July 13, A Day of Sorrow for Oromos!
Finfinnee Shall Remain the Heart of Oromia!
Oromo Students of Finfinnee (Addis Ababa) University Commemorated July 13 With Sorrow
(OLF News, July 17, 2008): Our sources from Finfinnee reported that Oromo students organized under the Association of Oromo Students of Finfinnee University commemorated July 13, the day the kangaroo parliament of the so called Oromia Regional State, taking direct orders from Meles Zenawi, decided to move the capital city of Oromia from Finfinnee to Adama (Nazareth).
It is to be recalled that the decision to move the capital of Oromia from Finfinnee to Adama was made on July 13, 2003. Following the unjust decision made to deny the Oromo people of their legitimate right on their own land, millions of Oromo students across Oromia protested opposing the decision. The Woyane government responded to these peaceful protests with brutal violence. Thousands of Oromo students were rounded up and arrested, beaten, tortured, and some are even killed. Among the killed are Alemayehu Garba, Kabbadaa Badhasa, Morkata Edossa, Gaddisa Hirphasa, Jagama Badhane, and many others (see photos below, taken from the report of Oromia Support Group).
Alemayehu Garba before his detention in 2003.
Alemayehu was brutally tortured in Kaliti prison and later died in hospital on December 9, 2003.
Alemayehu Garba's body, Dec. 9, 2003
Alemayehu Garba’s body showing emaciation from malnutrition in detention and wasting of his paralysed right leg; incompatible with any escape attempt as claimed by the Ethiopian government authorities.
Gaddisa Hirphasaa, brtutally tortured in a prolonged detention and was left with out help. He was taken to Minilik Hospital when he was about to die. Gaddisa died on Nov 28, 2006 shortly after he arrived at the hospital. He was from Tukur Hincinni.
Morkata Idosa, died in Kaliti prison at the beginning of November 2005, from excessive bleeding following torture during a prolonged detention.
Jagama Badhane, Shot Dead Nov. 9, 2005
Jagama Badhane, 11th grade student, was shot dead at the gate of Ambo secondary school and police killed at least two more when shooting in reponse to protests at Jagama’s death. His funeral was attended by over 50, 000 people. (Reporter, 13 November)
Kabada Badhasa, 11th grade student from Tikur Incini, was shot dead at the gate of Ambo secondary school together with Jagama Badhane and and a female student.
Oromia support group published the list of other Oromos killed in Kaliti prison as follows:
Shot dead in detention in Kaliti prison, 3 November 2005:
Abdunab
Anteneh Apilo
Dereje Mamo
Efrem Geletu
Gemechu Geda
Getu Hailu
Haile-Mariam Ambaye
Indalew Iwunetu
Indargachew Worku
Kebede Tolcha
Kitaw Worku
Mesfin Ayele
Sintayehu Kebede
Tadese Feyisa
Tamiru Haile-Mariam
Tewodros Giday
Tigistu
Wegayehu Zerihun
Shot and wounded at Kaliti prison on 3 November 2005:
Ashenafi Biru – wounded right hand, no treatment given
Addis Kidane
Awal
Damtew
Dawit Ababa
Eliyas Bedargew
Ibrahim Ajam – wounded right eye
Ibrahim Adam
Ibsa Asfawu
Idris Awal – wounded right hip bone
Isayas
Kibron
Lamessa Tasissa – wounded right hand
Marsa Diro
Masawal
Mastu Salah
Michael
Minas Tadesse
Mosissa Dadhi – wounded right hip bone
Nabiyat Wondimu
Seifu Worku
Tariku
Teka
Tsegaye Sahilu
Yalew Bedargeligne
Yibeltal Tizita
Zakariyas Tariku – wounded chest and arm
Zerihun Tesfaye
Moreover, according to Human Rights Watch, “in January 2004 between 330 and 350 Addis Ababa University students were arrested for participating in a peaceful student demonstration protesting the Oromia regional government’s decision to move its capital from Addis Ababa to Adama. Police ordered both male and female students to run and crawl barefoot, bare-kneed, and bare-armed over sharp gravel for three-and-half hours; they were also forced to carry each other over the gravel, increasing the pressure on their soles and inflicting greater pain”.
The decision to commemorate July 13 as a day of sorrow for the Oromo people every year was declared by the self-help Mecha Tulema Association. As a response, almost all of the leaders of the association were thrown to jail by the government security forces for releasing a statement requesting the Oromo people to raise their voice against the unjust decision to move the capital of Oromia from Finfinne to Adama and to remember July 13 every year with sorrow. Ironically the same kangaroo court of Oromia regional state said that they “reversed” their decision following the contested 2005 election, when Meles Zenawi crucially needed the support of the Oromo people for his survival in grip for power against the then “threatening” CUD party, justifying once again that the so called Oromia Regional State has virtually no power. Many of the jailed leaders however remained in prison for two more years even after the decision was said to have been “reversed”. It is not clear if the government will once again “reverse” the already reversed decision.
During their commemoration of July 13 the Oromo students of Finfinnee University expressed their commitment to wage a liberation struggle and renewed their pledge to continue supporting the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).
Meanwhile, our sources added that several Oromos organized under OLF cells in Eastern Hararge Zone, inthe districts of Burqaa, Qarsaa, Haro-Mayaa, and others commemorated July 13 with sorrow.
