HRLHA Urgent Action
November 27, 2016
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.
The 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.
Copied To:
- UNICEF Headquarters
United States Fund for UNICEF
125 Maiden Lane, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10038
https://www.unicef.org
- UN Security Council
Office of the Ombudsperson
Room DC2 2206
United Nations
New York, NY 10017
United States of America
Tel: +1 212 963 2671
E-mail: ombudsperson@un.org
- UN Human Rights Council
OHCHR address:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Palais Wilson
52 rue des Pâquis
CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland.
- Africa Union (AU)
African Union Headquarters
P.O. Box 3243 | Roosvelt Street (Old Airport Area) | W21K19 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax:(251) 11 551 78 44
Webmaster: webmaster@africa-union.org
- African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District
Western Region P.O. Box 673 Banjul
The Gambia
Tel: (220) 441 05 05, 441 05 06
- The US Department of State Secretarate Secretary
His Excellency Mr. John Kerry
WASHINGTON, D.C. HEADQUARTERS
(202) 895-3500
OFMInfo@state.gov
Office of Foreign Missions
2201 C Street NW
Room 2236
Washington, D.C. 20520
Customer Service Center
3507 International Place NW
Washington, D.C. 20522-3303
- UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP
Parliamentary
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 4055
Fax: 020 7219 5851
Email: hammondp@parliament.uk
Departmental Street ,
London, SW1A 2AH
Tel: 020 7008 1500
Email: fcocorrespondence@fco.gov.uk
- Minister of Forenien Affairs (Canada)
His Excellency Stéphane Dion
Write to:
Enquiries Service (BCI)
Global Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0G2
Email: Enquiry Service – On line form
Canada
- Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)
Her Excellency Margot Wallström
Switchboard: +46 8 405 10 00
Street address: Rosenbad 4
Postal address: SE 103 33 Stockhol
- Minister of Foreign Affairs (Normway)
His Excellency BørgeBrende
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
E-mail: post@mfa.no
Phone: + 47 23 95 00 00
Address: 7. juniplassen
QEERROO 