ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – Following last weeks arrest of its general secretary, the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) chairman, Ato Bulcha Demeksa, on Wednesday has accused the Woyanne regime of waging a mass arrest against ethnic-Oromo opposition supporters in Addis Ababa using what it says “terror plot and terror links” as a cover.
“Today we have confirmed the arrest of at least 15 ethnic Oromo opposition supporters during the past 48 hours alone in the capital using the so called terror links and terror plot as a cover,” the OFDM chairman told Sudan Tribune by telephone.
“I am sure this number will be at least in dozens over the night when our assessment continues by tomorrow,” he added.
The Woyanne regime has warned Wednesday of a possible plot to carry out terrorist acts in the country.
“The National Intelligence and Security Service has received credible information about an impending terrorist plot to be carried out inside Ethiopia,” police said in a statement.
A series of bomb blasts have rocked the Ethiopian capital this year. Four people were killed and other 24 injured last September, when a bomb explosion inside a bar in Addis Ababa; and in May, a bomb went off on a minibus near the foreign ministry, killing six people, including a US national.
Ato Bulcha said that Meles Zinawi is exploiting “terror plot” as “modern cover” to continue indefinitely the large scale abuses against the constitutional rights of the Oromo people.
“It is also being used as a weapon to silence the Oromo people for fears that the Oromo majority could dominate the political roles of the nation,” he further said.
When asked if last weeks arrest against OFDM’s general secretary, Beqele Jirata, has connections with terrorists as government’s allegation is saying, Bulcha said: “I am more than 100 % sure that there is no way he has links to terrorists.”
“Bereket Simon’s (special adviser to Meles) allegation was so shameful and a total fabrication,” Ato Bulcha added.
“It has been 6 days since our member is arrested by government and according to Ethiopian law he was supposed to come before court in 48 hours but this didn’t happen. “He is also deprived of seeing his lawyer and his family. What else could clearly prove to you that constitutional rights of citizens are openly being violated by government itself other than this?” Ato Bulcha said.
-Sudan Tribune
15 thoughts on “Mass arrest of ethnic Oromos in Addis Ababa”
I would be grate if ELIAS KIFLE join Beqele Jirata becouse they are the same. Ever ELIAS is more terrorist and bunda than those who had benn detaind.
Is this a curse or what. Why can’t people talk about solutions or what they think is a better way of doing things. This goes to anyone who can’t express their plans or solutions with out abusive words. Low class personalities tend to abuse and label people. This says a lot about the writer. We should start respecting each other even if we have completely different ideas. Gentle men even when they are warring each other do use proper words. Balegewoch even when they are making love they curse each other. I can see how our decline started during the derg era because most of the younger generation, which I am one of, enjoys using balegae stuff. We really are in deep dudu. I am against terrorism of any type. But we should remeber that George Washington was labeled as a terrorist too. When it is necessary, any thing is possible. But Ethiopians are terrorising each other with words that are dispicable.
To Eyoel,
So that is how you classify terrorists and put them in jail. If you say Elias is a terrorist for speaking his mind from America, then all the alleged terrorists rounded by Woyane in Ethiopia have probably involved in the terrorist act of free speech …
Dear Elias
I think as said earlier George Bush^s son also is using his strategy and it is well know for Woyane to label and then put anyone who think has got different ideas and confront them but it is also we think about the others who are still in different prisons counting their days.
If you have good sources you can have the figure from different prisons and post the numbers. For example there are 217 Oromo prisoners in Fitche. Who knows how many in other places.
WHAT MELES ZERKAWI IS PRACTICING IN ETHIOPIA FOR LAST 35 YEARS
IS KILLINGS, LOOTINGS, UNWARRANTEED IMPRISONMENTS OF INNOCENT CITIZENS, SMEAR TACTICS, MASS ARRESTS AND DISAPPEARANCES, RAPES, STEALING FROM REGIONS HIS JUNTAS INVADED ARE THE WORST FORMS OF TERRORS THAT THE WORLD MUST DENOUNCE. These are not allegations bust facts backed claims. Since barberic regime invaded the Ethiopian centeral and southern regions, its terror miltia have displaced, butchered untold numbers innocent Amharas, Somalis, Oromos who happen to be opposition party supporters. Meles his junta must be held accountable for mass starvings, killings, disappearances right now! tomorrow would be too late, for lives are being lost each minutes under his terror nettings.
God bless the victims families.
I think it is proper way to say that Eyoel and the likes who are terrorizing people by these kind words for no reason should join Bekele Jirata not Elias Kifle who uncovers Eyole’s and his mafia groups evil deed.
Here we go againn the innocent people ,who are fighting for equality and justice being accused for plotting a violent crime,By an organization that has slaughtered thousands ethipians for practicing civil disobedience three years ago and very recently raped the ogadeni ethiopians for just sympathizing with O.N.L.F.
As all you know the psycopath leaders of weyane take an extreme measure of arrests when there is something big happening in the U.S.A, so that their master specially their employee GEORGE Bush will not notice,hey you psycopaths this is not going to work no more the people of the horn and the people of Ethiopia have so much matured politically and could care less in what happens in D.C.,because they are not mercenaries of any foreign powers.They are proud nationalists they do not flip flop from Amhara-Ethiopian,Oromia-Ethiopian,etc.. as you did once Tigrayan next Ethiopian where ever the dollar goes.
Eyoel you are stupid as you look your name itself. Jirata has never been a terrorist and he will not be. But you are such a silly man that you cannot think peace let alone terror.
The time is near that the Woyanes chemistry of divide and rule will explode and be out of their control. And they know that their end will be inevetable. But what the Ethiopians must not forget is, that the terrorist Woyanes are digging their MISHIGS in Tigray in case of their colapse to resist any coming Ethiopian government. But there will be no doubt that the Ethiopian peoples ARMY will crush the devilish Woyanes. Therefore, we must united as OROMOS + AMHARAS + TIGRES + GURAGES + SOMALIS + ANUAKS + BENISHANGULS + AFARS + SIDAMAS + WALAYITAS + AND OTHERS = THE GREAT ETHIOPIANS. Otherwise we will be home-slaves and field-slaves for Meles for ever. Killing and arresting can be the fate of any Ethiopian. The mad dog cannot diffirenciate the bad people from the good people. It bites every one moving, even sometimes it’s own tail.
The final downfall of TPLF is coming very soon. That is why they are acting like wild animals. This mass arrest of Oromos in their own country (Oromia)by foreigners of TPLF, is the same as colonialism. TPLF, you will pay a heavy price for all of your crimes. Victory of Oromo people.
ANTA SILUL HADIG EYOEL, WA, ENTAYI KONKA ANTA ?? You cold-blooded reptile, Woyane or it’s supporter, a person like you have no feeling or sypathy for human being.
I think that by arresting and jailling peoplpe the TPLF govenment can inlongate its rule of terror on inocent cityzens who are working hard to solve the proplames that the terrorist govenment of TPLF brought about.The fact is that the actions of this tyrannt is creating more division and allination to the Tigray people after the dictator and his mafia group are removed by the power of united Ethiopian power.As the saying goes Aynega mesloat be quatuwa—–.TIme will change and all whealth Mele’s wife hid every where around the world will go back to its owner.So what good it does for this tyrannt and its mafiossos if what they do now is let alone them it is going to hurt the inocent Tigray people for yeas to come?
Ato Elias, well done ! Continue with your work of exposing the barbaric work of dictators. The afegnoch who live on Woyane’s Gurshas cannot hinder you from standing for our people. Go ahead we are with you !! The Ethiopians slogan is, LET US FEEL FOR EACH OTHERS PAIN !!!
The killings,the imprisnmont,the rape,the exodus of our people will continue as long as we think Oromo,Tigray,Amhara etc lets stand as a nation “one for all all for one”
It is sad that after 17yrs of tyrannical rule TPLF still is has no confidence in its self.To see day light to morrow it has to kill jail and terrorize the Ethiopian people in particular the Oromo people.What TPlf as an organition does’t undrestand is the hate residue it is leaving behind for the Tigray people though many of them are not part of this cold blooded Wayane Mafias after it is long gone.
Individually as an Ethiopian I have never been part of this senseless ethnic movement.The reason being there is no groth or econommic development it.The only thing it does is put tyrant like Meles or others on the sholder of the people to lead by reign of terror.So I do not have hate againist any particular ethnic group in the Country.
Not long ago that is(alination)TPLF did to the Amhara ethnic group in the Country Ethiopia.Every was branded Neftegnas.With the same talken after Wayane terrorists are gone soon,there is no way how the Tigray people will be imune from such psycological barden this time not by the Govenment who will asume power but by the people of Ethiopia.IT is realy sad.
The solution to this huge problem is not what some individuals on this website is talking.Name calling does not take us acrose the bridge,rather it is good to find common solution where all Ethiopians are treated equal.Our divition extends the life of this criminal gangs as the verdict from the people of Ethiopia indicates from 2005 election and still the verdit stands.