Ethiopia: State of Emergency, the Empire of Chaos in Oromia

December 01, 2016 | Human Rights League of The Horn of Africa | HRLHA urgent action

The deadly protests that have rocked Ethiopia over ten months (November 2015- September 2016)  led by “Qeerroo Bilissummaa” literally, youth  for freedom against subjugation, dramatically changed  the peaceful protests into violence after the tyrannical government mercilessly massacred over 700  Oromos at the Irrecha Festival,  Oromo Thanksgiving Day on October 2, 2016. The tyrannical government of TPLF/EPRDF declared a state of emergency on October 8, 2016 to cool down the anger of the nation. However, the  declaration of a six-month state of emergency could not stop the Oromo nation from protesting. Killings, rapes, and the detaining of Oromos by the killing squad Agazi force continued unabated. Jima University students once again reignited peaceful protests on November 20, 2016 complaining that security forces entered campus at night to make arrests. Many students were taken from their campus dormitories and their whereabouts are not known. The Jima University  students demanded to know about their fellow Oromos.
Background of Oromo Youth for Freedom against Subjugation
The Oromo Youth for freedom (Qeerroo Bilissummaa) against subjugation began in 2011 as a continuation of the Oromo youth revolt started on November 09, 2005 following a call by the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) to Oromo students and the entire Oromo people to peacefully oppose the government of TPLF/EPRDF and bring to the forefront the demands of democracy, justice, and most importantly, the realization of the right of the Oromo people to self-determination. Oromo students in Ambo high school set the torch on November 9, 2005. 
kebedeThe Students of Ambo High School staged a peaceful demonstration. At least five students were reported killed, including students Jagama Badhane and Kabbada Badhassa, and a younger female student, and the police killed at least two more at a protest rally in response to Jagama’s death. Seventeen others were reported wounded. The local news paper, Reporter reported on 13 November, 2005 demonstrations, school closures and loss of lives in Ambo, Wollega, Adama (Nazareth), Woliso, Guder, Gedo and Haromaya; the funeral of Jagama was attended by 50,000 people, which was also a sign of protest against the regime. The same day, students of Jimma zone, Qarsaa district, Qarsaa Tolii Elementary School reportedly staged a peaceful demonstration in which they marched on the streets of the town in large numbers denouncing the regime.
With the connection of this protest including Dr. Fikadu Assefa, instructor at Jimma University over 100 students at Jimma University have been arrested according to HRLHA informants from Jima town.
The protest sporadically  spread to Ambo University and high school and then to the Wallaga University  (in a  similar way as has happened in  March 2014) and to other universities  where many students  have been detained .
The following are among the many Oromo students detained in Jimma University, Kitto Furdisa Campus by TPLF forces since November  20, 2016.

The HRLHA also received from its informants in south Oromia, Bale zone, in Ginir district that a  number of Oromos had been picked up at  night and had been taken to  an unknown destination from  Harawa,  Qabanna,  Karra, Gubarbaja and other sub-districts by the Agazi force . The following are among the many Oromos in Ginir district who have been detained  by TPLF forces since November  20, 2016


The TPLF/EPRDF has turned a deaf ear to the calls of the international community and has continued its evil activities under the cover of the State of Emergency declared on October 8, 2016. Since that time, Oromos have been under attack day and night by the TPLF killing squads, the Agazi force, which is deeply rooted in the villages of Oromia. The recent attacks, mostly at night, include killings, rapings of women and girls, looting of cash and valuables.  This evil activity of the TPLF military has forced the Oromo students in universities and high schools to once again restart  their protests.
The HRLHA again expresses its deep concerns and calls on the world community to show their solidarity with the Oromo  people by taking concrete action on TPLF/EPRDF dictatorial government.
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