OromiaTimes

Baabura Warraaqsaa (Walaloo J/ Saartuu Oromoo)

2008-08-17T14:30:00.000+02:00

Baabura warraaqsaa

Baabura warraaqsaa yeroo dura ka'uu
Imaltuun hedduu dhaa kan waliin bobba'uu

Xawalwaalle fi gantuun bakka hin gayanii
Buufata adda addaatti keessaa utaalanii

Ammallee hedduu dhaa kan karaa yaabbatuu
Kan haqaa fi baaxil baree addaan baafatuu

Baaburri warraaqsaa takkallee hin boqatuu
Dirree bilisummaatii bakki itti dhaabbatuu

Baaburri warraaqsaa kan ittiin sossoohuu
Dhiigaa lafee malee boba'aan hin tahuu

Dhiigaa lafee jannaan yoom kan beeyladaatii
Kan isa sossoosuu dhiiga ilma namaatii

Dhiigaa lafee isaa kan fedhiin dhiheessuu
Sabboonaa Oromoo kan gabrummaa dheeysuu

Baabura warraaqsaa ABOtu oofaa
Kan isa yaabbatan sabboonoota qofaa

Kutataa ilma Oromoo gargaartuun WBOdhaa
Imaltootni isaa Oromoo bal'aa dhaa

Wayyaa baabura koo akka itti shubbisuu
Gantuu taatu malee sabboonaa hin kuffisuu

Oofi shufeera koo ati fayyaa dayii
Xiichi baabura kee bakkumaan na gayii

Hanga bakka geessuu hin dhaabbatin atii
Dheebuudhaa natti jiraa kan bilisummaatii

Dhaaba koo ABO jajjabaadhu ammallee
Gadoodaan hin fayyu bakka gayu malee

IUOf
GGBti

Saartuu Oromoo

Oromo Peace Rally in Australia: Pictorial Report

2008-07-30T19:30:00.001+02:00

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2008-07-01T20:56:00.000+02:00

2008-05-25T15:19:00.000+02:00

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2008-04-21T23:45:00.001+02:00

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Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo Bara 2008 Ilaalchisuun Ibsa Adda Bilisumma Oromoo

2008-04-13T11:39:00.000+02:00

Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo Bara 2008 Ilaalchisuun Ibsa Adda Bilisumma Oromoo

Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo fi ummata Oromoo biratti Ebla 15 Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo itti yaadatamuu dha. Guyyaan kun guyyaa ilmaan Oromoo qaroo fi muratoo ta’an, fedhii fi sadoo jireenyaa isaanii dhiisuun, bilisummaa saba isaaniif jecha lubbuu isaanii jijjiirraa hin qabne itti wareegan itti yaadaannuu fi kabajnuu dha. Guyyaa kana yeroo yaadannuu kaayyoo goototni keenya irratti wareegaman kan tokkummaa qabsaa’ota Oromoo fi ummata Oromoo galmaan gahuuf waadaa ykn irbuu seenne itti haaromsina.

Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo Ebla 15 kan bara 2008 yeroo kabajnu gaaffiilee eessaa kaane, eessa geenyee jirra, qabsoon bilisummaa Oromoo sadarkaa akkamii irra gahe, haalli diina keenyaa akkami, kan uummata Oromoo hoo maal irra jira, kaayyoo haqaa qabsaa’otaa fi ummati Oromoo irratti wareegaman bakkaan gahuuf maaltu nu irraa eegama jedhuu fi kan biroos kaafnee wal hubachiisuun barbaachisaa dha.

Eenyummaa uummata Oromoo haalame dhugoomsuuf, seena fi aadaa Oromoo awwaalame boollaa baasuuf, Afaan Oromoo dhabama irraa hambisuuf, walumaa gala bilisummaa uummata Oromoo mirkaneessuuf jecha sochii adeemsifamaa turee fi jiru keessatti wareegama ulfaataatu itti bahe. Wareegamni kunis lafatti hin hafne. Milkiilee gurguddoo argamsiiseera. Mirga ummata Oromo guutuutti harkatti galfachuuf ammoo amma illee qabsoo guddaatu nu hafata.

Diinni QBO laaffisuuf, ABO dadhabsiisuuf, ummata Oromoo hamilee cabsuuf sochii wal irraa hin citne gaggeessaa har’a gahe. Haa tahu malee Qabsoo ummatni Oromoo cichoominaan godhaa jiru mootummaan kun rifaatuu keessaa akka hin baane isa taasesee jira. Bir’aa fi sodaan alatti fedhii bara baraan saamaa jiraachuuf qabu dhugoomfachuufis Wayyaanee horii guddaa dhangalaasuun qabsoo ummata Oromoo irratti shira raawwatuu irratti argama. Akeeka kiyya bakkaan naaf gahu abjuu jedhuunis gurmuu qabsaawotaa, deggertootaa fi ummata keenyaa laaffisuu irratti akka hojjataniif lukkeelee biyya keessaa fi alatti bobbaasee jira. Waan taheef didhaan keessaa fi alaa qabsoo keenya dura jiru wal xaxaa fi ulfaataa dha. Kana cabsinee injifannoon keessa bahuuf hifannoo tokko malee kaayyoo keenyatti cichuun qabsaa’uu gaafata.

Tokkummaa ummataa fi qabsaawotaa kan dhiigaa fi lafee gootota kuma hedduun mirkanaawe diiguuf diinni yeroo kam illee caalaatti duula bal’aa geggeessaa jira. Ummatni keenya akka wal shakku, bir’aan isa gidduutti uumamu godhuuf ganda, naannoo fi gosaan qooduuf guddoo tattaafata. Hamilee ummata keenyaa cabsuuf hidhaa, doorsisa, ajjechaa fi saamicha qabeenyaa daanga hin qabne irratti adeemsisa. Oromoo tahuu qofti yakka tahee manneen hidhaa ilmaan Oromoo sabboonoo tahaniin guutamee jira. Tarkaanfiin diinaan fudhatamaa jiru kun Wayyaaneen qabsoo bilisummaa Oromoo hagam akka sodaatu mirkaneessa.

Miseensoti ABO fi ummatni Oromoo garuu waadaa gootota Oromoof galan ogguu yaadachuun shiraa fi duula diinaa dura dhaabbachuun fashalsiisuu irratti argamu. Ummatni keenya hidhaa fi ajjeechaa diinaaf jilbaanfatee qabsoo irraa of duuba hin deebine. Barattooti Oromoo gabatee barnootaa irraa arihamuu sodataanii, hojii dhorkatamuu isaaniitti rifatanii qabsoo bilisummaa ummata isaanii hin laaffifne. WBO duula gurguddaa diinni karaa hedduu itti bobbaasuu of irraa deebisuu duwwaa osoo hin taane diina bakka isaaf him malletti argamu qaanessuu irratti argama. Gabaabatti fuula hundaan shiraa fi dabni ABO tii fi QBO irratti diinni xaxaa fi hojjataa jiru galma isaa irraa hanqifamaa jira. Qabsoon keenya qabsoo haqaa waan taheef hammeenyi diinaa yoo nu gufachiise malee akeeka keenyaa irraa nu gatuu gonkumaa hin danda’u. Bilisummaa keenya mirkaneessuuf wareegamni kaffallee fi kaffalaa jiruu haga guyyaa bilisummaan keenya mirkanaawutti addaan hin dhaabbatu. Ummata keenyaatti kabajaa fi ulfina kan horee fi horaa jiru wareegama gootota keenyaa waan taheef, kajabaa fi ulfinni bara baraa kan gootowwan wareegamtoota keenyaa haa tahu jenna.

Qaanqee qabsoo bilisummaa gootowwan Oromoo wareegaman facaasan har’a goleele Oromiyaa mara keessatti murnoota hawaasaa Oromoo hundaa dhaqabee finiinee sadarkaa olaanaa irratti argama. Miseensoti ABO fi ummatni Oromoo bal’aan kaayyoo gootowwan keenya irratti kufan galmaan gahuuf qabsoo bilisummaa finiinsuudhaan sadarkaa kanaan gahanis kabajaa fi galata guddaa qabu.

Har’a mootummaan Wayyaanee muddamsuu guddaa keessa jira. Ummata Oromoo hidhuu, dararuu, ukkaamsee dhabamsiisuu fi doorsisuun qabeenya isaa bifa adda addaan saamee hiyyoomsuu fi gadadchuun hamilee isaa cabsuu dadhabuun guddaa isa yaadessuun hin falamsiisu. Mormiin ummatootaa, qabsoon hidhannoo cunqurfamootaa finiinaa dhufuun ammoo yaaddoo irratti yaaddoo itti dabale. Lolli biyya ollaa Somaliyaa keessattii bane akka yaade salphaa tahuu didee guyyaa guyyaan lubbuu loltoota isaa galaafataa jira. Ummata Oromoo fi ummatoota ollaa walitti buusuun lubbuu bittaa isaa dheereffachuf shirri raawwatus waan irratti dammaqamaa dhufeef akka barbaadetti tahaafii hin jiru. Ummata Oromoo hin jilbeenfadhu jechuun qabsoo isaa finiinsaa jiru sossobatee of jala hiriirsuuf tattaafatuun ammoo tooftaa gowwoomsaa Wayyaanee kan biraa ti. Ummata hawwachuufis sababa adda addaan olii hanga gadiitti badhaasa qoodaa jira. Kun hundi sodaa qabsoo bilisummaa Oromoo fi sochii bilisummaa biyyicha keessa irraa ti. Diinni ummata Oromoo kan sodaatuuf haala kamuu jalatti qabsoo isaa waan jabeesseefi. Ummatni goota hin qabne hin sodaatamu, hin kabajamu. Gootni lubbuu isaa wareegee ummataa isaatti kabajaa hora. Kabajaa fi ulfinni gootota Oromoof bara baraan haa tahu kan jennus kana irraa kaanee ti.

Yaa ummata Oromoo!!

Murni Wayyaanee Tigiraay si sodaata, qabeenyaa keetti hinaafa. Sochii bilisummaa ati gootu akka qara eebootti sodaata. Mirga kee dhuunfachuu jechuun du’a isaa akka tahu diinni bareechee beeka. Kana hanqisuuf shira adda adda xaxuu irraatti argama. Diina akka ummataatti nu diineffatee lafa irraa nu haxaa’uu barbaadu jala guyyaa tokko illee buluu caalaatti salfachiisaan hin jiru. Kanaaf:

* Ummati Oromoo kana hubattee QBO kee daran akka finiinsitu waamicha keenya haaromsina.

* Bilisummaan wareegama malee hin argamu waan ta’eef wareegama barbaachisu baafnee kaayyoo gootowwan Oromoo wareegamaniif bakkaan gahuuf harka wal qabannee qabsoo haa finiinsinu.

* Injifannooleen haga ammaatti galmeeffaman tokkummaan waan qabsoofneef tahuun mamii hin qabu. Kanaaf shira olaanaa yeroo ammaa diinni tokkummaa keenya diiguuf xaxaa jiru cabsuuf hogganooti, miseensoti fi deggertooti ABO akkasumas ummatni Oromoo harka akka wal qabattan dhaamsa dabarsina.

* Tokkoon tokkoo dhala Oromoo qabsoo bilisummaa sabaa deemaa jiru keessatti qooda maaliin kenne jedhee of gaafachuu qaba. Yeroon gochaa keenya sirreessuu qabnus ammuma.

* Ilmaan Oromoo sababa adda addaatiif mootummaa Wayyaaneef hojjachuun qabsoo bilisummaa ummata keessanii dura dhaabbataa jirtan, gochaa keessan gilgaaluun osoo yeroon hin dabarre hiriira qabsaawota akka seentan dhaamsa dabarsina.

* ·Tokkummaa Oromoo dhiiga gootowwan Oromoon mirkanaawe tiksuu fi daran jabeessuun, humnoota tokkummaa Oromoo sharafuuf dhama’an dammaqinaan akka of irraa eegnu hiree kanaan hubachiifna.

* Mirgoota wareegama gootowwan Oromoon galmeeffaman tikfachaa kan nu hafan harkaan gahachuuf uummati Oromoo hirmaannaa isaa dachaan akka dabalu waamicha goona.

* Beektoti Oromoo, kaa’imman, dubartootaa fi murnooti hawaasa Oromoo hundi bilisummaa Oromoo dhugoomsuuf qooda isaan irraa eegamu akka bahan dhaamsa dabarsina.

Guyyaa Gootoota Oromoo Ebla 15, 2008 yeroo yaadannu kaayyoo gootowwan Oromoo irratti kufan galmaan gahuuf waadaa keenya irra deebinee haaromsina. Diina qe’ee keenyatti dhufee nu ajjeesaa, qabeenya keenyaa saamaa fi nu xiqqeessaa jiru of irraa kaasuuf kakuu keenya haaromsinee sochii keenya dachaa dachaan haa guddifnu. Diini nurra turuu fi gadadoon nutti jabaachuuf kan komannu mataa keenya malee kan biraa tahuu hin danda’u. Wareegama bilisummaan gaafatu baafnee of bilisoomsuu malee humni biraa bilisa nu baasu akka hin jirres haa hubannu. .

Kaayyoo gootowwan wareegamanii bakkaan ni geenya!
Wareegamtooti keenya bara baraan ni yaadatamu!

IUOf!
GGB ti!!

Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo
Ebla 15, 2007

Walaloo J/ Taayyee Tafarraaf barreeffame fi Teessoo awwaalcha J/ Taayyee

2008-04-11T03:49:00.001+02:00

Magan du'a badduu tan namaaf hin naanee
Tan nasuun isii dhaa nama dhoostu onnee
Tan beekaa wallaalaa adaan hin laallannee
Tan gootaa fi luyna gargar hin baafannee
Murtiin du'aa du'a waan biraa hin qabduu
Irraa maganfannaa magan du'a badduu
Duuti walii lamaa tan Taayyee tun addaa
Onnee teenya waaddee akkuma ibiddaa
Hamilee nu tuqee garaa nu booreesse
Duuti sabboontichaa mataa nu naanneesse
Gaddaan gaggeesinaa kan garaan nu booyuu
Taayyee sabboonticha jaalataa namayyuu
Nu harkaa milqee akkuma tasaattii
Sabboonaa Oromoo Taayyee Tafarraatii
Tasa hin jijjiiramuu gunkumaa fuulli isaa
Irraa calaqqisa sabboonummaa isaa
Dhugumaa jaalata Taayyeen saba isaa
Bilisummaa ture galiin kaayyoo isaa
Hedduu itti jajartee duuti afaan baatee
Bilsummaa hawwuuf osoo hin arkin kutee
Ol'aanaa jannataa Waaqni haa kennuufii
Obsaa fi jabina firaa maatii isaafi
Saba koo Oromoo jabaadhaa maal goonaa
Waljajjabeesinaa walmalee maalqabnaa
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Saartuu Oromoo

Walaloon kun J/ Saartuu Oromoo irraa Yaadannoo J/ Taayyee Tafarraaf barreeffame. J/ Taayyee Tafarraa guyyaa boruu Magaala Berlin tti awwaalamu. Bakki awwaalchaa eessa akka ta'e namootii baruu barbaadaniif:

Teessoo bakka awwaalchaa

Dankes-Nazareth-Friedhof

Blankestr. 12,
13403 Berlin-Reinickendorf

U-Bahnhof (U6) Kurt-Schumacher-Platz
Buslinie 122 (Kögelstr.)
125,128 (Gotthardstr.)

awwaalcha boodaa bakki manni qabame

Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche,
Zossener Str. 65
10961 Berlin

U-BHF (U6) Hallesches Tor

Hiermit teilen wir allen Freunden, Bekannten und Kollegen mit, dass wir Taye Teferra, am 12. April 2008 zur letzten Ruhestätte auf dem Dankes-Nazareth-Friedhof, Blankestr. 12,
13403 Berlin-Reinickendorf, geleiten werden.

Um 10.00 Uhr kann in der Kapelle von Taye Abschied genommen werden.
Um 11.00 Uhr findet dann die feierliche Beisetzung statt.

U-Bahnhof (U6) Kurt-Schumacher-Platz
Buslinie 122 (Kögelstr.)
125,128 (Gotthardstr.)

Nach der Beisetzung findet die Trauerfeier in der Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche,
Zossener Str. 65 /Ecke Blücherstr.
10961 Berlin statt.

U-BHF (U6) Hallesches Tor

Für Diejenigen, die mit den öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln angereist sind steht ein Transport shuttle-bus zur Verfügung.

Qabsaawaan ni kufa, Qabsoon itti fufa!

Joint Statement of OLF and SLF on TPLF Instigated Clashes Between the Oromo and the Sidama People

2008-04-11T03:34:00.001+02:00

Joint Statement by Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Sidama Liberation Front (SLF)

The Wayane/TPLF Instigated Clashes between the Oromo and the Sidama Peoples

Once again the EPRDF/TPLF regime has succeeded in instigating armed clashes between Oromo and Sidama peoples, in and around Wando Genet town. This malicious deed of the TPLF/EPRDF regime resulted in days of violence that claimed the lives of more than 40 people as a result of fighting that went on from April 2, 2008 to April 7, 2008. The clashes caused the death of thousands of people, destruction of large amounts of properties and displacement of thousands of people. The Oromo Liberation Front and the Sidama Liberation Front strongly condemn this heinous act of the TPLF/EPRDF regime.

Ever since it came to power, the TPLF/EPRDF regime has applied the outdated divide and rule tactics to weaken peoples’ national struggles for freedom and justice and sow seeds of disharmony among friendly neighboring oppressed peoples. The TPLF regime’s track record of the past 17 years of tyrannical rule is full of such evil intrigues that instigated bloody conflicts among peoples in Ethiopia. Due to TPLF’s machinations Oromo and Sidama, Oromo and Somali, Oromo and Gedao, Anywak and Nuer, Oromo and Oromo, etc has clashed, as a result of which thousands of lives were lost, enormous amounts of properties were destroyed and tens of thousands were displaced. Behind all the conflicts among peoples in Ethiopia there is always the EPRDF/ TPLF regime’s hand. We have great fear that all these TPLF’s mischievous deeds might have sowed distrust and suspicion among peoples who lived peacefully for many years as neighbors.

All along these years, the OLF and SLF have been issuing warnings to all the peoples in Ethiopia in general and to the Oromo and Sidama peoples in particular to be cautious and not to fall into the trap of TPLF instigated ethnic conflict. It is sad that contrary to our early warnings, the two friendly peoples have now clashed and lives and properties were lost. We have no doubt that the TPLF regime will continue to foment similar conflicts among the peoples in Ethiopia. Therefore, all the people in Ethiopia need to be always vigilant and work together to foil future similar wicked acts of the regime.

The TPLF regime is the source of all instability and violence in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. A regime that purposefully disturbs the peaceful and friendly relationship among peoples it claims to “govern” impedes development and progress. Economic growth and development need peace and stability. The TPLF regime has proved beyond reasonable doubt that it is anti people, democracy, peace and progress. For democracy, the rule of law, justice, peace and progress to prevail, the TPLF/EPRDF regime should be removed from power by the joint struggle of all democratic, progressive and peace loving organizations and individuals. All traps and machinations of the TPLF regime should be foiled and defused by the active resistance of all the peoples in Ethiopia.

Finally, the OLF and SLF vehemently condemn the cruel act of the TPLF regime that resulted in armed conflict between Oromo and Sidama peoples. Again we forewarn the brotherly peoples of Oromo and Sidama in particular and all the peoples in Ethiopia in general to unite and work together against the TPLF regime’s evil regime and its unabated machinations.

We call upon the international community and governments to exert all necessary pressures on the TPLF regime to stop from its inhuman and destructive activities.

Long Live the Struggle of Oppressed Peoples

OLF and SLF

April 10, 2008

INVITATION TO A SEMINAR AND OROMO CULTURAL EVENING (Frankfurt, Germany)

2008-04-07T18:14:00.001+02:00

The Oromo Liberation Front, Europe Chapter, cordially invites all interested individuals and groups to a seminar on “ The Quest for Democracy, Peace and Sustainable Development in the Horn of Africa ”.

Liberation movements, political analysts, scholars and civic organisation have confirmed to contribute their views on this seminar to be held on 11^th of may 2008 in Frankfurt; Germany.

Dinner and cultural entertainments by famous Oromo Artists of Gada Band, like Muktar Usman, Hirpha Ganfure, Ababa Abbashuu, Tottobaa Tadassaa and Habtamuu Iyyataa will take you through the night.

Schedule of the Seminar:

Time Title Speakers

9:00-9:10 Registration The Organising committee

9:10-9:20 Blessing Ceremony Oromo elders

9:25-9:35 Opening Speech Chairperson

9:35-10:05 On the Current political affairs of Ethiopia OLF representative

10:05-10:35 on the current political affairs of Ethiopia ONLF representative

10:35:11:05 On the Current political affairs of Ethiopia SLF representative

11:05-11:20 coffee break

11:20:11:55 Information on Darfur Mr. Zakarias Mohammed

11:55-12:15 Discussion

12:15-12:45 The Struggle for Self-determination in the Ethiopian

Empire and the challenges facing Peace and Stability

in the Horn of Africa Mr. Günter Schröder

12:45:13:20 The Global Trend and the Political Development

in the Horn of Africa Dr. Alemayehu Biru

13:20-14:00 Lunch break

14:00-14:45 Human Rights Violations in Ethiopia Dr. Trevor Trueman from

OSG and

Mrs. Angelika Spiekermann from OMHRO

14:45-15:30 Cultural Ecological Ethics of the Oromo Nation:

Sustainability jeopardized in the Ethiopian Empire Dr. Darajje Dhugaasa

15:30-15:45 Coffee break

15:45-16:15 The Multi-Dimensional Contribution of the Oromo Women in the

Struggle for Freedom, Democracy and Sustainable Development Kulani Guddina

16:15-16:40 The Reality about the Ethiopian Parliament Dr.Getachew Jigii, ex-MP

16:40-17:00 Discussion

17:00-17:20 Messages from Oromo Civic Organisations

17:20-17:55 General Discussion

17:55-18:00 Closing Ceremony

18:00 –19:00 Oromo Youth Forum

20:00- to the next day 6:00 Cultural Festival

Info about the address and how to get there:-

Address of the Seminar Hall:- Haus der Jugend, Deutschherrnufer 12, 60594 Frankfurt

Travelling by public transport:- take the tram 16 in the direction of "Offenbach Stadtgrenze" to stop "Lokalbahnhof". The tram station is right in front of the main exit It is approx. a 20-minute ride. In the Dreieichstraße go in a northerly direction to the river Main. Take a left turn into the street "Deutschherrnufer". After approx. 100 m, you will reach the Youth-Hostel which is situated on the left hand.

The Famine in Oromia: the Dry Season is Not the Only Culprit (OLF Statement)

2008-04-06T08:52:00.001+02:00

The Famine in Oromia: the Dry Season is Not the Only Culprit

Statement of the Oromo Liberation Front

The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) is prompted to issue this statement in response to the statement by the UN's News release, dated March 28, 2008. The News Release reports, among others, that, "The deteriorating situation with regard to human health, food security, livelihoods, and livestock health, initially reported in Borne zone has spread to Bale, East Hararge, Guji and Liben zones of Oromia Region. Poorly performing rains for upcoming rainy season forecast by National Meteorological Agency are likely to exacerbate the exiting situation in lowland agropastoral areas of Oromia Region." The report predicts that, "An estimated 88, 000 people in affected woredas [districts] in Borana zone require emergency assistance from government, humanitarian partners and UN agencies." The News Release also warns of similar "emergence of hotspots in the SNNPR."

The OLF applauds the UN’s news release for bringing to the attention of the World Community the grim situation that Oromo people are facing at this difficult time and for calling for emergency assistance for those affected in Oromia and other parts of Ethiopia. The OLF leadership believes that no responsibility is greater and no calling nobler than saving the lives of our pastoralists and farmers who are victimized by forces beyond their control.

At the same time, the OLF would like to point out that the cause that the UN Report gives to the calamitous situation of the Oromo people as "poorly performing rain” is only a part of the truth. The other part of the truth is bad governance of the Ethiopian regime, which has made the lives of the Oromo truly miserable. What is more, the current Ethiopian regime, which is dominated by the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), follows discriminatory and lopsided economic development policy in Oromia and other regional states in southern Ethiopia.

It is imperative to remember that since the Meles regime came to power in 1991″the effects of the dry season", the usual cause for famine in Ethiopia has shifted from Northern Ethiopia, in general, and Tigrai, in particular, to the Southern Ethiopia, in general, and Oromia, in particular. The Tigrai region, the home base of the Meles and the regime's ruling elites, that used to be known for drought and famine for several decades, is now boasting for unheard of all round economic progress. These days there are no warnings of famine concerning Tigrai. It is good news that Tigrai economy is progressing and the people of Tigrai are no longer subjected to starvation like the Oromo.

At this point it is pertinent to ask why Oromia is starving while Tigrai is prospering? Since the creation of the modern Ethiopian empire in the 1880s Oromia has been known as the breadbasket of Ethiopia. More than sixty percent of Ethiopian government revenue comes from Oromia. Most of Ethiopian cash crops come from Oromia. Oromia, the Oromo regional state, is the most fertile part of Ethiopia, which enjoys abundant rainfall and has numerous rivers and lakes. With its hardworking farmers and abundant animal population Oromia always prided itself not only on its self-sufficiency in food production, but also produced surplus for the rest of Ethiopia and for international market.

Why is the same land now starving and needs humanitarian assistance of food? The answer is very clear. The root cause of the famine in Oromia is the TPLF regime’s policy towards Oromo people. Because the Oromo constitute almost forty-five percent of the population of Ethiopia, the TPLF, which represents less than seven percent of the population of Ethiopia, fears Oromo numerical strength. As a result the TPLF dominated Ethiopian regime follows the policies of destroying all independent Oromo organizations and impoverishing the Oromo people.

How does the TPLF regime impoverish the Oromo people? The regime follows well documented discriminatory economic policies. It provides disproportionate and unfair budget allocation to Oromia. It is this regime that has classified the educated and the entrepreneurial classes of the Oromo as enemies of its ‘revolutionary democracy’ ideology. What is more, the regime has imposed gross human rights violations in Oromia, which forced tens of thousands of Oromo farmers to seek refuge in the neighboring countries in the Horn of Africa and beyond. Since it came to power in 1991, the current Ethiopian regime has dispossessed, displaced, and disenfranchised tens of thousands of the Oromo people, which is the real root cause for the underdevelopment and starvation in Oromia
today.

As if its gross human rights violations in Oromia are not enough, the irresponsible and myopic TPLF regime has been engaged in an intentional deforestation of Oromia since it came to power. On the pretext of flushing out the OLF guerrilla fighters, the current Ethiopian authorities, intentionally set fire to Oromia's natural forest that is a cause for the fast degradation of Oromia’s ecological system. It is worthy of note that the most recent intentionally set fire to Oromia’s natural forest is that of the Shakiso forest of Bale zone destroying huge forests.

The OLF would like the UN and the world community to know that the TPLF regime is punishing the Oromo people for demanding their fundamental human rights. The regime deprived the supply of fertilizer to Oromo farmers for their alleged support of the OLF. It was with the intention of depriving the Oromo people a relief and development assistance that the TPLF regime banned the Oromo Relief Association (ORA) from legally functioning in the country.

The regime also illegally confiscated ORA's assets and properties, including a ready for distribution relief and humanitarian aid. The TPLF regime has either withheld the humanitarian and development assistance provided by the Western World from the Oromo people or diverted it to the Tigrai region or used it for a provision of its armed and security forces.

Therefore, the OLF calls on the UN and other humanitarian agencies to directly help the needy Oromo and other people in Ethiopia. We also request that the UN and other humanitarian agencies make sure that the humanitarian aid that they provide reaches the needy people. The TPLF regime is totally discredited to be entrusted with the task of distributing humanitarian aid.

The OLF would like the UN and the world community to know that so long as the tyrannical regime of Meles Zenawi is in power, the World Community would continue to hear more alarming reports about the famine in Oromia and other parts of Ethiopia. What will end famine and gross human rights violations in Ethiopia will be the replacement of the current regime by a government that does not discriminate among its citizens, a government that does not pursue discriminatory economic development policies, a government that is accountable to the people, a government that honors the rule of law and human rights.

Finally, the Oromo people are struggling for their freedom and basic democratic rights- to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. We call upon the Western World and all concerned governments and organizations to impress upon the Ethiopian government to immediately stop its gross human rights violations in Oromia and other parts of Ethiopia and to end without delay its discriminatory economic development policies, which are the main cause of famine in Oromia.

Victory to the Oromo People!

Daawud Ibsaa
Chairman, National Council of the OLF

Ethiopia and the United States: A loveless liaison

2008-04-04T19:54:00.001+02:00

America and Ethiopia need each other, but their needs are not equal

Ethiopia and the United States

A loveless liaison

Apr 3rd 2008 | ADDIS ABABA
From The Economist print edition

THE alliance between the United States and Ethiopia was born of pragmatism. In another time, they might have been enemies. Ethiopians do not like American soldiers tramping on their soil. Americans dislike Ethiopia's bad human-rights record. Local elections due this month are a case in point. Ethiopia's opposition, emasculated by the long imprisonment of its leaders (most of whom were pardoned last year) and weakened by its own divisions, will almost certainly be crushed in an unfair contest. “It's going to be a stitch-up,” says a Western diplomat. “Control is what this government is all about.”

America jealously guards information about its more discreet military activities in Ethiopia, while advertising its soldiers' do-gooding: digging wells, vaccinating animals and so on. Officially, it contributes only a sliver of Ethiopia's $300m defence budget. Unofficially, it may have helped pay for the rising costs of Ethiopia's army, one of Africa's largest. Some say America has a secret base in eastern Ethiopia to move CIA, special forces and “friendlies” into next-door Somalia; America says not.

What is certain is that the closest military ties between the two countries involve Somalia, which America fears may have already become an incubator of Islamist terrorism. That is why America backed Ethiopia's invasion of Somalia at the end of 2006. Its own air raids on supposed terrorist targets in Somalia have relied on Ethiopian intelligence, though nearly all appear to have missed. American officials praise the Ethiopian troops who are still in Mogadishu, Somalia's battered capital, as peacekeepers; most Somalis see them as occupiers.

Leftist hardliners in Ethiopia's government think that its prime minister, Meles Zenawi, is doing the Bush administration's bidding. That is not how the Americans portray it. Regardless of Mr Zenawi, who must answer to his party's central committee and is anyway due to step down in 2010, the Pentagon wants to make Ethiopia a bulwark in a region where Somalia is a dangerously failed state, Sudan and Eritrea are pariahs and Kenya has troubles of its own. Ethiopia has other selling points. The African Union is based there. Its ancient Christian history stirs American evangelicals. Its poverty and population (at 80m, Africa's third-largest) attract development-minded foreigners.

But Ethiopia is too poor to be rated an A-list client state. Even American hawks admit that selling guns to one of the planet's hungriest countries, the “cradle of humanity” to boot, would look bad. America says the little it gives Ethiopia's forces is “non-lethal”: boots, night-vision goggles, medical kits and so forth. It would like to do more to train Ethiopian troops for peacekeeping work. A measure of America's realism is the way it has allowed Ethiopia to buy arms from North Korea.

So differences remain. Many in Ethiopia's 1.2m-strong diaspora in the United States have lobbied their congressional representatives to condemn Mr Zenawi's government as tyrannical. A bill passed by the House of Representatives last year called for curbs on aid to Ethiopia, but is unlikely to be passed by the Senate. Yet it points to a division between those in Washington (mainly Republicans) wanting to reward Ethiopia for fighting terrorism in Somalia and those (mainly Democrats) wishing to punish it for its human-rights abuses at home.

Ethiopia, for its part, had hoped for stronger support from America over its border dispute with Eritrea. It wants the administration to list two Ethiopian separatist groups, the Ogaden National Liberation Front and the Oromo Liberation Front, as terrorists. America is reluctant. The process is complex; it has taken a long time to complete listing the Shabab, a Somali jihadist group. The Ogaden and Oromo fronts will go on fund-raising among their supporters in America, just as the Irish Republican Army once did.

Aid from European Union countries will probably keep flowing, however patent Ethiopia's human-rights violations. China will invest more. But Ethiopia's luck may run out. After several years of good harvests, a famine may set in this year. With 8m of its people likely to depend on food aid, much of it paid for by the Americans, Ethiopia still needs America a lot more than America needs it.

Yaadannoo Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo (Magaala Bern, Switzerland)

2008-04-04T19:38:00.001+02:00

Yaadannoo Guyyaa Gootota Oromoo
Bakka: Haus der Religionen, Schwarztorstr. 120, Bern, Switzerland
Guyyaa fi yeroo: Ebla 12 2088; sa'a 14:00 - 17:00 CET

Oromootnni fi firoonni Oromoo hundduu sagantaa kanarratti akka argamtan isin affeerra!

Waamicha Guyyaa Yaadannoo Gootota Oromoo (Washington DC)

2008-04-04T19:28:00.001+02:00

Dhaamssa Naaf Dabarssi! (Walaloo Aaddee Meetii Kiyyaa)

2008-04-03T16:32:00.001+02:00

Dhaamsa Naaf Dabarsi!

Eenyuun akka taatan wal gaggaafattanii

Dhiiga tokko ta’uu keessan hubattanii

Dhugaan akka hawwaalamte waliin agartanii

Waanjoo gabroomfattuu baachuu jibbitanii

Kaayyoo keessan sana waliif hubattanii

Yaada tokkoon ka’uuf waliif kakattanii

Haqa keenya haa barbaadnu!jettanii kaatanii

"Yoo hin bilisoomnus ta’e haa duunu!" jettanii

Murtee isa kan Gootaa waliin murteeffattanii

Jiruu fi jireenya keessan duubatti dhiistanii

Lubbuu keessan qaalii osoo jaallattanii

Walii galtee tokkoon qabsoof bobbaatanii

Bu’aa bahii baayyi’ee keessa dabartanii

Beela’aa dheebochaa heddu dhamaatanii

Akka carraa taanaan diina harka buutanii?

Nuti dhiigaan tokko adda hin baanu!jettanii

"Kan manaa nu baases dhiigichuma!" Jettanii

Gaaffiin inni kan biraa booda irraan jettanii

Fakkeenya seena qabeessa egereef keessanii

Waadaa waliif galtan guutummaatti eegdanii

Wayyoo anaa nyaatuu! jaallan koo dhumtanii?

Waadaa keessan eeguun wal boraafattanii?

Kan qananii haa taatu ekeraan keessani!

Ammas haa dhalatu Gootni akka keessanii!

Maaloo ya Simbirroo mee koottu barrisii

Waantan sitti himadhu sirriin na caqasii

Jaallan keenyaa sanaaf dhaamsa naaf dabarsi

Kan qab-saa’aa kufan mara naaf dubbisi

Bakka itti kufan maratti Daraaraa facaasi

Iddoo dhiiga isaanii irra marga jiidhaa buusi

Kabajan isaaniif qabu haalaan hubachiisi

Guddina qabsichaas sirriitti itti odeessi

Bu’aa dhiiga isaanii ta’uu isaa yaadachiisi.

Warra lubbuun jiran bira hoo naaf deemtaa?

Manguddoota kenyaaf galata geessitaa?

"Umirii dheeradhaa!" jettee itti naaf dhaamtaa?

Bilisummaa hawwitan ijaan argaa! jettaa?

Bakka mana hidhaa sana hoo naaf deemtaa?

Firan arguuf yaadu dhaqxee naaf dubbistaa?

Haala keessa jiran sirriin naaf hubattaa?

kan jiraa dhabaman bakka jiran beektaa?

Karaa isaan darban beektee faana dhooftaa?

Iddoo itti dhoksaman ol lixxee gaafattaa?

"Isin waliin jirraa jabaadhaa!" ittiin jettaa?

Qab-saahota hundumaa barbaaddee argitaa ?

Bakka jiran maratti naaf jajjabeessitaa ?

"Wal arguudhaaf jirra!" jettee abdachiistaa?

Egaa si hin tursiisu karaa fagoo adeemtaa

Gootichaa fi Gootittii arguudhaaf hawwitaa

Kanumaaf garaan koo haalaan si jaallataa

Beenu jajjabduu koo atuu itti beektaa

Dhaamsa isaan biraas deebitee natti himtaa

Atis boruu keetiif Seenaa galmeessataa

Galata kee guddaas ana biraa fudhatta.

*************

Walaloon kana barreessanii kan nuuf ergan Aaddee Meetii Kiyyaa dha. Aaddee Meetii hedduu galatoomaa! Itti nuu fufaa!

Gootoowwan Oromoo!!! (Walaloo Saartuu Oromoo)

2008-04-02T15:59:00.001+02:00

Gootoowwan Oromoo!!!

Gootoowwan Oromoo kan dhiiraa durtii
Ulfaadhaa ammallee barumaan barattii

Xurreen bilisummaa dhiigaan taraartanii
Waa tolee bareedee jalqabni keessanii

Hanga'ee mandihee samiin duumeessaa'ee
Bilisummaa roobuuf gabrummaa ari'ee

Qabeenya Oromoo jeenootii hujii boonsaa
Hin irraanfatamtan sammuu teenya keessaa

Ulfaadhaa gfootoowwan kabjamaa ammallee
Gootoowwan Oromoo faaruu isiniin malee

Wareegama qaalii kan sabaaf kafaltan
Seenaa saba boonsuu galmeessuun dabartan
Dhaloota haarayaaf fakkii guddaa taatan
Onnee sabboonummaa keessatti magarsitan
Diinaa jilbiifachuu diddanii dabartan
Kani wal hin ganin du'a habbuuqattan

Janootii Oromoo goota gootoowwanii
Oromoon ni boonnaan hujii teesaniinii

Maqaann keessan hin duunee Gootootii Oromiyaa
Isin faana jirrraa dhalootni haarayaa

Itti fuufna qabsoon gargar hin dhaabbattuu
Hanga Oromiyaan guututti bilsoomtuu

Gootoowwan Oromoo kan lubbuun jirtanii
Biyya bilsoomsuuf hiriira galtanii
Bosona Oromiyaa mana godhattanii
Kan bilisummaadhaaf qabsootti jirtanii

Diigaa dahoo diinaa balaa itti roobsaa
Awwaala isaa godhaa bakka dahoo isaa

Injifannoo boonsaa galmeessaa jirtanii
Isin maddii jirraa nu sabni keessanii
Ishoo! jajjabaadhaa ni injifattanii
Abdii guutuu qabnaa GOOBAANI galtanii

IUOf
GGBti

Walaloo: Saartuu Oromoo

Suuraa: OromiaTimes

Off-target (When missile strikes at alleged terrorists go awry, U.S. policy takes a hit)

2008-03-28T17:21:00.001+01:00

When missile strikes at alleged terrorists go awry, U.S. policy takes a hit.

By Jennifer Daskal and Leslie Lefkow
March 28, 2008

It was 3:25 a.m. on March 3 in Dobley, Somalia, when the missile hit, scattering shrapnel in a wide arc and piercing the thin wooden walls of Mohamed Nuuriye Salaad's house. Shrapnel sliced into Salaad's eldest daughter, 15-year-old Amina, tearing open the skin between her ear and mouth. Amina didn't receive medical care for days, not until she could be smuggled across the Kenyan border.

Five others who were wounded tended to their injuries on their own.

The two Tomahawk missiles launched toward Dobley were the fourth U.S. airstrike aimed at individuals with Al Qaeda links in Somalia since January 2007. U.S. government officials claim that the latest strikes targeted Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, a Kenyan suspected of involvement in the 2002 bombings of a Kenyan resort and the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Africa. The strike also might have been targeting Hassan Turki, a Somali leader of the Islamist group Itihaad al Islamiya, which is on U.S. and U.N. lists of terrorist groups.

Four days after the missile strike, however, Turki appeared to speak in one of Dobley's mosques after morning prayers. He used the attack for his own purposes, condemning the gaalo (unbelievers) and warning that any white people in the area, including aid workers, would be viewed as spies. Earlier that week, hundreds of Dobley residents reportedly joined an impromptu protest, marching through the streets and shouting anti-American slogans.

The Bush administration justifies such missile strikes by claiming that the United States is engaged in a global war against Al Qaeda and that it is legally entitled to annihilate any alleged Al Qaeda member just about anywhere in the world. To be fair, the administration insists that it will not, as a matter of policy, shoot alleged terrorists on the streets of London -- or in any other region where a functioning government is willing and able to arrest, detain or otherwise take action against those deemed to be terrorists. But southern Somalia is a fairly lawless place, and absent a dangerous ground mission, missiles are arguably one of the only ways that the U.S. can strike at Al Qaeda suspects there.

But at what cost? Whether the missiles were aimed at Nabhan or Turki, they hit civilians instead. This pattern echoes U.S. strikes in Somalia in January 2007 that killed and injured an unknown number of civilians as the stated target scampered off unharmed. Even if the attacks could be legally justified under the laws of war -- which is by no means clear -- the high-profile civilian casualties inevitably turn ordinary Somalis against the United States, thereby bolstering support for militant groups. Meanwhile, the human rights and humanitarian crisis that terrorists feed off -- and that U.S. policies exacerbate -- is largely ignored.

Fifteen months ago, the Bush administration supported a full-scale Ethiopian military offensive that ousted the ruling Islamist authority from Mogadishu and installed a weak but internationally backed transitional government. The intervention triggered a predictable insurgency by both Islamist militants and ordinary Somalis, who view Ethiopia as a historic foe.

Ethiopian and Somali troops together are fighting against a coalition of insurgents demanding Ethiopian withdrawal. The escalating conflict has killed thousands of Somali civilians and forced up to 700,000 people -- 60% of the residents of Mogadishu -- to flee the city. Insurgents, Ethiopian troops and Somali government forces have each committed serious crimes -- mutilating captured soldiers, bombarding residential blocks and hospitals, and systematically looting homes, respectively.

The result? An unsurprising growth in anti-Western and anti-American sentiment among Somalis who never supported radical Islamist movements before. Fifteen months after the Ethiopian invasion, insurgents are gaining strength in Mogadishu and other areas of the country, capitalizing on the anger and resentment caused by these atrocities. Credible reports indicate that Islamist recruitment of Somali youth is growing, a backlash that will complicate U.S. counter-terrorism goals long into the future.

Eliminating a few alleged terrorists will not solve these deeper problems. An effective counter-terrorism policy must address the underlying human rights and humanitarian tragedies that are fueling the crisis.

This will mean ending Ethiopia's blank check to commit abuses, conditioning support for Somalia's transitional government on evidence that it is no longer attacking civilians, supporting an independent commission of inquiry to document the abuse and meeting the humanitarian needs of thousands of internally displaced people -- all steps the United States should support when the U.N. Security Council meets next week to discuss the worsening crisis in Somalia.

Acknowledging and properly responding to the human rights crisis will do more to create a stable Somalia -- and reduce terrorism -- than a few high-profile, high-cost and low-success targeted killings.

Jennifer Daskal is senior counter-terrorism counsel for Human Rights Watch. Leslie Lefkow is senior researcher on the Horn of Africa for Human Rights Watch.