In my stay in Jimma University for the past five years studying law and serving the students union in different levels for two years in extracurricular activity, I have been through the horrible human right abuse in Ethiopia in general and Oromiya in particular.
The trauma of the TPLF(Tigray peoples liberation front) led EPRDF government cruel and inhuman treatment of citizens dates back to its inception to power when they killed, torched, imprisoned and dismantled families under the guise of OLF (Oromo liberation front)supporters.
Then after the past 15 years TPLF followed the shot to hit and different methods of torching strategy to civilians raising the question of the right to self determination of Oromo people.
I remember the yearly students protest on this government just after it come to the power until this time but it is always boasting on its monopolised media about the extra judicial killings to families every time promising some more shot for more protest; accordingly TPLF led EPRDF government is responsible for the death ,causality and imprisonment of thousands of Oromo students and other nations in Ethiopia .To this end the TPLF house made party OPDO is serving as supporting hand to this cruel government act of murder and other inhuman acts for the past 15 years in Oromiya .
Almost all schools in Oromiya at all levels have experienced the bloody hand of TPLF government at different times and at some places every year.
On the protest of the decision to transfer the Oromiya capital from finfinne {Addis Ababa} to Adama alone; they have killed, imprisoned and dismantled thousands; a decision by which they regretted latter for a political benefit of getting the favour of the Oromo people in the post 2005 election. From Addis Ababa University alone more than 350 Oromo students were fired from school; letting other socio-economic, political and human crisis aside including the banning of Macha and Tulema Oromo self help association.
Oromo’s in different University of Ethiopia are facing serious challenges for being an Oromo alone ;killing, imprisonment ,torching ,refusing degree without due process of law and complete dismissal are some of the measure commonly taken every year until I left the university in July 2007 .
There is no academic spirit and freedom in universities for other nations too; even if it is not to the extent of Oromo students.
Forced membership in the hand made OPDO {Oromo people’s democratic organization} is hot issue now in almost all university hoping that will reduce the support of OLF from the students’ community. Denial will result in tag of OLF member which will come up with its own pack of inhuman treatment to the extent of death and lose of job after graduation is very common; which is very serious punishment in a country like Ethiopia.
The commissioned intelligence peoples in universities are increasing in alarming rate; having the power to take identity card and firing students from the campus to the extent of torching students at gun point in the campus.
They have evil strategy of creating a conflict between students of different nations hoping lack of unity in the student community will minimize the questions and pressures the students pose on the undemocratic government in one voice.
In the time of my presidency I have tried to expose the deceptive and cruel nature of this government to influential ambassadors and other human right organizations in Addis Ababa in different occasion’s. I have also condemned different unlawful acts of the government in different tactics including bold briefs to accountable organs.
In return I received very destructive messages and warning at gunpoint from securities more than 3 times while I was in Jimma, Awasa and Gondor universities for official purpose. After graduation; seeing no one is behind me, they started fierce persecution under the pretext of publishing Oromo graduation bulletin of 2007 (which is banned by the TPLF government) and my research paper entitled the right to secession in Ethiopia, the case of Oromiya( which exposed the realities they do not want to hear They call both the agendas of OLF, while it belongs to the Oromo people at large ).
But the whole tactic was to avoid my contribution in Ethiopian in general and Oromiya in particular. In fact that is impossible as I will go for it, even if it is not on the same way.
After this and other severe persecution of TPLF government I decided, to fight this government joining the Oromo liberation front (OLF) to bring the democratic option to the people of Oromo and other nation in Ethiopia as I have been denied the right to work on the idea I believe to my respective people in my country.
Lastly while I appreciate the US government initiation of revising its policy on Ethiopia and the horn; setting aside the honey covered poison of the EPRDF government act and propaganda, I call upon the African union, European union, the human right organizations and international media to have a concern for the harassment of Oromos and other nations of Ethiopia in the capital of the African union.
No matter how long the night is the day is sure to come!
Mr.Hunde Dhugassa /LL.B, LAW/ (the ex-president of Jimma University Students Union and Ethiopian Higher Learning Institutions Students Union)
November 9, 2007 |
