Qeerroo Report, Ambo, August 12, 2011

The TPLF government’s weapons factory at Gudar (West Shewa Province) has caused irremediable calamity to the local communities. The poison released from the weapons factory which produces different military machineries has been causing huge externalities on the agricultural land use and the underground water in the area. The poisons have also grave consequences for the public and livestock health, and other natural resources. Currently, the health condition of many local communities in Gudar is in a dangerous situation. Hence, the livestock production in the area is highly hit by the environmental damage caused by the factory.

More to the point, whilst Tigray farmers are being supplied with the fertile soils from Oromia, the Oromo farmers are struck deliberately by the grave consequences of government’s unproductive weapons factory.  TPLF owned large trucks have been supplying the fertile soils of Oromia to Tigray region. In comparison with Tigray famer’s who undertake mechanised farming; the Oromos are still farming with the backward mechanism. On top of that, many Oromo farmers have been displaced from their own lands and their lands were rented out to foreign investors for an exclusively very long term.

As Qeerroo reported from Oromia, Tigray investors are being given fertile and productive lands in many big cities of Oromia. The TPLF government is grabbing agricultural lands and distributing for close relatives of Meles Zenawi and Azeb Mesfin. They hanged TPLF’s flag in each city where they seized land, such as Burayu, Holeta, Ginchi and Ambo. Those Oromo people who have expressed opposition against the hanged flag of TPLF have been arrested and tortured.

Many agricultural lands located between Ambo and Finfinnee (the capital) have also been covered by huge agricultural tents which are owned by different foreign countries. Many of the adverts on the tents were written with Arabic and Chinese. There is no vivid evidence where the misplaced unfortunate Oromo farmers have resettled after forced to leave their own lands. There is no extensive research regarding the land seizure and who owns them.  However, different reports show that Indian, Arabian and Chinese investors are among the foreigners who owned the land.

The struggle shall continue and the oppressor will fall!