Tedy is a modern Minelik II weapon to wage genocide against Oromo

December 26, 2013 | By Itana Guteta*

Oromo have their own country Oromia. Oromia is Oromo country annexed by Abyssinian- the modern Ethiopia in 1890s. The Abyssinia got help from supper power of that time: USA, Russia, France, and Italy. Since then, Oromo people have been struggling in different ways to get back their country. Thus, about 45000 Oromo political prisoners  are serving in Abyssinian colonial jail as Dr. Troman reported. 

The Abyssinian way of translation – interview of Captain Guta Dinka who refused to assassinate Mandela

The dark side of Teddy Afro’s fame and fortune

by Tigist Geme

(OPride) – Ethiopia’s pop star Tewodros Kassahun, better known as Teddy Afro, is once again back in the limelight. Teddy made headlines last week with a comment published in the local Amharic magazine, Enqu, in which he condoned Menelik's greater Abyssinian campaign in southern Ethiopia as a holy war. Despite this disturbing statement and Teddy’s controversial past, local subsidaries for two multinational corporations – Heineken NV and Coca Cola Company – have recently signed Teddy to promote their products.

Oromo as a victim of hate crime at homeland and abroad

By Hara Olani | December 15, 2013

In its broad meaning, hate crime is a category of crime used to describe bias-motivated violence: “assault, injury and murder on the basis of certain personal or group characteristics that include different appearance, different color, different religion, different nationality, different identity, etc.

For more than a century, the Oromo in Ethiopian empire specifically targeted and injured, killed, forced to flee their homeland, and even continuously abused verbally abroad by Ethiopian politicians, media, activists, and individuals that think being a true Ethiopian is being denying oneself’s identity.

Since the Oromo nation failed under Abyssinian oppression, the hate towards Oromo are planned, politically motivated and kept in place by the successive regimes that ruled that empire and including the current TPLF lead killer regime.

Political instability on the rise

December 12, 2013 | By Sophie Brown, CNN

East African countries saw the biggest increase in the risk of political violence, including terrorism, poor governance, and regimes vulnerable to popular uprisings. Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan scored in the "extreme risk" category, while Kenya and Ethiopia are "high risk." Eritrea, Tanzania and Mozambique also saw a change in their risk category. 

A one Year Summary of Arrests, Killings, and Disappearances of Oromo Nationals by The Ethiopian Government: November 2012 to November 2013

Qeerroo’s Annual Report
November 16, 2013
The current Ethiopian government has continued widespread mass arrests, unlawful killings, and disappearances of innocent civilians its citizens over the last 21 or so years. Among the communities highly affected by such repression and oppression of the regime, the Oromo people is probably rated as number 1. Oromos have been unable to live in their country in peace since they fell under the rule of the current minority Ethiopian regime.

THE OROMO, GADAA/SIQQEE DEMOCRACY AND THE LIBERATION OF ETHIOPIAN COLONIAL SUBJECTS

This paper explores the potential role of the Gadaa/Siqqee system of Oromo democracy in the development of a democratic multinational liberation movement of the colonized nations within the Ethiopian Empire in order to dismantle the Tigrayan-led Ethiopian terrorist government and replace it with a sovereign multinational democratic state in the Horn of Africa based on the principles of indigenous democracy.

Captain Guta Dinka: the man who saved Mandela

Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s anti-apartheid icon and champion of human dignity, died Thursday after long illness.

The people who lost their identity

The question of why so many Ethiopians are forced to flee their own  country in the first place. Why are millions of Ethiopians suffering around the world as helpless refugees, undocumented aliens, and, in many cases, beggars?  What relegated Ethiopians to live a life of second-class, even third class citizens around the world is nothing but the repression, discrimination, and brutality they face in their own country in the hands of an ethnocratic regime well -equipped with the tools and arsenals of repression.

Let no one Rob you of your Identity

By  Roba Pawelos* | November 19, 2013

In Psychology and Sociology, Identity is a person’s conception and expression of their individuality or group affiliations (such as national identity and cultural identity). The concept is given a great deal of attention in social pyschology and is important in place identity.

Oromo TV:Oromo 1st In DC Part 2

Gadaa: An Oromo Democracy and the Symbol of Oromo Civilization

The following article by Anga’a Dhuguma was previously published online, and was submitted to Gadaa.com for republication by an independent contributor.

By Anga’a Dhugumaa

Introduction
In this section, I will attempt to give a summary of the Gadaa System as revised by Makoo Bilii about five hundred years ago.

GADAA SYSTEM: SUMMARY
Gadaa is an Oromo social, political and economic order. It is a symbol of Oromo unity, and love among the Oromos. It is a democratic system of government that symbolizes Oromo civilization. Gadaagoverns the beliefs of the Oromos. It controls the religion (Qaalluu) institution, too.

The Untold Story of “Raggaatuu”- The Famous OLA Commander

Originally written by: Afendi Muteki

Translated by : Hambisaa Soolee

In the history of OLA (Oromo Liberation Army), Juukii Barentoo is the most revered female martyr. Her martyrdom was so different in that she gave her life to save many Oromo fighters while she was one of the leaders of the organization. This was happened in 1984 when the special force of the Dergue army ambushed the OLF central command post at Daro-Billiqa in sounthern Daro-Labu district, Hararge province (Near Hararge-Bale border). Juukii, the first female to be elected to the Central Committee of OLF, fought bravely with the Dergue forces for three consecutive days and saved the life of many leaders and fighters of the organization including Obbo Galaasaa Dilboo, the then chairperson of OLF. When she knew that the OLF leaders and others safely crossed to Bale province, because she was wounded, she took her own life, instead of surrender.

Adde Obsee Taddasaa Margo

“Chaltu as Helen,” and Oromophobia

By Laalo Guduru*

Two remarkable Oromo episodes dominated the Ethiopian diaspora blogosphere and social media over the last few months: the episode of Jawar Mohammed and the Tesfaye Gebre-ab phenomenon. Here, I will only focus on Tesfaye Gebre-ab.

Should We Still Suggest an All-Inclusive Alliance, Which Can Be Different and Make a Difference in Ethiopia/Oromia?

By Fayyis Oromia*

In the liberation struggle against the oppressive Abyssinian empire’s system, we had passed through different phases, and we had formed till now different alliances against the tyrant rulers. The struggle has almost always been done by two ideologically opposite political camps, i.e. by the unionist liberators, who want to liberate oppressed nations in the empire and build, where possible, a union of autonomous nations, and by the unitarist patriots, who do disregard the autonomy of nations, but want to liberate individual citizens from any sort of oppression. In other words, it has been the struggle by those emphasizing group (national) liberty and by those stressing individual (citizens’) freedom. Despite their similarity in socialist ideology, one of the major differences between Me’ison and Ihapawas their tendency towards being a unionist and a unitarist, respectively.Me’ison, being dominated and led by Oromo intellectuals, had been for self-determination of nations in a sense of having their own national autonomy within the Ethiopian union, whereas Ihapa, being dominated and led by Tigrean intellectuals, had been for self-determination of nations in a sense of exercising their cultures within a unitary Ethiopia/Great Oromiawithout national autonomy.

I

Dying language revived – the story of Afan Oromo in Ethiopia

by Luke Waters | SBS.com.au

Toltu Tufa is a young lady with abundant energy and a clear objective.

“My aim is to create Oromo educational resources for every child in every family in every home,” she says.

(For more on Toltu’s Campaign, visit Afaan.com.au)

Frustrated at a lack of resources for Oromo language and culture classes, she created her own.

Not one to do things by halve, Toltu first visited and consulted nine Oromo communities around the world before devising the package comprising flash cards, posters and books.

She says community input ensured images and information are culturally appropriate, relevant and effective

An internet presence is critical in reaching more of the estimated 40-million Oromo people globally, but Toltu says there are practicalities to consider.

“I think with on-line technology there is a real potential for this to catapult into something viral… something massive,” Toltu says.

“I also think there’s still room for the hard copy books because there are so many countries where people don’t have access to technology and don’t have access to internet and wi-fi.

A website spruiking the program was launched last week and the hits are already in the thousands.

But for Toltu it’s all about the classroom.

“More than the verbal response…it’s the physical response that I see in children when they see the products,” she says.

“Their eyes light up and they say, ‘wow this is something I’ve never seen before’.

“And looking at the parents, some of the parents have been quite emotional saying I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.”

But one response means more than most.

“I think one person that who reacted like that who touched me most deeply was my dad.”

And she says he’s played a key role.

“When it came to the Oromo language, the only person I had was my Dad,” Toltu says.

“The way he taught me was literally verbally.

“This is how we do things, this is how we speak, this is what the Oromo language is about.

“He taught me with pen and paper and growing up that’s what everybody else seemed to be doing.”

In broken English, Abdul-Wahab Tufa describes his pride for his daughter’s work, and memories of a time when the Oromo language was banned in Ethiopia.

“Yes, punishment…put in the jail make some problem some people death,” he says, describing the punishments that speaking the banned language could exact.

Toltu Tufa says it’s a privilege to have ensured the survival of a language for her father and community.

“I feel really lucky that I’ve got a tool that I can use to help grow what my Dad actually planted a very long time ago.

“I feel really, really privileged to be able to do that and to be able to do that with my community. (It’s) not just me saying, ‘Hey this is what I’ve got, how we going to make this work?’

“But everybody is giving me feedback and suggestions and (we’re) creating something together. That’s been the most special part for me.”

Now, Toltu’s seeking funding to roll the program out globally – but there are no flash cards or posters involved in this appeal.

She has taken to YouTube to send her message.

“Regardless of where you are in the world, let me know if you have what it takes and together lets pledge to preserve a language whose story needs to be told.”

- Source: SBS.com.au

The Right to Protest: Ethiopian Regime Repression

They speak of democracy, but act violently to suppress dissenting voices and control the people through the inculcation of fear: they ignore human rights and trample on the people, they are a tyrannical wolf in democratic sheep’s clothing, causing suffering and misery to thousands of people throughout Ethiopia. The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) government repeatedly scoffs at international law and consistently acts in violation of their own Federal constitution – a liberal document written by the regime to please and deceive their foreign supporters. They have enacted laws of repression: the widely condemned Charities and Societies (ATD) law (CSO law) and the Anti Terrorism Declaration, which is the main tool of political control, together with the ‘Mass Media and Freedom of Information Proclamation’ they form a formidable unjust arsenal of government control. Freedom of the media (which is largely ‘state-owned’) is denied and political dissent is all but outlawed.

Against this repressive backdrop, the Semayawi (Blue) party, a new opposition group, organized peaceful protests on the 2nd June in Addis Ababa. Ten thousand or so people marched through the capital demanding the release of political prisoners, “respect for the constitution” and Justice! Justice! Justice! It was (Reuters 2/06/2013 reported), an “anti-Government procession…. the first large-scale protest since a disputed 2005 election ended in street violence that killed 200 people”, a ‘disputed election’ result that was discredited totally by European Union observers and denounced by opposition groups and large swathes of the population.

The Chairman of the Semayawi Party, Yilekal Getachew, told Reuters, “We have repeatedly asked the government to release political leaders, journalists and those who asked the government not to intervene in religious affairs”. In keeping with the recent worldwide movement for freedom and social justice, he stated that, “if these questions are not resolved and no progress is made in the next three months, we will organize more protests. It is the beginning of our struggle”. To the disappointment of many and the surprise of nobody, the government has made no attempt to ‘resolve’ the questions raised, and true to their word a second demonstration was planned for 1st September in Addis Ababa. In the event, as the BBC report, around “100 members of Ethiopia’s opposition Semayawi (Blue) party were arrested and some badly beaten”, and “equipment such as sound systems were confiscated”, ahead of the planned rally, which was banned by the EPRDF. Government justification formed, and a cock and bull story was duly constructed with Communication Minister Shimeles Kemal stating “the venue [for Semayawi’s event) had already been booked by a pro-government group condemning religious extremism”.

Non-interference in religious affairs is one of the key demands of the Semayawi party, a demand based upon the constitutional commitment of religious independence from the State, which Muslim groups claim the government has violated. Enraged by government interference in all matters religious, the Muslim community have organised regular small-scale protests and sit-ins in the capital for the last two years. In early August, Reuters 8/08/2013 reported “Demonstrators chanted "Allahu Akbar" and hoisted banners that read "respect the constitution", referring to allegations that the government has tried to influence the highest Muslim affairs body, the Ethiopia Islamic Affairs Supreme Council”. Around 40% of Ethiopia’s population (around 85 million) are Muslim, for generations they have lived amicably with their Orthodox Christians neighbours, who make up the majority in the country; they are moderate in their beliefs and peaceful in their ways. The EPRDF in contrast are violent, intolerant and ideologically driven; ‘Revolutionary Democracy’ being the particular tune to which the democratic dictatorship hums and drums its partisan rule.

Ethiopia government links opposition leaders as terrorists showing poor judgment into political indifferences.

Ethiopia government links opposition leaders as terrorists showing poor judgment into political indifferences.

The Ethiopian Prime Minster Hailemariam Desalegne ''we are producing evidences against the opposition group''

NGOs in Ethiopia Still Struggling with Multiple Restrictions

A year after the death of former Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi, hopes for change in the African country remain bleak, including for local aid groups struggling to cope with a wide range of restrictions over their work. The Ethiopian government passed in 2009 a law that restricted NGO fundraising activities and operations, and imposed stricter requirements for registration, like asking charities and civil society organizations to secure a letter of recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Four years later and with the dictator out of the picture, the law remains a burden to aid groups, whose numbers have decreased since. Prior to 2009, there were reportedly some 3,822 registered civil society organizations in Ethiopia, but today there are no more than 1,500, according to a local aid official. In fact, the official told Devex the situation for NGOs has “worsened” under the current regime.

A year later, sources inside the country note the government of current Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has failed to make it easier for these organizations to do their job. “The majority of Ethiopian local NGOs are in depression” due to limited funds and registration difficulties, noted the official. Many groups depend heavily on a small pool of foreign donors. And the Charities and Societies Agency, created in 2009 to regulate CSO activities, implements according to this source “double standards” during registration, being more welcoming to NGOs that support the ruling party. “Some optimists hoped that with new leadership the Ethiopian government would change track and carry out human rights reforms, including amending the abusive CSO and anti-terrorism laws,” Laetitia Bader, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, told Devex. “Disappointingly, instead we see much the same patterns on the human rights front — including large scale arrests of peaceful protestors and prosecution of dissenting voices.”

But what seemed to particularly upset the local official is that donors do not seem to be helping to ease these restrictions on CSOs. For instance, the official finds British support to build the capacity of the CSA as helping the government weaken the CSO sector: “DFID [is] repeatedly helping the Agency while civil society [is] in crisis.” The U.K. Department for International Development has a program whose aims include improving the dialogue between the government and civil society sector, and bridging the gap between the two. The program began in 2010, a year after the NGO law was passed, and eventually included capacity building for CSA to meet the program’s objective.

But an annual review of the program concluded in November 2012 noted: “CSO perception of a conducive political and legal environment is not improving; the Agency database is neither publicly accessible nor currently up to date; federal-regional cooperation is not moving forward (to our knowledge); Agency understanding of the civil society sector is not improving (partly due to high staff turnover); and the guidelines and regulations have only received a very minor amendment due to pressure from CSOs and DPs.”

This is not the first time that DfID has been subject to criticism over its work in Ethiopia. The agency made headlines last year following its alleged plans to use part of its foreign aid budget for Ethiopia to train a police force accused of committing human rights abuses. DfID has dismissed the issue. Bader said: “We are concerned about any approach to the CSO law that is based on negotiating individual exemptions or waivers. This just allows the government to cherry-pick agencies, which completely undermines freedom of association. The law violates Ethiopia’s constitution and international human rights standards and needs to be amended; without fundamental changes it will be impossible to achieve a significant improvement in the working environment for NGOs.” Michael Shiferaw, communications officer for the Civil Society Support Program, which is managed by the British Council in Ethiopia and is also receiving some criticism, noted they are aware of these concerns, sometimes perhaps due to some misunderstanding or miscommunication. “We try to bridge the gap between what the agency does and what CSOs in general are doing by finding a common ground,” he told Devex. These realities are not helping address the country’s multiple problems, such as unemployment, high cost of living and corruption.

While the current regime may be trying to reach that by trying to improve infrastructure, many see this dream as far-fetched. “It looks like an illusion … still we are in agrarian society and majority of rural areas are food insecure … When [I] go to rural Ethiopia, I consider myself as if we are living in inhuman way of life,” explained the official. “For example, I was born from farmers family [and they are still] depending on me. I monthly send [them money]. If I keep quit even for one month, they can’t exist.”

The “I AM OROMO, FIRST” World Tour in Toronto

The world tour underway by two Oromo nationals under the title “I AM OROMO, FIRST” was convened in Toronto, Canada over the weekend. The

Some of the Participants of the Convention

convention that was held on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at Toronto Plaza Hotel attracted hundreds of Oromos of all ages, religions, and political backgrounds living in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) in Canada. Of the two Oromo nationals who are engaged in the world tour – Obbo Jawar Mohammed and Obbo Mohammed Ademo – Obbo Jawar was present at the Toronto convention, although Obbo Mohammed Ademo was not able to make it due to some personal issues.

In an invigorating socio-political atmosphere, all points of discussion by participants revolved around the Oromo identity and its homeland – Oromia, and the responsibilities of the present generation in general and the Oromo youth in particular in promoting the two underlying concepts were underscored at the convention. In his address to the participants, Obbo Jawar Mohammed elaborated on the phases that the Oromo national struggle has so far gone through, and the remaining phases that need to be completed. Obbo Jawar broke down the four phases as revival, reconstruction,institutionalization, and empowerment. Revival and reconstruction in most cases being the two phases that followed the subjugation of the Oromos by the Abyssinian rule, and were more of the restoration of the Oromo self, identity, cultural and psychological makeup that were damaged as the result of all the socio-cultural, historical and political destructions. But, Obbo Jawar’s focus was on the institutionalization and empowerment of the Oromos as individuals, as a society, and as a nation, both of which were described by Obbo Jawar as the responsibilities of the Oromo youth in particular.

Obbo Jawar Mohammed

Obbo Mohammed Ademo, who addressed the participants over the telephone, brought up the idea of launching Oromo independent media and briefly talked about its significance by relating it to the current time of the Information Era. Obbo Jawar further elaborated on this project of launching Oromo’s own independent media, which is already underway. The Oromos at the convention, who applauded and welcomed the idea, started pledging financial supports right away.

The “I AM OROMO, FIRST” world tour, which made its tenth stop at Toronto, is expected to continue and take place in the same way in other parts of the world where there are Oromo communities.

Ayyaana Irreecha Oromoo Fulbaana 28 bara 2013 Oslo

IRREECHAA: THE OROMO NATIONAL THANKSGIVING DAY

    According to the Oromoo Dhahaa-Oromo Calender, September 30 is the 2012 Oromo National Thanksgiving day-Irreechaa Birraa of the year. An Irreechaa Birraa is a celebration that repeats once in a year-in birraa and involves special activities or amusements as it has a lot of importance in our lives.

The theme of this national Thanksgiving Day is “Moving Forward: Restoring the Spirit of Oromummaa” in which it aims to celebrate Irreechaa festivals to follow our tradition and religion in society, to create public awareness where Oromo cultural and religious issues will be discussed to provide a better understanding of Oromo culture and history, to pave the way for promotion of the Oromo culture, history and lifestyle and to celebrate Irreechaa, a national Thanksgiving Day.

We celebrate Irreechaa to thank Waaqaa for the blessings and mercies we have received throughout the past year at the sacred grounds of Hora Harsadi (Lake Harsadi), Bishoftu, Oromia. The Irreechaa festival is celebrated every year at the beginning of Birraa (the sunny new season after the dark, rainy winter season) throughout Oromia and around the world where Diaspora Oromos live.

We celebrate Irreechaa not only to thank Waaqaa (God) also to welcome the new season of plentiful harvests after the dark and rainy winter season associated with nature and creature. On Irreechaa festivals, friends, family, and relatives gather together and celebrate with joy and happiness. Irreechaa Festivals bring people closer to each other and make social bonds.

Moreover, we are celebrating this auspicious event to mark the end of rainy season^[1], known as Birraa, was established by Oromo forefathers, in the time of Gadaa Melbaa^[2] in Mormor, Oromia.   The auspicious day on which this last Mormor^[3] Day of Gadaa Belbaa^[4]-the Dark Time of starvation and hunger- was established on the 1^st Sunday of last week of September or the 1^stSunday of the 1^st week of October according to the Gadaa lunar calendar ‐‐ has been designated as our National Thanksgiving Day by modern‐day Oromo people.    Oromo communities both at home and abroad celebrate this National Thanksgiving Day every year.

During the event, we will be serving with Oromo foods and featuring with traditional dances by Oromo children, youth and dance troupes. Please come and experience our Oromo culture with people from various communities, social organizations, agencies, volunteers, friends and families.

WBOn Haleellaa Mootummaa Wayyaanee Irratti Fudhataa Jiru Itti Fufuu Beeksise

(Madda Oduu ABO/MOA/Fulbaana 23, 2013) 

Humni addaa WBO Hararge Dhihaa keessa sosso'u tarkaanfii gara garaa fudhataa jiruun diina raasaa fi ummata gammachiisuu irratti argama. Akka kanaan Fulbaana 2, 2013 Harargee Dhihaa Ona Mi'eessoo karaa gara Gololchaa geessu irratti miseensa tikaa sirna Wayyaanee Alamayyoo jedhamu irratti tarkaanfii fudhateen akka hamaatti madeessuu irraa waldhaansaaf gara Finfinneetti dabarfamee jira.

Fulbaana 2, 2013 akkasuma Ona Mi'eessoo magaalaa Mi'eessoo cinaatti tika diinaa ummata hiraarsuun beekamu Fiqaaduu Fiqree jedhamu irratti tarkaanfii fudhateen du'aan adabe. Kana malees humni addaa WBO Harargee Dhihaa keessa sosso'u Ona Xulloo Dabbasoo bakka Jaldoo jedhamutti humna diinaa paatroolii irra turetti haxxee hidhuun haleelee loltoota diinaa 7 konkolaataa ittiin sosso'aa turan waliin barbadeesse. Loltoota diinaa ajjeefaman keessatti gaafatamaan tikaa Olaanaa naannoo sanii Komander Lammaa jedhamu keessatti argama.

ዶ/ር ነጋሶ ጊዳዳ ታሰሩ

አንድነት የፊታችን እሁድ ለሚያደርገው ሰላማዊ ሰልፍ መቀስቀሱን፤ ኢሕአዴግ ማሰሩን ቀጥለዋል

September 25, 2013 (Zehabesha) — የቀድሞ የኢትዮጵያ ፕሬዘዳንት እና የአሁኑ የአንድነት ለዴሞክራሲና ለፍትህ ፓርቲ (አንድነት) ሊቀመንበር ዶ/ር ነጋሶ ጊዳዳ መታሰራቸውን ብስራት ወልደሚካኤል ከአዲስ አበባ አዘገበ፡ ዶ/ር ነጋሶ ጊዳዳ መታሰራቸው የተገለጸው ዛሬ መስከረም 15 ቀን 2006ዓ.ም. ሲሆን ዘ-ሐበሻ ወደ አንድነት ጽህፈት ቤት ደውላ “ዛሬ እስከ ጠዋት ድረስ ሥራ ላይ ነበሩ’ የሚል ምላሽ አግኝታ ነበር። አሁን ይህን ዜና እየዘገብን ባለንበት ወቅት ወደ አዲስ አበባ የአንድነት አመራሮች ጋር ስንደውል ስልኮቻቸውን ያነሱ ሁለት የአንድነት አመራሮች የዶ/ር ነጋሶን መታሰር ለዘ-ሐበሻ አረጋግጠዋል።

Maal Dhaammate Gootnii??

Oduu durii kana beektuu?

Abdii Boruutiin*

Dhiyoo kana mata duree “Oduu Durii Oromoo” jedhuun barreeffama Obboo Beekan Gulummaa Irranaatiin qophaaye tokko dubbiseen ture. Achirraa ka’een anis mee waanan dur beeku ykn dhagaye tokko tokko dubbistootaaf dhiyeessa jedhee barruu gabaabaa kana qopheesse. Duraan dursee, oduu durii kanaan nu booharsuu isaatiif Obboo Beekan galateeffachuun barbaada. Kana qofaa otuu hin taane, wanti biraa kan Obboo Beekan Gulummaa Irranaa galata guddaa ittiin argachuu qabu, kitaabota adda addaa barreessuudhaan; guddina hogbarruu Afaan keenyaa keessatti gahee guddaa taphachuu fi qooda guddaa gumaachuu isaa ti. Kanaafis, anis akka ilma Oromoo tokkootti, carraa kanaan Obboo Beekan baay’ee galatoomi, jabaadhuu akkanumatti ittifufi jechuun barbaada.

Ethiopia Could Face ‘Large-Scale’ Attacks From Somalia’s Al-Shabaab – Medrek (Ethiopia's government Opposition)

September 23, 2013 | Shabelle net

Addis Ababa — An official from Ethiopia’s biggest opposition group, Medrek, said on Saturday that Ethiopia could face a similar attack to this weekend’s assault on a shopping mall in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi that has killed at least 68 people and injured hundreds others.

Ethiopia and Kenya both have deployed their armies to neighboring Somalia to address what they said was a threat to regional security caused by the al-Qaeda-linked Somali Al-Shabaab movement, the group which has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Statement of peaceful demonstration of the Oromo Community in the United Kingdom

The aim of the protest was to stand against Human rights abuses and the brutal killings of thousand s of Oromos including Engineer Tesfahun Chemeda and the Massacred Muslim Oromos in Arsi. The arbitrary arrest, torture, extra-judicial killings, mass murder & disappearances are not only the day- to- day practices in Ethiopia, but also reached the highest peak. For example, the Oromia Support Group in United Kingdom, a non-political organization that raise awareness of human rights violations in Ethiopia, has reported four thousand two hundred seventy nine (4,279) extra-judicial killings and 987 disappearances of civilians in Ethiopia from 1994 – 2010. These figures do not include the unreported killings and secret arrests that are exercised at several corners in the country particularly in Oromia region. The recent shocking incidents were the killings of twenty- seven innocent civilians including five children in Kofale, Arsi region of Oromia on August 3, 2013. http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/ethiopian-repression-muslim-protests-must-stop- 2013-08-08 and the murder of Engineer Tesfahun Chemeda who has been tortured and killed in Kaliti prison custody on August 24, 2013.

Ethiopian Girl, Hana Williams, Starved By Parents In Washington State

September 11, 2013 (Hollywood life) — So horrific. Hana Williams was starved and left outside in her Washington state’s home backyard by her adoptive parents, and was found dead in May 2011. Her parents were convicted of manslaughter on Sept. 9, 2013.

Accountability in Politics: The case of the Oromo Struggle for Freedom/Liberty

By Qilxuu

Oppression conceives struggle. Struggle needs organization under a common motive, from a simple aggregation in a tea/coffee party to forming a grand political union running for country leadership with far-reaching ideology. Organizations rise up with objectives and set up goals, and may eventually succeed or succumb, depending on how successfully they managed to come to their final endeavors.

The rise and weakening of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) during the past four decades is a milestone in Oromo history. The recognition of an Oromo region with a distinct territorial integrity and map, the acceptance of the Oromo language as official and instructional media in Oromia state are chief among the achievements. However, the principal objective of establishing an independent Oromo Republic is still far from sight. As a result, in the past two/three decades, we witnessed the sprouting of several political groups from the fundamental root, the OLF, denouncing the original agenda as a failure, and declaring themselves as reformists/revolutionists with a better agenda for the Oromos, and even for the rest of the people oppressed by the Ethiopian Regimes, past and present, based on their ethnic/national identity. Prior to their segregation into smaller split groups, they preached the objectives and goals of their parent organization, the OLF, and won the support of their targeted supporters, who contributed immensely to the success of the struggle, up to life sacrifice. The detention, torture and ultimate departure by death of Alemayehu Gerba, and recently, Tesfahun Chemada, is a case of utmost attention. Note that, had it not for our propaganda, these young Oromos, could have made their choices afterwards, to lead the types of life styles we are leading, on their own: we told them to follow us, but we were not there when they arrived.

Humiliation of Woyyaane Bond-Sellers in Gothenburg, Sweden, Oromo and ot...

Letter to US State Department Ethiopia Desk-Foreign Policy: Death of Engineer Tesfahun Chemeda

 August 30, 2013

Dear US State Department
Ethiopia Desk

During a 2009 speech given by President Obama, preservation of human dignity was stated as core US policy objective. A portion of the speech was documented by the Congressional Research Service in a July 22nd, 2011 article titled Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa.

“When there is genocide in Darfur or terrorists in Somalia, these are not simply African problems, they are global security challenges, and they demand a global response…. And let me be clear: our Africa Command is focused not on establishing a foothold on the continent, but on confronting these common challenges to advance the security of America, Africa, and the world.”

Remembering Ebbisa Addunya

Over the last two decades, the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s reign saw an unprecedented killing, torture, and harassment of those who dared to speak truth to power.

Seen as a threat to their power, the Oromo, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, paid a hefty price. Oromo students were dismissed from institutions of learning in large numbers, Oromo artists were either killed or forced into exile, thousands continue to languish in prisons across the country and many others lead a life of exile in their own homes.

One notable artist, Ebbisa Addunya, stands tall among many others who perished while fighting for greater Oromo rights. Ebbisa was a young vocalist who won the hearts and minds of his contemporaries. On August 30, 1996, Zenawi’s security forces assassinated Ebbisa at his own house in Finfinne. Following his tragic death, in its

Corruption in the Ethiopian JUST US Sector

For the past several months, I have been commenting on the findings of the World Bank’s “Diagnosing Corruption in Ethiopia”, a 448-page report covering eight sectors (health, education, rural water supply, justice, construction, land, telecommunications and mining). In this my sixth commentary, I focus on “corruption in the justice sector”. The other five commentaries are available at my blog site.

Talking about corruption in the Ethiopian “justice sector” is like talking about truth in Orwell’s 1984 Ministry of Truth (“Minitrue”). The purpose of Minitrue is to create and maintain the illusion that the Party is absolute, all knowing, all-powerful and infallible. The purpose of the Ministry of Justice in Ethiopia is to create the illusion that the ruling regime under the command and control of the Tigrean People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) masquerading as the Ethiopian People’s Democratic Front (EPDRF) is absolute, all knowing, all-powerful and infallible.

Telecoms in Ethiopia: Out of reach

Aug 23, 2013 (The Economist) — ETHIOPIA has Africa’s last big telecoms monopoly. The absence of competition has seen a country of more than 80m lag badly behind the rest of the continent in an industry that has generally burgeoned alongside economic growth. Mobile-phone penetration, which averages 70% of the population elsewhere in Africa, is closer to 25% in Ethiopia. A paltry 2.5% of Ethiopians have access to the internet, compared with 40% in neighbouring Kenya.

Oromo journalist, Lalise Wodajo, reunited with family after 8 years

(OPride) – Jiitu Wakjira was only five years old when Ethiopian security forces took away her father, Dhabasa Wakjira, from their home in April 2004.Jiitu understood very little at the time, but remembers missing her father, whom she visited at Ethiopia's notorious Kaliti prison every weekend – for nearly three years.

On Saturday Aug. 10 2013, Jiitu, 14, described her family’s ordeals, in a heartfelt speech that read much like a movie script, before a captive Oromo and Australian audience. Exposed to politics, suppression, oppression and loss at a young age, Jiitu’s is a story of love, perseverance, resilience, and courage.

Ethiopians ‘seek asylum en masse in South Korea’

The young professionals have been training in three fields: Mechanics, Electricity and Welding. A total of 40 Ethiopians, 10 of whom are women, have decided not to return to a repressive life in Ethiopia.

Aug 13, 2013 (BBC News) — Two-thirds of a group of young professional Ethiopians who went for training in South Korea have stayed to seek asylum, it’s reported.

Warra eenyummaa saba tokkoo hin kabajne wajjin biyya waloo takka ijaaruun hin danda’amu

Gara qabiyyee barreeffama kiyyaatti otuu hin seenin dura, duula nafxanyoonni yeroo ammaa Oromummaarratti godhaa jiran ilaalchisee, deebii mooraa keenya keessaa kennamaa jiruuf akka waliigalaatti; keessumaayuu ammoo Sabboonaan keenya Dargaggoo Abdii Fiixee dandeettii isaa addaa kanaan deebii inni kennaa jiru http://ayyaantuu.com/horn-of-africa-news/ethiopia/we-dont-expect-a-dove-from-snake-egg-ke-ibab-inkulal-irgib-antebikim/ baayi’see galatteffachuun barbaada. Asirratti gootummaa Dhaloota Qubee yoon dinqisiifadhu, waan Sabboonaan keenya Obboo Jawaar godhaa jiru hin daganne. Gaafii fi deebii inni EthioTube wajjin dhiyoo kana godheshttp://gadaa.com/GadaaTube/8609/2013/08/07/ethiotube-presents-obbo-jawar-mohammed   yoomiyyuu caalaa kutannoo dhaloota haaraa agarsiisa. Akka waliigalaatti yoo ilaalame, haalli yeroo ammaa kun waan adda addaa akka hubatan nama taasisa. Inni tokko Oromoon Oromummaadhaan bilchaatani fi Sabboonummaan isaanii cimaa ta’e, akkamitti gamtaadhaan dhimma saba Oromoo akka ittisan agarsiisa. Karaa biraatiin ammoo, tuffiis haa ta’u sodaa qabanirraayis haa maddu; sababni kanaa waanuma fedhes haa ta’u, jibbi Habashootni keessumaayuu nafxanyoonni Oromummaaf qaban ukkaamamee fi iitayee ture amma akka dhodhowaa jiru agarsiisa.

OPDO

Oduu OPD irraa !!!

“OPDO manna tiksee horii akaakayyuukoo wayya” jedhani warri argan.Maaliif yoo jettan Tikseen akkakayyukoo gaafa horri gadi yaasattu, horii ishee gara feetetti oofti, Bineensa irraa ni eegdi,ni soortis.Gaafa gara manaatti deebitu nyaata ni argatti.Yoo barbaadde illee tiksuu hin barbaadu yoo jette ille dhiistee gara mana warra isheetti galuu ni dandeessi. Gaafa tiksitus, tikseen kan biraa ykn namni kan biraa horii isheen eegdu irratti ishee ajaju hin danda’u.Tikseen kun ihundi isaani kana mataa mataa isanii eeggatu.Horii tiksan irratti tokko tokkoon humnaan dirqisiisuu hin danda’u.

Gadaa As the Fountain of Oromummaa and the Theoretical Base of Oromo Liberation

By Asafa Jalata

Every society has its unique central organizing and ruling ideology and theoretical models in a given historical epoch that it uses as its lenses to look at and interpret the world and to survive freely, and advance its civilization or ways of life without disruption from within and without. Ideology plays many roles in a society, and its essential function is to define and promote the political, material and cultural interests of a group, a nation, a social class, a state or other entities. Before the Oromo were colonized, they had also their central organizing and ruling ideology and theoretical models that were embedded in the gadaa civilization that organized and guided them as a society socially, culturally, religiously, politically, militarily, and economically. I advance the idea that without retrieving and developing the best elements of this civilization, the Oromo cannot fully develop Oromummaa (national culture, identity, and ideology) as their organizing and central ideology and their theoretical models of liberation to empower themselves as a nation in the 21st century by recognizing and overcoming the devastating ideologies, behaviors, and theoretical models of their oppressors that have confused and disempowered them.

Ethiopian repression of Muslim protests must stop

Aug 8, 2013 (Amnesty International) — The Ethiopian government must end its use of repressive tactics against demonstrators, following initial reports of widespread arrests of Muslim protestors during this morning’s Eid al-Fitr celebrations, said Amnesty International today.

“We are extremely concerned at reports coming out of Ethiopia this morning of further widespread arrests of Muslim protesters. The Ethiopian government’s  ongoing repressive crackdown on freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest has to end now,” said Claire Beston, Amnesty International’s Ethiopia researcher.

Tarkaanfiin Suukaneessaa Sirni Wayyaanee Godinaa Arsiitti Oromoota Musliima Irratti Fudhate Umrii Sirnichaa Gabaabsa malee Hin dheeressu

Ibsa Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo | Hagayya 5, 2013

Sirni faashistii Wayyaanee mormii hawaasni Muslimaa ‘Sagaleen keenya haa dhagahamu’ mata duree jedhuun waggoota lamaaf walitti aansee karaa nagaan geggeessaa jiru humnaan dhaamsuuf tarkaanfii gara jabinaa fudhachuu itti fufeera. Sambata dabre Hagayya 3, bara 2013 godinaa Arsii magaalota Kofalee fi naannoo isaa keessatti ummata karaa nagaan sagalee mormii dhageessise irratti humni waraanaa sirnichaa dhukaasa banuudhaan namoota kudhan aduu saafaatiin ajjeesuu fi kudhanoota madeessuun miidiyaalee idil addunyaa hedduu irratti gabaafameera. Namoonni dhibbaan lakkaawaman badii tokkoon maleetti guuramanii hidhaman. Hidhaan kun babal’atee naannoo biraa illee shororkeessaa jira.

VOA on Oromo Demonstration in DC against dictatorial regime in Ethiopia

Oromo Rally Against Ethiopia's Human Rights Violations & Land-Grabbing (...

Dr. Gemechu Megerssa: A conversation part 3

Dr. Gemechu Megerssa: A conversation Part 2

Dr. Gemechu Megerssa: A conversation Part I

Oromo Political Prisoners Tortured by Woyane Abyssinian Army (VOA Audio)

What we Oromo’s can learn from the South Sudan People’s liberation struggle

By Bakalcho Barii*

Over one point five millions South Sudanese died in the long and protracted civil war with their Northern Arab rulers and millions more were displaced and made refugee around the globe before they finally freed themselves as an independent nation in July of 2011, and stood tall among the one hundred and ninety six independent nations of the world.

One might argue that South Sudanese achieved their independence with all round supports rendered to them by Western countries, particularly the United States and Britain. Many would also argue that Britain provided them material, diplomatic and other needed logistics to compensate for their wrong doing by merging the Southern Sudanese, who have little or no connections with their Northern counter parts during their occupation of the Sudan.

The Elephant in the Room: The Ethiopian Empire State and the Oromo National Struggle for Liberation.

The Ethiopian Empire state is on the verge of collapse like other empires in history. The empire rulers can no more hide the Oromo struggle for liberation under the guise of religion and territorial integrity. The Oromo question is the Elephant in the room for the current Ethiopian rulers and its foreign backers, and any attempt to delay the inevitable would be not a wise thing to do before the people of the south and the Oromo’s take things in their own hand to stop the killings in their own backyards. Therefore, the immediate and urgent task for the Oromos and the southern nations is to intensify their struggle and realize the total victory that is within reach for the total emancipation of their people.

Telling the Truth Does not make one “anti-Ethiopian”

I was one of the loyal readers of the Nazret.com for I like its lively comments, which are full of conspiracies, suspicious, sarcasm, humor, and which are in a way reflective of reality of the Ethiopian politics. These days, I visit the website sporadically after it developed strong tone of Ityopiyawinnat recently, and it imposed a blanket sanction on the viewpoints of Oromos. For instance, the website did not post most or all recent issues dealing with the Oromo people in Ethiopia on the Aljazeera including an article “The Oromo and the War on Terror in the Horn of Africa” written by Ambassador Akbar Ahmed and Frankie Martin of the American University. Their piece became an issue only after a certain Dula Abdu wrote a piece about it, “Anti-Ethiopia article from American University Faculty and Al Jazeera.” Technically, Nazret readers are informed about “The Oromo and the War on Terror in the Horn of Africa” through the piece and the vantage point of Mr. Dula Abdu. A Nazret approach does not enhance a constructive debate on the future of Ethiopian among various actors and stakeholders. In fact, whether we like it, or not, the future of Ethiopia belongs to all Ethiopians, those who consider themselves Ethiopia First or Oromo First or whatever first. We have to hear all viewpoints, including ones we agree and disagree with, ones we like or dislike, and ones we praise or castigate.  The era of paternalism, we know what is good or bad for all Ethiopians, is over.

በዲያስፖራ ያለውን የወቅቱን የኢትዮጵያ ፖለቲካ በማስመልከት በአውሮፓ የኦሮሞ ወጣቶችና የሴቶች ማህበራት የጋራ መግለጫ: እኛም በመጀመሪያ ደረጃ ኦሮሞ ነን።

በአሁኑ ወቅት የኦሮሞ ፖለቲካዊና ዲፕሎማሲያዊ እድገት እርር ድብን ያደረጋቸው የአጼዎቹ ቡችሎች በአጼዎቹ ልጆች በተፈጠሩ ሚዲያዎች ላይ አንድን ግለሰብ በማስታከክ በኦሮሞ ህዝብ ላይ የቃጡትን ሀሰታዊ የፖለቲካ ዘመቻ ለህመማቸው ፈውስ ሳይሆን ማባባሻ እንደሆነ ልናስጠነቅቃቸው እንወዳለን።

ነጻነት ዲሞክራሲና እኩልነት ስራ ላይ በሚውልበት ሀገር ውስጥ እየኖሩ ስለነጻነት ዲሞክራሲና እኩልነት የማይረዱ ግለሰቦች በምን አይነት መልኩ ሊማሩ እንደሚችሉ መገመት አዳጋች ነው። ለማመን በጣም አስቸጋሪ የሚሆነው ደግሞ እነዚህ ግለሰቦች በትምህርት ደረጃ ማእረጋቸውና በአስተሳሰባቸው መሀከል ያለው ርቀት የሰማይና የመሬት ያህል መሆኑ ነው።

OROMO FIRST MOVEMENT

ይህንን መጣጥፍ ለመጻፍ ያነሳሳኝ ነገር ቢኖር የኦሮሞ ናሽናሊዝም የደረሰበትን ጥግ ለመጦቆምና ይህንን የወቅቱን መነሳሳት አንድእት ትግሉን አንደሚጠቅም ውይይት ለመጫር ነው፡፡

ሁላችንም አንደምናውቀው ባለፉት 3 ሳምንታት ገደማ ሁለት ወጣት ፖለቲከኞችና የኦሮሞ ነፃነት ግንባር ተወካይ ከኣልጀዚራ ቲቪ ጋር ባደረጉት ውይይት በጠላት ሰፈር ይህ ነው የማይባል ሁከትና መደናገጥን ፈጥሮዋል፡፡ በፖለቲካ ቋንቋ ኳሷን ከአኛ ክልል ኣውጥተን በኢትዮጵያዊያን ኣንድነት መዳ ላይ መጫወት መጀመራችንን ኣመላካች ነው፡፡ በለላ መልኩ በኦሮሞ ብሓርተኝነት ላይ ትልቅ መነሳሳትን ፈጥሯል፡፡

Egypt Calls on Ethiopia to Seek Solution on Nile Water Sharing

July 20, 2013 | Bloomberg

 By Maher Chmaytelli

Egypt will try reach a solution for its conflict with Ethiopia about a dam on the Nile river, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said.

“We will take action to guarantee the water security of Egypt and preserve our rights in the waters of the Nile,” he told a televised press conference in Cairo today. “We call on the Ethiopian side to respond.”

Ethiopia this year decided to proceed with the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, planned as Africa’s largest hydropower plant, ignoring Egypt’s concern that its water supply would be reduced.

"We Are Oromos First Too!" - Statement from OYSA

July 20, 2013 | Oromo Youth Self-help Association (Washington, DC)

A statement from Oromo Youth Self-Help Association (Washington, DC) condemning the attack on journalist Abdi Fite
 =================

Oromummaa or Oromo nationalism has achieved successive victories and reached a higher level to mobilize the untapped Oromo human resources for a just cause – Oromo national movement that had been continuously and viciously attacked by successive Ethiopian regimes.

Even though Oromummaa has proved its maturity, firm stand, commitment and readiness to pay the necessary sacrifices back in Oromia, the recent minor retreat in the Oromo struggle has given the old empire builders in the Diaspora the courage not to accept the truth, just cause and strong Oromo nationalism. Instead they have wrongly convinced themselves that this would be a right time to rehabilitate and wage counter attack on Oromumma – which is altogether a futile attempt to begin with.

Seife Nebelbal Radio Programs Interviews with Artist Aliye and Prof. Merera Gudina

Ethiopia's rights abuses 'ignored’ by aid agencies

July 19, 2013 | Euractive

Britain’s Department for International Development (DfID) and the American aid agency USAID have been accused of ignoring evidence of human rights abuses allegedly linked to their support for a multibillion-dollar social services programme in Ethiopia.

A report published on Wednesday (17 July) by the US-based think tank the Oakland Institute details a long list of grievances presented to aid officials from the UK and US by communities in the Lower Omo Valley in southern Ethiopia.

They claim they suffered intimidation, beatings, rape, forced evictions and other abuses as a result of the government's controversial "villagisation" resettlement programme, which seeks to clear land to make way for commercial investments.

MIILA LAMA QABAATANIIF, MUKA LAMA HIN YAABAN DHIDHIIBBAAN HALAGAA, LAMMATA CABUUDHA

Y.G(2005)* | Adoolessa 18, 2013

Mata dureen barruu kiyya har’aa lamadha. Tokko firaaf, tokko diinaaf. Waggoota dheeraaf mooraa qabsoo Oromoo keessatti waan mul’atu hundaaf, sababaan Hogganaa jedhamee ka’uun dhaga’a. Hogganoonni Qabsoo Oromoos komee kana of irraa kaasuuf, Hogganummaa irraa ka’uu akka danda’an dubbachuu isaanii dhaga’eera, argeeras. Ani gama kootiin, Hogganoota qabsoo haa geeddaraman, ykn haa ka’an, ykn isaantu qabsoo duubatti harkise yennaa jennu, akka waloottis, dhunfaattis yennaa arrabsinu, salphisnu, Dulloomaniiruu haa ka’an yennaa jennu, Namoonni qeeqa kana kaasan, mooraa qabsoo Oromoo akka gaaritti hubatanii ykn xiinxalanii dubbataa jiru? moo, namni waan jedhuuf afarsaa jiru? moo, addunyaa irratti waan arginu irraa ka’anii, odoo lafaa waa hin qabaatiin ykn sochii tokkollee hin taasisiin lallabaa jiru? moo, haaluma qabsoon Oromoo itti jiru akka gaaritti qalbeeffannee dubbachaa fi qeeqaa jirra moo, furmaata dhumaatu kanaa jennee dubbannamoo, halgaan isin hogganuu dandeessu jedhanii dantaa isaaniif waan gara garaan waan nu dammaqsaniif dubbannaa? moo, dhuguma dhaloota haaraa isaan dhaalu qopheeffannee lafaa qabnamoo, namni dhuunfaa hogganoota waliin wal dhabee waan katabee ykn dubbateef waliin dhaabbanna moo, Hogganootuma qabsoo kana kaafnee akka haaraatti of dhaabnaadha moo,…….. maal jechuu akka barbaadamu naaf hin liqifamu.