Oromia Today

Independent Voice of Oromia

Deciphering Lemma Megersa’s Speech in Bahr Dar

16. November 2017 Administrator community (0)
15 November 2017

By Caala Ibsa Oromo

In the middle of mass protests and deepening crisis in Oromia, Lemma Megersa, president of the Oromia regional state, traveled to Bahr Dar, on November 4, 2017, with elders and Oromo People Democratic Organization (OPDO) leadership team to deliver a reconciliatory speech on the relationship between the Amhara and the Oromo, the two largest national groups in Ethiopia. He was appointed president late last year to manage the protests in Oromia, when his predecessor, Muktar Kedir, was unable to control the situation. Muktar was blamed on both sides—by the TPLF leaders and the Oromo people—for his feebleness and unwavering loyalty to the brutal regime, respectively. As his replacement, Lemma was expected to be a strong leader who could stabilize the situation either with a firm hand or soft speeches. Shortly after assuming power, he made some speeches in which he criticized the excesses of the TPLF and provided some hope for the protesting Oromo youth. Some of his public speeches, indeed, suggested that he has the fortitude to stand up to his bosses. Lately, even some activists in the Diaspora have started to believe in Lemma’s rhetoric and advocated for giving him some space to deliver on his promises. But many Oromos remained skeptical. So far, the speech that Lemma Megersa delivered in Bahr Dar on November 4 tends to prove that the skeptics are right. [More]

Let the Oromo Protests Continue

26. October 2017 Administrator community (0)
October 15, 2017

By Caala Ibsa Oromo

http://www.gettyimages.co.nz/detail/news-photo/people-protest-against-the-ethiopian-government-during-news-photo/856254358#people-protest-against-the-ethiopian-government-during-irreecha-the-picture-id856254358

Despite the various attempts, the TPLF tactics had miserably failed. Instead of weakening the spirit of the protest and intimidating the protesters, the state of emergency and mass detentions created opportunities for participants to take a much-needed respite to recuperate from protest fatigue, heal from their wounds, and to regroup and reassess their tactics. The detainees used the time and the space for networking and rededication. Those who were released from detention camps came out with greater commitment and better organizational skills to continue the protests. The utter failure of the EPRDF/TPLF repressive tactic is on full display immediately after and the end of the state of emergency in August. At the first anniversary of the Irrecha massacre, on October 1, 2017, the Oromo youth returned with more vigor and determination to protest the TPLF rule. While celebrating the Irreecha festival, they danced and sang protest songs with full display of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) flag, the symbol of their resistance. They continued the same protests a week later at the Malka Atete Irreecha celebration in Burayu, in the suburb of Finfinee (Addis Ababa). Beginning on October 11, 2017, the protests have now spread to other cities throughout Oromia. On October 11, 12 and 13, thousands of protesters have marched in Ambo, Borana, Dembi Dolo, Gedo, Gimbi, Guder, Hararge, Jimma, Naqamte, Robe, Shashamane, and Waliso. Obviously, the Oromo protests are back with renewed intensity. Unfortunately, TPLF violent approach is also alive. Although the protesters were peaceful, government forces have killed at least fifteen and wounded over thirty protesters within two days. Yet a violent response is unlikely to calm down the resistance. [More]

History - Alkaline to neutralize conflicts or an element to catalyze them? The recent ESAT interview with Dr. Larebo

15. March 2017 Administrator community (1)
By: Bayisa Wak-Woya
wakwoya2016@gmail.com
 Geneva, 20th February, 2017
The recent ESAT interview with Dr. Larebo encouraged me to write this note, something which I was thinking of doing for some years now. Although I am disappointed with both the form and content of the interview, I found it a blessing in disguise because it provided me with the muse I needed to gather my thoughts to write this piece regarding the use or misuse of history. In bracket though, I would like to express my deepest dissatisfaction that, a) the interviewer seems to have an ulterior motive – because he was feeding the interviewee with leading questions, which is very unprofessional; and, b) the issues discussed were not relevant to the prevailing situation in Ethiopia in general and that of the ongoing rapprochement between the Oromo and Amhara people in particular. To sum up, and in my view, the interview did not have any added value whatsoever. As for Dr. Larebo’s statement about Oromos, I can only say that he is either an educated illiterate or an arrogant individual who is harboring quite a dose of grudge against the Oromo people for reasons not known to me yet. [More]

Oromia’s moment of truth: The Greatest Oromo generation and the Oromia Flag

4. February 2017 Administrator community, human rights (0)
By Leenjiso Horo, February, 2017

Now, it is time for the Qubee generation to take up the torch of struggle that commenced with the great Oromo generation of the 1960s. The ultimate aim of the Oromo struggle is and has been for total political independence. For this, many forms of strategy and tactics have been used. In this struggle, a partial victory has already been won by the generation of the 1960s. The Oromo unity is achieve; Oromia is put on the map, Oromo are known to the world community, the Oromo flag is made a realty, Qubee has been created, the new Qubee generation is born, and Oromo language has become a working language. Now, it is for the Oromo Qubee generation to raise the struggle to higher level to achieve full victory. For this, it is time for this generation to engage in armed liberation struggle. [More]

A PROPOSAL ON THE CONSOLIDATION OF OROMO SUPPORT

29. December 2016 Administrator community (1)
By: Koree Tokkummaa
29 December 2016

Over three months ago, a lady came up with an initiative on "#Oromo Protests Support Group" to go beyond mere exchange of information and urged the participants to organize a teleconference for a deliberation on what concrete measures need to be taken in support of the victims of tyranny in Oromia. Three participants volunteered to prepare a proposal and schedule a teleconference call. [More]

Ethnic tensions could see Ethiopia descending into civil war: State of emergency restores calm but fissures remain in fragile federation

9. December 2016 Administrator community (1)
Source: The Irish Times
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/africa/ethnic-tensions-could-see-ethiop

Opinions about where Ethiopia is heading cover a range of scenarios. It is feasible that a renewed uprising could prove successful, or its attendant pressures result in the internal disintegration of the EPRDF. Both appear unlikely, however, certainly in the short-term. Honed by decades of experience fending off rebellions, Ethiopia’s security apparatus is ruthlessly effective – hence the apparent success of the state of emergency. If judged necessary, an even more blistering government crackdown can’t be ruled out. [More]

Dhudhaa Malbulcha Oromoo fi Sodaa Halagaa Hambisuu

2. September 2016 Administrator community (0)
Ibsaa Guutama

Akeeki qabsoo Oromoo empayericha diiguu dha. Garu sun dhuma Itophiyaa taha jechuun waan kolfaatii. Itophiyaa kan dhabamsiisu walabummaa kolonootaa utuu hin tahin yoo kanneen durumaanuu maqicha guddifatan, Habashaan ittiin of waamuu dhiisani. Jalqabumaayyuu yoo guddifatan, Oromiyaan isaan jala hin turree. Itophiyaa tursuunis dhabamsiisuunis dantaa saaniitii. Haa tahu malee sun Oromoo hin laalu. Kan Oromoo ilaalu empayera ofirraa fonqolchuu dha. [More]

Oromo Political Tradition and Ending Aliens Fears

2. September 2016 Administrator community (1)
By Ibsaa Guutama

For many years diplomats had been asking “Do the Oromo know what they want”. The Oromo know what they want, but their messengers lying abroad had been equivocal and communicated in the way they understood body language of their clients rather than delivering what their people desired. The diplomats were thus right; those they meet were pretending to represent their people while working against it in cahoots with adversaries. That is why they are shy or in denial to talk about “independence” to the face of the enemy while their people are openly calling for it. [More]

The Atse v. Gadaa Tradition: Contradictory Governing Principles in Ethiopian Politics

18. August 2016 Administrator community (1)
By Professor Guluma Gemeda*

To get to a democratic path, the mentality, the governance practices and political structures that sustain the atse culture should be totally revamped and replaced by open consensual democratic institutions. However, the mentality is so entrenched and the idea of integration seriously damaged, the chances of keeping the empire together is slipping away every day. [More]

Oromo protests: Why US must stop enabling Ethiopia

10. August 2016 Administrator community (1)
Source: CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/09/africa/ethiopia-oromo-protest/index.html

Awol K. Allo, Special to CNNUpdated 1835 GMT (0235 HKT) August 9, 2016

London (CNN)Ethiopia is facing a crisis of unprecedented magnitude, yet its government and Western enablers refuse to acknowledge and recognize the depth of the crisis.

The nationwide protest held on Saturday by the Oromo people, the single largest ethnic group both in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, is clear evidence of a crisis that is threatening to degenerate into a full-scale social explosion. [More]

Ethiopia and Eritrea in Tigray Tigrinys’ context

20. July 2016 Administrator community (1)
By: Ibsaa Guutama

July 2016

The continued colonial status of Oromiyaa cannot be understood without understand the nature of the colonizer, the Abyssinian state. The power struggle within that state has lived not only creating tension to the Habashaa but also affecting the peaceful life of its neighbors in one way or other, more so since an era known as The Scramble for Africa. The catalyst in it, international conspiracy that started early is also still actively engaged exasperating the misery. Since then much had changed in structure and function of Habashaa state not for the colonies. Now suffice to try and see the relation of Eritrea and Ethiopia in context of Tigray Tigriny in the eyes of a mute observer. [More]

A Historic Mass Uprising in Oromia

14. July 2016 Administrator community (1)
By: Itana Gammada

The only viable choice for nations or peoples under colonial occupation is to set forth their goals, become organized and united in their stated objectives, and fight for their freedom, independence, justice, and dignity....Today, our nation Oromia is under siege. The torture chambers and concentration camps in Mekele, Ziwai, Qalitii, Xoola, Dhidheessa, and Qilinxoo, and the hidden Gestapo-style jails in various places, are filled with Oromos who are facing stepped-up brutalization, dehumanizing torture, and murder, which occurs by the thousands every day. [More]

“Let No External Pressure Force You to Back from Fulfilling Your Responsibilities to Your People”

24. April 2016 Mekuria Bulcha community (1)
Yishaaq was one of the leading members of the Macca Tuulama Association until it was banned in 2004. As a conscious Oromo nationalist, he stood behind the independence of Oromia. OLF’s former Secretary General Galaasaa Dilbo notes that in 1994, Yishaaq sent him a letter with Colonel Alemu Qixxeessaa and Obbo Baqala Nadhii who were sent to Nairobi as members of a committee delegated to mediate between the OLF and the TPLF regime. ......He encouraged them to do what they believe is good and will serve the interest of the Oromo nation. .....This is particularly the case today when our youth are being hunted down, imprisoned and killed by the enemies of our people. It is with this in mind that I have rewritten the previous article for submission to Oromia Today for publication. [More]