When Would the Specter of Heinous Persecution Against Oromos End?
Hawasa Oromo in the Netherlands | August 29, 2013
We members of the Hawasa Oromo in the Netherlands are stunned by the
death of Tesfahun Chemeda Gurmessa in Ethiopian dungeon on the 24th of
August 2013.
Tesfahun Chemeda was exemplary activist in Oromo student movement while
he was studying in Finfinne/Addis Ababa University. After graduating in
Civil Engineering, Tesfahun had served his people in his professional
capacity as civil engineer for more than four years in Arsi,
Ilu-Abbabora and in Wallaga. More and above all, Tesfahun was a man of
high sense of justice, vibrant voice and strong advocate of freedom for
the Oromo people. For mere reasons of these activisms, he was made one
of the prime targets of persecution by the Woyane authorities and
forced to flee to Kenya to escape the imminent danger from the
perpetrators of the day.
While in exile in Kenya, Tesfahun sought international protection and
granted refugee status by the UNHCR; and continued in his advocacy for
freedom and justice among Oromo refugees in that country. Irrespective
of the international protection granted to him in accordance with
relevant international instruments, here again, he came up against the
ghost of persecution he left behind. There, along with his fellow
national-Mesfine Abebe, he was arrested by Kenyan authorities and handed
over to his persecutors.
In the hands of his persecutors Tesfahun suffered all and every inhuman
and degrading treatment: he was handcuffed, blindfolded and coercively
taken back to Ethiopia; was victimized by kangaroo court verdict:
detained in Maikelwai, the center that frequently houses political
prisoners and is known for brutal abuse of detainees, including
torturing during interrogations; was denied medical treatment and held
in solitary confinement for more than a year in darkness that resulted
in sight problem until and up to his death.
The death of Tesfahun Chemeda Gurmessa in such a situation is a case
book of the current circumstances of the Oromo people. On the one
hand, it casts a long shadow of historical injustices. On the other
hand, it reveals the continuity of cruel slaughter of our people in
contemporary time by the perpetrators of the day. Here, it suffice to
recall the recent massacre in Asasa, Garba (Wallo) and Kofale under a
blanket banner of the so-called terrorism.
In such testing time and circumstances, Oromos as people and their
organizations as key players must pose the question; when would the
specter of heinous persecution against Oromos end? Not only posing, the
questions needs appropriate and timely answer. To this effect, we call
upon our people-organized and unorganized to get prepared up to the
challenge of the time.
In due course, the Hawasa Oromo in the Netherlands extend its condolence
to the family of Tesfahun, to his relatives and friends and pray to
have strength at this hours of grief.
Hawasa Oromo in the Netherlands
Executive Committee
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