NAZRET, ETHIOPIA — A town hall meeting organized by the Union for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) on Saturday, August 15, was disrupted by Woyanne goons posing as “Oromo nationalists.”
Read more in Amharic here.
The disturbance occurred when the Woyanne thugs inside the meeting hall started to raise a “point of order” on how the meeting should be conducted. They protested against the use of Amharic language at the meeting since Adama (the new name Woyanne gave to Nazret) is inside Oromia Killil.
According to the Awramba Times reporter who was at the scene, the Woyanne goons then went on to push, shove and attack UDJ representatives and guests of honor who came from Addis Ababa for the meeting.
The guests of honors included former president Dr Negaso Gidada, Dr Beyene Petros, and former defense minister Ato Siye Abraha.
The thugs physically attacked Dr Negasso Gidada after accusing him of selling out to Amharas. Interestingly, no body touched or accosted Siye Abraha. The thugs moved out of the way as their former boss walked out of the meeting.
31 thoughts on “UDJ meeting in Nazret disrupted by Woyanne goons”
Correction: ‘Adama’is not a new name given to ‘Nazret’ by Woyyane;it is the original name of the town reinstated by indeginous people’s struggle.Let us not distort history.It didn’t help and it will not help the country(if we are really concerned about the right of the people).
I like the part where they left alone *Siye Abraha*. It is so obvious, the TPLF drama.
Adama is the region around Nazreth, hence covers a wider zone. Thus, used to be Adama Woreda, Nazreth ketema. Nazreth is the name of the town. So the same with Ade’a Woreda, Debre Zeit ketema. Those with a distorted sense of history are ready to pick up a fight whatever the issue is. So called “indigenous” people are an amalgam of people from all parts of the country, as that region was at a cross-roads in the long history of the intermixing of the peoples of that region. For now, due to Woyane’s barrel of the gun, divide and rule, and deliberate obfuscation of issues for Woyane gain, some hard core elements, including Tigreans posing as Oromos, the exreme elements are having a field day. But that is temporary. Times will change, and sooner than you elements think! Negaroo, you indeed must be one of the extreme elements!!
You are right, Adama and Bishetu are not new names. However, both names have been replaced by Nazret and Debrezeit respectively. It was not without a persuasive reason nor without the public approval. For instance Bisheftu meant something that stinks. So it had to changed some how.
Elias you know Adama is not a name given by woyane but you prefer to lie because you cant help it. You are as racist as skinhead.
Mr Nagaroo’s comment might be right or wrong since I am not Oromo and do not know whether or not Adama was the proper name. To me disrupting a part’y meeting under the pretext of “ethnic language” is shame to the Oromos because, this makes the oromos no different than the racist regime now in power. Interstingly the information in this website indicated that two non-Oromos (Siye Aberha and Dr.Beyene Petros) were invited to attained the meeting. Those two figures do not speak oromigna, so the meeting conducted in Amharic (the working language of the National Government) was proper. Same is true for the United States of America in using English language and did not rejected English because England(U.K) was its colonial power 233 years ago.
Wake up my friend democracy is better not language whether Amharic or Oromigna.
Ayele,
Do you have to be an Oromo to know the history of Ethiopia and for that matter of Oromo? It is sad that people of your sort have probably been exposed to an enlightened world but still think like the usual thick headed phony people ridden empty pride of typical so called Amharas. Ironically, it is this same people who pretend to care for Ethiopia’s unity and deafen us day and night, but they pride of their ignorance of the history and culture of parts of Ethiopia.
Guys, I do not understand what we are argueing about. That’s what woyane wants to do. Divide and rule. What is wrong with the name? nothing! The main issue is how woyane is doing this to divide the two major ethnic groups. Look when weyane hosts its EPRDF meeting they used Amharic. Now when UDJ uses Amharic, there is aprotest. Do u think this is done by oromo people. Dont full yourself guys. It is all woyane’s drama. Lets do some constructive things instead of argueing with something that is not important than our humanity.
We know that there were no towns with the names of Adama and Bishoftu. Debrezeit and Nazareth as towns were founded after the unification of Ethiopia by Emperor Menelik II. Distorting and misrepresenting facts do not help any cause including ethno-nationalism as displayed by some Ethiopians.
Trying to advance any cause on the basis of falsified and misconstrued past will not serve any good purpsose.
Ethiopia is the only African country being ruled by the apartheid based ethnofascistic regime drawing almost all of its support from a single ethic group. The ethnofascistic regime controlling Ethiopia has the highest number of political prisoners in Africa and is continuing to violate the human rights of its subjects. The ethnofascist Meles Zenawi is a ruthless and blood thirst dictator who goes to any length to maintain his grip on power. He has victimized innocent persons like Birtukan Midekssa who stands for dialogue and national reconciliation. Fascism and reconciliation do not go together and the ethnofascists have rejected repeated attempts at seeking solutions to the economic and political crises Ethiopia is immersed in. The ethnofascists have been emboldened and blinded by the unlimited power and immense wealth they are accumulating. The fate of the ethnofascists is a predetermined one and they will face the rage of the Ethiopian poor and join their counter parts in the dustbin of history.
Which one is (Nazret a foreign hebrew word) and Adama(an Ethiopian Oromo word). Let us not hate ourselves and come to our sense friends!!!
To put the record straight, Adama is actually the original name of the city.
It is true that this very situation was orchestrated by woyane thugs in their interest, not for the Oromo people. But let us accept one obvious: The names. The Oromos are the indigenous people of this area and they have the name with which they address that place: Adama. The wave of change of names in Oromia started during Minilik and strengthened by Haileselassie. Who changed Finfine to Addis Ababa, Amob to Hagere Hiwot, Waliso to Ghion, Ciroo to Asebe Teferi etc. Please accept the truth and stop the culture of lies. It does serve any good. Pathological lies is not a cure to the Ethiopian unity.
I am increasingly annoyed at the so called Amahara and Oromo elites. While democracy and separation of power which is the end result of the struggle has the means to settle all kinds of craps including names, etc, you people drag your feet arguing nonsense while many Amharas, Oromos, Gurages, Somalies, etc are being abused in and out of smart-woyanes prison. Why don’t you people see the big picture IDIOTS?
there is an oromiffa saying” ken meneset nama gnatu serie duawda” it means that who attacks you in his/her house ONLY DOGS. Oromo people are polite and proud people. But those who in the name of Oromos bark and bite like the the Nagaroos are woyanes and dogs. Nobody can distort history, whether it is Adama,Nazeret,Bishoftu,Quality….workitie that is something that can be adjusted when we have a democratic system. We Oromos should not get into fight with with other tribes like a dog, instead let’s get together and save the Oromo people, the Amharas, the Gurages who are languishing in woyane prisons. Let us not fight over item #120th while the #1,2,3,4….are the priorities. THINK,THINK, our people are dieing while ur fighting over Adama,Nazeret,Dima ,Megala, Guracha
people we are forgetting the main issue!!!
There is a huge number of Amhara’s in Nazret (may be 70%). They should have had their own special zone there.
Dear Mr./Ms? Phony,
You misunderstood my comment (#6)since I did not argued that neither Adama or Nazareth is the name of the city where UDJ held its meeting. My emphasis is about democracy and not denegrating one race of people than the other. Instead of promoting harmony to the ethinically divided Ethiopia, you focused on the greatness of your ethnic Oromos. In parallel to that, you insulted Amharas as if with my comment I represented the Amhara people, at least in your mind. From your comment, I have learned nothing except that you are good Oromo and bad Ethiopian.
I can guss you guys posting here are eithr living in a civilized west or educated people living home. It is shame to see you guys arguing on such a nonsense issue. You are throughing yourself in the weyane trap. You guys were supposed to lead the coordinated struggle among ethnic groups by working on common pressing interests. Congratulation weyane, you are not only successful at Adama/Nazret but here too!!! MEDRE MAFERIYA HULA!!
Adama could not be an original name, since the Oromo occupation occurred merely 400 years ago. That time coincides to the time Europeans colonized today’s America and made it their own country. There were no Oromo in Nazeret at the time; Oromos were still far in the present day of Kenya. There are no indigenous Oromos in Ethiopia. So don’t pretend that it is an Oromo town. Ethiopia can not be an exclusive property of any one ethinic group. It is our land, including the Oromos who are living occupying a large tract of present day Ethiopia.
people what did we learn from tutsis and hutus of ruwanda? # alone means nothing it is better to live in peace together one day when this thing boils over some of us end up being refugges in neibouring countries we better think and be responsible do not attack people like a dog. It shows only animalism in every culture guests are respected only wild animals attack when u go to their territories. Humans become good hosts
I just had a chance to read the letter Dr. Negaso Gidada wrote regarding what happened. In the letter he says Engineer Gizachew was actually on the podium discussing issues in Amharic when two or three OPDO cadres, whom he identified from previously working with them, began to agitate about 50 participants in the back of the meeting hall.
Suddenly the shouting got louder and it became clear that the participants understood “Adama” to be “Oromia” and that the speaker (Engineer Gizachew) should speak “Oromiffa.” Dr. Negaso further said the UDJ people told the OPDO agitators that they are going to translate what is being said. The OPDO cadres refused to have none of it and start coming forward with the intention of causing violence.
Dr. Negaso said when it became obvious the OPDO/TPLF cadres were intent on violoence the meeting was dismissed.
NOTICE: Nazret city is home to approximately 33% Amhara and 41% Oromo residents and quite a significant number of Gurage people and many more other ethnic groups. 55% of the population of Nazret speak Amharic as a first language and only about 24% speak Oromo as a frist language.
THIS IS THE ETHIOPIA TPLF HAS CREATED FOR US.
the issue cann not be a language issue.afterall Amharic is the offcial language of the country,it hardly needs the permission to to use it in any meeting
what is going on! if weyane had this meeting who dare to oppose? now here you came in some web site and try to tell
us it was good shame! why is it difficult for most of you to
see the sourse of a problem or /awiko yetegna endemibalew/
any way this is what weyane looking for some how it getting closer
I’m not against the udj participants or the regime of Legesse ass Ras. I would never comprehend the man known to us as Qess Negassy Giday which is also come as Negasso Gidada. During his reign of presidency: Oromos were hunted, butchered, imprisoned in masses, many displaced without traces. Some lucky ones are still in double prisons. Doc. Nagasy Giday is enjoying life outside of 1st prison and living in the 2nd prison I love to call Ethiopia. Ethiopia is prison to its citizens. Therefore, what does Mr Giday want know?
Mr. Gidays’ stone throw receptions are as democratic as the one he is guest of. I disagree with the Legesse regime on many issues, but fully agree with them on beating Negassy Giday’s ass to pulp has my full blessings. Meles, out million issues, I vote for you on this one. Oromia’s language is Afan Oromo must be spoken in Adama, for the people of Oromia have suffered so much, at list this tiny symbal, mean something. It sends a chilling message who enslaved the oromos and their enablers such selfish personalities as Giday negassy of somewhere.
Good job Adama boys for taking the matters into your hands.
Viva Woyane on this one keep it up!
Those of you who consider yourselves as vanguards of the Ethiopian unity are rather threatening its very ground. If you still believe the fabricated teachings of some people like the so called “the Gala migration” is true, rest assured that you will never successed. Alienating the majority does not help the already endangered unity. The philosophy of some people that, majority does not matter is a mare contempt and does not work always. Respect is a reciprocal response. Get the gut and tell the truth, as slavery is publicly spoken in America and is in healing process; tell the cultural, political, economic etc marginalization the Oromos are suffering from at their very place of birth and advocate for the oppressed people and restoration of democracy where everybody is somebody. A true Ethiopian unity will always depend on the voice and will of the majority, the Oromo people and mutual respect. Stop the lies.
Some of the comments left are proof positive why Ethiopia will never move ahead and be the jewel of Africa she used to be prior to the 70’s. Most of the fighting and arguing is over nothing, people that have lived together for generation after generation now hate each other and are further destroying the country. This is the equivalent of Texans fighting New Yorkers and essentialy going to war. Until we as Ethiopians start seeing each other as Ethiopians first, and then as Amharas, Gurages, Oromos, etc…Ethiopia will always be a dirt poor and insignificant nation…
This is a classical example how Weyane is ruling Ethiopia: through beating Amharas using Oromos and vice versa. To understand more, enjoy it here!
“Why was it easy for Meles’ regime to rule over Ethiopia
Why was it easy for Meles adminstration to rule over Ethiopians in the last 18 years? Why even will it be easier to rule for further many decades? If we put it simplified, it is just because of the misguided elites of the two BIG nations aka Amharas and Oromos. Meles regime managed to corner these elites and made those of the Amharas to cry for unconditional unitary Imiye Ethiopia and those of the Oromos to sing about unconditional independence of Ayo Oromia. With that the ruling regime could reserve the middle ground aka Union of Autonomous Nations i.e language based federalism as its own position, so that it can accuse Amharas as ceneralist chauvinists and Oromos as narrow separatists and make them fight each other. Some politicians in the opposition have tried to neutralize this effort of the regime. For example, I do appreciate the position of the visionary Oromo leaders and some Amhara leaders who signed the formation of the alliance called AFD (Alliance for Freedom and Democracy), which took a necessary step to deal with the regime’s tactic of devide and rule.
Read more: –
http://www.ethioplanet.com/medrek
or
http://www.abugidainfo.com/?p=10836 “
Dear Ms/Mr.? Ogina (N0. 28)
I appriciate your comment as stated above since, among several nonsense comments advanced by individuals, your’s is coherent and cohesive thus yilding a directed point. But I have a Question concerning as to where ” VISIONARY OROMOS AND AMHARA LEADERS SIGNED THE FORMATION OF AFD”. As a close observant from far proximity I understood that NO Amhara had signed any agreement. If you have any document whether in the website or other source I urge you to share the information with us. As to the support of the formation of AFD, of course, many scholars had support that include, among othjers, Professor Getachew Haile. He had put an appriciation and supportive statement but that does not represent formal party or individual agreement under signature. Had Any party with majority members support AFD, EPRDF wouldn’t be in peace to this day. What I know for fact, is The AFD formation was critisized by EPPF three days late.and no more.
mr. Elias Kifle,
please put back my comment No.. 29 that I addressed in response to comment No. 28. If you select articles that fit to print to satisfy your desire alone, than your professional responsiblility is in joperdy. I am not using the very common term of “profesional responsibility” to manifest a certain explanation but with the understanding of the legal context of term. Thank You.
i just realized that we are ignorant people we believe what ever we are told there are soo few people that think critically.