created, the new Qubee generation is born, and

Oromo language has become a working language. Now, it is for the Oromo Qubee generation to

raise the struggle to higher level to achieve full victory. For this, it is time for this generation to

engage in armed liberation struggle. This requires the mobilization and organization of the

population. The armed struggle for liberation, confronts the challenge of the enemy. It is

impossible to defeat the enemy with empty hands, by staging peaceful demonstrations, by

witting letters to the UN and to the governments of foreign countries, and by words of mouth

even though they are important.

The Qubee generation must clearly understand that TPLF is in a war of its own destruction. It is

in chaos. It is about to fall to pieces. Everywhere there are fighting with it; everywhere it is

hated; and so everywhere it is weak. Despite all these, some Oromo political groups have

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shamelessly preaching the gospel of rescuing it from its collapse and disintegration. The truth is

to rescue this dying fascist regime is a betrayal of the Oromo national liberation struggle and of

the Oromo people who have been its victims. These groups have been negotiating terms of

surrender to establish “transitional government/Caretaker government” with the TPLF- a fascist

regime that has been committing genocide against the Oromo and others peoples. The Oromo

Democratic Front (ODF), the OFC, the Medrek and the Blue Party are in charge of the term of

negotiation for surrender. It is time to expose and fight these opportunist reactionary dark forces

until they unconditionally surrender to the will and aspiration of the Oromo people and to the

will of the Oromo patriots and nationalists. This should be done not next month, not next week,

not tomorrow—but now. At the same time, it is time to mercilessly expose and fight the

poisonous propaganda of collaborationists the internal traitors whose aim is to undermine the

Oromo unity and struggle. It is time to politically disarm these collaborationist forces. On the

contrary, the energy and enthusiasm in the Oromo people’s heart is rising for liberation. The

Qubee generation has risen up and has raised the Oromo flag so high. It is united in the purpose,

in the mission, and in the objective of the struggle. It is generation with a fighting spirit; with

firmness and the determination to continue the struggle that commenced with the Great Oromo

Generation. It is also a generation that firmly resolved to defeat the enemies of the fatherland,

the enemies of our people, the enemy of our unity and our struggle and the enemy of liberation

of Oromia. Its voice of struggle is being echoing all over Oromia and beyond.

Now, it is time for Qubee generation to take the role of leadership of the struggle. It is time to

organize, to rise up, stand up, to be armed and fight to defeat the primary enemy of Oromia and

its people-the Tigrayan fascist regime in order to liberate Oromia. For this, the time has come to

us with only two choices –whether to submit or fight. The decision is ours and only ours alone as

to which one to choose. I believe, we shall not submit and we have no choice but to fight back

by all available means in our power in defense of our people, our country, our future, and our

freedom.

Hence, to bring a real change in the life of the people, it is time to cast away illusions of peaceful

struggle or non-violence struggle to resolve the conflict with Tigrayan fascist regime. Non-
violent struggle does not and cannot work when the enemy’s swords are at peoples’ hearts.

TPLF never yield to anything but to open and secret violence alone. In this case, choosing to

play a peaceful means of struggle with a fascist regime or fascist organization is only a choice

between two ways of losing playing political game. One choice is to be sent to prison, or to exile

or to the grave or to all of them. Ethiopia had seen this outcomes. In 1970s, MEISON and

ECHA and many other organizations that advocated for a peaceful road to socialism under the

rules of constitutional legality of dictatorial military regime. The dictatorial military regime saw

their tactics as attempt to undermine it. Consequently, it turned against these organizations. As a

result, many of their members were sent to prison; many had ended up in exile; many were

killed. Again 1991, the OLF joined the TPLF in forming “Transitional Government of Ethiopia”

to peacefully resolve the longstanding conflict in the Ethiopian empire. But, it had failed to

achieve this goal because of the intransigence of the TPLF. The OLF had paid dearly for joining

the TPLF. In this case, hundreds of thousands of its members and supporters were sent to prison;

tens of thousands were tortured, killed; mutilated, maimed and thousands have ended up in exile.

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In 2005, CUD had also met the same fate at the TPLF’s hands. Here too, many of its members

were murdered, tortured and exiled.

The second choice is to become a puppet organization; a mouthpiece and servant of order. Here,

the puppet organization is put as a political leadership of its people own charging it with sending

its own people to prison, to exile or to the grave or to all of them on the behalf of its master. This

is what the OPDO has been and is doing in Oromia on the behalf of the TPLF. The Ethiopia has

been seeing this violent crime since 1991 to date. Failing to learn from history, today ODF,

OFC, Medrek, Blue Party and unnamed others are secretly negotiating with the fascist TPLF to

form “Transitional Government/Caretaker Government”. In George Santayana words, “Those

who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. Hence, having failed to learn this truth

the ODF, OFC and the others have followed the same path. The fact remains that negotiating to

establish “Transitional Government/Caretaker Government” with the fascist Tigrayan regime

that has been and still is committing genocide against peoples in Ethiopia is a supreme irony of

history. This means to negotiate with a fascist colonial regime to establish “Transitional

Government” with is, an irony of history. If history is any guide, this peaceful negotiation to

establish “Transitional Government/Caretaker Government” with the fascist regime is truly the

surest road that will lead to a future fire, sword, blood and tears for these organizations. It is,

therefore, time to abandon negotiation with genocidist Tigrayan regime and opt to go for armed

struggle to dismantle it. Without armed struggle nothing can bring the enemy to its knees.

Armed struggle takes the war of liberation into every corner where the enemy is—to its homes,

to its barracks, to its centers; it must be a total liberation war. It is necessary to deny this fascist

Tigrayan regime from having a moment of peace, a moment of rest, a quiet moment both inside

and outside its homes, barracks and camps and on streets. This enemy must be attacked

wherever it may be, make it feel like a cornered beast wherever it may move or go. Once this

happened, this fascist regime will be forced to turn itself into its own internal annihilation.

Armed struggle remains the only viable option to do so. It is time to face this fascist Tigrayan

criminal violence with revolutionary violence. Hence to resort to armed struggle is the way to

go; it is inevitable. For this, our people must be mobilized, organized, armed and fight. In this

national liberation struggle, the Oromo struggle is not only against colonial occupation but also

against its Oromo allies and collaborators– the Oromo opportunists, revisionists, and

capitulationists. It is only in such a total struggle the triumph of peace, freedom, liberty, justice,

national political independence, national sovereignty and democracy can be achieved.

Oromia Shall be free!

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*By Malkamuu Jaatee, September 2016

The Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) regime is colonial tyranny established in Ethiopia by foreign aids. It shares similar political characteristics with both classical and modern system of colonisations. The multitudes of crimes against humanity that the regime has been committing to loot natural resources of Ethiopia are among several indicators of exploitation and injustice.  For example, more than 1000 civilians have been killed by the regime in last 10 months (November 2015 to September 2016), while Oromo and Amhara peoples are peacefully protesting against land grabbing.

The regime accustomed to kill unarmed civilians since it has formally colonized Ethiopia on May 28, 1991 with technical, financial, and diplomatic aids of its sponsors. The number of innocent civilians killed by the regime, between 1991 and 2016, was at least 56000 (fifty six thousands) based on conservative estimation using data of extra judicial killing available in archives of local human right organizations (Jaatee and ASO, 2016). The regime is caring out crimes against humanity to sustain its military monopoly and economic empires to protect its colonial system for the next decades. The loss of tens of thousands of innocent lives would have never been happened if the peoples of Ethiopia had rights to choice their government.

The TPLF regime has replaced the military regime in 1991 after 17 years of armed struggle. Sponsors of the regime considered it as “one of the governments exercising democracy in Africa”. Thus, they are excusing crimes committed on the innocent peoples of Ethiopia to give time for development of democracy during quarter of a century. However, the transformation of young democracy towards maturation is measured by governance quality that includes respect to human rights, rule of law, regulatory institutes, accountability, control of corruption, political stability, social justice, and economic prosperity.

Because the regime is neither legally/traditionally elected nor politically representing the peoples of Ethiopia, none of the parameters of democratic governance have been realized during 25 years of tyranny. The natural characteristics of a government from a people for a people are demonstrated by: how it is elected, monitored, and replaced; its capacity to formulate and implement sound policies; protecting citizens, and respecting the institutions that govern economic and social interactions in order to achieve sustainable development.  

The ability of the regime to deliver legitimate governance system in Ethiopia is under question from the very beginning, because it excluded systematically independent political organization like the Oromo Liberation Front (the political organization born out of century old struggle of the Oromo people for freedom) from participating in election process of June 1992. The regime has adopted revolutionary democracy as a doctrine to dictate its politics. Its pseudo democracy is sponsored by foreign financial aids in billions of dollars through investment in military, technical, and diplomatic sectors to sustain modern system of colonization.

External aids are playing crucial roles for growth and expansion of the regime to control and exploit Ethiopia. Thus, the aid resources were the pillars to expand and support organizational structures and size of the rebellion armies (URD, 2002). Financial, material, and technical supports of the international donor communities were channelled through networks of the TPLF to areas under its control to support both military and emergency programs during 1974 – 1991 (Mulataa, 2010). After 1991, the regime has established and expanded fake non-governmental organizations and companies using its especial bureaucratic services, preferential access to investments, confiscation of public assets, and direct involvement in several business sectors in violations of civil and commercial codes of conduct (Mulataa, 2010). It has illegally accumulated excessive wealth and it has invested in protection of political power for unlimited periods of time, while the majority of the peoples of Ethiopia are suffering from recurrent famines and absolute poverty. In addition, the regime has received at least a sum of US $ 50 billion financial aid between year 1991 and 2015, however the most wretched poverty and destruction of livelihood are characterizing the socio-economic development of the country.

The colonial system of governance in Ethiopia is directly reflected via human right violations, exploitation, inciting interethnic conflicts, corruption, land grabbing, expansion of poverty, insecurity, etc. These instruments are designed by the regime to elongate the era of tyranny and to protect interest of its friends. The regime also formulated non-credible and illegitimate laws (the 3P) called Anti-terrorism, Charities and Societies, and Mass Media Proclamations to safeguard monopolistic ownership of military and economic powers via institutionalization of crimes against humanity to justify injustice. However, manipulation of politics of sovereign authority and terrorism will never stop liberation struggle of the oppressed peoples of Ethiopia until democratic (Gada) revolution achieves freedom, peace, justice, dignity, and prosperity.

Why the sponsors of the TPLF regime give deaf ear and blind eye to the reports of human right violations recorded by credible organizations like amnesty international, human rights watch, Oromia support group, human rights league of the Horn of Africa, etc? It is beyond the scope of this piece of article to describe the reasons. It will be written by historians to establish awareness of sovereignty and territorial integrity in minds of political leaders of Ethiopia in particular and Africa in general.

The peoples of Ethiopia have no alternatives except fighting the evil political system with any means possible to retake their country, land, and resources. Therefore, the people of ancient Kush known by their ethnic codes like Agawu, Afar, Amahara, Beneshangul, Gurage, Gambela, Hadiya, Kambata, Oromo, Sidama, Somale, and etc must continue the process of reunification with the spirit of humanity to successfully avert the evil activities of the messengers of political devil in order to liberate their country, Ethiopia (Kush land), from exploitation, injustice, and terrorism perpetrated by modern system of colonization.

“For I Yahweh love justice; I hate robbery and injustice; I will faithfully reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them (Isaiah 61:8, Holman Christian Standard Bible).”

References

• Jaatee M. and Anywaa Survival Organization (ASO), 2016. Land Grabbing and Violations of Human Rights in Ethiopia. http://genocidewatch.net/2016/02/01/land-grabbing-in-ethiopia/  Accessed from the website on 07. 09. 2016.

• Mulataa. Z., 2010. Political nongovernmental organizations and governmental companies in Ethiopia. Political roles of local NGOs & governmental companies under the ownership of TPLF/EPRDF regime. Accessed from the website on 07. 09. 2016. http://www.oromoliberationfront.org/news/2010/Fake_NGO_of_the_TPLF_(gullaala_xummuraa)[1].pdf

• Unpublished Running Document (URD), 2002. Ethiopian non-governmental business: companies controlled by or associated with EPRDF-member organizations (4th update of a running documentary).

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Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa crossed his arms above his head at the finish line of the Men’s Marathon athletics event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro on August 21, 2016. Lilesa crossed his arms above his head as he finished the race as a protest against the Ethiopian government’s crackdown on political dissent PHOTO | FILE

Ethiopian Olympian Feyisa Lilesa, who said he wanted to seek asylum after making an anti-government gesture in Rio, has arrived in the US.

The marathon runner crossed the line in second place with his arms above his head in solidarity with Oromo activists who are staging protests in Ethiopia.

He repeated the gesture later at a press conference, saying his life would be in danger if he returned home.

The government has been accused of brutally cracking down on protesters.

The country’s Information Minister Getachew Reda told the BBC at the time that he had nothing to fear and would be welcomed home as a hero.

• Endurance test for Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa
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• Africa Live: News updates through the day

But speaking after the race, Mr Feyisa said he might be killed if he returned.

The Ethiopian government said Mr Feyisa would be treated as a hero if he returned home

“If not kill me, they will put me in prison. I have not decided yet, but maybe I will move to another country.”

His family later said that he wanted to seek asylum in the US.

A funding campaign, which has now reached its $150,000 (£113,000) target, was set up to help pay his legal fees and support his family back home in Ethiopia.

Mr Feyisa is from Oromia, home to most of Ethiopia’s 35 million Oromo people, the country’s largest ethnic group.

The region has been hit by a wave of anti-government protests since November last year as people complain about social and political marginalisation.

US-based rights group Human Rights Watch has said that more than 400 people have been killed by security forces during the demonstrations.

The government disputes the figure and has said that it welcomes dialogue and peaceful protests to sort out issues that people may have.

The information minister has acknowledged that there have been some killings but has said that in the main the security forces conducted themselves “in a very professional and responsible manner”.

He put the killings down to “a few bad apples”.

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Aanaa, Godina, Ganda, Masyibaasii fi Bakka Argamtaan Hundatti Walitti Dhufuun Warraaqsii itti Fufuu qaba!! Manni Hidhaa Wayyaanee Beekamaa fi guddichi kan Hayyootni qaroo uummata Oromoo ta’an keessaatti argamaan Ibiddaan gubachuu fi Wayyaaneen hidhamtoota Ibiddaa jalaa of baasuuf socho’an irratti dhukaasaa ba’uun lubbuun ilmaan Oromoo fi saboota cunqurfamoo akka wareegamee fi madaa’uun midhamanii hospitala galanii jiraatuu median dubbattee jirti.Kanneen Wareegamanis ta’ee kanneen Madaa’aan yeroof maqaan addaa hin baafamiin jira, kanaafuu bakka Argamnuu Hundatti biyyaa keessaafi alatti Sochiin Warraaqsaa Biyyoolessaa Oromiyaa FXG n Daran Jabaatee akka itti Fufuu Qeerroon Bilisummaa Oromoo Ummata Oromoo fi Jaarmiyaalee Qabsoo bilisummaa Oromoo hundaaf Waamichaa Ariifachiisaa Dabarseeraa!!

1. Hayyootni Qaroo Uummata Keenyaa Essaa jiruu? Hidhamtootni Oromoo Hundii Mana Hidhaa Qilinxoo keessatti Argamaan Uummataa fi Maatii isaanitti Argisiifamuu qabu!! Badii tokko malee hidhamanii dararama waan jiraniif gaaffii tokko malee akka Hiikamaniif warraaqsaa gaggeessina !!

2. Kanneen Wareegaman, madoo ta’an maqaa isaanii waliin ifaa ta’uu qaba!! Kanneen madoo ta’an maatii fi uummatni akka waldhannatuuf nuuf haakennaman!

3. Mootummaan wayyaanee yakka duguuginsa sanyii balleessuu ummata Oromoo irratti rawwataa jiruuf aangoo gadhiisuun seeraatti haa dhiyaatu!!

4. Gaaffii mirga Abbaa biyyummaa kan bilisummaa ummata Oromoofi Walabummaa Oromiyaaf Deebii hanga Gonfannutti Warraaqsaa irraa duubatti hin jennu!! Gochi wayyaanee warraqsatti daranuu kan nu jabeessuudha!!

5. Dhaabni Ergamtuu Wayyaanee EPRDF /TPLF taate OPDOn Oromiyaa keessaa diigamuu qabdi, Oromiyaan bulcha jettee dubbatuu fi Oromiyaa keessaa socho’uu dhaabuu qabdii, Yeroo bulchiinsii naannoo Amaaraa aantummaa uummataa isaa argisiisaa jirutti OPDOn uummata keenyaa ajjeesaa waan jirtuuf bulchiinsii OPDO Oromiyaa irraa dhaabbachuu qaba. Sabboontootni ilmaan Oromoo OPDO keessatti argamtan gara uummataatti makamuun Warraaqsaa Biyyoolessaa Oromiyaa FXG Akka jabeessuun dirqama lamummaa keessaan akka baatan!!

6. Daandiin konkolaataa bakka hundatti cufamuu qaba, kanfaltiin gibiraa fi buusiin taksii kamuu dhaabbachuu qaba, duulli gabaa lagachuufi qabeenyaa ofii gabaa laguu Jabaatee itti fufuu qaba!!

7. Mootummaan Cee’umsaa kan ABO fi dhaabbilee Siyaasaa Bilisummaa saba isaaniif socho’an hammate atattamaan akka hundaa’uu fi mirgii fi bilisummaan uummata Oromoofi saboota cunqurfamoo akka kabajamuuf warraaqsaa wal irraa hin citnee gaggeessina!!

8. Tarkaanfiiwwaan qabeenyaa aangawoota wayyaanee fi ergamtoota Wayyaanee barbadeessuu, qabeenyaa investeroota wayyaanee lafa ofii irraa barbadeessuun lafa ofii dhuunfachuun itti fufuu qaba, Waajjiraalee OPDO keessa jiru hundi barbadaa’uu qaba!!

INJIFANNOON UUMMATA OROMOOromiyaaOF!!

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# HARMEEN NI BOOCHII. Caqasuuf as tuqi

# Dhala ishee ajjeesanii haadha Oromoo boochisuun, ilma abbaa irraa ajjeesanii awwaalcha mucaa ofii irraa dhorkuun hagam tokko ulfaataafisuukanneessaa akka ta’e kan hubachuu danda’u silaa dhaluma namaa, kan namummaa qabuu fi namummaan itti dhaga’amu ture.

Wayyaanee/TPLF fiergamtootni diinaa kan caasaa gara garaa keessa jiran, warri meeshaa diinaa hidhatee qe’ee Oromoo keessa luffisuun Oromoo akka sabaatti gadda ulfaataafkennaa jiran namummaa namaa keessa hin jiran.
Jaarraa21ffaa kana keessa gochi akkanaa nama irratti ni raawwatama jedhanii herreguun tasumaa namaa hin dhufu. Waan fedhes ta’u namni akka namaa gocha fokkataa fiqaanessaa, gaddisiisaa fi suukanneessaa ulfaataa akkanaa nama akka isaatii irratti raawwachuun hedduu gaddisiisaa dha.

Wayyaanee/TPLF diina innikkaa saba Oromoo ta’uun har’a miti kan hubatame. Kan nama aarsuu fidhiifamnillee hin godhamne garuu warraOromoo ta’ee, ykn Oromoo irrajiraatee, Oromoon nama ta’ee deebisee Oromoo miidhaa jiranii dha. Jarri kun wayyaanee faana hiriiranii namummaa keessaa ba’anii saba Oromoo irratti gocha gaddisiisaa firifaasisaaraawwatu.

Wayyaanee fijarootni kun, keessumaa warri hidhannoo diinaa baatee qe’ee Oromoo keessatti saba Oromoo irratti gocha jaarraa ammaa kana keessa nama irratti hin raawwatamne raawwachaa jiran isaanitti fakkaatee ti malee, waan har’a namoom-dhabaan saba Oromoo irratti raawwataajiran kanaafmurtii ummata bal’aa Oromoof dhihaachuun isaanii kan hafu miti.

Deesseen Oromoo magaalaa Gimbii, haati Oromoo magaalaa D.Doolloo, abbaan ilma Oromoo magaalaa Awwadaa, abbaan ilma gootaa magaalaa Giincii, walumagaalatti imimmaan haadha Oromoo, abbaa Oromoo Bahaa – dhiha, Kaaba – Kibba irraa akkalolaa lola’aa jiru, imimmaan isaanii galaana ta’ee warrahar’a aangoo qabna jedhanii yakka suukanneessaan ummata kabajamaa kana qe’ee ykn oobdii isaa keessatti fixaa, warraboo’ichaa figaddaa godhaa jiran kana haxaawee akka darbu shakkiin hin jiru.

Tibba kana magaalaa D.Doolloo irraa imimmaan deessee Oromoo, boo’icha haadha gootaa fisagalee gaddaa ishee kan argee fidhaga’e hagam tokko akka aaru, garaan nama gubatu, gara diddaa isa caaluutti akka nama geessu tilmaamuun nama hin dhibu. Wanti haadha Oromoo kana irratti raawwatame dhugumatti maalummaa wayyaanee caalaatti kan mul’ise, gocha abdii kutannaa isa dhumaa, yakka dhiifama hin qanbe, gocha bineensummaa ishee daran kan addunyaaf ifa godhee dha. Mucaa haadha irraaajjeesanii, haadha deebisanii mucaa ishee irrateessisanii achi irratti yeroo tuman arguu fi dhaga’uun nama surura. Sammuu nama nyaata. Diinni kana godhus namummaa namaa kan hin qabne, bineensa irraa adda miti.

Imimmaan deessee Oromoo, gaddi abbaa Oromoo kun dhaabbatee gara gammachuu fibilisummaatti geeddaramuun isaa fagoo hin ta’u. Gaddaa fiboo’ichatti xumura gochuun bilisummaa dhaqqabuun murtee Oromoo ti. Murtee kana kan fuudhee deemuu fihojii irra oolchee dhugoomsu warraaqsi ummata bal’aa Oromoo FXGn finiinaa jiru isa kana milkeessuufi.
Kanaaf murteen keenya murtee ta’ee warra haadhaa fi abbaa keenya boochisaa jiru, biyyaa fimirga nu sarbee qabeenya nu saamee namummaa nu baasaa jiran muree akka darbuuf qabsoo roga maraa, warraaqsa FXG karaa danda’ame cufaan finiinsinee itti fufuu qabna.

# Bilisummaan uummata bal’aaf.

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Yaa Oromo: Your Victory is certain!

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Abba Lafa (PhD)

I just listen (http://www.ethiomedia.com/1016notes/7451.html) to old day’s hero for Tigrai cause, and the current hoodwinker actor of TPLF regime in Ethiopian empire. His name is Abay Tsehaye, in charge of one key post of TPLF’s regime in the Ethiopian empire. Mr. Abay, you and me never cared about Ethiopian empire as long the empire cares not for right and benefits of our people: respectively, Tigrai and Oromo nations. That is beyond shadow of doubt to everyone in some way connected to the empire. Being the founder of TPLF, front dedicated to the rights and benefits of Tigrai, you are successful to manage the empire’s successive hegemony and manipulated it for your initial goal and beyond. In an attempt to keep this success of yours at its height, I understand you are undertaking genocide and igniting civil war in the empire to the outcome which you are the foremost victim. Remember that the times of Rwandan and the present world are quite different in relation to accountability. The events of that decade were only eve to the current world level of justice partly because of the lesson from the interahamwe. The current world claims justice for oppressed nation from any part of the globe.

I am certain that you aren’t fishery man who cares for the dead fish (the Ethiopian empire). However, do you think you will find safe heaven either on any peripheral earth or under Tigari ponds to rescue you against your evil deeds: the evil/civil war you think to drop us in? Do you think Agazi will be able to safeguard you in Republic of Tigrai forever? In case you may hope natural death for yourself because of your retirement age, what about for your descendants? Note that there is inventory document of your genealogy on the hands of fighters for freedom! You will find nowhere to hide! As a best stakeholder of the scene, you very well know the negative consequences more than I do. I hope you also remember, except for his run away, that Meles Zenawi would have been given trial warrant of ICC as it was the agendum on table for discussion around 2009.  However, the ultimate goal of your propaganda is, to make us refrain from just struggle against your colonial regime. But it wouldn’t work!

Mr. Abay, between freedom fighters for the inborn rights of oppressed nation and deceptive actors of colonial regime on behalf of the benefits of minority, who do you think will fear death or whatsoever consequences of the failed state will be? Just answer and satisfy yourself! Simply put to the answer, you ought to remember those days of your conception of TPLF for Tigrai liberation agendum! No bizarre propaganda! The most you can do is to find ways of saving your life, descendants, nation for whom you once fought for, looted property and to be not on the bad side of history is to find political solution.

Also for fate of your sprite in the kingdom of God, you may consult Christian bible (Luke 21). Focus on the story of the rich man! I assure you that my answer to you will be likewise to that of Abraham being in the bosom.

My best tip for you is not that you keep on deception but that you should go for true self and reconciliation with others in the following order. First reconcile with yourself (you of the old days as naked beggar in your way to fight for liberation of Tigrai Vs you of the present days in all wool suit looted from Oromia and working for the benefit (supremacy) of Tigrai), followed by reconciliation with hero political fronts denying your oppressive regime and the oppressed nations in the Ethiopian empire, and indispensably with your creator God! The reconciliation I address is not that of husband wife issue as TPLF used to say it. Hoping that was old joke of TPLF, which will never come to play, I say it is Ethiopian empire wide reconciliation required on the political, economic and identity politics! Wise tactical approaches are immediate release prison’s of concise, dump your Agazi into dustbin or its camps, create atmosphere of the early 1990’s transition period and at least find a way to effectively implement the constitution you have at hand with eventual shift to drafting of constitution which enables confederacy of the nations in the horn of Africa with policy of peaceful co-existence with Eritrea and neighboring states of Ethiopian empire. You may say no only to bark dogs because the camel is on its walk of life toward ultimatum!

If you ignore my little advice, I can’t wait to see you nowhere!

Good for you boy!

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Jaallannee Gammadaa

Warshaa Harreen Keessatti Qalamee Gara Biyya Alaatti Ergamu Jiraachuu Mormine

WASHINGTON, DC (VOA Afaan Oromoo) — Godiina Shawaa Bahaa Magaalaa Bisooftuu keessatti jarreen chaaynaa warshaa harree keessatti qalanii gara biyya alaatti ergan dhaabamuu mormuun Kamiisa Fuulbaana 08 bara 2016 mormii ba’ameen namni tokko ajjeefamuu ka biraa tokko du’u hin oolu jedhamuu fi sadaffaan madaa’uu jiraatonni ibsanii jiru.

Sababaa Kanaan ijoolleen 8 hidhaa keessa akka jiran dubbatu.Warshaan kun gad-dhaabamuu kan ilaaleen ammaan duras mormiin gaggeffamee yeroof warshichi hojii dhaabee akka ture fi amma garuu deebi’ee hojii jalqabuu isaa ibsan.

Abbootiin qabeenyaa warshichaa mootummaa biraa ehama qabna akka jedhan kan dubbatan jiraattonni kun aadaa keenya waan hin taaneef nu irraa dhaabachuu qaba jedhu.

Itti gaafatamaan Waajiira poolisii magaalaa Bishooftuu waa’ee hidhaa fi ajjeechaa gaggeeffame jedhame kanaa gaafatamee magaalatti keessa hin jiru, hin beekus jedhan.Bulchiinsa magaalaa dhaqqabuuf yaaliin goonees hin milkoofne.

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The post # Documentary Qabsoo Oromoofi gufummaa OPDO, akkasuma haala qabsoo Oromoon amma finiinsaa jirurratti raagaa fi ragaa Woyyaanotaaf. oromoon kamuu dhageeffachuu kan qabu. appeared first on Bilisummaa.

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Washington, DC – When long-distance runners are in their stride, thoughts weave from pace and distance, to discomfort and the environment.

For Feyisa Lilesa, the Oromo marathoner who won a silver medal for Ethiopia at the Rio Olympics, his thoughts go to friends and family dying and disappearing in anti-government protests.

Lilesa grew up running 7km to school and back in his home state of Oromia, the protest epicentre, and it is hard for him to forget where he came from.

Ethiopia protests: Fire and gunshots reported at jail

“Even when I practised, personally my legs were running but my mind was also racing, preoccupied by the suffering all around me,” he told Al Jazeera’s The Stream through a translator Monday in Washington DC.

“All this has been on my mind for a very, very long time.”

Oromo youth tired of being Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group yet treated like second-class citizens, have been protesting for nearly a year.

‘Ethiopian police killed hundreds of protesters’

They began when the government floated a plan to expand the capital into land worked by Oromo farmers, then continued after security forces used live bullets to tamp down the unrest.

Lilesa says his wife’s brother went missing in one of the protests, and his friend died in a suspicious fire at a prison where opposition figures were held.

On track for the Olympics, the 26-year-old knew he could not show support in the streets, but he could bring the Oromo cause to an even bigger stage.

“As soon as I was selected for the Rio Olympic team, I decided if I won and got a good result, I wanted to use that opportunity to raise awareness and the voice of my people.”

Lilesa says that he did not share his plans with his family because he did not want to worry them. They would have to find out when the rest of the world did.

Ethiopia protests: Opposition wants prisoners freed

As he neared the finish line in the men’s marathon event on August 21 in Rio, Lilesa crossed his wrists in an “X” above his head, a sign of Oromo solidarity.

“I knew this was being live broadcast around the world, and I wanted to show that the protests in Ethiopia were peaceful just like my sign was,” he recalls.

“As I was looking to the left and to the right, the place is a stadium with people in the stands, and they thought this was just a sign of celebration, winning the silver and celebrating.”

UN demands probe of Ethiopia protest killings

Lilesa says Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge, who won the gold, asked what he was doing and then said he was sorry Lilesa had been carrying such stress.

The stress has only increased.

After his race, Lilesa told the press that his government would kill him if he returned home, a claim Getachew Reda, Ethiopia’s communications minister, laughed off.

“He’s making a big fuss out of nothing,” Reda told Al Jazeera by telephone from Addis Ababa on Sunday, the Ethiopian New Year.

“I think that wasn’t good thinking, but he’s entitled to do whatever he wants to do.”

Lilesa wants to explore his options in the US.

He stayed in Brazil two and a half weeks after the Olympics ended, waiting for a US visa for people with extraordinary skills or abilities.

It came with unusual speed.

WATCH: Are Ethiopia’s Oromo being violently repressed?

He is now in Washington where he kicked off a media blitz on Monday wearing a slim black suit with white piping, his hair in a medium-length afro.

He is telling the press that he is not seeking asylum, that he will spend the next few months training out West where the altitude is higher, while he figures out what his best for him and his family.

In a sit-down interview with Al Jazeera, he relied on a translator to express the grief he feels being separated from his wife, five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son.

“Every time I call my wife, they want to know when I’m coming. They ask me, ‘What are you up to, when are you coming home?’ This makes me emotional inside, so even when I call on Skype, I have to fight back tears.”

The Oromo, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, allege systematic persecution [Wolfgang Kumm/ EPA]

His children have a better life than he did growing up because of the comforts that being an elite runner in Ethiopia brings.

The irony, he says, is that growing up poor, working on a farm, living far from school, is what grooms the best runners.

“The kind of living environment that leads people into running is not the kind of comfortable living they have right now.”

But the environment still is not what Lilesa wants for his son and daughter, or any other Oromo child growing up in Ethiopia.

He looks to the US, an ally of Ethiopia, as a better example of what his country could be.

OPINION: The ‘Ethiopia rising’ narrative and the Oromo protests

“I heard Obama making a statement when there were children being killed in America by gun violence and he cried on the national TV. That’s the kind of government you have. But on the other side in Ethiopia, we have a government that is killing its own people, children as young as nine years old,” Lilesa said.

“The freedoms Americans enjoy here, and the kind of government they have, that’s what the American government should be pushing Ethiopia to do.”

US President Obama got flak last year when he praised Ethiopia for its “democratically elected” government after the ruling party won 100 percent of parliamentary seats.

Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group ‘marginalised’

Even Getachew Reda, the Ethiopian minister, told Al Jazeera’s The Stream he is “not particularly proud” of that statistic.

Reda considers his government a work in progress and insists “some officials will have to be removed for having failed their people”.

The assurance do not impress Lilesa, who says that he does not trust Reda or anyone else in the Ethiopian government.

What it would take to bring him home, he says, is real change.

“I want the superiority of one ethnic group to end. If everyone does not have equal power, their different political, religious views respected, in the future, there will not be sustainable peace in the country.”

With a temporary US visa, and an unknown future, little seems sustainable for the runner right now.

But he is an endurance athlete, familiar with the long game.

His hero, after all, is Oromo marathon runner Abebe Bikila, who won the gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics while running bare foot.

Lilesa says that he does not consider himself a hero, but he understands why some people call him that.

“They carry around a deep wound, and when a doctor touches a wound, it makes you feel better. I sort of rubbed their wounds.”

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KHR–ABO walgahii isaa dhaabbataa Fulbaana 1 irraa kaasee hanga Fulbaana 11, bara 2016tti gaggeeffachuun, gabaasaa dameelee dhageeffatee rakkoolee mumul’ataniif furmaataa fi qajeelfama eega akeekeen booda, haala qabsoo bilisummaa Oromoo fi walabummaa Oromiyaa, haala mootummaa faashistii Wayyaanee, haala sochiilee farra-faashistii wayyaanee; kan naannoo ummata Amaaraa (Gondor, Goojjamii fi Walqaayit) keessatti adeemaa jiru, haala sochii ummata Konsoo fi Majangir, Gambeellaa, Sidaamaa, Benshaangul, Ogaadeen, haala Gaanfa Afrikaa fi Afrikaa guutummaatti , haala addunyaa fi kallattiin ammoo, haala sochii qabsoo bilisummaa fi walabummaa Oromiyaa waliin waan wal qabate, dhimma dippilomaasii Oromoo ilaalchiisee, gadii fageenyaan gilgaaluu fi xiinxaluun murtiilee kanaa gadii dabarsuun walgahii isaa milkiin xumuree jira.

UMMATA BAL’AA OROMOO

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Hawaasa Oromoo Ontarioo fii nannawaa,

Dargaggoonni Oromo ‘’Oromo Youth Association of Ontario’’ (Waldaa Dargaggoo Oromo Ontario), sagantaa agarsiisa aadaa mataduree A Night in Oromiya jedhuun guyyaa dilbataa Onkololeessa 9 bara 2016 qopheesse irratti akka nuuf argamtan kabajaan isin affeeree jirra. Bakki sagantichaa “3710 Chesswood Dr. Toronto, Canada” sa’aa 4:00 (sa’aa booda) haga halkan walakkaa sa’a 12:00 tti.

Kaayyoon agarsiisa kanaa bal’innaa fi barreedinna Oromiyaan qabdu hundaa mul’isuu fi calaqqisisssuuf yoo ta’u, karaa sirbaa, dhiichisa, walaloo, mudhisa artii, dramaa fi sagantaawaan adda addaa biraas qabatee dhiyaata. Walumaa galatti qophiin kun bashannaansiisaa fi barsiisaa akka ta’uufii galagala addaa ta’ee akka yaadatamu abdii qabna

Waldaa Dargaggoo Oromo Ontario keessaa (OYA Ontario) gurmuu dargaggoota Oromoo xiyyeefannaa fi ka’umsi isa aadaa uummata Oromoo ifatti baasee agarsiisuu, qodaa fi hambaa Oromoo barsiisuu fi beeksisuu fi dargaggoo Oromoo humneessuu irratti hojjataa. Nuyi Dargaggoon Oromo Ontario tti argamnu sagantaa kana qopheesuuf yoo karoorfannu waldaaleen hawaasa Oromoo Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, fi Ottawa sagantaa bareedaa nuu qopheesaa jiru irraati hirmaataa jiru.

Kanaafuu sagantaa dargaaggoon Oromoo akka Oromootti of ibsan aaddaa fi eennyummaa Oromoo olqabuuf qopheessan kana deegartanii akka irratti argamtan abdachuun kabajaan isin affeerree jirra. Nullee dalagaa kana fedhii guddaan waan dalagaa jirruuf bakka isin itti argamtanitti kabajuuf barbaanna.

Isiin akka keessummaa keenyaatti simachuu hedduu irraa gammanna, yoo gaaffii qabaattan gara emailii ykn bilbilaan akka qunamntan.

Galatooma akka acii wal arginuu abdi qabna,
Waldaa Dargaggoo Oromo Ontario

To Oromos in and out/ around of Ontario,

The Oromo Youth Association of Ontario (OYA Ontario), extend our invitation to attend our upcoming Oromo cultural show, A Night in Oromiya, on Sunday 9th of October of 2016. The event will be held at Montecassino Banquet Hall (3710 Chesswood Dr. Toronto, Canada) from 4:00 p.m to 12 p.m.

The main objective of this show is to encompass and embrace the beautiful diversity within Oromia during the special evening through song, dance, poetry, art displays, and drama pieces in addition to others. All the while, this show will be entertaining as well as educational.

The Oromo Voice International is a committee of Oromo youth focused and motivated to bring the Oromo culture into light, heightening awareness and empowerment of Oromo youth. We, the Oromo youth of Toronto and Greater Toronto Area (GTA), are hosting this event together with the Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, and Ottawa Oromo communities are also taking part in the creation of this wonderful show.

We request for your attendance in hopes that you would like to support youths who identify as Oromos and are working to raise its awareness through keeping the Oromo culture alive. We have taken the duty to heart and would be pleased to share the celebration of our culture in your company.

We would be honored to have you as our guest, please do not hesitate to forward your questions. If you have any questions email us or call us with the provided contact information at the bottom of the flyer.

Thank you, hope to see you all,
Oromo Youth Association of Ontario Committee

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An ex-cabinet minister in the Ethiopian government and former president of Oromia Regional State explains why the current turmoil has come as no surprise. 

Scenes from the recent protests. Credit: Jawar Mohammed.

For over two decades, the Ethiopian government has been walking with its eyes shut towards the edge of the cliff. It is now tittering on the brink.

The protests and strikes that have been held across several towns and cities since last year and have intensified over the past couple of months may have come as a surprise to those who accepted the “Ethiopia rising” myth. But it has come as no surprise to those of us who have seen the political system unfurl from the inside.

Missed opportunities

When a coalition of insurgent groups defeated the former military ruler Mengistu Hailemariam in 1991, most Ethiopians hoped the country would finally put aside its sad history of civil war and poverty and embark on a democratic and prosperous future.

This hope was not without reason. A transitional charter that got rid of the much despised centralised state structure culminated in a federal system that would give self-rule to the country’s 80-plus ethnic groups. Eritrea was allowed to hold a referendum to secede, which it did. Furthermore, given that the rising power-holders were former student radicals who had rebelled against military rule, many hoped the new leaders would be committed to democratic principles.

Yet within a year, this hope had begun to crumble. In 1992, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), a key member of the transitional government, was pushed out and resumed armed insurgency. Then, in 1994, the Ogaden National Liberation Front, which had represented the Somali ethnic group (the third largest in the country) in the negotiation of the Transitional Charter, also resumed armed struggle.

But despite such setbacks, many in the international community and in Ethiopia gave the new rulers the benefit of the doubt. In 1998, then US president Bill Clinton praised Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea and few others as the “new generation of democratic leaders” in Africa.

Domestically, some began to embrace the new rulers too, whether out of disappointment with the fractured opposition or because they were pleased with some positive changes in social and economic policy.

In 1998, war broke out with Eritrea. This conflict dashed hopes of peace in the region, but it brought about national cohesion within Ethiopia as the public rallied behind the government, led by the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Many hoped the ruling party would use this support to establish an inclusive and democratic political system in the post-war era a couple years later. But instead, the war brought friction within the ruling party, with the winning faction led by Meles Zenawi purging almost half the senior leadership.

Nevertheless, this move still strengthened hopes for reform. The perception was that the hardliners had lost in the purge, while the reformists had won. Meles had also aligned himself with non-Tigreans to help him overcome the leadership challenge within the TPLF, leading many to assume Tigrean dominance would be reduced. Furthermore, the prime minister put several reforms on the agenda for internal and public discussion.

However, as it turned out, Meles was only keeping up the prospect of reform until he re-consolidated power. And he soon began attacking ideas of political and economic reform as part of conspiracies by neoliberal Western forces.

The country responded to the now growing authoritarianism and Tigrean domination by severely punishing the ruling coalition in the 2005 elections, with some claiming the opposition was robbed of victory by electoral fraud. In the face of the mass protests that ensued, Meles resorted to extreme repression and a crackdown against the opposition,killing hundreds.

At this point, many Oromo military generals gave up on the hope of internal reform and defected to Eritrea to join the OLF rebels. Amhara generals were accused of plotting a coup d’etat and were thrown in jail. And thousands of high and mid-ranking Amhara and Oromo officers were purged.

Meanwhile, mistrust and paranoia within the TPLF leadership continued to increase. In order to cut off economic support for the dissent, businessmen of Oromo, Amhara and Gurage origin had their business activities taken over by Tigreans or were jailed.

Meles’ death, Hailemariam’s staged succession

Meles died in the summer of 2012 after 21 years in power. As he was the main actor blocking reform due to fears of losing personal power, many believed his departure could lead to a fresh start. Those of us within the regime clandestinely circulated this idea.

However, the reaction from the TPLF leadership was extremely negative. They perceived the idea of a new transition as a conspiracy to push them aside. They appointed a non-Tigrean – Hailemariam Desalegn – to be Meles’ replacement, but this gesture was totally disingenuous as they simultaneously took swift measures to cripple the new PM’s power.

To begin with, they appointed some 37 generals, almost all of them Tigreans, before the new prime minister took office in violation of the constitution which gives such power to the prime minister and president.

They reduced the prime minister’s control over ministries by increasing the number of deputy prime ministers from one to three, with each ministry having to report to these deputies rather than the PM himself.

The Chief of Staff of the armed forces, the chiefs of intelligence, and foreign affairs remained in the hand of the TPLF. Several senior advisors were appointed to Hailemariam, almost all of them Tigreans. And while most of the hardline TPLF members who were pushed out in 2001 began to work covertly with the system again, those in government opposed to the increasing one-party monopoly were either demoted or, as in my case, purged.

The country did not only lose a chance to reform with Meles’ death, but entered a new and dangerous era. As the TPLF could not find a direct replacement for Meles, leadership rivalries emerged and fractured the TPLF. Meanwhile, several non-Tigreans in government finally gave up on internal reform and started actively colluding with opposition parties and activists.

No surprises

For those of us who have seen the genesis of the current crisis from the inside, the current turn of events is therefore not surprising.

The eruption of mass protests in the two largest regions of Oromia and Amhara was inevitable as these communities have been deliberately and systematically marginalised.

The resilience of these protests is also not unexpected, given not just the depth of the people’s grievances but the complete lack of will to reform from the government. Thebrutal response of the regime is also in keeping with its paranoia about the rise of either the Oromo or Amhara against Tigrayan domination or of the alliance between the two.

The government seems to think it can kill and jail its way out of this unprecedented crisis, but no government could ever kill or jail such a vast percentage of its population.

The ruling party has shown that it can no longer reform itself and the state apparatus. It is therefore in the best interest of the country and the region that the regime steps aside to allow an inclusive transitional arrangement.

Juneydi Saaddo is the former President of Oromia Regional State, the largest region in Ethiopia. He served as Ethiopia’s Minister for Transport & Communication, Minister for Science and Technology, and Civil Service Minister until 2012.

The post Behind the Ethiopia protests: A view from inside the government appeared first on Bilisummaa.

http://www.startribune.com/

Marathon silver medalist seen as a hero for his running as well as his political statement.

TOM WALLACE, STAR TRIBUNEOromo (Ethiopian) Olympian Feyisa Lilesa entered the Minneapolis Convention Center Sunday, Sept 18, 2016 to a crowd of about 1000 well wishers. He won the silver medal in the 2016 Games in Rio and crossed the finish line with his arms crossed in an X, symbolizing the plight of the Oromo in Ethiopia. 2016

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The TPLF regime is withdrawing its military from Somalia in a bid to force the US for political and material support against internal popular uprising. What a gambling!

In the first place, Al-Shabaab  was created by TPLF for two purposes. One is to deny save-haven for its oppositions, special the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). The second purpose is to collect money from the West to “fight terrorists” in Somalia including Al-Shabaab.

Covertly, Al-shabaab has been armed and supported by TPLF regime since its formation.  In return, Al-shabaab attacks Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and OLF to perpetuate the TPLF rule.  The TPLF regime used these mischievous practices to fool the west to harvest cash for over ten years while it was denying space for OLF and ONLF in Somalia.

It seems, now, cheating is getting uncovered. The next step, for TPLF, is to try to  intimidate the West with old tactic “if TPLF  withdraws from Somalia, Al-Shabaab, Al-qaeda affiliated organization, is taking over the whole Horn of Africa and that will hurt American interest in the region”.  Listen to Hailemariam Desalegn intention below in Amharic. He says he does not need the US support to maintain his regime in tact.  Will the Obama Administration bow to this wild politicians? Read also the following documents:
(1)The Secret Relationship between Ethiopia and Alshabaab
(2)The relationship beween Ethiopian terrorist regime and Al Shabab

The post Will Obama Administration surrender to TPLF Intimidation for withdrawing from Somalia? appeared first on Bilisummaa.

Hillary Clinton emails on July 5, 2016. Here are six important emails we found that specifically talk about Ethiopia. Email 1

MELES

From: Wendy Sherman
To: Hillary Clinton
Date: 2012-08-20 00:14
Subject: MELES

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-20439 Doc No. C05791778 Date: 11/30/2015

RELEASE IN FULL

From: Sherman, Wendy R <shermanwr@state.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 12:14 PM
To:

Cc: Mills, Cheryl D; Sullivan, Jacob J; Carson, Johnnie
Subject: Meles

Madam Secretary, Further to our conversation, Meles’ political party, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Front, will convene a party
council tomorrow to nominate a new PM and DPM. Hailemariam, the current acting PM will be the PM nominee. No
name yet for the DPM. Parliament , on break until October, is expected to be recalled into session to vote on the PM

and DPM likely on Thursday or Friday of this week so there should be a smooth transition of government, even given
that Meles’ loss is a very big one for Ethiopia, Africa and for all of us. The funeral is expected next week and the date will
be decided tomorrow. A/S Carson believes that any successor will be more autocratic and authoritarian, less receptive

to us and more ethnic tension is likely. Johnnie is working with Cheryl and Jake on message, call and funeral
arrangements.
Best,

Wendy Email 2

From: Cheryl Mills
To: Hillary Clinton
Date: 2010-05-02 02:23
Subject: SUMMARY OF 5/3 0845 AND 0915 MEETINGS
AF: (A/S Carson) — Weekend attack on Somali mosque believed work of ASJ — group is Ethiopia-supported and affiliated with Email 3
ANOTHER WIKI CABLES STORY — THE SEYCHELLES AND US REAPER DRONES

From: Cheryl Mills
To: Hillary Clinton
Date: 2011-09-19 11:03
Subject: ANOTHER WIKI CABLES STORY — THE SEYCHELLES AND US REAPER DRONES

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-20439 Doc No. C05783212 Date: 01/29/2016

RELEASE IN PART
B1,B5,1.4(D),B6

From: Mills, Cheryl D <millscd@state.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 11:03 PM

To: H
Subject: Fw: another Wiki cables story — the Seychelles and US Reaper drones

Classified by DAS, A/GIS, DoS on 01/29/2016 — Class: CONFIDENTIAL — Reason: 1.4(D) — Declassify on:
09/19/2026

From: Hammer, Michael A
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 10:07 PM

To: Carson, Johnnie; Wharton, David B; Mills, Cheryl D; Kennedy, Patrick F; Mull, Stephen D; Blake, Robert 0; Benjamin,
Daniel S

Cc: Smith, Dana S; Zeya, tiara S; Naranjo, Brian R
Subject: Re: another Wild cables story — the Seychelles and US Reaper drones

The WaPo article just posted:

U.S. building secret drone bases in Africa, Arabian Peninsula, officials say
By Craig Whitlock and

Greg Miller,

Tuesday, September 20, 9:14 PM

The Obama administration is assembling a constellation of secret drone bases for counterterrorism operations in the
Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula as part of a newly aggressive campaign to attack al-Qaeda affiliates in Somalia

and Yemen, U.S. officials said.

One of the installations is being established in Ethi o pia, a U.S. ally in the fight against al-Shabab, the Somali militant
group that controls much of the country. Another base is in the Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, where a

small fleet of “hunter killer” drones resumed operations this month after an experimental mission demonstrated that
the unmanned aircraft could effectively patrol Somali territory from there.

Emails 4
ETHIOPIAN PEACEKEEPERS TO ARRIVE IN ABYEI FRIDAY (AP)

From: Cheryl Mills
To: Hillary Clinton
Date: 2011-07-13 01:02
Subject: ETHIOPIAN PEACEKEEPERS TO ARRIVE IN ABYEI FRIDAY (AP)

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-20439 Doc No. C05783907 Date: 09/30/2015

RELEASE IN FULL

From: Mills, Cheryl D<millscd@state.gov>

Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 1:02 PM
To:

Subject: FW: Ethiopian peacekeepers to arrive in Abyei Friday (AP)

From: OpsNewsTicker
Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 12:34 PM

To: NEWS-Mahogany
Cc: SES-0
Subject: Ethiopian peacekeepers to arrive in Abyei Friday (AP)

NAIROBI (AP) – Ethiopia says it has started deploying peacekeepers to the contested region of Abyei, which

lies between Sudan and South Sudan.
Dina Mufti, spokesman of Ethiopia’s foreign affairs ministry, said Thursday that the troops began a weeklong

overland journey on July 7. Mufti said the battalion will “definitely be operational” Friday.

News Tickers alert senior Department officials to breaking news. This item appears as it did in its original publication and does not contain analysis or commentary
by Department sources.

Email 5

THIS SPEAKS TO THE FTF OPPOR WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING FOR SPEECH – HE DID THIS YESTERDAY

From: Cheryl Mills
To: Hillary Clinton
Date: 2011-07-27 18:14
Subject: THIS SPEAKS TO THE FTF OPPOR WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING FOR SPEECH – HE DID THIS YESTERDAY

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-20439 Doc No. C05781563 Date: 09/30/2015

RELEASE IN FULL

From: Mills, Cheryl D <millscd@state.gov>
Sent: Friday, July 29, 2011 6:14 AM

To:
Subject: This speaks to the FtF oppor we have been discussing for speech – he did this yesterday

James P. McGovern (MA)
5-Minute Special Order

Thursday, July 28, 2011

U.S. MUST LEAD GLOBAL RESPONSE
TO FAMINE IN HORN OF AFRICA

M. Speaker –

Last week, the United Nations declared famine in Somalia and reported urgent needs in Ethiopia and Kenya. On our
nightly TV news and daily papers, we are seeing the pictures of people dying, of children suffering extreme malnutrition,

and mothers carrying their babies walking over a hundred miles in search of food and safe haven.

Tens of thousands of people in Somalia have already died. The Horn of Africa is suffering a devastating drought, with
this year being recorded in some locations as the driest or second driest year on record since 1951. The impact has been
compounded by war, neglect and spiraling food prices.

Currently, some 11.5 million people across East Africa urgently need food aid, medical supplies and care. More than

130,000 Somali refugees have left their country for refugee camps along the borders of Ethiopia and Kenya. They arrive
exhausted and physically depleted. News reports estimate that about 1300 Somali refugees arrive in northern Kenya

every single day. They join already overcrowded camps, and stress the ability of the Kenyan government and
humanitarian agencies to provide food, water, emergency care and shelter.

Working with local partners and NGOs such as Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children and Italian Aid, UNICEF will

be vaccinating hundreds of thousands of children. Dehydrated and suffering from malnutrition, these children –

especially those under the age of five – are particularly susceptible to the measles, polio, diarrhea and pneumonia.

To date, in fiscal year 2011, the United States has provided over $450 million in humanitarian aid to the Horn of Africa

through USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Food for Peace Program, along with refugee assistance
from the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.

But much more needs to be done. The next three to six months will be critical. The drought is expected to worsen, at

least through the end of the year. And then we will wait to see what happens during the next cycle of rains. Will

communities be able to recover? Will small farmers be able to plant new crops? Or will heavy rains produce floods that
drive communities deeper into poverty?

My colleagues need to understand, however, that the current crisis, terrible as it is, could have been much worse.

There is good news amongst so much tragedy. The last time a drought of this magnitude hit Ethiopia, over 14 million
people faced starvation. This time, about 4.5 million Ethiopians are in need of emergency aid. The difference? Since

2005, the United States and other donors have made significant investments in Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net
Program.

I saw first-hand several of these programs in 2007. They help small farmers and poor communities diversify the crops

they planted, broaden their sources of income, create local markets, better manage their water resources, and increase

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-20439 Doc No. C05781563 Date: 09/30/2015

the nutritional content of their own diets and those of their children. This has enabled over 7.5 million Ethiopians to

withstand the worst effects of the current drought. These families and communities are NOT part of the 4.5 million
Ethiopians who require urgent humanitarian aid.

These programs work. They were models for Feed the Future, our current global program to promote sustainable

agriculture, food security and nutrition. It’s how you end global hunger, M. Speaker. It’s the difference between
needing to help rescue 4 million people rather than 14 million. It’s also the difference between investing $6.00 per

person each year so they become more food secure and resilient to disasters – or having to invest $250 per person to
deliver emergency relief that only covers three to four months.

It’s the smart way to invest our development resources. This is why I’m so appalled by what happened yesterday in the

mark-up of the State/Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill. Development, humanitarian, and disaster aid programs
were all brutally cut. These cuts come on top of the Agricultural Appropriations Bill that devastated our emergency food

aid programs.

With the worst drought in 60 years hitting the Horn of Africa, these cuts amount to the U.S. turning its back on its own
strategic interests and walking away from our international commitments.

Instead, we need to increase our emergency response to the current crisis, ensure we have the resources to invest in
long-term development, and continue our global leadership in ending hunger and famine once and for all.

We need to do better, M. Speaker.

Email 6
UK PLANS TO HALT DEVELOPMENT AID TO 16 COUNTRIES

From: Jake Sullivan
To: Hillary Clinton
Date: 2011-03-01 02:46
Subject: UK PLANS TO HALT DEVELOPMENT AID TO 16 COUNTRIES

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-20439 Doc No. C05778151 Date: 09/30/2015

RELEASE IN PART
B6

From: Sullivan, Jacob J <sullivanjj@>tate.gov
Sent: Tuesday, March 1, 201110:46 PM
To:
Subject: Fw: UK plans to halt development aid to 16 countries

DFID is getting real about selectivity.

From: Nazanin Ash
To:Sullivan, Jacob 3; Ash, Nazanin S
Sent:Tue Mar 01 22:17:33 2011
Subject:UK plans to halt development aid to 16 countries

hey, have done a terrible job of following her budget testimony (hope it went well today), but if you haven’t

already heard DFID announced these plans today–she may get questions and/or she may find it a helpful
reference

1 March 2011 Last updated at 06:53 ET

Aid budget will be better

focused, say ministers

Andrew Mitchell said it is “morally right’ and also “in our national interest” to help the

poorest people in the world

The government is to outline plans to stop direct development aid to 16 countries and freeze
the level of assistance given to India.

But there will be more for Bangladesh, Nigeria and Pakistan as aid is “better focused” on the poorest

people.

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-20439 Doc No. C05778151 Date: 09/30/2015

Labour said they believed government policy was “on the right track”.

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said aid was being protected from spending
cuts because it was in the UK’s national interest.

The department’s overall £7.8bn budget has been unaffected by the government’s deficit cutting

measures.

But the UK is expected to stop direct aid to 16 countries, including Russia, China, Vietnam, Serbia

and Iraq. Some, such as Vietnam and Bosnia, are seen to have “graduated” out of poverty.

Others are judged to be adequately served by United Nations agencies.

• The government says it wants greater transparency and accountability in aid spending, with an
emphasis on funding programmes that deliver greater results and which, specifically, help girls and
women.

Angola Bosnia
Burundi Cameroon

Cambodia China

Gambia Indonesia
Iraq Kosovo

Lesotho Moldova

Niger Russia
Serbia Vietnam

Source: Dept for Int Development document seen by BBC 1

Mr Mitchell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘We’re ending a culture which has seen large
sums of money thrown at problems, and focusing on the results that the British taxpayer can buy.

“This is about value for money, it’s about ensuring for every pound we take off hard-pressed
taxpayers we really do deliver 100 pence of development value.”

Five countries will have their budgets increased substantially – Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, the

Democratic Republic of Congo and Pakistan.

By 2014, 30% of UK aid is expected to go to war-torn and unstable countries.

Shadow international development secretary Harriet Harman told the BBC Labour welcomed the
government’s decision to stick with the commitment of spending 0.7% of national income on
overseas aid.

‘National interest’

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-20439 Doc No. C05778151 Date: 09/30/2015

“Obviously it’s right, as things change, that you review who you give overseas aid money to and how

you give it – so I think that’s right to do as well. So broadly we think the government are on the right
track.

“I know it’s difficult when people are feeling the pinch here at home, but we have to remember that

with just a very small amount of money we can save lives in the developing world.”

David Loyn, the BBC’s international development correspondent, said: “The government is keenly

aware of its political vulnerability in ring-fencing the international development budget while cutting
spending everywhere else except for health, and it wants to ensure that it is getting value for
money.”

1. India 295
2. Ethiopia 214

3. Bangladesh 149 .

4. Sudan 146
5. Tanzania 144

6. Pakistan 140

7. Afghanistan 133
8. Nigeria 114

9. Congo (Dem Rep) 109

10.Ghana 190
Source: Dept for Int Development

Mr Mitchell was asked on BBC Breakfast about his decision to maintain overseas aid while some
charities were suffering funding cuts in the UK.

He said: “We are dealing with a scale of poverty around the world of a completely different order.

“And we do it because it’s morally right, it’s about our values as a country and as a government, and
also because it’s in our national interest.”

. India is currently one of the biggest recipients of UK development aid, and there have been media
campaigns in the UK suggesting an economy growing at nearly 10% a year simply does not need
British assistance.

But others point out that nearly half a billion people in India – more than in any other country in the
world – are still desperately poor.

The government says the new approach will be more effective in cutting poverty, and assist in
reaching the Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015.

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2014-20439 Doc No. C05778151 Date: 09/30/2015

On Saturday, it emerged that the UK is threatening to switch funding away from the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization – which focuses on longer-term projects, such as providing seeds and tools

for agriculture – unless its performance improves.

Instead, more funding could go to the World Food Programme, which deals with emergency food aid

around the globe. Source: Https://wikileaks.org/clinton-emails/

The post 6 emails you must read about Ethiopia from Hillary Clinton emails published by Wikileaks appeared first on Bilisummaa.