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By Siyanne Mekonnen @Siyaanne
Addis Ababa, December 21, 2020 – The opposition party Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) said yesterday that ten of its members, including two journalists who work for its broadcast, Nine Billiisummaa Oromo (SBO), were arrested by government security forces over the weekend.
In a separate statement issued today, the OLF said it does not know the whereabouts of the 10 people it said were arrested over the weekend. They are: Mohamed Regassa, member of the Central Committee and spokesperson; Murata Saba (Malkaa Danu), member of the Central Committee; Dr. Gada Olijira, Administrator of the Office of the President of the OLF; Yerossan Ayuu, Head of Organizational Affairs at OLF Addis Ababa Surrounding Office; Tumassa (Assefa Fikadu), member of the organizational affairs office; Gurumu Ayanna, OLF cadre; Gessisa Kussa, OLF Mandi area office for organizational affairs and Lidiya Alli Mansissa, OLF women’s league member. further
Two journalists who worked for the SBO: Ayatuu Bulcha and Ibssa Gadissa, were on the list of names released by the OLF.
“The peace and security situation in Oromia is deteriorating even more; the war in Tigray and the humanitarian crisis it generated is massive; the violence in Benishangul Gumuz is intense; and the nations and nationalizations in the southern regional state are going through chaos. The border conflict between the Sudanese and Ethiopian forces threatens to lead Ethiopia into full-scale crisis and disintegration. However, despite all these crises, the ruling party is preparing to hold elections in 2021, ”the statement said. The party urged the international community to take steps to force the ruling party to release all political prisoners before holding the elections.
West Oromia attacks on civilians
The OLF statement comes as tensions rise in West Oromia, the Wollega area, after witnessing horrific killings of civilians in attacks since December 13, 2020. Residents of Horo Guduru twon told DW Amharic they said Gunmen have attacked civilians from the Amhara ethnic community using “daggers and bullets”. This latest attack has claimed the lives of more than six people in Umuru district, Jabo Doben kebele. Other attacks have also occurred in areas known as Agamsa and Haro.
Getachew Balcha, Head of the Oromia Regional State Communication Affairs Office, for his part admitted that 19 civilians, 13 of whom from the Amhara community in Horo Gudru and six from the Oromo community in Nedgo were killed by ” OLF / Shane “, the name the officials use to refer to the rebel group Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an OLF separatist group.
According to Getachew, the attacks were ethnically motivated and strongly condemned by the regional government. “We did not stop to condemn the attacks, but we have taken action on the perpetrators,” Getachew said. As a result, two people were killed and seven government officials suspected of being involved in Woreda and Kebele were brought to justice. Getachew also indicated that the perpetrators were backed by the TPLF and were trying to associate the attackers with the Oromo community. “These facts do not represent the Oromo people, the Oromia regional government, or our country Ethiopia.”
On December 16, a statement issued by Getachew said that in recent weeks security measures had been taken against 782 people suspected of being members of OLA. Of these 385 people died in combat, while 287 surrendered to government security forces. Another 170 people he said were operating within the community were arrested with community help.
Getachew puts the number of people recently arrested at 1,900 and said they were suspected of recruiting and assisting OLA leaders. they were brought before the courts in their respective districts.
The recent crackdown also affects government officials. Around 808 government officials who did not comply with the directives established by the regional state were brought to justice.
During the “law enforcement operation,” 52 klashinkovs, 65 artillery, 20 pistols, 12 grenades, 1,634 bullets, 2 radios and a battlefield binocular were also seized, according to the statement, and several bombs were seized. and explosives during routine searches at checkpoints. AS
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