The Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO), one of the Woyanne puppets groups in the ruling tribal junta, has intervened to stop a potentially bloody clash between Ethiopian Muslims and Woyanne security forces today in Addis Ababa, according to Ethiopian Review Intelligence Unit sources.
The Woyanne junta had given stern warnings to the Ethiopian Muslims to call off their unity gathering today (Sunday) at Anwar Mosque, but tens of thousands of them defied the warning and started to flock to Merkato in the morning. By late morning, as the Anwar Mosque area in Merkato was flooded with a massive crowed, the thousands of heavily armed Federal police troopers and soldiers from the Agazi special force unit melted away, leaving the Muslims to gather peacefully.
The Woyanne security forces withdrew after several OPDO leaders warned the Woyanne junta that they will not support a crackdown on the Muslims, saying that they will face serious consequences from their constituents in the rural parts of Oromia, a source close to the OPDO leadership told Ethiopian Review Intelligence Unit. Some OPDO militia were prepared to block some roads to Addis Ababa to prevent reinforcement from coming to the Federal Police.
Had the Woyanne security forces tried to stop the Muslim unity gathering today, a violent clash could have erupted. The Muslims were ready to face any thing as they started to head for the Anwar Mosque.
The Ethiopian Muslims scored a major victory against the Woyanne junta today by asserting their right to peacefully assemble.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Associated Press) — Ethiopia’s longtime ruler and most powerful figure, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, is not attending an African Union summit that opened Sunday in Ethiopia, which further fueled speculation that he might be seriously ill.
About three dozen African heads of state and government gathered in Addis Ababa on Sunday, but Meles did not attend the meeting — a first since he assumed office in 1991.
Meles was expected to open the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) meeting on Saturday. But Senegalese President Macky Sall opened the gathering instead, telling participants that Meles was unable to be present due “to health conditions.” Sall wished Meles “good health.”
The most recent images of Meles aired by state-run Ethiopian Television showed him noticeably thinner. Opposition websites are claiming that Meles is being treated for a serious illness.
The government declined to comment on the matter.
Ethiopia’s parliament was set to hear from Meles last week when the country’s lawmakers were scheduled to approve Ethiopia’s current fiscal budget, which began July 8, but Meles did not address parliament.
Meles in 2010 promised to step down by 2015. Hailemariam Desalegn was named deputy prime minister. He is also the country’s foreign minister.
Despite the ruling Woyanne junta’s grave warning, tens of thousands of Ethiopian Muslims gathered in Addis Ababa today in what they called “Sadaqa and Unity Program.” The unity gathering took place at the Anwar Mosque in Addis Ababa without any major incident. The reason that there was no violent confrontation today is because the Woyanne security forces left the area.
Last Friday, when the Woyanne Federal Police tried to stop the Muslims from gather peacefully at Awolia College, it resulted in a violent confrontation where the police opened fired on the unarmed civilians causing numerous casualties.
Ethiopian Muslims are protesting the Woyanne regime’s intervention in their religion.
VIDEO: Anwar Mosque, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 15, 2012
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Ethiopian National Transitional Council Press Release
The dictatorship in Ethiopia must be held accountable for its atrocities against Ethiopian Muslims
On Friday, July 13, Meles Zenawi’s dictatorship in Ethiopia launched a bloody crackdown against peaceful Muslim worshippers who gathered at Awolia Mosque in Addis Ababa. The security forces opened fire on the unarmed Muslims causing a large number of casualties.
The Ethiopian National Transitional Council (ENTC) considers Meles regime’s violent action against Ethiopian Muslims as a state sponsored terrorism, and calls on the international community to take urgent action to stop further violence. The Meles regime must also be held accountable for the unnecessary bloodshed that it has caused.
The ENTC calls on the people of Ethiopia to stand united and defend each other. We can stop the Meles regime’s atrocities and injustice only when we unite and fight back.
The ENTC calls on the international media to lift its news blackout on the continued atrocities in Ethiopia in the hands of Meles Zenawi’s brutal dictatorship.
The ENTC calls on international human rights organizations and the United Nations to come to the aid of the Ethiopian Muslim civilians who have been victimized by the Meles regime’s inhuman, irresponsible and excessive use of force.
Tens of thousands of Ethiopian Muslims forced Woyanne security forces to retreat after a violent confrontation broke out Friday evening. It is reported that earlier Friday, the Woyanne Federal police used teargas to try to disperse Muslims who were gathering at the Awolia Mosque, and when that failed, they opened fire directly at the crowd that broke through the police barricade. The Federal police’s action incited more anger and even though Muslim leaders pleaded with the people to take shelter from the bullets, an angry crowd of Muslims fought bare hands with the heavily armed Woyanne police and forced them to retreat from the Answar area in Merkato.
Tonight, Muslim leaders are discussing whether to call a general strike over the weekend.
In some parts of Addis Ababa, Christians have joined their Muslim brothers and sisters in fending off the blood thirsty Federal police troopers.
Following the violent clash, the Woyanne junta has cut electricity to several parts of Addis Ababa.
Today’s clash broke out as the African Union held its meeting in Addis Ababa. Several African leaders are currently in Ethiopia’s capital for the AU summit. Dictator Meles Zenawi, how is reported to be sick, has not attended the summit and his whereabouts is secret.
VIDEOS
Addis Ababa, 1:00 AM Saturday, July 14, 2012
