North Norway Oromo youths Demonstrate against the ongoing human rights violation By TPLF/EPRDF regime in Trondheim, Norway
Report by Getinet Dinkayehu
Oromo Youth in North Norway on March 1, 2014 protested against the
ongoing human rights violations, inhuman killings, and the repression
being done by the criminal Ethiopian Government and urges the TPLF/ERPDF
to stop dictatorship with Impunity. It is terrifying and unjust that
the continuing suffering of Oromo people through systematic human rights
abuses by the Ethiopian Government is largely ignored by governments
around the world. Yet the heinous crimes of the TPLF/EPRDF government
rank high in the catalogue of human right abuses committed by African
governments. Over the past two decades, the TPLF-led Ethiopian
government has imprisoned tens of thousands of Oromo political
oppositions, several thousands of innocent Oromo have been deteriorating
in prisons and secret camps, and many have been and are being cruelly
tortured, killed, uprooted, raped and exiled. Others have been abducted
in broad daylight, and made to disappear or murdered secretly.
There is no peace and stability, no freedom of speech, no freedom of
press, no freedom of assembly and no rule of law in Ethiopia. What truly
exists is totalitarianism of one party and gross violations of
democratic and human rights. The TPLF led Ethiopian dictatorial regime
continuation of targeting the Oromo people through brutal suppression to
prolong its grab on power should not be tolerated any more. The
TPLF/EPRDF repressive “Anti-Terrorism” law, which came into force in
2009, has worsened the condition of Oromo individuals of all walks of
life. As repeatedly reported by international human rights
organizations, this Law is being used by the Ethiopian government as a
powerful instrument to crack down on political dissent, including
peaceful political demonstrations and public criticisms of government
policy that are deemed supportive of armed opposition activity in
Oromia. Today more than any time in the past the Oromo people are
subjected to systematic killings, disappearance, torture, mass arrest,
harassment and imprisonment in villages, workplaces, towns and cities of
Oromia. The forced Eviction of Oromo peasants from their ancestral farm
lands for leasing several millions of hectares of Oromo lands to
foreigners under obscure terms, denial of job opportunities and
dismissal of employees from their jobs on flimsy excuses are a daily
experience of Oromo people in Ethiopia. Oromo’s and Oromia are
discriminated against in employment, promotion, education, and other
social services. The TPLF Regime own the media, the internet and most
communication means. They use the justice system as a tool to torture
and demoralize dissents instead of using it for fair and free justice
system. We remember what has happened with the two Swedish journalists,
they are living evidence how the Ethiopian justice system is corrupt.
The policies and practices of the TPLF/EPRDF regime have forced millions
of Oromo to become political refugees in Africa, Middle East, Europe,
Australia, and North America. We remember the recent victim Engineer
Tesfahun Chemeda, the well-known freedom fighter who was deported from
Kenya with Engineer Mesfin Abebe in 2007 is killed on August 24.08.2013
in the notorious TPLF/EPRDF prison of Qaallittii.
We know that Mr. Bekele Gerba, prisoner of conscience and lecturer in
Addis Ababa University who were thrown into prison On August 27, 2011 by
the TPLF regime is still suffering with poor health and his life is in
danger due to lack and denial of medical care In Qaliti prison.
International human rights organizations have extensively documented the
torture, disappearance, extrajudicial killings of Oromo activists and
lists of extensive chilling crimes against the politically oppressed
Oromo people. With an estimated 25,000 Oromo political prisoners in
official and secret prisons simply because of their nationality and
their resistance to injustice, it has been reported that Ethiopia’s
overcrowded prisons speak Oromo language. However, despite its
well-documented dismal record on human rights, Ethiopia, a key western
ally in the Horn of Africa, is being fueled by the $3 billion it
receives annually from the EU and United states, as reported by Human
Rights Watch and amnesty international. While this all violations
happening against oromo humanity, it is completely unfair to keep silent
and watch the damages.
Therefore, the Aim of the protest was to condemn the current Unlawful
and inhuman Acts of TPLF/EPRDF Government against Oromo and to call on
the US and EU and the Norway governments to stop their relationship with
the Ethiopian dictatorial regime, to review their strategy towards the
oppressive brutal regime and instead support the genuine struggle of the
Oromo and other peoples for freedom and equality which could serve for
lasting peace in the Horn Africa region, to act on behalf of justice for
the sufferings of Oromo and put the necessary pressure on the Ethiopian
government to release all political prisoners of which the overwhelming
majority are the Oromo.
During the event, Mr. Bent Houge who is long known as a human rights
activist in Trondheim and Mr Kiya Gonfa one of the organizing group has
delivered a speech on the ongoing human right violation in Ethiopia.
Among the slogans raised and chanted during the demonstration are:
The TPLF/EPRDF Government is the most repressive government In Africa
,TPLF stop killing murdering torturing and kidnapping Oromo, stop
Evicting Oromo from their Land, Stop selling Oromo lands to Foreign
investors, Killing will not be a solution ,TPLF you can kill thousands
but you cannot kill 40million Oromo , we Oromo will never stop our
struggle until Freedom, TPLF respect human rights, Free Bekele Gerba and
all Oromo political prisoners ,TPLF is a killer, a liar ,a murderer,
TPLF is Ruling Ethiopia for 22 years(USA, EU, Norway… is this democracy?
Is this respecting Human rights? ), TPLF is brutalizing people in
Ethiopia for 22 Years, There are about 25,000 Oromo suffering in
Ethiopia( EU; USA; Norway you know this but we are wondering why you
support this dictators),Several Thousand Oromo are suffering and dying
in Neighboring countries and in middle east (USA, EU, Norway you know
this ,stop allying with Dictators), USA, EU; Norway stop sending your
money for TPLF Government ,your money is supporting and strengthening
dictators ,your money is killing Oromo, USA; EU; NORWAY support the
struggle for freedom , Support our Struggle, Supporting the struggle for
freedom is International obligation Etc…..
At the end of the Demonstration, all participants promised to continue
to be a voice for their voiceless people and to struggle till the
freedom of Oromo and Oromia.
Victory for the Oppressed Oromo people!
HRLHA Urgent Action
