ETHIOPIA: Feature - the human cost of the drought - GELEMSO, 8 Oct 2002 (IRIN) - Two months ago Shamise Mohamed struggled to tell her year-old twins apart. Tragically, she has no difficulty now. The skin of one of the boys, Hussein, stretches tightly over his grotesquely protruding frame, while in contrast his brother Ahmed still retains some of the rounded features he was born with. Ahmed, says his mother, insists on being at Hussein’s side at all times. He does not know that in a few days, a week at the most, his brother will be dead. [IRIN, Oct. 8, 2002]

Ethiopia faces 'green drought' - Ethiopia is suffering from a "green drought", a UN official visiting Ethiopia's West Hararghe Zone, in Eastern Oromia region, one of the worst-hit areas in the country, has said. [BBC, Oct. 8, 2002]

Ethiopia arrests rebels over hotel bomb - Ethiopian police said on Sunday they had arrested several Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) rebels suspected of a hotel bombing that killed three people. The OLF denies any involvement in the bomb blast, and has said that following the explosion police had arrested and tortured a large number of ethnic Oromos on suspicion of involvement in the incident. [Reuters, Sep. 22, 2002]

OLF and TPLF: Major Issues and Outcomes of a Decade of Negotiations since 1991 - This is a brief account of major issues and outcomes of a decade of negotiations between the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the Tigrean People's Liberation Front (TPLF) since 1991. [From a Presentation by Abiyu Geleta, Oromo Studies Association Conference of 2002 in Washington, DC]

The Politics of Genocide – The Case of Sidama - This paper uncovers a serious of policies of the Ethiopian government intended to destroy the social, economic and political fabric of oppressed people who are demanding respect for their basic rights. There is no claim that this brief presentation, is a comprehensive study into genocide in Ethiopia, yet it sheds light into the processes that potentially and actually indicate to crimes against humanity and genocide. [By Seyoum Hameso, Sidama Concern]

The Plight of the Oromo People in Ethiopia - The Ethiopian regime, led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), is committing acts of genocide against the Oromo people to forcibly suppress their demand for self-determination. [Track 3 Connections]

ETHIOPIA: Oromo rebels deny "annihilation" by government troops - The rebel Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) on Friday denied claims by the Ethiopian army that it had "completely annihilated" separatist forces in the west of the country. [IRIN, JJuly 5, 2002]

Ethiopia claims Oromo rebels crushed - The Ethiopian army says that it has "completely annihilated" forces loyal to the armed separatist movement, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). [ [BBC, June July 5, 2002]

ETHIOPIA: Government and rebels claim successes in west - The Ethiopian government claims it has crushed Oromo rebels "trying to launch a guerrilla war" in the west of the country, allegations rejected by the rebels as "false propaganda". [IRIN, JJuly 4, 2002]

Ethiopia denies battle with OLF rebels - Ethiopia's senior army commander on Wednesday denied allegations by the rebel Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) that its forces were fighting the army in the west of the country. [Reuters, July 3, 2002]

Fighting on Ethiopia-Sudan border - Fighting has broken out along the Ethiopian-Sudanese border between the Ethiopian army and forces loyal to an armed separatist movement, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). [BBC, June 29, 2002]

ETHIOPIA: Special report on the Borana - The sick often walk day and night for medical help at Yabelo Health Centre in southern Ethiopia. For many it is a wasted trip: the centre, which serves some 103,000 people, has no doctor, electricity, or running water, only a handful of medical supplies, and just four beds. [IRIN, June 27, 2002]

ETHIOPIA: Focus on education in Borena - Like most children in her village, Gechawa Gandesha laughs when she is asked why she will not go on to senior school. "It would take me almost a week to walk there," said the 14-year-old, who already walks more than four kilometres to her current school. Gechawa is at the top of her primary class, and longs to become a doctor. Her headmaster says she is more than capable of achieving that. [IRIN, June 27, 2002]

Kenyan Government Sweep of Foreigners Puts Refugees at Risk - Kenyan authorities are threatening to repatriate hundreds of Ethiopian and Somali refugees rounded up in a police sweep in Nairobi on May 30, 2002. If returned, many could face arbitrary arrest, torture, and other serious abuses in their countries of origin...the Kenyan government is also detaining one hundred and forty-five documented refugees, the majority of whom are from the Ethiopian Oromo ethnic group and one-third of whom are children, at the Gigiri police station near Nairobi. The government is planning to relocate these refugees to camps in the remote northeast of the country. [Human Rights Watch, June 8, 2002]

Commentary: The Looqe Massacre - On 24 May 2002, the fascist Tigrean dictatorship ordered the slaughter of hundreds of peaceful protestors who, according to BBC Focus on Africa report, are demanding their “basic human right.” Until this writing the Ethiopian government did not bother to explain its action in Sidama. The Looqe Massacre will enter Sidama collective conscience as an act of blunder against the people by irredeemable enemy. [The Sidama Concern, May 25, 2002]

HAWASSA CRISIS UPDATE - Sources form Sidama indicate that the number of people killed by Ethiopian security forces around Hawassa reached over 60. In Yirgalem Hospital alone, the number of the dead by 24 May mid-night has reached 27. Many victims did not make their way to hospitals, which are far and few. (Sidama with a population of five million has only one major hospital, the Yirgalem hospital). Today many bodies were found partly eaten by hyenas. Security forces denied access to the site of massacre and the surrounding areas. [The Sidama Concern, May 25, 2002]

Ethiopian police kill at least 12 protesters - Ethiopian police killed at least 12 people while trying to disperse a demonstration by peasants in a regional capital south of the country, officials said on Saturday. But a member of the Ethiopian Federal Parliament who comes from the affected southern region said up to 200 demonstrators may have been killed in the Friday shooting. [Reuters, May 25, 2002]

'Deaths' in Ethiopian demonstration - Between 30 to 60 people were killed and at least 40 injured during a demonstration in Awasa, sources in the town have told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. Government soldiers are said to have opened fire on around 3,000 demonstrators who began marching shortly before midday. [BBC, May 24, 2002]

Ethiopia: Halt Crackdown on Oromo Students - The Ethiopian government must halt the violent crackdown on students from Oromiya regional state, Human Rights Watch urged today. Human Rights Watch also called on the Ethiopian government to immediately free all students detained last week in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa during a peaceful rally by Oromo students. [Human Rights Watch - May 22, 2002]

Jimma University Students Petition Oromia Regional Government to Respect and Defend Oromo Rights - We, students at Jimma institutes of higher education meaning, i.e. Jimma University College of Agriculture and Jimma Teacher Training College together request you to, on our behalf, pass our following demands to the Oromia Regional Government and respectfully ask you to also let our people know the government's response. [Letter to Oromia Regional Government and Ethiopian TV]

Statement on uprooting of Sidamas from there land - Sidama suffered a continued oppression since the establishment of Abyssinian tyranny in the form of Ethiopia. Today prominent Sidama professionals, businessmen, NGO leaders, outspoken elderly and students are subjected to removal from their jobs, persecution, harassment, imprisonment, and disappearances by the Ethiopian government. The current plan to uproot Sidamas from their city is an unprecedented act of human rights violation. It should be known that the planned program is an evil act of genocide. [Sidama Liberation Front, May 18, 2002]

Oromo official flees Ethiopia - A prominent Oromo politician has fled Ethiopia and is seeking asylum abroad. [BBC, May 8, 2002]

Iyyii Iyya Dabarsi!!! - Ilmaan Oromoo Minisootaa keessatti argamtan hundaaf: Biyyatti gochaa motummaan Wayyaanee ilmaan Oromoo irratti geessia jiru mormuun barattoti Oromoo hiriira nagaa bahaa jiru. Barattoota kana irratti motummaan wayyanee gara jabinaan tarkaanfii fudhateen barattoti baayyen du'anii kaan immoo mada'aanii fi hidhamanii jiru. Gochaa sukaneessa kana mormmuudhaan Waldaan Hawaasa Oromo Minisootaa hiriira nagaa qopheessaa jira.

Oromo Youth Association Press Release - The Ethiopian government bent on destroying the Oromo people’s aspiration to self-determination is once again killing innocent high school Oromo students. In Shambo, western Oromia, five students, three males and two females were killed and twenty-one wounded. [Oromo Youth Association Press Release, April 3, 2002]

2 Students Killed and 5 Injured as Security Forcers Battle Student Protesters in Western Ethiopia - ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia March 29 — Security forces battled student protesters demanding aid for farmers, leaving two dead and five injured in four Ethiopian cities, a regional official said Friday. [Associated Press, 29 Mar 2002]

UOSE Protests Ethiopia's Harrassment of Oromo Students - It is with at utmost distress that we bring the sad news of the ongoing killings, arrests, detantions and harasments of Oromo University and high school students taking place in many parts of the Oromia

US State Department Report on Human Right Practices in Ethiopia in 2001 - The Government continued to detain persons suspected of sympathizing with or being members of the OLF. Several thousand persons allegedly associated with armed opposition groups remained in detention at year's end. Most detainees were accused of participating in armed actions by the OLF or the ONLF. No action was known to have been taken against members of the security forces responsible for the following 2000 killings: The December beating to death of a man detained allegedly in retaliation for election activities; the December killing of a student during a demonstration in Awassa; the May killing of seven SEDPC supporters; the April killing of a student during a student demonstration in Dembi Dollo; the March killing of a student who was attempting to assist another person being arrested for the non-payment of taxes in Ambo; the March killing of Getu Driba in Ambo; and the February torturing and killing of two farmers in Soro. [US Department of State, March 2002]

ETHIOPIA: Scores dead in tribal clashes
NAIROBI, 11 Dec 2001 (IRIN) - Violent tribal clashes in the south of Ethiopia in recent months have left at least 60 people dead and almost 200 wounded, according to reliable reports received by the UN.

Ethiopia: Government forces reportedly execute about 100 ethnic Oromos in south - It has been reported that about 100 ethnic Oromos were executed at the beginning of this month after being detained by EPRDF [Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, ruling coalition] armed forces. [BBC Monitoring Service - Nov 27, 2001]

ETHIOPIA: Eight Oromos killed, 12 others wounded in clash with government forces in south - Eight Oromos were killed and 12 others wounded in an engagement between the weyane [Ethiopian government] forces and Borena Oromos in Negele Borena town, southern Oromiya on Saturday, 17 November. [BBC Monitoring Service - Nov 21, 2001]

Ethiopia: President of teachers' association defects, seeks asylum in Norway - The president of the Ethiopian teachers' association, Ahmed Ababulgu, who had travelled to France to attend a meeting convened by UNESCO, has sent a fax message to the Voice of Oromo Liberation saying that he has defected. [BBC Monitoring Service, Nov 11, 2001]

Comment: Looking Out, Looking In: Scaling the Road to Freedom - You have to live your culture. Gada system must inform not only your intellect but also your daily practice. Your history must be a reminder of what had happened in the past as well as an informant of what could and must happen in the future. Your enemy will not allow this. The instrument you use to free yourselves must be consistent with one you would use to manage free Oromia. Otherwise you’ll end up with an illusion of free Oromia while in fact you remain a willing colonial subject. [By Teferi Fufa, September 15, 2001]

Oromo Students On Hunger Strike - More than 30 students who have fled Ethiopia over the last two years - to escape what they call systematic persecution by the Ethiopian government - say that they would "rather die" than be transported to a Kenyan refugee camp as required by Kenyan law. [UN IRIN, Sep 11, 2001]

Colonel Alamu Qitessa

Condolence to the Family, Friends of the late Colonel Alamu Qiteessa and to the Leadership of Macha and Tulama Association - The death of Colonel Alamu Qitessa is a national loss to the Oromo people. Even if we miss Colonel Alamu Qitessa, his deeds and spirit will remain with us forever and give us guidance in our future activities. We will up hold and further the creed and banner that Colonel Alamu lived and worked for and intensify the national liberation struggle of our people until liberation and independence. [Oromo Liberation Front, Sep 9, 2001]

Ethiopian President Announces Withdrawal From His Organization - Ethiopian President Negaso Gidada has withdrawn his membership from the Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO), one of the four parties which form the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, the weekly Reporter newspaper said on Wednesday. [Xinhuanet, Sep 5, 2001]

Ethiopia's president criticises PM - Ethiopian President Negasso Gidada has accused the ruling EPRDF party of effectively carrying out a "coup", by appointing an army general to head one of the four main parties in the coalition government. The president's remarks are likely to increase tensions although his term as head of state expires next month, supporters say he is unlikely to go quietly. [BBC, Aug 30, 2001]

ETHIOPIA: Oromo rebel group denies ideological split - Reports that three prominent leaders of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) had been dismissed were denied by an OLF spokesman on Thursday. [UN-IRIN, Aug 30, 2001]

Ethiopian Politician Defects; Experts Question Motivation - Almaz Mako said she decided to break away because she believed Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his Tigray People's Liberation Front, a powerful member of the ruling coalition, were responsible for the detention, torture and disappearance of thousands of Oromos. In its 2001 human rights report, Amnesty International said detentions by the Ethiopian government have been "particularly frequent in the Oromo and Somali regions, where some thousands of detainees arrested over the previous eight years continued to be" held without charges or trials. [Washington Post, Aug 17, 2001]

Ethiopia's speaker seeks US asylum - Almaz Mako's defection "will signal the end of the chapter of Oromos collaborating with the regime, which ... violates the rights of the Oromo people," said Lencho Bati, spokesperson at the OLF's Washington office. [News24, Aug 15, 2001]

Ethiopian Federal Council Speaker Seeks Political Asylum in America - Almaz Mako said the Ethiopian government has been very harsh on the Oromos because Oromos have been challenging and calling for their rights. She also accused the Prime Minister's Office of having direct rule over the Oromo People's Democratic Organization. [Xinhuanet, Aug 15, 2001]

Defecting Ethiopian Says She's Fleeing Persecution - The speaker of Ethiopia's upper house of parliament, Almaz Meko, told the Voice of America that if she stays in power it would give the false impression that her ethnic group, the Oromos, were truly represented in the government. [VOA News, Aug 15, 2001]

Ethnic tension sparks Ethiopian defection - "Thousands of innocent Oromos have disappeared, perished in detention centres from torture and many more forced to flee the country. Oromo resources were being mobilised and looted in order to develop Tigray." [BBC, Aug 14, 2001]

Ethiopia: Lawmaker Seeks Asylum in U.S. - The speaker of Ethiopia's upper house of parliament said on Monday she was seeking political asylum in the United States to escape what she called the persecution of the Oromos, the country's largest ethnic group. [Reuters, Aug 13, 2001]

Speaker of Federal Council Defects - The Speaker of the Federal Council, Almaz Mako, has said she has defected to the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) after being persecuted as one of its sympathisers. [UN-IRIN, Aug 13, 2001]

Breaking News: Almaz Mako, Speaker of Ethiopian House of Federation, Defects: Joins Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) to struggle for the rights of Oromo People - Because I cannot in clear conscience represent Oromia in the Federal Council and remain the speaker of the house of federation, because my continuos existence in my post will only give the false impression that the Oromos are represented in the government, I have decided to vacate my position as a Speaker of the House of Federation and seek political asylum in the United States. I have also decided to continue my struggle for the just cause of the Oromo people by joining OLF. [Press Release by Aadde Almaz Mako, Speaker of Ethiopian House of Federation, August 11, 2001] - Read Full Text

A celebration after struggle - They are often mistaken for Somalis. They are generally known as Ethiopian, but members of this East African community in Minnesota say they want to be known by their preferred name. They call themselves Oromos. [Star Tribune, Aug 2, 2001]

Mayor Proclaims July 30 Oromo Day in the City of Minneapolis - July 30, 2001 has been proclaimed Oromo Day in the city of Minneapolis, according to a proclamation signed by Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and came into effect on the same day. [OIN, Aug 1, 2001]

TWIN CITIES Meeting part of Oromos' quest for distinct identity - When someone asks Nuro Dedefo how he identifies himself, he says he is Oromo. "If you call me an Ethiopian, I don't like that,'' Dedefo said. "I fled from that oppression.'' [Pioneer Press, July 29, 2001]

Oromo - The Forgoten People - "We have lost everything in Ethiopia and now they come again killing our people and stealing our small belongings. Kenya does nothing to protect us and the world is not giving us any help." [NewAfrican July/August 2001]

Ethiopia's Ruling OPDO Suspends Secretary-General - Ethiopia's Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO) announced on Monday that it has suspended its Secretary-General Kuma Demeksa and three others from membership of the Organization's Central Committee for corruption, anti-democratic practices and abuse of power. [People's Daily, July 24, 2001]

The Union of Oromo Students in Europe Successfully completed its 27th Annual Congress - The Union of Oromo Students in Europe successfully conducted its 27th annual congress held on 13th - 15th July, 2001 in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. [TBOA Press Release]

Oromo Convention 2001, Minneapolis - Thousands of Oromos from across the globe will be congregating in the Twin Cities for annual community conventions, academic conferences, professional seminars, cultural shows, and soccer tournament. [OIN, July 19, 2001]

Thousands 'languish' in Ethiopian camp - "The conditions are like a Nazi concentration camp. We have very poor sanitation. Many are sick with water-borne diseases like typhoid and dysentery." [BBC, July 12, 2001]

ETHIOPIA: Three journalist flee the country - Three leading Ethiopian journalists have fled the country and taken refuge in neighbouring Kenya. Garuma Bekele, Tesfaye Deressa and Solomon Nemera, all three of whom used to work for the Amharic newspaper "Urji", had been in custody since October 1997, when they were arrested. [IFEX, July 10, 2001]

Oromo Picnic 2001, Minnesota - Oromo Picnic 2001, organized by the Oromo Community of Minnesota, was held in Mathew Park in South Minneapolis yesterday. Over 2000 people took part in the picnic making it by far the largest Oromo gathering in the Twin Cities. [OIN News, July 5, 2001]

'Student ban' on Ethiopian planes - University and college students studying in the northern Ethiopian towns of Bahr Dar and Mekelle have been banned from boarding Ethiopian Airlines planes - [BBC, July 2, 2001]

I would rather die than continue being TPLF puppet - "Shiferaw Jarso told Sebhat Nega, a TPLF leader, to his face that he would rather die than continue being his puppet." [OIN News, June 30, 2001]

Ethiopian president on offensive - Ethiopian President Negasso Gidada says the government is carrying out a propaganda campaign against him to discredit him. [BBC, June 29, 2001]

Ethiopia's Negaso to Stay On, Hits at Government - Ethiopian President Negaso Gidada said on Friday he planned to see out his term of office despite quitting the ruling coalition last week in a move widely seen as his effective resignation. [Reuters, Juane 29, 2001]

OLF Says President "Uncomfortable" - Negaso, an Oromo, had held a purely ceremonial post that did not give Oromos representation, but rather "symbolised the Oromo alienation from the leadership. [UN-IRIN, June 26, 2001]

Ethiopian president's position shaky - The position of Ethiopian President Negaso Gidada is under threat after he is unexpectedly ousted as chairman of his party. [BBC, June 23, 2001]

Ethiopia's President Removed From Ruling Party Central Committee - President Negesso burst out of the Addis Ababa meeting of the ruling coalition. Moments later the Oromo People's Democratic Organization, the president's party, issued a statement saying he had been removed from the party's central committee. [VOA News, June 22, 2001]

KENYA-ETHIOPIA: Tension Over Influx of Refugees - Police said tension was high in Moyale town over the presence of the Ethiopians seeking political asylum in Kenya. [The Nation, June 23, 2001]

12 more Ethiopian soldiers flee - One colonel and two majors crossed the border yesterday morning. Nine other officers arrived at the border town on Wednesday night. [The Nation, June 21, 2001]

Letter Sent to US Secretary of State by Oromo Committee for Democracy - In the light of your African pronouncements on the matters of democracy and free market economy, we members of OCD would like to register our deepest concern once again against the tyrannical and authoritarian Meles Zenawi regime, which has made human rights violations its badge of notoriety. [Oromo Committee for Democracy]

Ethiopian students remain defiant - Ethiopian students are leaving the Addis Ababa University campus after attempts by the university authorities to end the two-month class boycott finally failed. [BBC, June 12, 2001]

KENYA: Step up border patrols, MPs urge Govt - Three legislators from Eastern Province have asked the Government to step up security patrols along the Kenya-Ethiopia border. [East African Standard, June 12, 2001)

Ethiopian troops 'enter Somalia' - Somalia says that hundreds of heavily armed troops from Ethiopia have crossed the border and entered Somalia's southern Bakol region. [BBC, June 8, 2001]

23 Ethiopian students flee to Kenya - At least 23 Addis Ababa University students and an Ethiopian soldier have fled to Kenya and are being held at the Moyale Police Station. [East African Standard, June 8, 2001)

Ethiopian army officers identified - Seven armed Ethiopian military officers who defected to Kenya have been identified by Kenyan Military and Police intelligence services. [East African Standard, June 7, 2001)

Ethiopian officers 'defect' to Kenya - With the relationship between Kenya and Ethiopia being a good one, observers will be watching with interest to see how Kenya handles the affair, especially if Ethiopia asks for their return. [BBC, June 6, 2001].

11 Army Officers Defect - Eleven Ethiopian army officers have defected to Kenya, it was revealed yesterday. They fled following the assassination of the country's head of national security in Addis Ababa. [The Nation, June 6, 2001]

Liberating the Oromo People For Stability, Peace, and Development  In the Horn of Africa - A lasting peace, stability and development cannot be achieved in the Horn of Africa until and unless the tyranny of current Ethiopian regime is brought to an end. [Oromo Liberation Front]

Swiss diplomat shot in Ethiopia - The news of this latest shooting has shocked many. Diplomats today speculated that the shooting could be linked to recent events in the country.[BBC June 3, 2001]