Oromo people

ETHIOPIAN HARSH SECURITY RESPONSES TO OROMO PEACEFUL PROTESTS. .

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• published: 20 Jun 2016
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Ethiopia with a population of almost 100 million ,is the most populous after Nigeria.It prides itself as the only country in Africa,that was not colonized. Italians attempt to claim it as their East African territory and occupied it from 1936-41. Emperor Hallie Selassie ruled the country from 1930 until 1974, when he was overthrown by the military junta called the Derg. Their Derg ruler-Mengestu was cut short in 1991 by the rebel forces of the Ethiopian People"s Revolutionary Democratic Front. The Oromo people occupy Oromia,one of the ethnically based Regions the country.They are estimated to between 42-50% of the total population. The Oromo claim that all the regimes that rule Ethiopia has always ignored them.The Amara dominate the administration ,while their allies the Tigray dominate the security forces.They also blame these regimes for under-developing their areas. They have strong feelings of political and economic marginalization.These grievances led them to create the Oromo Liberation Front. However,the current protests in mid-2016,were ignited by the Government Plan to expand the area of Addis Ababa ,into the Oromia land. Also the Plan was abandoned the Peaceful Protests continued,with many digitally guided students joining the action. Moreover,like any other mass action,some properties were being damaged as the security forces continued their crackdown on the protesters. The harsher the security forces became,and with the resultant loss of life,massive arrests and imprisonment and detentions,the more angry the protesters became. What was a peaceful protest has now turned to be a violent situation. The Government blames some agitators,and continues to punish protesters to reveal who they are.The protesters are calling for investigation into the atrocities of the security forces. Hopefully,the security forces will stop their harsh response;The still can keep peace by not aggravating the Oromo ethnic giant.Enough bloodshed has already been seen,we need to give peaceful resolutions a chance. Addis Ababa is the seat of the African Union,and peace and justice must be seen to be possible there. The rights of the Oromo to their land is more important than the wants of greedy local and foreign investors and businessmen.We need economic expansion,which is also farming friendly.That is all the Oromo are asking for now. May our Great Creator Waaqa, grant us peace and justice.