News: OLF’s Colonel Gemechu Ayana taken away by security forces; PR says whereabouts of detained members unknown; chairman remains incommunicado
By Siyanne Mekonnen
Addis Abeba, May 19, 2021 – Thirteen people including OLF leader Colonel Gemechu Ayana were reportedly taken by security forces after the court ordered their release. The Federal High Court 3rd Anti-Terrorsim and Constitutional Bench acquitted 12 people who were charged with terrorism, according to the lawyer Tuli Bayisa.
Tuli recalled the sequence of events where families of the prisoners went to Kilinto federal prison with the release warrant. According to him, Nine of the prisoners were released after the paperwork which took ‘a long time to process’ while the remaining three of them remained in prison. The Nine prisoners were taken away by security forces which Tuli described as “wearing the uniform of the federal police and heavily armed”. Tuli further said, “The security forces took the prisone
News Analysis: OLF officially out from upcoming election, continues call for release of its jailed leadership, members addisstandard 2021-03-10
Hundreds of thousands of OLF fans turned op at Addis Abeba Mesqel Square in September 2018. Photo: Social Media
By Siyanne Mekonnen
Addis Abeba, March 10/2021 – The opposition party Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) has officially announced that it has withdrawn from the upcoming election. In an interview with
Addis Standard the party’s interim public relations head, Batte Urgessa, a staggering number of names of the party’s leadership and members who are currently jailed, as well as list of its offices which are forcibly shut down either by the federal or Oromia regional state security forces, which Batte said has depopulated the party of its key personnel, and deprived it of the ability to organize for election.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) last week said it had visited the defendants and confirmed they were on hunger strike.
“Very close supervision is required to prevent any grave threat to their health and life,” Daniel Bekele, EHRC chief commissioner, said in a statement, adding that “reasonably justified demands of the prisoners must be addressed”.
A court hearing was cancelled last week due to the defendants being too weak to attend. It came as the youth took to the streets of several cities including Ambo and Dire Dawa to protest against the continued detention of the Oromo leaders, with a number of injuries and at least one death reported.
News: As Jawar et.al continue hunger strike Oromia region sees multiple protests demanding their release, justice for slain artist Hachalu
Addis Abeba, February 08/2021 – Protests broke out in different parts of Oromia regional state since February 5, 2021. Protestors who took to the streets in Ambo last Friday raised several demands, including the release of Oromo politicians including Jawar Mohammad, Bekele Gerba and Hamza Borana of the opposition Oromo federalist Congress (OFC), a resident of the city told
Addis standard. Many students were arrested and beaten by police according to eyewitnesses.
Addis standard contacted Ambo city police who declined to comment.
It comes in the heels of continued hunger strike by defendants in Jawar’s file which started on January 27. On February 05, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Chief Commissioner Daniel Bekele said that “very close supervision is required to prevent any grave threat to their health and life and that