User:LencaOromo/sandbox

Rebuttal to Criticism of OLF
Criticism of the OLF and its ideology has been routinely countered by the organization and many Oromo intellectuals as being Ethiopian propaganda designed to delegitimize the movement.

Ethiopians, mainly from the Amhara ethnic group, have termed Oromo nationalism and self-awareness as counter to the Ethiopian state. As a result, Oromo people and organizations that associated themselves with Oromos were targeted as anti-unity and subject to oppression. The OLF was created as a defence against this type of targetted subjugation of the Oromo people.

On the issue of Ethiopian colonialism, it is noted that Emperor Menilik II officially formed the Ethiopian Empire in 1888 by declaring that all conquered land belonged to the Emperor. After doing so, the Emperor allocated Amhara landlords over the conquered southern lands (including Oromia). In this system, these landlords promoted the systematic suppression and destruction of all elements of Oromo culture while Amhara culture, language and religion was imposed on the conquered Oromo people.

On the issue of the Oromo leaders who aided Emperor Menelik II, The arguement by Ethiopians stating that Oromos were never colonized because some Oromo figures such as Gobana Dacche had aided Emperor Menelik II in his conquests hold no weight because these Oromo generals came from areas in northern Oromia that had been conquered decades before they were born. As such, they were assimilated into Amhara culture from birth. Also, the number of Ethiopianist Oromos is insignificant compared to the number of the Oromo population which had been conquered and colonized by Emperor Menelik.

The Somalia role is complex as on one hand you have Ogaden fighting for independence like Oromo. On the other hand, you have a radicalized opposition to Horn of Africa. In the middle of these groups were former dictator Saide Barre, who were Marxist in ideology but opportunists by nature. Saide Barre's objective was to dominate the Horn of Africa. In his quest, Saide Barre captured former OLF commanders Barisoo Wabee (Magarsaa Barii), Gadaa Gammadaa (Damisee Tacaanee), Abbaa Xiiqii (Abboomaa Mitikku), Dori Bari (Yigazu Banti), Falmataa /Umar/Caccabsaa, Faafam Dooyyoo, Irra’anaa Qacalee (Obbo Dhinsaa), Dhadacha Boroo, JDaddacha Muldhataa, and Marii Galaa Since Saide Barre and his followers had a deep hatred towards Oromo, he asked the captured which one of you are Christian and which are Muslim. The Muslim Oromo refused to differentiate themselves from fellow Oromo (OLF is Secular), as a result all were executed and thrown in a mass grave April 15, 1980. The day is now commemorated by Oromos as Guyyaa Goota Oromo/Oromo Hero's Day.

Many mainstream Ethiopian intellectuals despise the OLF since it has a strong connection with Oromo people. Most often, the EPRDF spends tens of millions of money to lobby foreign countries to put OLF on their terrorist list. Numerous countries have refused to list OLF on the Terrorist Tier I listing based on the right of any people to desire and fight for nationhood. Their campaign has included dispersing mis-information about OLF massacres and terror attacks. Many of the massacres blamed on the OLF listed are usually TPLF actions to maximize conflict between oppressed nations.

Anti-Oromo campaign reaches beyond Ethiopian boundaries by Amhara and Tigray alike. Oromo refugees in Djibouti, Kenya, Puntland and South Sudan have been deported back into Ethiopia and even put into labor camps. One such recent event was the deportation of UNHCR registered refugee, Tesfahun Chemeda, who was deported back to Ethiopia by Kenyan authorities in 2007 and later died in an Ethiopian prison on August 24, 2013.

In Yemen, Ethiopian agents are suspected in the December 20, 2008 murder of Oromo Refugee Association leader Mr Ahmed Ibrahim Rore The human rights report details violence towards Oromo refugees including rape. It also raises concerns over why UNHCR Yemen banned Oromo songs at Culture shows. Oromo in Yemen provided a letter detailing their suffering in Qubee

Recent research in the United States have corroborated claims of Ethiopian Abyssinians torture, rape and extrajudicial killing of mainly Oromo, Ogaden, Anuak, Sidama and many Non-Abyssinians Ethiopian Amhara and Tigray opposition have also been victims of torture. In Abyssinians attempts to counterattack their claims, OLF is often targeted as the cause of torture or that were rightfully victims. Similarly, Ogaden opposition ONLF is also blamed for torture and human rights violation by Ethiopian lobbyist, which has been counted by a letter from United States Senators to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi

Ebisa Adunya (circa 1970 – August 30 1996) was an Oromo musician, poet, singer-songwriter, Oromo nationalist, political activist and member of the Oromo Liberation Front. A distinguished Oromo singer, he devoted himself to the development of the Oromo identy during a time when many of the Oromo people were undergoing an identity-crisis. He is credited for promoting Oromo culture and music. He was a fierce Oromo nationalist and he fought in the Ethiopian Civil War alongside the Oromo Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Oromo Liberation Fron which was fighting for the self-determination of the Oromo people. Many of his songs were about the organization and the hope it presented for the Oromo people. In 1991, the Oromo Liberation Front, allied with the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, defeated the communist Derg regime but soon after, the two organizations fell out of each other's favours. By 1994, the Oromo Liberation Front had fallen back into the country-sides to wage a guerrilla war against the EPRDF. Ebisa Adunya, however, did not join the OLF and instead chose to stay in Addis Abeba, the capital city of Ethiopia. Nevertheless, he continued to wage a nonviolent resistance through his songs. In 1996, while he was at his home, a group of government soldiers knocked on his door asking him to come, saying it was for reasons regarding his job. Shortly after he let them in, he and his friend, Tana Wayessa, were shot and dragged on to government cars to be taken to the morgue. His death forever turned him into a martyr and a symbol of the struggle for independence of Oromia (the Oromo homeland).“I honor and salute those who paved the rough and bumpy trail, and transformed it into this smooth and less complicated one for us. These fearless and determined ... chose death over oppression and injustice against their people. They implanted pride in our hearts; they fought for us and taught us how to fight for others. They sacrificed their lives in order to free us,”

Early life
Ebisa Adunya was born in Dembidolo, southwest of the Western Wallaga region of Oromia. With two younger brothers and three sisters, Ebisa was the eldest son in his family. He was a very respected young person because of his talents in soccer and music. He attended Oliiqaa Dingil Primary School, Qellem High School, and then passed the national examination for Higher Education to attend a university

Bekele Gerba is an Oromo politician and English teacher at Addis Ababa University.

He was a stu­dent of PHD in Eng­lish at Addis Ababa Uni­ver­sity (AAU) where he later taught the subject. Born in 1962 in the Boji Bermeji local­ity in Wol­lega, he com­pleted his ele­men­tary and high school edu­ca­tion there. He worked as a healthcare worker in the Gedeo Zone of South Ethiopia until he was accepted into Addis Ababa University where he obtained BA and MA in Eng­lish language.

Bekele has been mar­ried for 21 years with Hanna Regassa. They have four chil­dren together. He started to par­tic­i­pate in pol­i­tics by join­ing the Oromo Fed­er­al­ist Demo­c­ra­tic Move­ment (OFDM) that was founded by the renowned Ethiopian banker Bulcha Demeksa. He is mem­ber of the Exec­u­tive Com­mit­tee (EC) of the party. He is also mem­ber of the EC of the umbrella orga­ni­za­tion Forum (Medrek). [1] [2]

He was arrested on charges of hav­ing link with Oromo Lib­er­a­tion Front, the party that was des­ig­nated ter­ror­ist by Ethiopian largely rub­ber stamp parliament.

Most believe he was arrested shortly after meet­ing the Amnesty Inter­na­tional del­e­ga­tion who was sub­se­quently ordered to leave the country. [3]

Deputy Chairman Bekele Gerba

Born 1962 Boji Bermeji, Ethiopia

Nationality Ethiopian

Ethnicity Oromo

Education Nejo High School, Addis Ababa University

Occupation English teacher

Employer Addis Ababa University

Home town Gida, Ethiopia

Title Deputy Chairman

Political party Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement

Opponent(s) Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front

Religion Christianity

Denomination Protestant

Criminal charge Inciting secessionist rebellion

Criminal penalty Eight years in prison; shortened to three years

Criminal status Imprisoned

Spouse(s) Hanna Regassa (since 1990)

Kaaf seena darbaan mirkaasuuf ummaani Oromoo maartii baraa 2006 Ameericaa jiraan waal gahii gafaa guyyaa 20/04/06 tahaaanin sagantolee addaa addaa qabachuun xummurameera. sagaantoleen gababbinnaa. 1.Baraa kanaa keessaa sagantaa bajaataan wal qabatee ittii gafaatammuma Dr.Mararaa Guddinaa fudhachuu isanii. 2.Sochhii filannooo dhufuuf qophii akkaa xummuramuuf Namooonnii Sadii ittii gafatumummaa akka fudhaataan(Jawwar,Milkisa.Useen) 3.Sochiile OPDOn qabattee sochootuu hunda kallattii hundaan akka tohannuuf oduu gahaa tahee karaaa adda addaan skip ,bilbilan,fasiibookiin fi k.k.k.f ordoofuu karaa biyyaa alaa Nim,ab.kuf,alex tahu ni malaa. 4.Ciminaa miseensaa keenyaaf kan biyyyaa ETIIYOPHIYA jiraanif kan kallaattii adda addaaf immoo beenyaan akkaa kanfalamuufi akkaa ojiin keenya alaa onnaachiisa taheen akka gageesamuuf kan biyyaa alaa fi keessaa harka tokkoon nii gageessinaeDETER (Nimoona Tufaa)

Baro Tumsa (1938-1978) was a pharmacist, lawyer and Oromo nationalist and political activist in Ethiopia. He was the younger brother of the famed Reverend Gudina Tumsa and was one of the Founding Congress of the Oromo Liberation Front.

Early Life
Baro was born in 1938 in the Wollega Region of Oromia. His parents died while he was still very young and so he was brought up by his elder brother, Gudina.

Education and Political Activism
Gudina encouraged Baro with his schooling and this eventually got him into Haile Selassie I University (now Addis Ababa University). From very early on, Baro immersed himself in student politics and was very attracted with the underground Oromo political movements of the time. In 1964, he became the