Posted: Amajjii/January 25, 2013 · Finfinne Tribune | Gadaa.com |

[gpslideshow exclude=”” caption=”on”]

Release Political Prisoners in Ethiopia



Oromo opposition politicians, Bekele Garba and Olbana Lelisa, were arrested in August 2011 after speaking with Amnesty International officials. They were sentenced, with seven other Oromos in November 2012, to long prison terms for working against the government. Oromo opposition politicians, Bekele Garba and Olbana Lelisa, were arrested in August 2011 after speaking with Amnesty International officials. They were sentenced, with seven other Oromos in November 2012, to long prison terms for working against the government.

Ethiopia receives $3 billion in aid each year. Donors claim the country is on the road to democracy, but this is wrong. UK aid is denied by local officials to those who criticise the government. It is used as a tool of repression. Scores of thousands of political prisoners are being tortured today in Ethiopian prisons. Millions need food aid while millions of hectares of arable land are rented cheap to foreign investors. Ethiopia has one of the biggest and best-equipped armies in Africa but one third of its budget is from aid.

We call on the UK Government to promote real democratic change in Ethiopia.

Over 100 Addis Ababa university students were arrested and severely beaten on 2 January 2013.



Riyana Abdurahman, a young refugee and teacher in Somaliland, was abducted on 22 November 2012 and imprisoned in Ethiopia. Riyana Abdurahman, a young refugee and teacher in Somaliland, was abducted on 22 November 2012 and imprisoned in Ethiopia.

About 200 young Oromo were arrested at the annual Irreechaa festival in central Ethiopia on 30 September 2012. Hundreds of Muslims protesting at government interference are arrested in demonstrations every week. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the US State Department have corroborated these and other abuses over the last 22 years.

There are more Oromo refugees than ever before. Over one hundred thousand of us in Europe and America call for change.

– Oromo Community in the UK – http://www.oromocommunityinuk.webs.com

– Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa – http://humanrightsleague.com

– Oromo Studies Association – http://www.oromostudies.org

– Oromia Support Group – http://www.oromo.org

– Oromo Relief Association UK

– Oromo Students Union-UK

– Oromo Youth Association-UK