OLF Expresses its Grave Concern Regarding the so-called ‘Investigation’ into Jaal Batte Urgessa’s Murder
OLF Statement
The loss of our beloved and iconic officer, Jaal Batte Urgessa, who has been peacefully struggling against the unparalleled human rights abuses against his people, including torture, unlawful killings, disappearance, and mass arrest, has sent a clear message to our people: the survival of the Oromo conscious and human right activists is in grave danger more than ever before.
While mourning this loss, OLF is gravely concerned that there are several indications that the so-called investigation by the government lacks credibility from the get-go, as there are a lot of pieces of evidence of impartiality, obliteration of pieces of evidence, misinformation and disinformation. OLF has credible information that:
1.
Jaal Batte Urgessa was taken away from his hotel room, Abebe Girazmach Pension, by government security
2.
While dragging him out of the Hotel, the security men severely beat him, and he was screaming for orderly and dignified treatment in accordance with the law
3.
The Hotel watchman/guard who was witnessing the action was abducted/ disappeared or killed to conceal any possible evidence
4.
The locals witnessed that the armed security men in military uniform mounted Jaal Batte on a vehicle, drove to the dirt area, dragged him from the car, tied his arms on his back and finally gunned him down with several bullet-shots. The locals, who bravely guarded Batte’s body over the night to spare from being eaten by the beast, were forcefully disappeared or killed.
5.
Groups or individuals who have a direct connection to the regional government and Prosperity Party are mischievously working to link the killing to a family feud. As reported to OLF by the concerned body regarding this case, the investigating team of the Oromia Police Commission in Eastern Showa, Maqi town, established on April 11, 2024, is conducting shameful activities that violate universal law, everyday political ethics and Oromo safu and culture. It is highly inconceivable that a family member would collaborate with security forces and indulge in tying a fellow family member’s hand on his back, mount him on a vehicle, drive him to a distant area and watch the security forces shoot him with 11 bullets. It is also evident to everyone
that the town is under heavy security encampment and surveillance for any third
party to conduct the murder.
6.
The pattern and practice of murders over the last five years of peaceful political, cultural and human rights activists and the way the so-called ‘investigation’ into their cases was conducted and the lack of justice herewith testifies to the fact that there is no chance for any possible impartial and neutral investigation by the government.
We thus reiterate that the so-called investigation into the murder of Jaal Battee Urgessa is marred by a plethora of intentional distractions of evidence, misinformation and disinformation campaigns right from the beginning. We call upon human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, UN and African Union bodies and the diplomatic communities for impartial and nonpartisan investigation. The whole development and the behaviors of the government security apparatus resemble the conditions that prevailed during the onset of the Red Terror of the Dergue regime.
We also strongly advise the Oromo people to remain cautious, vigilant and resolute. We call upon every individual Oromo and Ethiopian citizen to trace any movement of the security who plan to hurt their leaders and their community members. OLF strongly believes and advises the citizens of Oromia that this inhumane act and injustice must be condemned. We strongly request the Oromo people living in Oromiya and everywhere in the world to peacefully and legally stand against these injustices in all possible means.
Victory to the Masses!
Oromo Liberation Front
April 14 2024
Finfinnee