For 3 years, Lalisee Wadaajoo was imprisoned in Ethiopia due to her identity and her political views. On October 30, 2008, the Ethiopian security forces had confiscated their property and belongings without any court warrant.

Lalisee was released on 8 July 2011 and finally reunited with her family and friends in Melbourne on 8 August 2013 after 9 years of separation. On 10 August 2013, a welcoming ceremony was held in commemoration of Dhaabasaa (her husband) and Lalisee’s wedding as the Ethiopian Militia had also confiscated their wedding video.

ayyaantuu.com/horn-of-africa-news/oromia­/lelise-wodajo-an-oromo-journalist-final­ly-free/

Here’s a video of the events that was shot with my clumsy hands.

Special thanks to:
The Waaqjiraa Family – Dhaabasaa, Lalisee, Seenaa, Jiituu, Boonsan,
Lensa Dinka – for offering me this opportunity,
& Friends of the Waaqiraa family.
The family would like to thank:
Oromo Community in Australia and in the world,
Oromo Support Group in UK,
Oromo Support Group Australia,
Humanitarian Crisis Hub,
Amnesty International,
Human Right Watch,
The Human Right League of the Horn of Africa,
& Others who have continually supported them financially, emotionally & morally in such hardship.

Music:
1. “Intala Abbaa Gadaa” by Kiilolee Melbaa
2. “Lameen keenya waliif dagalee” by Elemoo Alii

By Firehiwot Guluma Tezera | February 26, 204

Their first move upon assuming power was to declare that Ethiopia, would henceforth, be a Federal Democratic Republic consisting of ‘nations and nationalities’. These nations and nationalities will have equal rights. Each of them shall have its own flag, language, borders, and parliament. Those that are unhappy with the union have the right to secede.

According to Article 39, in section 3 of this constitution which deals with the rights of nations and nationalities: “Every nationality in Ethiopia shall have the full right to administer itself .This right shall include the right to establish government institutions within the territory it inhabits and the right to fair representation in the federal and state governments.”

The TPLF further undertook to end the highlander domination of Ethiopian politics in the past and promised that every Ethiopian will enjoy his/her share in the economic and political sphere of the country. Many rejoiced when they heard these from the TPLF – which was, itself, a highlander guerrilla party founded on secessionist platform – and wholeheartedly welcomed it.

But it was not to be so. The Oromo’s were the first to discover this treachery when their political organization (OLF) withdrew in response to unfair election practices held on June 21,1992, the leaders either arrested, killed or made to flee the country, when they tried to get their rights using the legally allowed provisions in the TPLF drafted constitution. Also other political organization that disagreed with TPLF was led to slaughter house and chopped down. The provision of constitution which guaranteed freedom of thought, speech, association and other fundamental human right, took a holiday.

Read More:- article.docx

Gabaasa Qeerroo Finca’aa Gurn-dhala 26,2014

Godinaalee oromiyaa tokko tokko keessatti diddaan kallattii adda addaan wal qabatee kaaa jiraachu isaa yeroodhaa yerootti gabaafamaa jira. Gabaasaa Qeerroo Wallaggaa,Finca’aa irraa hara Guraandhala 25 addeessuun warshaa Shukkaaraa Fincaatti argamu irraa hojjetootni hojjetan gaaffii dabaliinsa miindaan kan wal qabatee diddaa jabaan uumamee jira. Gaaffin kunis torban tokko dura kan eegale yoo tahu sochii Qeerroon kan buuura kan buuura tae mootummaa wayyaane irratti hojjetootni gaaffii deebii argachuu hin dandeenye dhiyeessuu irraan gama hundaan diddaan akka jabaatee kau taee jira,ammatti gaaffiin hojjetoota warshaa kana irraa dhiyeessan mootummaa irraa deebii hin argatin waan jiruuf guutummaan guututti hojjetootni warshicha hojii dhaabuu murteessuun dhaamsa waliif dhaamaa jiru,waraqaan qeerroos naannichatti kan bittimfamaa jiruudha,daandiin gara warshaa sanii geessuus diddaa hojjetootaan kan kaee cufamee akka jiru Qeerroon gabaasee jira. Gama kanaan gabaasaan jiru itti fufa!

Gabaasaa Qeerroo Guraandhala 25 godina addaa Finfinnee Sulultaa irraa addeessuun mootummaan wayyaanee yeroo ammaa ABO qofa osoo hin taanee sodaan isaa miseensotuma isaayyuu shakkuudhaan sodaa keessa galee jira,seelii ABO fi seelii keenya adda baafachuu qabna jedhani labsii labsaa jiru magaalaa kana irratti,kaleessa;guraandhala 24 irraa kaasanii miseensota OPDO kan taam hunda walitti qabuudhaan wal gayii ariifachiisaa qaama nu hordofuu fi nun hordofne adda baasuudha jedha mootummaan jedhuun hanga guyyaa 5niitti walgayiin wayyaanee magaalaa Sulultaa irratti dhimma kanaaf adeemsifachaa jirti. Wal gayii kana irratti namoota hirmaatan addatti ammo miseensa ABOti jedhuun shakkaa ture mootummaan wayyaanee tikoota isaatiin gara qorannaa federaalatti akka fuudhataman taee jira,isaan keessa kan maqaan nama lamaa nu gahee jiru:

1. B/saa Tamasgeen Hirkoo
2. B/saa Guddataa Takkaaliny Oliiqaa

Kan jedhaman kun barattoota siyaasa barsiisa,maatii barattootaa waamuudhaan sabboonummaa akka baratan,aadaa fi seenaa oromoo barattootni keessan hubachuu qabu kan jedhu maatii isaa gorsaa barattoota maatiin isaanii deggeraa mootummaa tae ammoo ilaalcha gaarii hin qabaniifi,walii galatti sammuu barattoota siyaasaan jijjiiranii jiru jedhuun yakka kanaan gara qorannootti dhiyaatanii jiru,keessi isaa bifa hidhaatiin tikoota wayyaaneetiin qabamanii gara federaalaatti akka geeffaman gabaasaan Qeerroo addeessa. Itti fufee mareenii fi qorannoon Wayyaanee magaalaa Sulultaa irratti gaggeeffama kan jiru guyyoota 5f seemii isaanii adda baafachuuf ajandaa godhatanii kaanii jru bakka biroo irratti kan itti fufu akka tae odeeffannaan ibsa. Diddaan Itti fufa!

Gabaasaa FDG: Guraandhalaa 24/2014 Godina Jimmaa, fi Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaatti FDG haalan jabaata ta’ee Qeerroo bilisummaa Oromoo gootota baratoota Oromoo fi hawwaasa Oromoo Magaalaa Jimmaatiin bifa adda addaatiin itti fufee oole .

Dargaggoonni baratootni Oromoo Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa utuu waraannii mootummaa Wayyaanee lakkofsaan kumaan lakka’amu mooraa Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa keessa qubsiifamee jiruu guyyaa har’aa ifatti nyaataa fi barnoota dhaabuun mormii sirna wayyaaneef qaban ifatti argisiisuun FDG finiinsaan. Guyyaa kaleessa Guraandhala 23/2014 Goototni sabboontotni baratootni Qeerroo bilisummaa Oromoo sababaa Oromummaa isaniin yakkamaa ta’anii hoggantoota waraana wayyaanee mooraa Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa keessaa qubsiifamani jiranii fi poolisotaan karaa bulchiinsa Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa seeratu isin barbada jedhamuun wamamanii dorsifamuun ittuma dargaggota Oromoo gara FDGtti jabeessuun dorsiifni diinaa, hidhaan, heddumminni waraanaa fi qawween,sochii warraaqsa bilisummaa Oromoo qeerroon gaggeessa jiru yoom iyyuu duubatti deebisuu kan hin dandeenye ta’uu, kunoo guyyaa har’aa qeerroon ifatti beeksise jira. Waamicha FDG qeerroon bilisummaa Oromoo tasiseef irraa ka’uun hawwaasni Oromoo magaalaa Jimmaa guyyaa har’aa hojii idlee isaanii illee dhaabuun mormii sirna wayyaaneef qaban ifatti argisiisaani jiru. Keessattuu daldaltootni magaalaa Jimmaa dukkana daldalaa isaanii cfattii olchuun diddaa sirna fashiistii wayyaaneef qaban argisiisaniru,kana malees hojjetootni mootummaa sabboontotni Oromoo hojii dhaabuun diddaa qeerroon gaggeessa jiru keessatti qooda fudhachuu isanii beeksifatan.

Kana malees hordoftootni amantaa Muslimaa uummannii Oromoo fi sabaafi sablammoonni mirgii amantaa isanii sarbamuu fi abba irrummaa Wayyaanee irratti dammaqanii jiran guyyaa har’aa kayyoon FDG garbummaa Qeerroon bilisummaa Oromoo godina keenyaa fi Oromiyaa keessatti gaggeessa jiru sirriidha, kayyoo kanas ni deeggarra, qeerroo cina dhaabbannee mirga amantaa keenyaa fi mirga eenyuummaa fi dimookiraasii sarbamaa jiru kabachiifachuu ni dandeenya jechuun guyyaa har’a FDG Qeerroon bilisummaa Oromoo gaggeessuu keessatti qooda fudhatan. Haala kanaan fulduraaf illee nam-tokko biyya dimookiraasiin hin jirree fi biyya mirgi namummaa sarbamaa jiru keessatti mirga amantaa isa egsifachuun waan ulfataa ta’eef FDG qeerroon gaggeessaa jiruu keessatti ga’ee keenya gumachuun mirgoota namummaa, dimookiraasii fi eenyummaa haa kabachiifannu jechuun diddaa sirna wayyaanee Qeerroon gaggeessa jiru keessatti qooda fudhachuu isani waliif beeksisan. Bifa kanaan hojii idlee isani dhaabuun mormii sirna wayyaaneef qaban argisiisaniru. Gabaaasaa humna Waarana Wayyaanee Qeerroo bilisummaa irratti bobbafame kan ilaallatu Guraandhala 22/2014 irra egaluun Mootummaan abbaa irree Wayyaanee humna waraana guddaa Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa keessa qubsiisu egale. guyyaa kaleessa qofa humni waraana wayyaanee guddaan konkolaataa 30 ol kan ta’uu ganama irra egaluun magaalaa Jimmaa galee, waraannii kun irra guddaan isaa nannoo Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa Mooraa Yuunivarsiitichaa keessaa fi mooraa Yuuniversiitichaan ala qubsiifame, Waraana guraadhala 22 moora Yuunivarsiitii seenuu eegale irraatti qeerroon bilisummaa Oromoo barruu warraqsaa FDG irraatti bittineesseen sochiin qeerroon itti jiruu ulfaataa waan ta’eef humna guddaa nuf dabalaa jechuun kitillayoonnii Wayyaanee iyyatachuun humni waraana guddaan hammana ga’uu kun uummata irra qubsiifamee guyyaa har’a magaala Jimmaa fi Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa keessatti sakkata’insa da’imman umrii waggaa 8 olii irra egalee hanga manguddoo jaarsa gadamoojjiitti namuma daandii irra deemuu dhaabuun sakkataa jiraachuun ibsamera.

Wanti baay’ee nama dhibuu mootummaan Wayyaanee muddama sochii qeerrootiin qabamee dhukkubsatootaa hospitaalaa Jimmaa Mooraa Yuunivarsiitii jimmaa keessa jiru keessa ciisaa jiranii fi namotaa dhukkubsatoota dhukkubsachiisa jiran illee sakkatta’insan dararaa jiraachuun gabaafamera.

Dhabbannii Barnoota olaanoo guddaa fi Yuunivarsiitii biyyatti keessa jiran hundaaf fakkeenyummaan qaba jedhuu Yuunivarsiitiin Jimmaa heddumina waraana wayyaanee irraan kan ka’ee guyyaa har’a dirree leenjii waraana fakkatee jira, kana irraa ka’uun halli baruu fi barsiisuu illee uguramee barnoonni dhaabbatee kan olee ta’ee jira.

Konkolaatootni tajajila(service) hojjetoota fi baratootaa Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa guyyaa har’a kana tajajila dhaabuun humna waraanaa Wayyaanee Fe’uun mooraa Yuunivarsiitii fi magaalaa Jimmaa keessa nanneessa kan olee ta’uun, Yuunivarsiitiin Jimmaa dirree waraanaa fi ergama waraanaa nurraatti gaggeessaa jirtii jechuun uummataan mufii guddaan irratti ka’aa jira…. gabaasaan kun itti fufa.

24 02 14 09 48 001

24 02 14 09 02 001

24 02 14 09 48

24 02 14 10 40

24 02 14 11 29

Oromia Media Network will be inaugurated on March 1, 2014.

Oromia Media Network (OMN) is a product of the unwavering spirit of the Oromo people, and their firm belief in freedom of expression and freedom of thought. We believe that the primary purpose of any media establishment is to offer thoughtful perspective on various issues. Cognizant of this, OMN is our grand step towards reclaiming our voice, the voice of truth and fair representation. We are elated to announce that Oromia Media Network will be launched on March 1st, 2014 in the heart of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Oromia Media Network is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit news enterprise whose mission is to produce original, impartial, citizen-driven reporting. The goal of this network is to create multilingual news and programs that will serve as a reliable source of information in the greater horn of Africa region. OMN will offer perspectives grounded in objectivity rather than propaganda. It will uphold international core journalistic and ethical standards of truthfulness, objectivity, integrity, and public accountability while offering a uniquely Oromo perspective. These principles are integrated and adopted into our core values and editorial policy as a media entity.

OMN has a structural governing body that consists of the Board of Trustees, Executive Council and Editorial Board. The Board of Trustees is supervisory body of OMN, while the Executive Council is responsible for the overall management of the organization. The Editorial Board is charged with the development and production of news and other programs.

From Ayub Abubakar, who was murdered because he established the first Afaan Oromo radio in Mogadishu city, Somalia in 1960s, to Lelise Wodajo, who has just been forced into exile after years in jail, Oromo people and Oromo journalists in particular have sacrificed and paid the ultimate price for freedom of expression, to bring truth to light and tell their story in their own way. This project is the latest in this ardent effort to have our voice heard free from intimidation and censorship. We believe that the historic establishment of this media network is an integral part of the multifaceted struggle of the Oromo and other oppressed people to regain their freedom. This is evident in the unreserved support we have been receiving since we initiated this project. It is our collective effort that made it possible for us to stand at this pivotal point in our history.

Therefore, on behalf of the OMN leadership and the team that labored so hard to make this dream a reality, we take great pleasure in inviting Oromo and friends to join us for this historical inauguration at 2 PM on Saturday, March 1st, 2014 at University of Minnesota.

Hamza Abdurezak (PhD), Chairman of Board of Trustees
Girma Tadesse, Executive Director

Oromia Media Network (OMN)

Guraandhala 25,2014 Yeroo irra gara yerootti,FDG’n godina dhihaa Oromiyaa keessattuu Godina Kibba dhihaa Oromiyaa Jimmaa fi Iluu Abbaa Booraa keessatti qeerroon gaggeessaa jiru jabaachaa adeemuun hawwannaa uummata argatee jira. Mootummaan abbaa Irree Wayyaanee TPLF fi EPRDF warraaqsa qeerroo bilisummaa Oromoo ija uummataa keessa seenee jiru kanatti rifatuu guddaa keessa seenun waan qabee gadhiisuu dhabee Oromoon hin baratiin jechuun Wayyaaneen baratoota Oromoo barnoota irraa arii’uu murteeffatte jirti. Haaluma kanaan:

Injiineerotni Baratootni Oromoo qaroo ta’an Yuunivarsiitii Mattuu irra baratootni 11 barnoota irra arii’atamani baratootni lama immoo akeekkachiisa dhumaan kan jiran ta’uu torbanota darban keessa gabaasuun keenya ni yaadatama. Ilmaan Oromoo qaroo fi abdii biyyaa ta’an kun badii tokko malee dhugaa uummata Oromoo qofa waan dubbataniif arii’amuun uummataa Oromoo Magaalaa Maattuu akkam kan aarsee ta’uu ibsuun Manguddoonni Oromoo fi abbootiin amantaa Oromoo ta’an balleessa malee arii’atamuu baratoota Oromoo maalii jechuun bulchiinsa Yuunivarsiitii Mattuu akka meeshatti wayyaaneen itti fayyadamee Oromoo barnoota irraa arii’atu gaafatan, dabbaalloonnii Wayyaanee kun manguddoo kabajamooni fi abbootii amantaa salphisuun dhimma kun isin hin galchu maaltu isin galche jechuun of irra deebisan.
Qeerroon Bilisummaa Oromoo gochaa fashistummaa kana kan manguddoo keenya salphisee, afaan qawwee abdatee nutti roorrisuu kana of irra dhaabuu kan dandeenyuu fi mirga abba biyyummaa keenya kabachiifachuufi barnoota irra arii’atamuun, hidhaan, ajjeechaan, biyyaa irraa arii’amuun nu ga’aa, jennee nuti dhaloonni haaraan kun wareegama barbachisuu kanfaluun yoo of irraa hin fonqolchine, dhaloonni baaddeedhan dhufuu carraa lubbuun jiraachuu iyyuu hin argatu jechuun qeerroon harka walqabannee wayyaanee irratti FDG gaggeessuun furmaata waaraa fiduun of kabachiisuudha jechuun itti fufee barruu Warraqsa FDG bitinneessuu Godina Jimmaa, Yuunivaersiitii Jimmaa, Godina Iluu A/Booraa, Yuunivarsiitii Mattuu, Yuuniversiitii Miizaan Teeppii, Yuunivarsiitii Walqixxee, Yuunivarsiitii Amboo , fi Yuunivarsiitii Wallaaggaa keessatti barruun waraqaa FDG itti fufee bittinneeffama jiraachuun hoggansii qeerroo bilisummaa Oromoo gareen hoggansa dhihaa Oromiyaa beeksisee jira.
Uummaanni Oromoo Magaalaa Jimmaa fi hordoftootni amantaa muslimaa fi Goototni baratootni Oromoo Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa bu’uura kana godhachuun sochii warraaqsaa FDG irratti argamuu, Diddaa Qeerroo tumsa uummataa argachaa jiru kanatti barraaguun wayyaaneen guutummaa magaalaa Jimmaa fi Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa humna Waraanaa mooraa 44 Waraanaa kan dhihaa keessaa gadii bobbaasuun egsisaa jiraachuun ibsame jira.

Gabaasa Qeerroo Finfinnee Gurraandhala 22,2014

Gabaasaa Qeerroo Finfinnee kutaa magaalaa Makkannisaa jedhamu irraa gabaasuun, Guraandhala21 mana barumsaa barattootni oromoo itti baratan koollejji Seminarii jedhamutti jala bultii guyyaa boruuf fincilli kauu mala jedhuun tikoota isaa naannoo mana barumsaa kanatti ramaduudhaan ganama saa 8:00 irraa kaasee guyyaa guutuu meeshaa guutuu dirree waraanaa fakkeessee jiraachuu isaa Qeerroon gabaasee jira humna waraana isaanii nannoo kana buufatanii jiran suuraan kaafame kan addeessu barattoota shakkuun barattoota naqaa qabanii qorataa barumsa isaanii irraa hambisaa akka jiran akkasuma basaasota isaanii huccuu barataan wal fakkatu uffisuun moora keessa galchanii sochii barattoota oromoo basaasaa akka jiran, gabaasaan Qeerroo addeessa. Aka walii galaatti mootummaa wayyaanee sochii barattota oromoo yuuniversitii koollejjii adda addaa irratti eegalee jiru sodaadhaan koollejjii kanatti tikoota humnaa oliin ramadee eegsisaa jira,fuula kana irratti attach kan tae suurawwan tikoota wayyaanee naannoo san buufatanii jiran yoo tahu qeerroo sodaa tokko malee isaanuma gidduu deemuun waraqaa barbaachisu walif raabsaa jiran waliin kan jiruudha,shakkiidhumaan qoratanii gadhiisaa jiru barattoota kan qabamani hidhaman hin jiran,itti fufanii diddaa moora kana keessatti eegaluuf ammallee qophiin barataa cimee jira,itti fufa.

img0075a

img0077a

img0078a

img0080a