Is ESAT being fooled by TPLF agents or playing along willingly? During its broadcast on May 12,2014 ESAT aired a disturbing interview alleging that Oromos in Gimbi are threatening Amhra residents. What ESAT might not know is that an alternate version of the story was sent to Oromo activists and media outlets days before but rejected after it was found to be a plot.
The Oromo version of the plot goes like this: “An Amhara businessman tortured, mutilated and killed two Oromo youngsters. Their body was thrown on the street. He was not brought to justice and still on the loose doing his business as usual.” We were provided with contact numbers of alleged ‘parents and friends of the victims’, whom testified to the allegation with even gruesome details.
As you can imagine, this story could trigger traumatic emotional response. However, a close inspection can easily detect the excessive level of exaggeration in it, causing us to reasonably doubt and to launch an investigation into the story. That’s exactly what Oromo media outlets and activists did. It was determined that this was a setup aimed at using Oromo activists and media as an instrument to advance TPLF’s own tactical objectives. Moreover, some of us have received an advanced information that the regime intended to instigate inter-ethnic conflict to divert attention of the people from pursuing the legitimate demand of halting the Master Plan. This information was communicated both to organizers and the public at large minimizing the damage such misinformation could cause.
Gimbi was not the first case where the regime attempted such tactic. During the aftermath of the Ambo massacre, the regime rumor mills and even state media pushed a story that protesterstargeted business owned by non-Oromos. The names of those owners were repeated again and again to lead the public to believe that Amhara’s were being targeted. However, it soon emerged that the owners were not only Oromo but also highly regarded in their community. For instance, Ababech Mataferia, the owner of the hotel that was damaged, is a beloved and kind Oromo woman widely considered mother of the town. However, as part of its evil strategy damaging the reputation of the protesters the TPLF regime played around with her name to make the public believe that she is an Amhara and hence targeted for being so. (Detailed account of what actually took place in Ambo will be made available soon)
Oromo students were very aware of the regime’s tactics and did all they could to ensure it does not succeed this time around. For instance, the decision not to protest in Universities outside of Oromia region was made precisely for this reason. Moreover, during the initial days of the protest, some agent provocateurs came with slogans that tend to provoke other communities. However organizers of were vigilant enough to quickly identify, isolate and prevented from repeating their tactic in subsequent rallies at different campuses and locations. Some of these infiltrators who were agitating students to target other communities were later seen on TV providing false testimony accusing students. Some of the profiles and activities of provocateurs on social media show their affiliations to the regime and their open support.
It has been boldly said time and again that the Oromo struggle is not against any one group of people. Its a resistance movement against tyranny, repressive, excessively exploitative and discriminatory systems and ruling elites. The aim of the protest against the Addis Ababa Master Plan has been clearly articulated as targeting a specific policy of the regime that aims to uproot nearly two million farmers. This is a policy developed by the regime, hence Oromos have no reason to quarrel with any other community.
Even on highly controversial issues between Oromos and others, our activists have proven to be disciplined and considerate. For instance during the contentious issue of Tedy Afro/Minilik, although there was intense and heated debates, not a single physical confrontation occurred either back home or in diaspora. Oromo activists waged a well planned strategic campaign that secured victory in short period of time denying the regime agents a platform to insert itself and provoke conflict. Hence, if Oromo youth did not cause a single physical harm during such horizontal contestation with Amhara activists, why would they fight them now, when the target of the protests is fundamentally different? Most importantly, provided that there is a considerable understanding that the regime is a common enemy to both the Amhara and Oromo community, it is far-fetched and doesn’t add up!
Media entities have responsibilities of using multiple verification methods to ensure accuracy of information they intend to disseminate. Even if certain information is found to be factual, a media entity must give extra care to the way the story is presented. ESAT failed in all these measurements. First, it spoke with one couple yet shamelessly presented it as ‘interview with residents [plural] of Gimbi.’ Second, it made no attempt to report a balanced account of the story by speaking to members of the Oromo community in Gimbi. Third, it aired the highly inflammatory conversation without any concern about its potential impact on the audience. We already know that abiding by journalistic ethics are at the bottom end of the station’s priority, and that propagating Oromophobia is one of their primary agenda and reputation. However, what they did yesterday is a new low even by their own standard!
My message to the Oromo public and activists is: Do not be agitated by inflammatory propaganda coming from media entities such ESAT, ETV, or the numerous tabloid papers. Do not let yourself be provoked by agents of any side trying to divert your attention. Remain firm on your demands, stay unified and disciplined. Most importantly, any Oromo person or group that targets any community in Oromia for whatever reason is an enemy of the Oromo people and struggle. They must be stopped, condemned, and brought to justice. Any individual or community residing in Oromia is an integral part of our society. Any attack on them is an attack on us individually and as a nation.Respecting them and sharing with them what we have is the time tested and socially embedded value of the Oromo people. Extending such respect, protecting and safeguarding them is the responsibility of this generation too. To do this, we don’t need scaremongering propaganda from ESAT and ETV. Its ingrained in us. Go out there defend your rights, respecting others’ and prove them wrong, as always!
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