Twelve Ethiopian journalists and publishers left the country in August after the magazines they worked for were forced by the government to shut down. International media gave little attention to the self-chosen exile of these media practitioners.

Ethiopia: Uneven Coverage of Suppressed Ethiopian Journalists

By Marthe Van Der Wolf

August 30, 2014, Addis Ababa (VOA) — This month, Ethiopian officials shut down five magazines — the latest in a series of shutdowns — but the move got little attention from outside the country. The East African country is well known for suppressing the media, but some cases seem to get celebrity status while others are ignored.

Twelve Ethiopian journalists and publishers left the country in August after the magazines they worked for were forced by the government to shut down. International media gave little attention to the self-chosen exile of these media practitioners.

In contrast, the cases of Eskinder Nega, Reeyot Alemu and more recently the Zone9 bloggers have been covered by outlets such as al-Jazeera and the BBC, as well as VOA.

Tom Rhodes of the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ, says it can be partly explained why some cases get more attention.

“In the case of the Zone9 bloggers and Eskinder, they were quite well known in the diaspora, the Ethiopian diaspora, and had a lot of international contacts and backers. While other cases unfortunately are not so well known. I think of Solomon Kebede for example who is still waiting for trial,” he said.

Forty-one human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and CPJ released a joint statement calling for the release of the Zone9 bloggers and journalists, who are charged with terrorism.

Amaha Mekonnen, lawyer for the Zone9 bloggers and journalists, said there was a small chance the international attention would have an impact.

“As we have the experience, there may be a chance to settle the matter out of court, in which case, this information, all deliberations and analysis the case of this bloggers and journalist may be used to speed up and finally get a successful results,” said Mekonnen.

Both Eskinder Nega and Reeyot Alemu have been detained under Ethiopia’s controversial Anti-Terrorism Proclamation. Human rights group said the 2009 law was overly vague and allowed authorities to arrest anyone who criticized or opposed the government.

Eskinder won the 2012 PEN American’s Freedom to Write Award while serving an 18-year prison sentence and Reeyot won the UNESCO World Press Freedom Award in 2013 while serving an ongoing five-year prison term.

Reeyot is not allowed to see anyone else besides her parents, for 20 minutes a day. Her father Alemu Gobebo said the attention was good for the morale of his imprisoned daughter:

“The international media is also encouraging the family of Reeyot, and Reeyot herself. The international media coverage disclosing her strength on freedom of speech or freedom of press, and by that way she was awarded, I think, international prizes. In that case we are very delighted,” he said.

There was always a worry when giving exposure to a case, said Rhodes of CPJ. But he also believed that it was crucial to inform people about what was going on.

“I think it both has a positive and a negative affect,” he said. “Positive in the sense that we let the international community know what’s going on and we’re letting the Ethiopian press know what’s going on. But it’s also negative in the sense that some authorities simply do not like criticism whether its local or international. And may react badly to it.”

Ethiopia ranks 143 out of 180 countries on the most recent World Press Freedom index. A 2014 Human Rights Watch report says Ethiopia is one of the three top countries in the world in terms of the number of exiled journalists.

The trial of the Zone 9 bloggers and journalists will resume October 15.

The announcement of the implementation of the Addis Ababa Master Plan (AAMP) was just an extension of an attempt by EPRDF government at legalizing its plans of ridding the Oromo people from in and around Finfinne by grabbing Oromo land for its party leaders and real estate developers from the Tigrean community

Oromia: Enhanced Master Plan to Continue Committing the Crimes of Genocide

The actions taken were aimed at destroying Oromo farmers or at rendering them extinct.  

~Ermias Legesse, Ethiopia’s exiled EPRDF Minister

August 30, 2014 (Oromo Press) — The announcement of the implementation of the Addis Ababa Master Plan (AAMP) was just an extension of an attempt by EPRDF government at legalizing its plans of ridding the Oromo people from in and around Finfinne by grabbing Oromo land for its party leaders and real estate developers from the Tigrean community. The act of destroying Oromo farmers by taking away their only means of survival—the land—precedes the current master plan by decades.  Ermias Legesse, exiled EPRDF Deputy Minister of Communication Affairs, acknowledged his own complicity in the destruction of 150,000[1] Oromo farmers in the Oromia region immediately adjacent to Finfinne. He testifies that high-level TPLF/EPRDF officials are responsible for planning and coordinating massive land-grab campaigns without any consideration of the people atop the land.  Ermia’s testimony is important because it contains both the actus reus  and dolus specials of the mass evictions[2]:

Once while in a meeting in 1998 (2006, Gregorian),the Ethiopian Prime Minster Meles Zenawi , we (ERPDF wings) used to go to his office every week, said.  Meles led the general party work in Addis Ababa.  We went to his office to set the direction/goal for the year. When a question about how should we continue leading was asked, Meles said something that many people may not believe. ‘Whether we like it or not nationality agenda is dead in Addis Ababa.’  He spoke this word for word. ‘A nationality question in Addis Ababa is the a minority agenda.’ If anyone were to be held accountable for the crimes, everyone of us have a share in it according to our ranks, but mainly Abay Tsehaye is responsible.  The actions taken were aimed at destroying Oromo farmers or at rendering them extinct.  29 rural counties were destroyed in this way.  In each county there are more or less about 1000 families.  About 5000 people live in each Kebele (ganda) and if you multiply 5000 by 30, then the whereabouts of 150,000 farmers is unknown.

Zenawi’s statement “the question of nationality is a dead agenda in Addis Ababa” implies that the Prime Minister planned the genocide of the Oromo in and around Finfinne and others EPRDF officials followed suit with the plan in a more aggressive and formal fashion.

Announcement of the Addis Ababa Master Plan and Massacres and Mass Detentions

AAMP was secretly in the making for at least three years before its official announcement in April 2014.[3]  The government promoted on local semi-independent and state controlled media the sinister plan that already evicted 2 million Oromo farmers and aims at evicting 8-10 million and at dividing Oromia into east and west Oromia as a  benevolent development plan meant to extend social and economic services to surrounding Oromia’s towns and rural districts. Notwithstanding the logical contradiction of claiming to connect Oromia towns and rural aanaalee (districts) to “economic and social” benefits by depopulating the area itself, the plan was met with strong peaceful opposition across universities, schools and high schools in Oromia. Starting with the Ambo massacre that claimed the lives of 47 people in one day[4], Ethiopia’s army and police killed over 200 Oromo students, jailed over 2000 students, maimed and disappeared countless others over a five-month period from April-August 2014.

አርከበ እቁባይ፣ በረከት ስምኦን፣ አባ ዱላ ገመዳ፣ ሳሞራ የኑስ፣ አባይ ጸሃየ፣ ጌታቸው አሰፋ፣ ሌ/ጄ ታደሰ ወረደ፣ ሃሰን ሺፋ፣ ሙሉጌታ በርሄ፣ ነጋ በርሄ፣ ወርቅነህ ገበየሁ፣ ኮማንደር ሰመረ እና አንድ ስሙ ያልተገለጸ ሰው በምርጫ 97 ማግስት ንጹሃን ዜጎች እንዲገደሉ፣ እንዲደፈሩ፣ እንዲታሰሩ፣ ከስራቸው እንዲፈናቀሉና እንዲሰደዱ እንዲሁም አንዳንዶች ታፍነው እንዲወሰዱ ትእዛዝ ሰጥተዋል የሚል ክስ ቀርቦባቸዋል።

ከፍተኛ የመንግስት ባለስልጣናት የተከሰሱበት የክስ መዝገብ ለስዊድን አለማቀፍ ወንጀል መርማሪ ፖሊስ ተሰጠ

ነሃሴ ፳፪(ሃያሁለት)ቀን ፳፻፮ ዓ/ም ኢሳት ዜና :-በምርጫ 97 ለተገደሉት እና ለቆሰሉት ፍትህ ለመጠየቅ የተቋቋመው ግብረሃይል ስራውን አጠናቆ ዛሬ የ13

ከፍተኛ የመንግስት ባለስልጣናትንና የመከላከያ ሰራዊት አዛዦችን ስም ዝርዝር የያዘ የክስ ማመልከቻ ለስዊድን አለማቀፍ የጦር ወንጀል መርማሪ ፖሊስ አስረክቧል።

አርከበ እቁባይ፣ በረከት ስምኦን፣ አባ ዱላ ገመዳ፣ ሳሞራ የኑስ፣ አባይ ጸሃየ፣ ጌታቸው አሰፋ፣ ሌ/ጄ ታደሰ ወረደ፣ ሃሰን ሺፋ፣ ሙሉጌታ በርሄ፣ ነጋ በርሄ፣ ወርቅነህ

ገበየሁ፣ ኮማንደር ሰመረ እና አንድ ስሙ ያልተገለጸ ሰው በምርጫ 97 ማግስት ንጹሃን ዜጎች እንዲገደሉ፣  እንዲደፈሩ፣ እንዲታሰሩ፣ ከስራቸው እንዲፈናቀሉና

እንዲሰደዱ እንዲሁም አንዳንዶች ታፍነው እንዲወሰዱ ትእዛዝ ሰጥተዋል የሚል ክስ ቀርቦባቸዋል።

የክስ ቻርጁ ለፖሊስ መቅረቡን ተከትሎ ቃለ መጠይቅ ያደረግንላቸው ጉዳዩን በማስተባበርና በመምራት ከፍተኛ ሚና የተጫወቱት አቶ ሞላ ይግዛው እንደገለጹት፣

የስዊድን አለማቀፍ ወንጀል መርማሪ ፖሊስ በቀረበው የክስ ጭብጥና በቀረቡት የሰነድና የቪዲዮ ማስረጃዎች መርካቱን ገልጿል። ምርመራውን የያዙት ከዚህ ቀደም

በዩጎዝላቪያ፣ ሩዋንዳና በሌሎችም አገራት የተፈጸሙትን ወንጀሎች የመረመሩና ከፍተኛ ልምድ ያላቸው ፖሊስ  ሲሆኑ፣ እርሳቸውም ለግብረሃይሉ ምርመራውን

ዛሬውኑ መጀመራቸውን ማስታወቃቸውን አቶ ሞላ ገልጸዋል።

ስዊድን የኢትዮጵያን ባለስልጣናት ለመክሰስ ምን ስልጣን አላት? የሚል ጥያቄ የቀረበላቸው አቶ ሞላ  ፣  “የስዊድን ፓርላማ በየትኛውም አገር የተፈጸመ የጦር ወንጀል

እና ከፍተኛ የሰብአዊ መብት ጥሰት በስዊድን ፍርድ ቤት እንደሚታይ በቅርቡ መወሰኑ ክሱን ለመመስረት ምክንያት መሆኑን ” ገልጸዋል።

የስዊድን ፖሊስ ምርመራውን እንዳጠናቀቀ ለአቃቢ ህግ እንደሚያስተላልፍና አቃቢህግም በስዊድን አለማቀፍ የጦር ፍርድ ቤት ክስ እንደሚመሰረት አቶ ሞላ ገልጸዋል።

ፖሊስ የሚያካሂደው የምርመራ ውጤት፣ እስካሁን ከተሰባሰቡትና ለወደፊተም ከሚጨመሩት ሰነዶች ጋር ተያይዞ ለተባበሩት መንግስታት የጸጥታው ምክር ቤት

እንደሚቀርብና ምክር ቤቱም በአለማፉ የወንጀል ፍርድ ቤት እንዲታይ ትእዛዝ እንዲሰጥ ጥያቄ እንደሚቀርብ ገልጸዋል።

የአሁኑ ክስ በግለሰብ ባለስልጣናት ላይ የቀረበ ቢሆንም፣ ሌሎች ክሶች በተከታታይ እንደሚቀርቡና ክሱ የኢትዮጵያን መንግስት እንደሚያካትት የገለጹት አቶ ሞላ፣ መንግስት

በሚከሰስበት ጊዜ በውጭ አገር የሚያንቀሳቅሰው ሃብቱ እንዲታገድ ለማድረግ እንደሚንቀሳቀሱ ተናግረዋል።

አሁን የቀረቡት ተከሳሶች 13 ብቻ ቢሆኑም በሂደት እንደሚጨምሩ የገለጹት አቶ ሞላ፣ በወቅቱ በአዲስ አበባ እልቂት ለመፈጸም የመጡት የ34 ባታሊዮን ጦር አዛዦች

ስም እንደሚፈለግና የእነዚህን አዛዦች ስም የሚያዉቁ እንዲናገሩ ጠይቀዋል።

በኦጋዴን ለተፈጸመው ገድያ እጃቸው አለበት የተባሉ የመንግስት ባለስልጣናትን ለማደን በኢንተርፖል በኩል እንቅስቃሴ መጀመሩንም አቶ ሞላ ፍንጭ ሰጥተዋል።

ከ13 ተከሳሾች መካከል የአንደኛው ስም ሆን ተብሎ እንዳይገለጽ መደረጉን አቶ ሞላ ተናግረዋል።

የክሱ መመስረት ፍትህ አጥቶ ለቆየው ኢትዮጵያዊ መልካም ዜና መሆኑም አቶ ሞላ ገልጸዋል።

ከአቶ ሞላ ጋር የተደረገው ሙሉ ቃለምልልስ ከዜናው በሁዋላ ይቀርባል።

ዜናው በኢሳት ሰበር ዜና ከቀረበ በሁዋላ ኢትዮጵያውያን የተለያዩ አስተያየቶችን ስልኮችን በመደወል እየሰጡ ነው።

-የምስራቅ አፍሪካ የሰብአዊ መብቶች ሊግ ለኢሳት በላከው መግለጫ ካለፉት 2 ሳምንታት ጀምሮ በተለያዩ ዩኒቨርስቲዎች የተጀመረውን የፖለቲካ ስልጠና ተከትሎ በአምቦ ዩኒቨርስቲ ከ100 በላይ እንዲሁም ከወለጋ የኑቨርስቲ 5 ተማሪዎች ታፍነው ተወስደዋል።

ለዩኒቨርስቲ ተማሪዎች የሚሰጠውን የፖለቲካ ስልጠና ተከትሎ በመቶዎች የሚቆጠሩ የኦሮሞ ተማሪዎች መታሰራቸውን ተገለጸ

ነሃሴ ፳፩(ሃያአንድ)ቀን ፳፻፮ ዓ/ም ኢሳት ዜና :-የምስራቅ አፍሪካ የሰብአዊ መብቶች ሊግ ለኢሳት በላከው መግለጫ ካለፉት 2 ሳምንታት ጀምሮ በተለያዩ

ዩኒቨርስቲዎች የተጀመረውን የፖለቲካ ስልጠና ተከትሎ በአምቦ ዩኒቨርስቲ ከ100 በላይ  እንዲሁም ከወለጋ የኑቨርስቲ 5 ተማሪዎች ታፍነው ተወስደዋል።

የፖለቲካ ስልጠናው አጀንዳ የአገር አንድነት የሚል አላማ ቢኖረውም ፣ በተግባር እየታየ ያለው ግን ተማሪዎችን እየለዩ ማሰር ነው ነው ብሎአል።

ከአምቦ ዩኒቨርስቲ የተያዙ ተማሪዎች ሰንቀሌ እየተባለ ወደ ሚጠራ እስር ቤት ተወስደዋል። ተማሪዎቹ ስለ አገር አንድነት ከመነጋጋር በፊት በቅርቡ ጓደኞቻቸውን

የገደሉ ፖሊሶች ለፍርድ እንዲቀርቡ በመጠየቃቸው መታሰራቸውን ድርጅቱ አስታውቋል።

ከአራት ቀናት በፊት ደግሞ 5 የወለጋ ዩኒቨርስቲ ተማሪዎች 4866 ኢቲ የሚል ታርጋ ባለው መኪና ተጭነው መወሰዳቸውንና እስካሁን ድረስ ያሉበት ቦታ

አለመታወቁን የሰብአዊ መብት ሊጉ ገልጿል። በኢሉ አባቦር ዞን ፣ በዶራኒ ወረዳ ፣ ኢሊሞ ቀበሌ ደግሞ ከ10 ቀናት በፊት ከ100 በላይ ሰዎች መታሰራቸውን

ገልጾ፣ ዋቅቶላ ጋርቤ፣ ሲሳይ አማና፣ ቲኪ ሱፋ፣ ኢታና ዳጋፋ፣ ባድሩ ባሻ ፣ ከማል ዛሊ፣ ራሺድ አብዱ ፣ ዘትኑ ዋቆ፣ ዳጋፊ ቶሊ፣ አዳም ሊቂዲ፣ ኢንዱሽ መንግስቱ፣

ዲቢሳ ሊባንና ኦፍታ ጂፋር የተባሉት ነዋሪዎች በኢሊሞ እስር ቤት ውስጥ ይገኛሉ ብሎአል።

ባለፈው ሚያዚያና ግንቦት ወር በክልሉ ተከስቶ የነበረውን ግጭት ተከትሎ በሽዎች ከታሰሩት መካከል ከ100 በላይ የሚሆኑት በአካባቢ ፍርድ ቤቶች እንዲፈቱ

ውሳኔ የተላለፈ ቢሆንም፣ የመንግስት ባለስልጣኖች ጣልቃ በመግባት እንዳይፈቱ ማድረጋቸውን የገለጸው ሊጉ፣ በደምቢ ዶሎ 64 ፣ በአምቦ 10፣ በሲቡ ሲሪ እና

ዲጋ ወረዳዎች ደግሞ 40 እስረኞች እንዲፈቱ ትእዛዝ ቢተላለፍም ፣ የወረዳ ባለስልጣኖች ውሳኔውን ሽረውታል።  አንዳንዶች ከፌደራል በመጡ ባለስልጣናት ከ6

እስከ 10 አመታት የሚቆይ ፍርድ እንደተፈረደባቸው፣ በአንዳንድ አካባቢዎች ለእስረኞች ጥብቅና የቆሙ ጠበቆች ማስፈራሪያ እንደደረሳቸው የሰብአዊ መብት

ድርጅቱ አክሎ ገልጿል።

የኢትዮጵያ መንግስት የሚፈጽመውን ከፍተኛ የሰበአዊ መብት ጥሰት እንዲያቆም አለማቀፍ የሰብአዊ መብት ድርጅቶችና መንግስታት ጫና እንዲያደርጉ በመግለጫው

አመልክቷል። በታሰሩት ዙሪያ መንግስት የሰጠው መግለጫ የለም።

The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) calls upon the Ethiopian Government to refrain from harassing and intimidating students through such extra-judicial means as killings, arrests and detentions, and denials of justice after detention; and instead facilitate conducive teaching-learning environments. HRLHA also calls upon the Ethiopian Government to unconditionally release the detained Oromo students and other nationals; and, as requested by their fellow students, bring to justice the killers of innocent and peaceful protestors during the April-May crackdown

ETHIOPIA: Arrests and Detentions of Oromo Students Continued

HRLHA – Press Release

August 27, 2014

While fresh arrests and detentions, kidnappings and disappearances of Oromo nationals have continued in different parts of the regional state of Oromo following the April-May crackdown of peaceful demonstrators, court rulings over the cases of some of the earlier detainees by courts of the regional state are being rejected by political agents of the governing TPLF/EPRDF Party. The renewed violence by government forces against Oromo nationals started particularly following what was termed as “Lenjii Siyaasaa” (literally meaning “political training) that has targeted Oromo Students of higher educational institutions and has been going on in the past two weeks in different parts of Oromia.

Although the agendum for the “Political Training” was said to be “the unity of the country”, it instead has become an opportunity of carrying out further screenings and arrests of students; as around 100 more students have so far been arrested from Ambo University campuses alone and sent to a remote, isolated military camp called Sanqalle, leaving families and friends in fear in regards to the safety and well-being of the students in particular; not to mention the disruption of their studies. The arrests were made following the students’ protest of their confinement into the campuses during this so call “Political Trianing”, and the demand that the killers of their fellow students be brought to justice prior to discussing “unity”. Also, five students of Wallaga University, from among those who were gathered for the same purpose of “Political Training” were kidnapped on the 22^nd of August, 2014 and taken away in a vehicle with plate number 4866 ET; and their whereabouts is not known since then. HRLHA correspondents have also traced another fresh arrest and detention of around 100 Oromo nationals in a small town called Elemo, Doranni District, in Illu Abbabor Zone. It took place on the 14^th of August, 2014; and Waqtole Garbe, Sisay Amana, Tiiqii Supha, Ittana Daggafa, Badiru Basha, Kamal Zaalii, Rashiid Abdu, Zetuna Waaqoo, Daggafa Tolee, Adam Ligdii, Indush Mangistu, Dibbeessa Libaan, and Ofete Jifar were a few among those detainees in Elemo Prison.

More worrisome and frustrating is agents of the federal government’s interference with regional and local judicial systems. More than one hundred students and other Oromo nationals, from among the thousands who were detained following the April-May nationwide protest, have been granted bails in local courts of the regional government of Oromia. These include 64 detainees in Dembi Dollo/Qellem, 10 in Ambo, 40 in Sibu-Sire and Digga District. But, all the court decisions were overruled by political officials representing the federal government. The Dembi Dollo/Qellem detainees in particular were granted bails four times, only to be turned down by political officials all the four rounds. On the other hand, there have been some cases in which prison terms ranging from six months to a year-and-half were imposed on the Oromo detainees, not in courts, but by those representatives of the federal government. Also, some independent lawyers complain that they were threatened by officials from the ruling party; and, as a result, refraining from representing the Oromo detainees. Usual as it has been in the past fifteen or so years, this case of interfering with and disobeying court rulings indicates that the case of these most recent Oromo detainees is purely political.

The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) calls upon the Ethiopian Government to refrain from harassing and intimidating students through such extra-judicial means as killings, arrests and detentions, and denials of justice after detention; and instead facilitate conducive teaching-learning environments. HRLHA also calls upon the Ethiopian Government to unconditionally release the detained Oromo students and other nationals; and, as requested by their fellow students, bring to justice the killers of innocent and peaceful protestors during the April-May crackdown.

BACKGROUNDS:

The human rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) has reported (May 1^st and 13^th, 2014, urgent actions, www.humanrightleague.com) on the heavy-handed crackdown of the Ethiopian Federal Government’s Agazi Special Squad and the resultant extra-judicial killings of 34 (thirty-four) Oromo nationals; and the arrests and detentions of hundreds of others.

Although the brutalities of the armed squad and the resultant fatalities happened to be very high in Ambo Town, the peaceful protests by Oromo students of different universities and faculties have been taking place in April and May in various towns and cities of Oromia including Diredawa and Adama in eatern Oromia, as well as Jimma, Mettu, Naqamte, Gimbi, and Dambidollo in western Oromia.

The Oromo students of universities and colleges in different parts of the regional state of Oromia took to the streets for peaceful demonstrations in protest to the decision passed by the Federal EPRDF/TPLF-led Government to expand the city of Finfinnee/Addis Ababa by uprooting and displacing hundreds of thousands of Oromos from all sorts of livelihoods, and annexing about 36 surrounding towns of Oromia, the ultimate goal of which is claimed to be re-drawing the map of the Oromia Region. The federal annexation plan, which was termed as “The Integrated Development Master Plan”, is said to be covering the towns of Dukem, Gelan, Legetafo, Sendafa, Sululta, Burayu, Holeta, Sebeta, and others, stretching the boundary of Finfinne/Addis Ababa to about 1.1million hectares – an area of 20 times its current size.

Please direct your concerns to:

• His Excellency, Mr. Haila Mariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia

P.O.Box – 1031 Addis Ababa
Telephone – +251 155 20 44; +251 111 32 41
Fax – +251 155 20 30 , +251 15520

• Office of the President of Oromiya Regional State  

Telephone –   0115510455
    • Office of the Ministry of Justice of Ethiopia
PO Box 1370, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Fax: +251 11 5517775; +251 11 5520874
Email: ministry-justice@telecom.net.et

• UNESCO Headquarters Paris.

7, place de Fontenoy 75352 Paris 07 SP France
1, rue Miollis 75732 Paris Cedex 15 France
General phone:
+33 (0)1 45 68 10 00
www.unesco.org

• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)- Africa Department

7 place Fontenoy,75352
Paris 07 SP
France
General phone:
+33 (0)1 45 68 10 00
Website: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/africa-department/

• UNESCO AFRICA RIGIONAL OFFICE

MR.JOSEPH NGU
Director

• UNESCO Office in Abuja

Mail: j.ngu@unesco.org
Tel: +251 11 5445284
Fax: +251 11 5514936

• Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

United Nations Office at Geneva 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Fax: + 41 22 917 9022 (particularly for urgent matters) E-mail: tb-petitions@ohchr.org this e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Office of the UNHCR

Telephone: 41 22 739 8111
Fax: 41 22 739 7377
Po Box: 2500
Geneva, Switzerland.

• African Commission on Human and Peoples‘ Rights (ACHPR)

48 Kairaba Avenue, P.O.Box 673, Banjul, The Gambia.
Tel: (220) 4392 962 , 4372070, 4377721 – 23 Fax: (220) 4390 764
E-mail: achpr@achpr.org
 Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights

• Council of Europe

F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, FRANCE
+ 33 (0)3 88 41 34 21
+ 33 (0)3 90 21 50 53

• U.S. Department of State

Laura Hruby
Ethiopia Desk Officer
U.S. State Department
HrubyLP@state.gov
Tel: (202) 647-6473

• Amnesty International – London

Claire Beston
Claire Beston” <Claire.Beston@amnesty.org>,

• Human Rights Watch

A worker at Saudi Star Rice Farm in Gambella, Ethiopia. Rights groups accuse the government of forcing people off their land to make way for foreign investors.

Land taken over by foreign investors could feed 550m people, study finds

Land grabbing in Africa and Asia for export and biofuel crops is keeping populations malnourished and hungry

A worker at Saudi Star Rice Farm in Gambella, Ethiopia. Rights groups accuse the government of forcing people off their land to make way for foreign investors. Photograph: Jenny Vaughan/AFP/Getty Images

August 26, 2014 (The Guardian) — The land grabbed in some of the world’s hungriest countries by foreign goverments and corporations could feed up to 550m people, according to new research. The crops grown on grabbed land are frequently exported, or used to produce biofuel, but the new work shows it could end malnourishment in those countries if used to feed local people.

Since 2000, at least 31m hectares (77m acres) of land has been acquired by overseas investors seeking to secure food supplies or increase production, a process dubbed land grabbing. Almost half has been in Africa, particularly Sudan. But Indonesia and Papua New Guinea have been targets too. Proponents argue the foreign investment can increase yields and provide development and employment, but critics say the grabs often occur without the consent of those on the land and lead to food being exported.

“Crucial to this debate is the knowledge of the magnitude of the phenomenon: how many people could be fed,” said Prof Maria Cristina Rulli from Politecnico di Milano in Italy, one of the research team. It found that, even accounting for the crops diverted to biofuels, the grabbed land could support 300m-550m people if yields were raised to the levels of industrialised western farming. Even without those yield increases, the land could support 190m-370m people, the researchers calculated.

“Policymakers need to be aware that if this food were used to feed the local populations it would be sufficient to abate malnourishment in each of these countries, even without investments aiming [increase] yields,” said Rulli.

“The world already produces enough food for everyone, yet one in eight people go to bed hungry every night, many of whom are the very people who rely for food on land that big agribusinesses are targeting,” said Hannah Stoddart, head of policy for food and climate change at Oxfam. “Stronger land rights are crucial to ensure that affected communities do not lose out.” She said investment in small-scale farming and more sustainable agricultural practices could reduce hunger for the poorest people.

The new analysis, published on Friday in the journal Environmental Research Letters, calculated the potential maximum crop yield from every known land grab deal over 200 hectares from 2000-2013 and then used the crop’s food calories to determine the amount of people it could feed. The analysis also revealed that while 43% of grabbed land is in Africa, it is the more productive land and more nutritious crops in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea that could provide the most food.

The researchers found many large scale land grabs are taking place in regions facing hunger problems and in great need of food aid. For example, land grabs in Sierra Leone from 2007-2012, were used to grow food crops for export, resulting in local people finding it harder to get enough food and work. In Cambodia, land grabs are leading to the conversion of rice fields to sugar cane plantations and the relocation of peasants to less fertile land.

“Our numbers raise some concern because the target countries have high levels of malnourishment,” said Rulli. “The problem is that there is often no policy in place to prevent investors from exporting the cropsproduced in the acquired land. If the land was previously used for subsistence farming, the situation likely becomes worse.”

Meles Zenawi had everything. He had made his runner Haile Mariam Dessalegn since 2010, Article 75 of the Ethiopian Constitution provides that the Deputy Prime Minister “is acting on behalf of the Prime Minister in his absence.” Without consulting the opposition, the EPRDF, the largest component of the ruling coalition, plans Haile Mariam Dessalegn the highest office of state. At first glance, all opposed to his mentor. Dessalegn is a technocrat, a Southerner, discreet and Protestant confession, unlike the leaders of the party, all Tigrayans (ethnic group in the north). But analysts doubt that the elite waives run the country. Some see Dessalegn a puppet of the party.

Ethiopia: Meles Zenawi’s shadow still hangs

Died in 2012, the first former minister is more present than ever. Economic programs and political mores of the country bear his mark.

By OUR CORRESPONDENT IN ADDIS ABABA, JUSTINE Boulo

Ethiopia today follows the economic and political path that drew him Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister for twenty-one years, died August 20, 2012

August 24, 2014 (Le Point Afrique – Google Translation) — Many said of him that he was the “last emperor” of Ethiopia. Came to power by force after the fall of the communist regime, Meles Zenawi has ruled with a rod of iron twenty-one years. Two years after his death August 20, 2012, in the streets of Addis Ababa, on school walls, behind the offices of officials, his picture is everywhere.

An unusual course

At 20 years old, medical student leaves the university and joined the People’s Liberation Front Tigray (TPLF). He takes up arms and led a guerrilla war against the Marxist government of Mengistu Haile Mariam. In 1989, he became president of the TPLF and the Revolutionary Democratic Front Ethiopian People (EPRDF). Two years later, the military junta of the Derg is scanned and it is natural that Meles Zenawi took power in the state. Power he held for twenty-one years. In Ethiopia, it is the man who pulled the country out of starvation. He boosted the industry to achieve double-digit growth in the 2000s icing on the cake: he managed to wear the habit of leading the fight against terrorism in the Horn of Africa. At the time, President Bill Clinton saw in Meles Zenawi one of the “leaders of the African renaissance.” Ask an Ethiopian name his prime minister, he never answer Haile Mariam Dessalegn, yet in the position for two years.

A real sense of anticipation

Meles Zenawi had everything. He had made his runner Haile Mariam Dessalegn since 2010, Article 75 of the Ethiopian Constitution provides that the Deputy Prime Minister “is acting on behalf of the Prime Minister in his absence.” Without consulting the opposition, the EPRDF, the largest component of the ruling coalition, plans Haile Mariam Dessalegn the highest office of state. At first glance, all opposed to his mentor. Dessalegn is a technocrat, a Southerner, discreet and Protestant confession, unlike the leaders of the party, all Tigrayans (ethnic group in the north). But analysts doubt that the elite waives run the country. Some see Dessalegn a puppet of the party.

GTP, the economic will is followed to the letter

Meles Zenawi had foreseen indeed. For 2010 as he launched the GTP – Growth and Transformation Plan. A five-year plan that lays the political guidelines. A bequest that the current government is following to the letter. Industry, education, agriculture, infrastructure, international trade, all sectors are scrutinized to place Ethiopia in mind the dominant economies of the continent. Major projects are gradually made ​​roads, interchanges, railway lines … The train from Addis Ababa to Djibouti is on track and the dam of the Renaissance, built on the Blue Nile, out of the ground. Come see what serenely 2015, an election year in which the opposition hopes to achieve in a year of change. But nothing is less certain with the developmental state (“developmental state” presiding instead of Meles era, regarded as the era of “enlightened despotism”). Along with the gradual democratization, there is the developmental state based on the principle advocated by former Prime Minister himself, inspired by Asian economies. More clearly, it is a liberal based on capitalism but state-controlled economy.

And in this respect, the guideline given that Meles is: export and attract foreign investors. In 2011, he invited the CEO of Huajian, Chinese shoe giant, Ethiopia. Meanwhile, Meles knocking the French Castel and urged him to make wine “made in Ethiopia”. Two years after his death, two plants Huajian suburb of the capital in full swing and the first bottles Castel (1.2 million) are already on the shelves and half is sold abroad.

After the economic continuity, policy continuity

The State encourages. The state controls. No matter the man who runs it. Meles dictated the rules. According to Jean-Nicolas Bach, a researcher at the Institute of Political Studies in Bordeaux, “the state does not admit any dialogue or compromise.” Meles Zenawi did not trust that in his entourage, even to himself, to orchestrate the entry of Ethiopia in 2025 in the community of middle-income countries, “he said. And of He added: “the autocratic rule of Meles Zenawi has been the cost to date to implement the announced development.” In the 2010 elections, his victory was overwhelming with 99% of votes.

In the era Dessalegn few changes that side. In 2012, the International Crisis Group wrote: “In recent years, Meles had relied increasingly on repression to quell growing dissent His successor will struggle to manage the increase in these disorders..” And indeed, the Anti-Terrorism Act, introduced in 2009, continues to hold political opposition and media. In late April, new bloggers and journalists have been arrested and charged with terrorism. As members of opposing parties, they are regularly arrested. Last June, the opponent Andargachew Tsige was extradited from Yemen to Ethiopia, where he was convicted in absentia in 2009 and sentenced to death. This state continuity beyond the men who embody it gives the famous phrase “The king is dead, long live the king” a particular resonance.

Ethiopia Airlines has said it will continue flights to West Africa, including the Ebola-affected areas. The UN has pledge to support Ebola-affected areas.

Ebola Update: Ethiopia Airlines has said it will continue flights to West Africa

August 24, 2014 (All Africa) — WHO on Saturday said the Ebola virus has killed half of the 2,600 people affected. WHO further said closing borders is not the solution. “The fight against Ebola will take several months,” WHO asserted.

Meanwhile, Sierra Leone has made harbouring Ebola victims a crime punishable with two years in jail. A British national in Sierra Leone has tested negative for the virus. He has since left for UK.

Ivory Coast on Saturday closed all borders with Guinea and Liberia, “to protect its citizens”. Senegal last Thursday closed its borders with Guinea, and issued travel bans people living in Ebola-affected areas.

A Senegalese working with WHO in Sierra Leone reportedly contracted the disease

Gabon over the weekend also issued travel bans on all nationals of Ebola affected areas; Gabonese must also not go to the Ebola-affected areas.

In DR Congo, 13 people have died from Ebola, among them three medical officers. Ebola was first discovered in the DRC in 1976.

Russia over the weekend sent to Guinea eight medical doctors, medicines, and equipment including mobile laboratories.

Ethiopia Airlines has said it will continue flights to West Africa, including the Ebola-affected areas.

The UN has pledge to support Ebola-affected areas.

Source: All Alfrica

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List of Ebola outbreaks

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ebola outbreaks have been restricted to Africa with the exception of Reston ebolavirus. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses currently recognizes four species of the Ebola: Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV), Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV), Reston ebolavirus (RESTV), and Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV). One additional species or type of Ebola is often recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) or Ebola-Bundibugyo, following the outbreak in Uganda in 2007.

Transmission between natural reservoirs and humans is rare, and outbreaks are often traceable to a single case where an individual has handled the carcass of a gorilla, chimpanzee, or duiker. The virus then spreads person-to-person, especially within families, hospitals, and during some mortuary rituals where contact among individuals becomes more likely. Before outbreaks are confirmed in areas of weak surveillance on the local or regional levels, Ebola is often mistaken for malaria, typhoid fever, dysentery, influenza, or various bacterial infections which may be endemic to the region. Learning from failed responses, such as that to the 2000 Uganda outbreak, public health measures including the WHO’s Global Outbreak and Response Network were instituted in areas at high risk. Field laboratories were established in order to confirm cases, instead of shipping samples to South Africa.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Special Pathogens Branch charter to study highly infectious viruses, many causing hemorrhagic fevers, has historically endowed it to closely follow Ebola outbreaks. Compiling scientific journals and public health announcements, the following list is from Known Cases and Outbreaks of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, in Chronological Order

Date	Country	Species	Reported human virulence			Description
			Cases	Deaths	Fatality
1976 Aug	Zaire	EBOV	318	280	88%	First recognition of Ebola virus disease. Occurred in Yambuku and surrounding areas. Disease was spread by close personal contact and by use of contaminated needles and syringes in hospitals/clinics.
1976	Sudan	SUDV	284	151	53%	Occurred in Nzara, Maridi and the surrounding area. Disease was spread mainly through close personal contact within hospitals. Many medical care personnel were infected.
1977	Zaire	EBOV	1	1	n/a	Noted retroactively in the village of Tandala.
1979	Sudan	SUDV	34	22	65%	Occurred in Nzara, Maridi. Recurrent outbreak at the same site as the 1976 Sudan epidemic.
1989	USA	RESTV	0	0	n/a	RESTV was introduced into quarantine facilities in Virginia and Pennsylvania by monkeys imported from the Philippines.
1990	USA	RESTV	4	0	n/a	RESTV was introduced once again into quarantine facilities in Virginia and Texas by monkeys imported from the Philippines. Four humans developed antibodies but did not get sick.
1989–1990	Philippines	RESTV	3	0	n/a	High mortality among crab-eating macaques in a primate facility responsible for exporting animals in the USA. Three workers in the animal facility developed antibodies but did not get sick.
1992	Italy	RESTV	0	0	n/a	RESTV was introduced into quarantine facilities in Siena by monkeys imported from the same export facility in the Philippines that was involved in the episodes in the United States. No humans were infected.
1994	Gabon	EBOV	52	31	60%	Occurred in Mékouka and other gold-mining camps deep in the rain forest. Initially thought to be yellow fever; identified as Ebola hemorrhagic fever in 1995.
1994	Ivory Coast	TAFV	1	0	n/a	First and thus far only recognition of TAFV. Approximately one week after conducting necropsies on infected western chimpanzees in Taï National Park, a scientist contracted the virus and developed symptoms similar to those ofdengue fever. She was discharged from a Swiss hospital two weeks later, and fully recovered after six weeks.
1995	Zaire	EBOV	315	250	79%	Occurred in Kikwit and surrounding area. Traced to index case-patient who worked in forest adjoining the city. Epidemic spread through families and hospitals.
1996 Jan–Apr	Gabon	EBOV	37	21	57%	Occurred in Mayibout area. A chimpanzee found dead in the forest was eaten by people hunting for food. Nineteen people who were involved in the butchery of the animal became ill; other cases occurred in family members.
1996	South Africa	EBOV	2	1	n/a	A medical professional traveled from Gabon to Johannesburg, South Africa, after having treated Ebola virus-infected patients and thus having been exposed to the virus. He was hospitalized, and a nurse who took care of him became infected and died.
1996 Mar	Philippines USA	RESTV	0	0	n/a	RESTV was introduced into a quarantine facility in Texas by crab-eating macaques from a monkey export facility in the Philippines. No human infections were identified.
1996–1997 Jul–Jan	Gabon	EBOV	60	45	75%	Occurred in Booué area with transport of patients to Libreville. Index case-patient was a hunter who lived in a forest camp. Disease was spread by close contact with infected persons. A dead chimpanzee found in the forest at the time was determined to be infected.
2000–2001	Uganda	SUDV	425	224	53%	Occurred in Gulu, Masindi, and Mbarara districts of Uganda. The three greatest risks associated with Ebola virus infection were attending funerals of Ebola hemorrhagic fever case-patients, having contact with case-patients in one’s family, and providing medical care to Ebola case-patients without using adequate personal protective measures.
2001–2002 Oct–Jul	Gabon Congo	EBOV	122	96	79%	Occurred over the border of Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. This was the first time that Ebola hemorrhagic fever was reported in the Republic of the Congo.
2002–2003 Dec–Apr	Congo	EBOV	143	128	90%	Occurred in the districts of Mbomo and Kéllé in Cuvette Ouest Département.
2003 Nov–Dec	Congo	EBOV	35	29	83%	Occurred in Mbomo and Mbandza villages located in Mbomo district, Cuvette Ouest Département.
2004	Sudan	SUDV	17	7	41%	Occurred in Yambio county in Western Equatoria of southern Sudan. This outbreak was concurrent with an outbreak of measles in the same area, and several suspected EHF cases were later reclassified as measles cases.
2007	DR Congo	EBOV	264	187	71%	Occurred in Kasai-Occidental Province. The outbreak was declared over on November 20. Last confirmed case on October 4 and last death on October 10.
2007–2008 Dec–Jan	Uganda	BDBV	149	37	25%	First recognition of BDBV. Occurred in Bundibugyo District in western Uganda.
2008 Nov	Philippines	RESTV	6	0	n/a	First recognition of RESTV in pigs. Strain closely similar to earlier strains. Six workers from the pig farm and slaughterhouse developed antibodies but did not become sick.
2008–2009 Dec–Feb	DR Congo	EBOV	32	14	45%	Occurred in the Mweka and Luebo health zones of the Province of Kasai-Occidental.
2012 Jun–Aug	Uganda	SUDV	24	17	71%	Occurred in the Kibaale District.
2012 Jun–Nov	DR Congo	BDBV	77	36	47%	Occurred in Province Orientale.
2013–2014 Dec–present	Guinea Liberia Sierra Leone Nigeria	EBOV	2,615	1,427	64%	Main article: 2014 West Africa Ebola virus outbreak The most severe Ebola outbreak recorded in regards to both the number of human cases and fatalities. It began in Guéckédou, Guinea and spread to Sierra Leone, Liberia, and to a lesser degree, Nigeria.
2014 Aug–present	DR Congo	SUDV	30	2	6%	Occurred in Equateur Province. Outbreak revealed 24 August 2014.

the weak and stand for the oppressed. A good demonstration is the exemplary unity the different ethnic groups living in today’s Oromiya exhibit despite the numerous attempts by anti Oromo groups to create a rift between them. As Oromo people in their social life and national struggle respect the rules of human rights and by any measure are not threats to neighboring and same region people, the fake information disseminated by groups wanting to re-instate the old system and tplf jointly and independently turns out to be false. The truth has been illustrated at various times by different individuals. But as long as those Oromo-phobic individuals who could not understand it give in, we must show and teach them theoretically and by action how Oromo struggle has matured. Accordingly the Oromo struggle has come a long way and has reached a stage where it cannot be averted, even though they are not going to like it I would like to demonstrate by credible facts

Generation fearless of death and detention destroys mountains

By Firehiwot Guluma Tezera \ August 18, 2014

Firehiwot Guluma Tezera

There is an Ethiopian saying “she lost what she has under her armpit while reaching for the upper shelf”. While this selfish individual tries to get hold of another, what she already has will be scattered. Lately in Habesha camp fear has spread and uneasiness has increased.

Soothing, warning, rebuking and some others were tried. Unfortunately they try to tell us that the source of their problem is the national struggle of the Oromo people. In reality the aim and goal of the struggle of the Oromo people is to get rid of authoritarian rulers and thus to achieve the right to self determination for the Oromo people based on international regulations and laws is fair. The importance of the struggle is not only for the Oromo people but for all the people of the empire who are suffering under the colonial rule. So the Oromo people trust in united struggle of oppressed people. It will and has been wedging joint struggle with forces with similar aim. In other ways Oromo people demonstrate peace in its cultural and administrational structure and supports fair unity. It helps the weak and stand for the oppressed. A good demonstration is the exemplary unity the different ethnic groups living in today’s Oromiya exhibit despite the numerous attempts by anti Oromo groups to create a rift between them.
As Oromo people in their social life and national struggle respect the rules of human rights and by any measure are not threats to neighboring and same region people, the fake information disseminated by groups wanting to re-instate the old system and tplf jointly and independently turns out to be false.

The truth has been illustrated at various times by different individuals. But as long as those Oromo-phobic individuals who could not understand it give in, we must show and teach them theoretically and by action how Oromo struggle has matured. Accordingly the Oromo struggle has come a long way and has reached a stage where it cannot be averted, even though they are not going to like it I would like to demonstrate by credible facts

• By the sacrifice paid by its dear children Oromo people has been able to show to all world their country’s boundary and true history. By blood and bone of her children our country Oromiya will be respected till eternity. This is the reality.
• The language and culture of Oromo people has been developing on solid foundation. Today Afan oromo has its own alphabets. Millions study, teach and do research by it. Medias with International audience broadcast by it. It has become language of literature. As this indicates that the struggle is nearing the end, we must take note.
• The Oromo people struggle has arrived at the generation who doesn’t fear death and ready to sacrifice its dignity for the sovereignty of Oromia. This confirms all. As this reality is being seen on the ground, there is no need for further explanation.
• The international community has not only understood but forced to look for solutions about the arbitrary killing of Oromo people. This is the fruit of relentless struggle. Even if you don’t like it you know the exact gist.
• Today we have arrived at historical chapter where the Oromo people have demonstrated that they won’t crack by propaganda of anti Oromos and that they have stood together in union for a common goal. This cooperation between Oromo people has started to shake your power base giving you high blood pressure as demonstrated by the recent uprising.
• As the Oromo national struggle consist of all options, Oromia mountains, valleys and forests are witnessing strong military preparation. Accordingly in May 2014 the Oromo Liberation Army has attached enemy soldiers and killed and wounded more than 200 soldiers. It has confiscated a lot of military equipments.

Overall Oromo people have scored important victories and is mobilizing it human and material resources to claim the rest of its rights. So are you trying to stop this visionary generation by imprisonment? Or trying to fool them by rebuking and fake words? To tell you the truth that era has passed. Let me help you realize the truth. You can’t stop them. This is because you can’t stop a generation with a cause. The better way is to drop the old eyeglass which twists the truth and straighten your views and live together.

May God help you.

Firehiwot Guluma Tezera

Ethiopia, which is one of the most brutal and violent nation in Africa passed a law to unearth ONLF, by killing mayors of the provinces and districts, assassinating religious scholars and prominent elders, arresting and detaining members of MPs as well as sacking the first legitimate Somali Ogaden president and his vice-president and then putting them in jail.Then Ethiopia began to mull over the possibility of capturing highly positioned in the ONLF and its former chairman, Ibrahim AbdallahMah, which at least 100 civilians that provided his defense line martyred in Werder, Ogaden region in 1994.

Ogaden: ONLF’s 30 Years Commemoration

By Ahmed Abdi | August 17, 2014

ONLF Chairman, Mohammed Omar Osman

ONLF Chairman’s speech covered:

• The Formation of ONLF in 1984 and how the situation was that time
• Ethiopia forced ONLF to go to war even though they were not prepared for war.
• Ethiopian military are committing war crimes in Ogaden without international condemnation.
• ONLF warned oil corporations not to get involved in Ogaden genocide and will not accept any.
• ONLF is ready for comprehensive peace talks and Ethiopia should know that they cannot gain peace and stability through war.

Ogaden National Liberarion Front or ONLF is celebrating its 30th anniversary around the globe. Founded in August 15, 1984, the group has been campaigning to realize the ambtions of the Ogadenpeople for independence from Ethiopia. TheOgaden territory, which is mainly inhabited by 7-8 million ethnic Somalis, a territory which still suffer the betrayal of Italian-British colonial rule after British handed over Ethiopia in 1954 without its population’s consent or the treaty between the British imperial rule and the Somali chiefs and elders.

ONLF was formed after the defeat of Somalia in the Ogaden war (1977-1978). The group were diplomatically active in several countries, period between early 1980s to 1990s beforeTigray people’s Liberation Front (TPLF) toppled the former President of Ethiopia, the socialist military Dictator , Colonel MengistuHailemariam, with the help of Eritrean revolution, or Eritrean People’s Liberation Front.

In the 1991, ONLF established its offices throughout Ogaden territory for the first time since its formation as a political party, but forced out by the TPLF after Ogaden’s democratically elected parliament in the Somali region’s history that survived only 2 years’ service in Ogaden , had overwhelmingly voted for independence referendum.

Ethiopia, which is one of the most brutal and violent nation in Africa passed a law to unearth ONLF, by killing mayors of the provinces and districts, assassinating religious scholars and prominent elders, arresting and detaining members of MPs as well as sacking the first legitimate Somali Ogaden president and his vice-president and then putting them in jail.Then Ethiopia began to mull over the possibility of capturing highly positioned in the ONLF and its former chairman, Ibrahim AbdallahMah, which at least 100 civilians that provided his defense line martyred in Werder, Ogaden region in 1994.

ONLF had no appetite to go war with Ethiopia, but had no other option rather than fighting to the last.
“Ethiopia’s transitional charter said that any nation under its rule can secede from it at will, and that gave us hope, but when we demanded our rights to self-determination, the current Ethiopian regime declared a war on us, and forced us to enter with her a bloody war,which was not our agenda at then, as we had limited bullets and ammunition as well as resources. Except a will to pursue our God-given rights to decide our fate”, reads ONLF chairman’s speech, Mohammed Omar Osman.

Despite being unprepared and without military mobilization to counter the Ethiopian aggression on ONLF members , the group shut down all its offices and left behind them squarely to make a longer, bloodier, and harder war with Ethiopian troops stationed in Ogaden region that continues to the present to liberate Ogaden.

“We were brooding about two options within a short time period : To surrender,which is to recede and vacuous or to resist the Ethiopian sordid ambition ,we had to select the latter, which was the toughest decision that the group has ever made”, Said Mr. Osman in his speech.

The ONLF worked to establish both military servicemen and die-hard supporters that mobilize the Ogaden communities inside and outside of the Ogaden region.

The ONLF’s military victory over Ethiopian soldiers in most battlefields, largely because of its war skilled tacticians of residues of WSLF among its fighters and the terrain that is good at guerrilla warfare attracted many Somali people in the region whom devoted to be subservient to ONLF by espousing the ogaden cause.

“We were strengthened by our people’s dedication to our cause, that is why, we underlined to continue the armed struggle till Ogaden is liberated from Ethiopian occupation.To build the ONLF muscles both its military service and diplomatic personnel and to mobilize, strengthen, and enhance self-enrichment of members within our society. And God’s help to pursue a policy based on self-reliance”, it said.
ONLF’s strong correlation with Ogaden population unnerved Ethiopian regime which its military and decision-makers came up with a plan to stop ONLF’s incremental change.She assembled elders informing to quit their sons in the ONLF military service or to meet the consequences, but such intimidation and punishment threat do not deter more and more people to join the Ogaden National Liberation Army,or ONLA voluntarily.

Ethiopia’s regime planed the 3rd attempt to crash ONLF, it called for the first peace talks between ONLF and Ethiopia to start inside Ogaden-with the help of existing institutions in Ogaden region. But Ethiopia’s deceitful plan was to persuade ONLF to disarm itself or to kill them all.
“When Ethiopia could not persuade us to disarm ourselves, telling us that we are not different from the rest of Ethiopia under its colony,it did not kill the negotiators only,but also undertook a crackdown of hunting officials, members and entire society. Just like a carrot and stick policy. It was the hardest time the group have ever faced, according to the dire straits that the group within at then, it was narrowly escaped to collapse.”

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