| On the Raid of the Macha Tulama Self-help Association |
| Date: |
June 1, 2004 |
| Source: |
United Liberation Forces of Oromiyaa (ULFO) | |
On May 18, 2004, security forces of the Ethiopian regime arrested the president of Mecha-Tulama Association Mr. Deribe Demisse, and the secretary, Mr. Gamachu Feyera, raided the office of the Association and confiscated its properties. Private properties of the arrested leaders were not spared either. The allegations labeled against them are:
- That they are working with or for the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF),
- That they are behind the grenade attack at Addis Ababa University on April 29, 2004,
- The Macha Tulama Association has been encouraging and financing the revolt of Oromo students and youth. These are fabrications without any grain of truth manufactured to be used as pretext.
ULFO believes that the arrested leaders and the Association are free from the allegations labeled against them. The detainees have not been brought before court for the government has not finished compiling fake evidences. We are certain that the evidences will be false because the TPLF is expert in using false evidences to accuse independent opposition organizations or individuals.
Macha-Tulama Association was under extreme pressure from the TPLF regime to become one of its satellite organizations. Adamant to its original principles and objectives, the MTA refused to bog down to the pressures of TPLF and loose its independence. MTA maintained its organizational independence and continued to work within the legal framework of the Ethiopian constitution. MTA is engaged in undertaking development projects in Oromia and encourage Oromo culture, language and history to flourish. MTA also freely and democratically airs out its opposition to certain measures taken by the current regime regarding the rights of the Oromo people. This stance of the Association is the underline cause for the current harassment, detention and persecution. Harassment of the kind can only be understood from the political culture of intolerance towards independent organizations of the Ethiopian regimes and blatant abuse of official power.
Reasons behind this action of the TPLF regime are very simple and clear. The TPLF does not want an independent Oromo organization of any form to function in Ethiopia. To eliminate perceived Oromo threat to their power the TPLF group has to get rid of potential Oromo leaders and organizations. Nowadays, it is crime to be an independently thinking Oromo. According to their wishes and beliefs everybody has to submit to their orders and will. Oromo students and youth refused to accept this severe abuse of individual and peoples rights. The basic reason why Oromo students are continuously harassed, expelled from schools and hunted like wild animals is because of the hatred and fear TPLF regime has for the Oromo people. This approach to Oromo case is not new but re-utilization of old tactics in new form.
ULFO condemns the illegal actions taken against Macha-Tulama Association and its leaders. We demand the immediate release of the arrested leaders and the return of personal and organizational properties. We also call for an end to intimidation of Oromo people because of their ethnicity. ULFO calls upon the supporters and donors of the Ethiopian government to closely monitor how the aids you are giving are being used. For us the generous hand you are offering to Ethiopian peoples is being misused and is encouraging TPLF to commit grave human rights abuse. The deeds of Ethiopian regime is leading to the 1994 situations of Rwanda and Burundi. We appeal to all governments, organizations, and individuals to do every thing possible to stop the harassment against Oromo and other oppressed peoples in Ethiopia.
Unity is Strength!!
Oromia Shall Be Free!!
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The United Liberation Forces of Oromiyaa (ULFO) ::
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