Joint letter to Ethiopian Prime Minister on Charges against Bloggers and Journalists

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Office of the Prime Minister
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

24 July 2014

Re: Detained Journalists and Bloggers

Dear Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn,

We write to you to express our grave concern regarding the terrorism charges laid against seven bloggers associated with the “Zone 9” website and three independent journalists in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights—which both expressly protect the right to freedom of expression. We therefore urge your government to fulfill its obligations under international law and release all individuals who have been arbitrarily detained in violation of their fundamental rights.

As you may be aware, six of the bloggers (Zelalem Kibret, Atnaf Berahane, Natnael Feleke, Mahlet Fantahun, Befeqadu Hailu, and Abel Wabela) and the three journalists (Tesfalem Waldyes, Asmamaw Hailegeorgis, and Edom Kassaye) were arrested in late April, shortly after it was announced that the Zone 9 website would resume its activities after suspending operations because of increasing harassment and surveillance. All nine detainees were subsequently held for nearly three months before any specific allegations were presented or formal charges filed against them. Most concerning, however, are reports that some of the detainees have complained of serious mistreatment by investigators and that defense lawyers and their clients have been excluded from some of the proceedings.

Recent reports now indicate that the detained bloggers and journalists have been charged under the widely-criticized 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation, including provisions that provide for the death penalty, in addition to charges of committing “outrages against the constitution.” A seventh blogger, Soleyana Shimeles, was also charged in absentia. In accordance with the requirements of both Ethiopian and international law, we call on you to ensure that all allegations of torture or other forms of ill-treatment are promptly investigated and that no statements obtained through such means are admitted in court. Further, we call on you to ensure that the detainees have full access to the assistance of legal counsel and that the proceedings related to this case are open to the public, the media, and members of the diplomatic community.

Unfortunately, these prosecutions are only the most recent example of a worrying pattern. Outspoken Ethiopian journalists Eskinder Nega, Reeyot Alemu, and Woubshet Taye have all received long prison terms under the 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation, in trials marred by procedural flaws. Similarly, opposition activists including Andualem Arage have received sentences of up to life imprisonment on such grounds.

While your office has asserted that the prosecution of these individuals is unrelated to their work as journalists, independent inquiries have found that this is not the case. For example, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention held that the imprisonment of Mr. Nega violated Ethiopia’s obligations under international law and requested his immediate release. In addition to procedural violations, the Working Group found that the detention of Mr. Nega resulted directly from his exercise of free expression and that the overly broad offenses established by the 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation constituted “an unjustified restriction on expression rights and on fair trial rights.” Despite such a finding, however, Mr. Nega remains in prison.

Other international bodies have similarly criticized your country’s Anti-Terrorism Proclamation for being overly broad and a tool through which freedom of expression is limited. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted a resolution in 2012 stating that it was “gravely alarmed by the arrests and prosecutions of journalists and political opposition members, charged with terrorism and other offences, including treason, for exercising their peaceful and legitimate rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association.” This message reinforced an earlier statement by five United Nations special procedure mandate holders, including the Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights, which expressed their “dismay at the continuing abuse of anti-terrorism legislation to curb freedom of expression in Ethiopia.” During Ethiopia’s Universal Periodic Review earlier this year, similar concerns were raised by a number of countries, including security allies of Ethiopia such as the United States of America.

Despite these clear findings that the targeting of writers under the 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation is inconsistent with Ethiopia’s international obligations, prosecutors have now charged the seven Zone 9 bloggers and three independent journalists under that very law. As a result, they face exceedingly long prison sentences or even death. Such a practice violates international law and threatens to undermine the legitimacy of international security efforts in the region.

In light of these serious concerns, we urge you to facilitate the immediate release of all journalists and bloggers imprisoned under the 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation and to revise the Proclamation to comply with regional and international human rights standards.

Sincerely,

1. Amnesty International
2. ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa
3. Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (REDHAC), Central Africa
4. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
5. Civil Rights Defenders, Sweden
6. Coalition pour le Développement et la Réhabilitation Sociale (CODR UBUNTU), Burundi
7. Committee to Protect Journalists
8. Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), South Sudan
9. Conscience International (CI), The Gambia
10. East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project
11. Egyptian Democratic Association, Egypt
12. Electronic Frontier Foundation
13. Ethiopian Human Rights Project (EHRP)
14. Elma7rosa Network, Egypt
15. English PEN
16. Freedom Now
17. Front Line Defenders, Dublin
18. Human Rights Watch
19. International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF)
20. Ligue des Droits de la personne dans la region des Grands Lacs (LDGL), Great Lakes
21. Ligue Iteka, Burundi
22. Maranatha Hope, Nigeria
23. Media Legal Defence Initiative
24. National Civic Forum, Sudan
25. National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, Kenya
26. Niger Delta Women’s movement for Peace and Development, Nigeria
27. Nigeria Network of NGOs, Nigeria
28. Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, Nigeria
29. PEN American Center
30. PEN International
31. Réseau africain des journalistes sur la sécurité humaine et la paix (Rajosep), Togo
32. Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), Uganda
33. South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN), South Sudan
34. South Sudan Law Society, South Sudan
35. Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, Tanzania
36. Twerwaneho Listeners Club (TLC), Uganda
37. Union de Jeunes pour la Paix et le Développement, Burundi
38. WAN-IFRA (The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers)
39. West African Human Rights Defenders Network (ROADDH/ WAHRDN), West Africa
40. Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD), Zambia
41. Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Zimbabwe

Source: Human Rights Watch

Ethiopia: Release Prisoners of Conscience Immediately and Unconditionally

July 21, 2014 (Amnesty International) — On 17 July 2014, seven members of the Zone 9 blogging collective and three independent journalists were formally charged with terrorism offences and ‘Outrages against the Constitution’. Amnesty International considers the detained bloggers and journalists to be prisoners of conscience, imprisoned for peacefully exercising their freedom of expression without using or advocating violence or hatred, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release, and for the charges to be dropped against allOne of the bloggers was charged in absentia, while the remaining nine have been in detention since their arrests on 25 and 26 April 2014. At remand hearings for the detained, police were repeatedly granted additional time to conclude their investigations.

Bloggers Befeqadu Hailu, Atnaf Berahane, Mahlet Fantahun, Zelalem Kiberet, Natnael Feleke, Abel Wabela and Soliana Shimeles (in absentia), as well as journalists Tesfalem Waldyes, Edom Kassaye and Asmamaw Hailegeorgis, have been charged under article 4 of the 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation, which prohibits the planning, preparation, conspiracy, incitement and attempt of a terrorist act, and article 238 of the Ethiopian Criminal Code on ‘Outrages against the Constitution or the constitutional order.’ The bloggers and journalists were initially presented to court in three separate groups, but their cases have now been combined into one, with a first hearing date set for 4 August 2014.

Amnesty International considers that the case has been brought because of the peaceful blogging and activism activities of the 10 bloggers and journalists and calls for the charges to be dropped. They were arrested just days after Zone 9 announced that they were resuming their activities following months of harassment and intimidation. The group’s stated aims are “to create an alternative independent narration of the socio-political conditions in Ethiopia and thereby foster public discourse that will result in emergence of ideas for the betterment of the Nation.”

Ethiopia regularly uses the flawed Anti-Terrorism Proclamation to silence dissenting voices. Since its introduction in 2009, the law has been used more frequently against members of political opposition parties, independent journalists and peaceful protestors than against any other groups.

The charges levelled against the 10 bloggers and journalists include forming a clandestine organisation which sought and received support from Ginbot 7 and the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). Both have been outlawed as terrorist groups in Ethiopia. One of the accused is said to have received 48000 Birr (approximately US$ 2400), although the charge sheet does not specify from whom. The bloggers and journalists are also accused of receiving trainings to enable them to execute their plans, including learning how to encrypt online communications through ‘Security in a Box’. The group is also accused of intentionally organizing themselves to overthrow, modify or suspend the Constitution by violence, threats, or conspiracy.

Many of the activities cited in the charge sheet, and pieces of evidence listed, do not indicate or constitute criminal behaviour but are examples of the defendants exercising their right to freedom of expression. ‘Security in a Box’, for example, is a selection of free and open-source software, materials and guides for digital security and privacy, widely used by human rights defenders and independent media around the world, particularly where those groups operate in hostile environments.

Statements made by the detainees while under investigation have been included in the written evidence presented by the prosecution. However, six of the detainees have said that they were forced to sign confessions of their alleged crimes. Under the Ethiopian Constitution and international law, statements made through coercion may not be admitted as evidence.

The names of the witnesses to be called by the prosecution have not been shared with the defence, purportedly for their protection. However, this practice may undermine the accuseds’ ability to prepare a full defence. Further, Amnesty International has received numerous reports of people being paid or coerced to testify against defendants in previous politically-motivated cases.

The process has already been marred by numerous flaws. During the initial months of detention, the detainees were denied access to visitors; and access to their lawyer was severely restricted. Six of the detainees were only allowed to see their family members on 9 July, over two months after their arrest. The detainees were held in the notorious Maikelawi federal police detention centre in Addis Ababa, where political detainees are frequently held incommunicado and subjected to torture during interrogation. They have now been transferred to Kaliti and Kilinto federal prisons. Three of the detainees complained in court during remand hearings that they had been tortured. The court failed to take any action despite a responsibility to ensure that all allegations of torture or other ill-treatment are investigated. An application for bail is pending before the court.

The nine detainees were held for over 80 days under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation before being charged. The law, which places undue restrictions on several areas of human rights, allows for up to four months’ detention without charge – one of the longest remand periods in the world. When the prosecution finally filed the charges, they were first announced without the defendants or their lawyers being present.

Past politically-motivated trials indicate that the Zone 9 bloggers and journalists will not have a fair trial. An ever-increasing number of journalists, opposition members, activists and other dissenting voices – including the journalists Eskinder Nega, Reyot Alemu and Woubshet Taye – are imprisoned for alleged terrorism offences. Indeed, the name Zone 9, is inspired by the eight zones of Kaliti prison where prisoners of conscience have frequently been detained. The name is intended to suggest that the rest of Ethiopia is the 9th zone of the prison – and that all Ethiopians lack freedoms, especially freedom of expression.

With elections approaching in May 2015, Amnesty International urges the Ethiopian government to respect all Ethiopians’ right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed under the Constitution and in accordance with Ethiopia’s international obligations, including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The government should immediately cease the use of criminal prosecutions to silence opposition politicians, independent media, and other groups critical of the government and who are peacefully exercising their freedom of expression. Amnesty International reiterates its call on the Ethiopian government to amend the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation to remove vague provisions that can be used to criminalize the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and association, and bring it in line with international and regional human rights standards. of the accused

Ethiopia: Drop Case Against Bloggers, Journalists

(Nairobi, July 19, 2014) – The Ethiopian government should immediately drop politically motivated charges brought against 10 bloggers and journalists on July 17, 2014, under the country’s deeply flawed anti-terrorism law, Human RightsWatch said today.

The Ethiopian authorities arrested six of the bloggers and three journalists on April 25 and 26. They have been detained in Maekelawi, the Federal Police Crime Investigation Sector in Addis Ababa. The court charged the nine with having links to banned opposition groups and trying to violently overthrow the government, local media reported. A tenth blogger, who was not in Ethiopia at the time of the arrests, was charged in absentia.

“Ethiopia’s courts are making a mockery of their own judicial system,” said Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Hiding behind an abusive anti-terrorism law to prosecute bloggers and journalists doing their job is an affront to the constitution and international protection for free expression.”

The charges are part of an intensified crackdown in Ethiopia in recent months against perceived political opponents, Human Rights Watch said.

The six bloggers in custody are Atnaf Berahane, Befekadu Hailu, Abel Wabela, Mahlet Fantahun, Natnael Feleke, and Zelalem Kibret. Soliana Shimeles was charged in absentia. The three journalists are Tesfalem Waldyes, Edom Kassaye, and Asmamaw Hailegiorgis, an editor at weekly magazine Addis Guday.

The bloggers are part of a blogging collective known as Zone 9, which provides commentary on current events in Ethiopia. Zone 9 is the section of Kaliti prison in Addis Ababa where many political prisoners are held. The Zone 9 group had stopped blogging in February after security officials harassed the group and questioned them about their work and alleged links to political opposition parties and human rights organizations.

Zone 9 announced on Facebook on April 23 that they would resume blogging, and on April 25 and 26 the six bloggers were arrested. They were detained for over 80 days without charge, and remain in custody. Their lawyer, Ameha Mekonnen, has had only sporadic access to them, and family members were not allowed to meet with them until July 9. The lawyer plans to bring a civil suit about irregularities in the legal process, media reports said.

The bloggers and journalists are accused of connections to Ginbot 7 and the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), two of five organizations designated as terrorist organizations in 2011 by the House of Federation, the Ethiopian parliament. Human Rights Watch has not yet obtained the charge sheets, but credible media reports say that the bloggers and journalists are alleged to have taken directions from Ginbot 7 and OLF, planning and organizing terrorist acts, and agreeing to overthrow the government through force.

Judge Tareke Alemayehu was reported in the media saying that the group “took training in how to make explosives and planned to train others,” accusing them of plotting “to destabilize the nation” and using blogging as a cover for “clandestine” activities.

Human Rights Watch and other organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism law’s overly broad definition of “terrorist acts” and provisions on support for terrorism. Its vague prohibition of “moral support” for terrorism has been used to convict a number of journalists. Since 2011, at least 11 journalists, and possibly many more, have been convicted for their journalistic activities, even though the Ethiopian constitution and international law protect media freedom.

Three of the Zone 9 bloggers were outside of Ethiopia when their colleagues were arrested. According to media reports, one of these, Soliana Shimeles, was charged in absentia with coordinating foreign relations for the group and coordinating digital security training with “Security in-a-box”, a publicly available training tool used by advocates and human rights defenders. Human Rights Watch has documented how the Ethiopian government monitors email and telephone communications, often using information unlawfully collected, without a warrant, during interrogations.

“The fact that bloggers used digital security isn’t terrorism but common sense, especially in a repressive environment like Ethiopia,” Lefkow said. “The government should drop these charges and immediately release these nine journalists and bloggers, as well as others who have been wrongfully prosecuted under the anti-terrorism law.”

Others caught up in the government’s recent crackdown are four opposition leaders affiliated with political parties – Yeshewas Asefa of the Blue Party, Abraha Desta of the Arena Tigray party, and Daniel Shibeshi and Habtamu Ayalew of the Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) party. They were arrested on July 8, 2014, accused of providing support to terrorist groups, media reports said. They are scheduled to appear in court on August 14.

On June 23 or 24, Andargachew Tsige, a British citizen and secretary-general of Ginbot 7, was deported to Ethiopia from Yemen while in transit, in violation of international law prohibitions against sending someone to a country where they are likely to face torture or other mistreatment. He had twice been sentenced to death in absentia for his involvement with Ginbot 7. His whereabouts in Ethiopia are unknown. He has been detained for more than three weeks without access to family members, legal counsel, or UK consular officials, in violation of Ethiopian and international law.

Source: Human Rights Watch

Duula Olola Dharaa Mootummaan Wayyaannee Qopheessaa Jirtu

Mootummaan wayyaanee diddaa master pilaanii magaalaa Finfinnee fi FDG barattootni Oromoo fi ummatni Oromoo waloon geggeessan jallisuun dokumentarii fiilmii dhara irratti hundaa’e amanamtoota isaa itti bobbaasuun qopheessaa jiraachuu oduun SBO dhaqqabe ifa godhe. Bakki dokumentariin fiilmii kun itti qophaa’us bakka kana dura dokumentarii fiilmiin dharaa hawaasa Musliimaa irratti itti dalagamee TV. Wayyaaneen mul’ifamaa ture “Shawaa Roobititti” ta’uu oduun SBO dhaqqabe kun ni mirkaneessa. Guutuu qabiyyee dokumentarii fiilmii kanaa baruuf qophii armaan gadii kana dubbisaa. Waliifis daddabarsaa…… —————————–
Qabsoon bilisummaa, gaaffiin mirgaa fi dimokraasii ummatootni cunqurfamoon Itophiyaa keessaa geggeessan yeroo itti hammaatuu fi sirna isaa hundeen raasuu eegalu maqaa adda addaa itti moggaasee irratti ololuu fi itti duuluun bittaa sirna isaa tursiifachuuf ijibbaatuun gocha mootummaa wayyaanee akka ta’e beekamaa dha. Gaaffii haqaa ummatootaaf deebii kennuu waakkatuun gaaffii haqaa kana jal’isee dhiheessuun gamatti kanneen kabajamuu mirgoota isaaniif sagalee dhageessisan hidhuu, ajjeesuu fi biyya irraa baqachiisuunis gochuma isaa ti.

Qabsoo bilisummaa, gaaffii mirgaa fi dimokraasii ummatoota Itophiyaa keessa jiraniin geggeeffamu kan mootummaan wayyaanee akka qara eebootti sodaatuu fi dhaabbatummaan olola dharaa fi duula gara garaa kan bifa hundaa hammate irratti geggeessu Qabsoo Bilisummaa Oromoo fi sochii karaa nagaan mirga ofii falmatuu ummatni Oromoo ilmaan isaa barattoota/dargaggoota/Qeerroon durfamee geggeessu akka ta’es beekamaa dha. Oromoon gaaffii mirgaa, kan bilisummaa fi dimokraasii akka hin kaasne, barattootni waan mirga isaanii fi kan ummata isaanii akka ol hin fuuneef waggootan hedduuf mootummaan wayyaanee waraanaa fi poolisoota, akkasumas basaasota isaa itti bobbaasee yakka duguugiinsa sanyii ummata Oromoo irratti raawwateera. Kumoota kudhanootaan hidheera; baay’ee isaanii ajjeeseera; kumoota dhibbootaan akka baqatan taasiseera.

Sirnichi yakka kana raawwachuun gamattis QBOn akka jibbamu, gooltummaatti akka hidhamu, sochii fi gaaffiin mirgaa karaa nagaan barattootni Oromoo taasisan akka gocha yakkaa, biyya diiguu fi dalagaa gooltummaa ta’eetti akka sabaa fi sablammootni Itophiyaa keessaa hubataniif, darbees mararfannoo fi deggersa hawaasa addunyaa biraa akka hin arganne gochuuf duulli olola dharaa karaa mootummaa wayyaaneen hin geggeeffamin hafe hin jiru. Raadiyoo fi Tv.n wayyaanee ganamaa fi galgala kan ololaa turanii fi jiran dhugaa kana mul’isa. Diplomaatotni wayyaanee biyyoota adda addaa keessatti argamanis QBO fi gaaffii mirgaa haqa qabeessa barattootni Oromoo qabatanii itti jiran dabsanii akka sochii gooltummaatti dhiheessuuf duulli diplomaasii farra Oromoo ta’e isaan hin geggeessin hin jiru.

Qabsoo Bilisummaa Oromoo bulguu, qabsicha kan hoogganu ABO goolessaa taasisanii dhiheessuun, sochii barattoota Oromoo kan dargaggoota Qeerroo Bilisummaa sochii mirga ofii gaafachuu osoo hin taane, adeemsa diigumsa biyyaa fakkeessanii dhiheessuuf hedduu tattaafataniiru. Haa ta’u garuu duulli hidhaa, ajjechaa fi ololli dharaa sochii QBO irratti wayyaanee fi waa’illan isaan geggeeffamaa turee fi jiru ummatni Oromoo, ilmaan isaa barattootni/Qeerroon bilisummaa fi mirga abbaa biyyummaa isaaniif akka hin falmanne isaan hin taasisne; hin taasisus. Hidhaa fi ajjechaan kalee qabee haga har’aatti itti jiramus yoo qabsootti isaan jabeesse malee hin laaffifne; laaffisuus hin danda’u. Ololli dharaa fi diraamaaleen yeroo yeroon wayyaaneen qindaa’anii QBO irratti oofamanis bu’aan argamsiise hin jiru; yoo qaanii sirnichaa ta’e malee.

Har’as qabsoon bilisummaa Oromoo kan yeroo kamiiyyuu caalaatti roga hundaan finiinaa jira. Fincilli Diddaa Gabrummaa, falmiin mirga abbaa biyyummaa gootota barattoota Oromoo/Qeerroo Bilisummaan adda durummaan geggeeffamaa jiru ammoo caalaatti qabsoo saba Oromoo jabeessaa fi furgaasaa wayta jiru kanatti, mootummaa wayyaanee fi ergamtoota isaa ammoo daran laaffisaa fi sirna isaanii bakka dhabsiisaa jira.

Master Pilaanii magaalaa Finfinnee kan qonnaan bultoota Oromoo lafa sarbee dirree irratti facaasu, kan Oromiyaa bakka adda addaatti qoqqoodu mootummaan wayyaanee baafate mormuun goototni barattootni Oromoo adda durummaa Qeerroo Bilisummaa fi sabboontota Oromoon FDGn golee Oromiyaa cufa keessatti erga jalqabee baatiileen lakka’amaa jiran. Diddaan master plaanii magaalaa Finfinnee fi falmiin mirga abbaa biyyummaa kun ammas bifa adda addaan itti fufee jira.
Sochiin karaa nagaan mirga ofii falmatuu, biyya ofii irratti sagalee ofii dhageessisuu ummatni Oromoo fi ilmaan isaa barattootni Oromoo gamtaan itti jiran kun sirni wayyaanee kan yeroo kamii caalaatti Oromiyaa fi ummata Oromoo biratti fudhatamaa fi bakka kan hin qabne ta’uu kan mul’isee fi bilisummaan Oromoos kan hin hafne ta’uu diinaafis firaafis ifatti kan mirkaneessee dha. Sirni wayyaanee gaaffii kana keessummeessuuf hamilee itti dhabe humnaan ukkaamsuuf tarkaanfii abbaa irrummaa fudhateen barattoota Oromoo dabalatee ilmaan Oromoo 100tti herregaman ajjeeseera; kumootaan madeesseera; kumoota kudhaniin hidhaatti guuree itti taphataa jira. Kun hundumtuu sochii eegalame kan dhaabe hin taane.

Mootummaan wayyaanee wayta ammaa kanas yeroo sochiin QBO fi FDG barattoota/Qeerroon itti hammaatee mootummaan isaa Oromiyaa keessatti raafamaa jiru kana akkuma duraan godhaa turee itti milkaa’uu dadhabe duula olola dharaa geggeessuuf, dokumentarii fiilmii jedhee sochii dargaggoota/barattoota Oromoo jal’isee dhiheessuuf, ABO irratti ololuuf qophii xumurachaa akka jiru bira gahamee jira.

Odeessi SBO dhaqqabe akka hubachiisutti mootummaan wayyaanee diddaa master pilaanii magaalaa Finfinnee fi FDG barattootni Oromoo fi ummatni Oromoo waloon geggeessan jallisuun dokumentarii fiilmii dhara irratti hundaa’e amanamtoota isaa itti bobbaasuun qopheessaa jiraachuu dha. Bakki dokumentariin fiilmii kun itti qophaa’us bakka kana dura dokumentarii fiilmiin dharaa hawaasa Musliimaa irratti itti dalagamee TV. Wayyaaneen mul’ifamaa ture “Shawaa Roobititti” ta’uu oduun SBO dhaqqabe kun ni mirkaneessa.

Ergamtootni/amanamtootni wayyaanee dokumentarii fiilmii dharaa kana barattoota Oromoo fi ummata Oromoo irratti akka hojjetaniif bobbaafamanii jiran gaafatamaa poolisii magaalaa D.Dhawaa kan ture Kumaander Warquu, hoggansa poolisii irraa kan ta’an ammoo Kumander Jaarraan, Kumander Ambaaluu akkasumas hogganoota wayyaanee magaalaa D.Dhawaa kan turanii fi yeroo ammaa Finfinnee keessa hojjechaa jiran Asaffaa Zarhaa, Tasahe Barihe fi Ahmad Alot Lixa Harargee keessatti wayyaaneef hojjechaa kan turee fi yeroo ammaa ammoo magaalaa D.Dhawaa keessatti hojii basaasummaa irratti bobba’ee kan jiru faa keessatti akka argaman beekuun danda’ameera.

Akeekni dokumenterii fiilmii wayyaanee kun qabsoo karaa nagaa fi gaaffii mirgaa barattootni Oromoo fi ummatni Oromoo itti jiran dhara itti maxxansuu fi haaluu, dhaabbilee Oromoo kabajamuu mirga Oromoof falman maqaa xureessuu faa irratti kan akeekkatee dha kan jedhu oduun kun, barattootni Oromoo sirnichaan qabamanii hidhaa keessa jiran dirqisiifamanii fi hiraarfamanii waan hin dalagnee fi hin beekne akka dubbatan garii ammoo sirnichi maallaqaan kan bitate fiilmicha irratti dhihaatanii haasaa faallaa akka dubbataniif kan qopheeffaman ta’uu hubachiisa.

Dokumentariin fiilmii dharaa warshaa wayyaanee keessatti oomishamaa jiru kun ABO irrattis kan fuulleffate ta’uu kan hubachiisu oduun kun, mootummaan wayyaanee dhaabbattoota barnoota adda addaa keessatti karaa goolessitoota isaan boombii dhoosisee ykn mana barnootaa seensisee gaaga’ama dhaqqabsiisaa ture ABOtti haqachuuf, dokumenterii fiilmii kana irratti diraamaa isaa qindeeffatee akka jirus ifa godha. Barattootni dirqisiifamanii fi namootni maallaqaan bitaman fiilmii kana keessatti dhihaatanii ABO tu Yunversitii keessatti boombii dhoosaa nuun jedhe, isatu nu erge jedhanii akka dubbatan taasifamuunis dhaga’ameera. Magaalaa Cirootti kan dhalatee fi barataa Yunversitii Haromaayaa kan ta’e Ermiyaas Tafarraa fi barataa Yunversitii Amboo Siisaay Faxxanaa dabalatee barattootni yeroo darbe Yunversitii Haramaayaa keessatti boombii dhoostan jedhamanii qabaman kanneen dokumentarii fiilmii kana keessatti dhiheeffaman akka ta’e oduun SBO dhaqqabe ni hubachiisa.

Dalagaan abaaramaa fi yakkamaa dokumentarii fiilmii kanaan mootummaa wayyaaneen qopheeffamaa jiru kun baatii Adoolessaa kana keessa ykn erga ji’i kun darbees leenjii (indoctrination) wayyaaneen barattoota Yunversitiilee ittiin sossobachuuf jirtu irratti agarsiifamuuf akka jirus mirkanaa’eera.

Kanaaf jedhu Sochiin Qeerroo Bilisummaa Oromoo fi sabboontotni Oromoo, kanaaf barattootni Oromoo walumaagalatti hawaasni Oromoo marti gocha abaaramaa maqaa dokumentarii fiilmii jedhuun mootummaan abbaa irree fi diina Oromoo ta’e wayyaaneen qabsoo gootota barattoota Oromoo fi obboleewwan keenya qaqqaaliin lubbuu isaanii itti wareegaa jiran kana tiksuu fi olola diinaa kana itti dammaqnee murannoodhaan dura dhaabbannee hongeessuuf/fashalsuuf dirqama Oromummaa haa baanu jechuun waamicha lammummaa dabarsaniiru.
Faashistootni ummataaf gara laafina hin qabne hangamillee olola kijibaa fi dalagaa yakkaan olaantummaa qabaatanillee, haqni kan isaanii waan hin taaneef, salphinaan du’anii awwaalamuun isaanii kan hin hafne ta’uu kan hubachiise oduu qabatamaan SBO gahe kun, kan wayyaanees kana irraa adda akka hin taane ibse. Mootummaan wayyaanee lubbuu ijoollee Oromoo galaafateef, dhiiga dhangalaasee fi gadda maatii Oromoo irra buuseef gaafatama jalaa miliquu hin danda’u, dokumentarii fiilmiin dharaa kunis yakka isaa haguuguufii hin danda’u jechuun Qeerroon Bilisummaa fi sabboontotni Oromoo hubachiisaniiru.

Mootummaan wayyaanee mootummaa shororkeessaa humna afaan qawween aangoo irra jiruu fi ummata mirga ofii gaafatu shororkeessu waan taateef, sirna akkanaa karaa irraa kaasuun dirqama. Mootummaan wayyaanee mootummaa mirgoota ummataa qawween sarbee humna afaan qawweenis aangootti goggogee jiru ta’uu hojii isaan mul’ifachuu irra darbee, yakka ofiif hojjechaa jiru barattoota, ummata nagaa fi dhaabota mirga ummata isaaniif falmanitti haqachuuf yaalii godhu itti fufus diddaa fi qabsoon ummatootaa jabaachaa fi babal’achaa jiru sirna fokkisaa wayyaaneetti xumura gochuun kan hin oolle akka ta’e gabaasni oduu SBO dhaqqabe kun mul’isee jira.

Ethiopia charges journalists with ‘terrorism’

Three journalists and seven bloggers, in prison since April, accused of plotting “to destablize the nation”.

July 18, 2014 (Al Jazeera) — A group of Ethiopian bloggers and journalists held in jail for nearly three months have been charged with terrorism for having links to an outlawed group and for planning attacks, a judge said.

The seven members of the blogging collective Zone Nine and three journalists were arrested in April, prompting an outcry from rights groups who said the case was an assault on press freedom.

“They took training in how to make explosives and planned to train others,” Judge Tareke Alemayehu told the court on Friday.

The judge said their work was a cover for “clandestine” activities and accused them of plotting “to destabilise the nation”.

The group is accused of planning attacks in Ethiopia and working in collusion with the US-based opposition group Ginbot 7, labelled by Ethiopian authorities as a terrorist organisation.

Charges rejected

The Zone Nine website, proclaiming “we blog because we care!” features mostly social and political commentary, often critical of the government.

Nine of the accused smiled and waved to friends and family as they entered the packed courtroom. The tenth defendant is being charged in absentia.

The lawyer for eight of the suspects dismissed the charges.

“We don’t believe that there is any credible substance,” Amaha Mekonnen told AFP.

Rights groups have accused Ethiopia of using the anti-terrorism laws to silence dissent and jail critics.

Several journalists have been jailed under the law, including two Swedish journalists sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2012. They were pardoned after serving 15 months.

The dissident blogger Eskinder Nega is serving an 18-year sentence for having links with Ginbot 7, which calls for the violent overthrow of the ruling party.

The trial for the bloggers and journalists is expected to resume on August 4.

Source: Aljazeera

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Ethiopia Charges 9 Journalists With Terrorism

July 18, 2014

(Associated Press) — The Committee to Protect Journalists says Ethiopia’s government has charged nine journalists with terrorism and inciting violence.

The watchdog group said the journalists include six bloggers from Zone 9, an independent collective that publishes critical news and commentary. They were arrested in April.

The group urged Ethiopia’s government to release all the journalists, saying they were in detention simply for doing their jobs.

Ethiopia’s government has faced persistent criticism from watchdog groups over its alleged harassment of independent journalists.

Critics say the government uses sweeping anti-terrorism laws to intimidate reporters and suppress political dissent.

More than a dozen critical journalists have been jailed since 2009, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Woyanne rounded up 3,000 Oromo students in Addis Ababa, shaved their heads and sent them to a concentration camp in Afar region (photo)

July 16, 2014 (Ethiopian Review)

Leenconni barattoonni keenya sababa saamicha lafa Oromoo finfinneef Oromiyaa bakkoota baay’etti godhamaa jiru ilaachisee gufachiisuf qabsoo dhoosun finiinsaa turan amma gammoojjii ho’aa Affaaritti geeffamuun bakka,firriif lammiin hin birmanneefitti akkanattiin akka ilmoo abbaa haadha hin qabneetti rifeensa mataasaanii irraa haadun dhaanichaan gidirfamaa jiraachun dhagahame !

Hubadhaa ! Kun waan garaa nama nyaatu, xiiqii nama qabsiisudha.
Isaan numalee, nuti isaan malee hin qabnu waan dandeessan godhaa !

The Woyanne junta claims that the 3000 shaved young Ethiopians shown in the photo below are street children, but according to Ethiopian Review sources, they are actually Oromo students who were rounded up from Addis Ababa University and other schools following the recent protests. The number of Oromo students who have been rounded up from Ambo and other towns and currently detained in concentration camps exceeds 30,000, witnesses say.

oromo demonstration in bergen against human rights violation in ethiopia...