Oromo Manifestations challenge Abyssinian Dictator Meles Zenawi

Through these columns, we focalized on the complex Eastern African issues that the present US administration failed to perceive correctly. Continuing colonial style assessments and involvements, the US backed the most hated African tyrant, Tigray thug Meles Zenawi of Abyssinia, in an effort to kick the Islamists out of Somalia. Instead of achieving this, the paranoid dictator helps spread Islamist fire throughout Eastern Africa, as he made the Somali Islamic Courts of Justice the best present they could have ever imagined.

Having become the African heroes fighting against the American charlatan of puppet, the outlawed and omnipotent Islamists of Somalia have already become the recipient of all sorts of demands for support of locally oppressed peoples and minorities. We will have the opportunity to analyze extensively the critical events at the Horn of Africa as the area seems to become the High Place of the Islamic Terror International Incorporate. Here, we re-publish the Press Release of the International Oromo Youth Association that should help American policy makers more than Madeleine Albright’s idiotic trip to Finfinne (do not call it anymore Addis Ababa – that name is fake and imposed by perpetrators of genocide).

Protesting against the murders carried out by Abyssinian thugs of the Meles Zenawi pseudo-army against non Somalis in Somalia, the Oromo Youths send an alarming warning to the State Department; either break down Abyssinia and let all the oppressed peoples of Eastern Africa enjoy freedom, democracy and independence or support the Amhara – Tigray Abyssinian tyranny (that represents less than 20% of Ethiopia’s population) and see the Islamists rise from Somalia to Morocco.

As the Oromo Nation represents about 40-42% of the Ethiopian population and encompasses Muslims, Christians and, more importantly, followers of the traditional Waqefanna Oromo monotheistic and aniconic religion, the Oromos consist in the best African guarantee against the pending diffusion of Islamic Extremism and Fanaticism.

An American support to the Oromo Liberation fronts and political parties would break down the totalitarian, dysfunctional and anachronistic state of Abyssinia, limiting Tigrays and Amharas to their respective regions. An Oromo–led Ethiopia would then rise as the only existing opportunity for an African break wave against Ossama bin Laden’s new and numerous African followers.

The Press Release of the International Oromo Youth Association is hereby published integrally.

Rally to Address Inadequate News Reporting in the Horn of Africa

On December 25, 2006, the government of Ethiopia launched a military campaign in neighboring Somalia, alleging that its sovereignty was threatened by the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). The government of Ethiopia has been controlled by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) since 2005, a regime that has not only repressed all forms of democratic dissent, but also has persecuted ethnic groups. Having driven out the UIC from Mogadishu, the TPLF forces in collaboration with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, has now shifted its mission towards fulfilling its main agenda of persecuting dissenters.

The International Oromo Youth Association (IOYA) is deeply dismayed by the incessant harassment, illegal detention, kidnapping, lynching, and cold-blooded murder of Oromo refugees in Somalia by the Ethiopian and TFG joint military forces, and by the deafening silence of the mainstream news media surrounding these atrocities. Niyata Gemechisa, an instructional technologist from Philadelphia, PA said, "Journalism is powerful, and has the ability to shape and change the world. Unfortunately, the practice of true journalism has not been evident in news reports of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. The American news media has failed in serving many of the voiceless citizens in one of the most potentially volatile places in the world."

The Oromo people, the largest ethno-national group in Ethiopia, have been deprived of their basic human rights under successive Ethiopian regimes. In spite of their contribution to the country’s socio-economic development, the Oromo people have been marginalized from participating in the social, economic, and political decision-making process. Because of their continued demand for self-determination, freedom, justice and equality, Oromos have become major targets for the authoritarian Ethiopian government. Just like its predecessors, the current TPLF government led by Meles Zenawi has committed endless acts of state-sponsored terrorism against Oromo civilians, professionals, students and political dissidents.

Ethiopia and Somalia fought two border wars, in 1964 and 1977. During these two wars, Oromos were caught in the middle of the war waged by two dictators: Ziad Barre of Somalia and Mengistu Hailemariam of Ethiopia. Oromos comprised a significant proportion of Ethiopia’s conscript soldiers that fought during the Ethio-Somali wars. Due to the geographical proximity of Oromia and Somalia, the 1977 war caused a humanitarian crisis including death of civilians, internal displacement and immigration to neighboring countries. Thousands of Oromos fled to Kenya and Somalia and many lost their lives on the way and thousands never returned to their homeland.

Due to the geographical proximity of Oromia and Somalia in the border conflict of 1977, thousands of Oromos fled to Kenya and Somalia and many lost their lives on the way and thousands never returned to their homeland. Today, Somalia is home for over a quarter of million Oromo refugees who fled their country due to persecution and forced displacement by successive Ethiopian governments.

Over the last ten years, the TPLF has been meddling in Somali internal affairs to pursue Oromo refugees. Meanwhile media coverage of the affairs in the horn of Africa has not only neglecting the Oromo perspective but also native Somali Muslim perspectives. We call on the media to give voice for all sides, as well as to continue the truly investigative reporting that has emerged recently on the various stake holders in this conflict.

The IOYA is holding a demonstration to present these issues to the media on Saturday March 31, 2007 beginning at 12pm in front of the U.S. State Department located at 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520. For more information contact: Gelane Gemechisa gelaneg@gmail.com OR Maya Tessema maya.tessema@gmail.com.

By Prof. Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis Published: 3/16/2007

193 Ethiopian soldiers killed in rebel attack - statement

March 15, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — Two Ethiopian rebel groups have claimed jointly 193 government’s soldiers in an attack the governmental army in north-western Ethiopia last week.

The Tigray People’s Democratic Movement and the Southern Ethiopian Peoples’ Front for Justice and Equality — both Ethiopian rebel groups — have said they killed nearly two hundred regular soldiers in a joint operation they carried out on 8 March.

The two organizations said in a joint statement that 193 soldiers of the regime were killed and some 100 others wounded while several light and medium-sized weapons were also seized in a lightening attack launched against the 2nd regiment of the 31st division of the Ethiopian army deployed in Adi Geshu, Karsa Humera District, in western Tigray, in northwestern Ethiopia.

The statement added that a Toyota Land Cruiser, a Russian-made WAZ military vehicle and an arms depot in Adi Geshu were completely destroyed.

YOUTH LEADERS TO HOLD PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION IN WASHINGTON, DC

The objective of the demonstration in the nation's capital is to bring to the forefront the Oromo peoples' inalienable right to national self-determination, make public a century of oppression and exploitation, and to form working partnerships with other nations facing similar issues.

Click on image for a larger version

On December 25, 2006, the government of Ethiopia launched a military campaign in neighboring Somalia, alleging that its sovereignty was threatened by the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). The government of Ethiopia has been controlled by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front since 2005, a regime that has not only repressed of democratic dissent, but also has persecuted ethnic groups. Having driven out the UIC from Mogadishu, the TPLF forces in collaboration with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, has now shifted its mission towards fulfilling its main agenda of continuing to persecute political dissenters.
The International Oromo Youth Association (IOYA) is deeply dismayed by the incessant harassment, illegal detention, kidnapping, lynching, and cold-blooded murder of Oromo refugees in Somalia by the Ethiopian and Somalia TFG joint military forces, and by the deafening silence of the mainstream news media surrounding these atrocities. Niyata Gemechisa, an instructional technologist from Philadelphia, PA said, “Journalism is powerful, and has the ability to shape and change the world. Unfortunately, the practice of true journalism has not been evident in news reports about Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. The American news media has failed in serving many of the voiceless citizens in one of the most potentially volatile places in the world.”

The Oromo people, the largest ethno-national group in Ethiopia, have been deprived of their basic human rights under successive Ethiopian regimes. In spite of their contribution to the country’s socio-economic development, the Oromo people have been marginalized from participating in the social, economic, and political decision-making process. Because of their continued demand for self-determination, freedom, justice and equality, Oromos have become major targets for the authoritarian Ethiopian government. Just like its predecessors, the current TPLF minority led by Meles Zenawi has committed endless acts of state-sponsored violence against Oromo civilians, professionals, students and political dissidents.

Ethiopia and Somalia fought two border wars, in 1964 and 1977. During these two wars, Oromo’s were caught in the middle of the war waged by two dictators: Ziad Barre of Somalia and Mengistu Hailemariam of Ethiopia. Oromos comprise a significant proportion of Ethiopia’s conscripts soldiers that fought during the Ethio-Somali wars. Due to the geographical proximity of Oromia and Somalia, the 1977 war caused a humanitarian crisis including death of civilians, internal displacement and immigration to neighboring countries.

Due to the geographical proximity of Oromia and Somalia, thousands of Oromos fled to Kenya and Somalia and many lost their lives on the way and thousands never returned to their homeland. Today, Somalia is home for over a quarter of million Oromo refugees who fled their country due to persecution and forced displacement by successive Ethiopian governments.

Over the last ten years, the TPLF has been meddling in Somali internal affairs to continue to pursue Oromo refugees. Meanwhile media coverage of the affairs in the horn of Africa has largely ignored this fact, as well neglecting not only the Oromo perspective but also native Somali Muslim perspectives. We call on the media to take into account all sides of this atrocity, and expand on and report any investigative on the Ethiopian government.

The IOYA is holding a demonstration to present these issues to the media on Saturday March 31, 2007 beginning at 12pm in front of the U.S. State Department located at 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520. For more information contact: Gelane Gemechisa gelaneg (at) gmail.com OR Maya Tessema maya.tessema (at) gmail.com.

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Britons seized in Ethiopia freed

Britons seized in Ethiopia freed

Investigators recovered one of the Land Rovers driven by the group

A group of British embassy workers kidnapped in northern Ethiopia 12 days ago have been released, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said.

The workers - four Britons and one French citizen - had been released into the care of the authorities in Eritrea, she said.

Mrs Beckett said the members were safe and were "broadly all in good health".

But eight Ethiopian staff who had been with the group when they were captured had still not been released, she added.

The freed hostages were all undergoing medical checks and being cared for at the British Embassy in Eritrea's capital Asmara, she added.

Families informed

They have been named as the Foreign Office's Peter Rudge and Jonathan Ireland, who both worked at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa; Malcolm Smart and Laure Beaufils, of the Department for International Development in Addis Ababa; and Rosanna Moore, wife of the head of the British Council in Addis Ababa.

The party were apparently on a sightseeing tour when they were abducted on 1 March.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said that he expected the five released Britons would be debriefed in Asmara, and that this should provide more information about who kidnapped them and what conditions they were held in.

"We have informed the families of all five who were, of course, very relieved and are looking forward to being reunited," Mrs Beckett said.

"We continue to be concerned about the wellbeing of the Ethiopians who were taken at the same time as the British group," she said.

Embassy officials had "worked tirelessly" to help secure the group's release, she added.

She also thanked the authorities in Ethiopian and Eritrea for their "exceptional assistance".

A spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed the release of the hostages.

'Wrong place'

Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague also welcomed the "wonderful news".

According to reports, Ethiopia's information minister Berhan Hailu said the search would continue for the citizens of his country who remained missing

"We don't have any information about them. We are very concerned," he told Reuters news agency.

"They should be released unconditionally and as soon as possible."

One of the Land Rovers driven by the group was recovered at the weekend in the village of Hamedali, in the Afar region.

The region straddles the border of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year guerrilla war.

On Monday, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the workers were people who had "not done anything to hurt anyone".

"I do not believe these people were targeted. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said.

He spoke of the kidnappers having taken "a step too far", saying they "need to find a way to redress their steps in a way that does not affect their interests".

Ethiopia>>>Somali Woman accuses Ethiopian soldiers of rape and torture

Aweys Osman Yusuf
Mogadishu 13, March.07 ( Sh.M.Network) A Somali woman has today revealed at a press conference in Mogadishu that she was tortured and raped by Ethiopian soldiers.

Suuban Maalin, a Somali mother of eight children, claiming to have been raped by Ethiopian forces sits on mat inside her house. The presence of Ethiopian forces in Somalia creates resent in Somalia

Suuban Maalin Ali Hassan, 37 year old mother of eight children talked to journalists with presence of her husband inside her house over the ordeal she faced last Saturday as she was on her way near Elirfid, north east of Mogadishu.

“Last Saturday, as I was driving my donkey-cart loaded with grass near Elirfid settlement, two Ethiopians armed with AK 47 came straight at me suddenly after they come out of a detour. They stopped me under gunpoint and forcibly held me to the ground and then everything went against my willing” said Suuban, while weeping.

Suuban said the Ethiopian soldiers did everything to her, including rape and beatings. “After they were done with me, they told me to walk off and not to look back, threatening they will kill me if I do glance back to take a good look at them,” Suuban said.

Ahmed Ali Hassan, Husband of Suuban also spoke to the newsmen said,
“My wife was raped and tortured by Ethiopian soldiers so that I am calling on everyone who can help to rush to our help”

Ali Hassan, husband of the woman claiming to have been raped by Ethiopian forces stands inside their house during their press conference.

The husband also said that he took his wife to Keysaney hospital, one of the major hospitals in Mogadishu for check up.

“Doctors at Keysaney advised us not to have an intercourse for six months to find out whether my wife was infected with HIV. Also the doctor counseled my wife not to breastfeed our youngest baby during the six-month period, said Ahmed.

The news came as Ethiopian premier, Meles Zenawi, told the press that the remaining Ethiopian troops would be withdrawn from Somalia immediately.

"We are looking forward to withdraw our left two third troops," he said.

Regarding the continuous attack on AU's Ugandan peacekeepers since their arrival and other attacks in the capital Mogadishu, Meles said the situation on the ground is not as exaggerated as the media presented it.

"Not a single Ugandan soldier was harmed. I don't see anything that can hinder the peace and reconciliation process in the country," he said.

Meanwhile an Ethiopian military convoy supported by tanks and battlewagons was attacked Tuesday as it was leaving the capital for southern Somalia.

Witnesses said the Ethiopians were traveling out of the capital when unknown gunmen attacked them around KM4 junction, south of Mogadishu.

Oromo>>Heroes Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde Tombs desecrated

Capital Staff Writer

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - The tombstones of former Olympics marathon gold medalists Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde were this week desecrated by unknown persons, it was learnt.

The two athletes, who won Olympic gold in Tokyo, Rome and Mexico, were laid to rest at the cemetery in St Joseph�fs church. According to Abeselom Yihdego, long standing athletics supporter, philanthropist and owner of Keste Damena Foam Factory, the tombstones were torn down during the evening.

�gI heard about the situation on Thursday morning and when I reached the spot, the life size statues of both athletes were cut from the legs. My father�fs statue was especially damaged and that is a very sad thing,�h Samuel Mamo, son of Major Mamo Wolde said.

�gSeveral people including famous athletes like Haile Genreselassie were at the scene and they were all very sad. Other elderly women who were at the church for another funeral saw the situation and were crying. The two athletes made history at a time when they weren�ft able to receive any personal benefit and they should be respected. The families of both athletes are very sad and I believe that a person in his right mind won�ft do anything like this,�h said a very sad Samuel.

Related Links

Special Section: Abebe Bikila Watch IOC Video of Abebe Bikila

Samuel believes that the life size statues do not belong to the two families or to the athletes themselves, but to the Ethiopian people. He also said that he had taken tourists and journalists to the burial places several times.

�gWe heard about the tombstones from the guards. What makes the matter very sad is that the tombstones were made of concrete and would be worthless once they were destroyed. I built these tombstones because I wanted to inspire this generation into trying to become like them,�h Abeselom said.

Abebe�fs tombstone was built 32 years ago while Mamo�fs was built five years ago. Abeselom had hired a guard for the tombstones for the past 20 years, but following the guard�fs death, a replacement had not been hired.
�gPolice have been informed about the matter and they are investigating the case. I will surely build these tombstones again,�h Abeselom said.

*In 1960, Abebe Bikila stunned the world by winning the Rome Olympics running bare foot, to win Ethiopia and Africa its first Olympic gold medal. Abebe also set world and Olympic marathon records.
Four years later (1968), the Ethiopian returned for the Tokyo Olympics, this time wearing track shoes. He won the race with relative ease and again set a new world and Olympic marathon record. [*]

As if two Olympic gold medals were not enough, Abebe was still up and ready to run in his third Olympic marathon. Two weeks before the race however, Abebe underwent an operation for appendicitis, but that didn�ft stop him from running the race. Midway through the race though, Abebe was unable to finish and knowing this, he whispered a word to his friend and compatriot Mamo Wolde. �gI am feeling sick and I can�ft continue running, but you have to continue and win the race and make sure that the Ethiopian flag keeps on flying in the medal table,�h

That is how a new Olympic champion was found in Mamo Wolde. Before winning the marathon in the same Olympics, Mamo had finished second in the 10,000 meters.

Though Abebe could never give up running, he was forced to by a car accident which left him in a wheelchair. After being paralyzed from the waist down, Abebe continued sports as an archer until the day he died.
The entire nation is shocked by the crazed action of these unknown culprits and hopes that they will soon be brought to justice.

-------------------------

Somalia MPs back Mogadishu move

Somalia MPs back Mogadishu move

There is a fear the force could be under-strength and under-resourced

Somalia's parliament has voted unanimously for the cabinet to relocate to the capital, Mogadishu.

Some 170 MPs voted for the ministers to relocate starting next week, at a session in Baidoa, the government's temporary seat.

The approval comes after Ugandan troops took control of the airport in Mogadishu from Ethiopian forces.

The Ugandans are the first part of an 8,000-strong African Union force to provide security and train the army.

Disarmament move

Uganda forces spokesman Paddy Ankunda said the airport has been re-opened after it was closed on Friday when a plane carrying soldiers and military equipment caught fire. Investigations on the incident are underway.

An Islamist militant group, The Popular Resistant Movement in the Land of Two Migrations, claimed to have fired two rockets at the plane.

"We took over control of the airport from the Ethiopian forces. This means commercial and other flights can safely fly in and out," Captain Ankunda said.

Mogadishu airport has been under the control of Ethiopian forces who assisted the interim government oust the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) last year.

Uganda has so far deployed 1,200 soldiers for the AU mission in Somalia who are expected to begin patrols this week.

Meanwhile, the interim government has announced plans to forcefully disarm civilians at the capital.

Deputy Defence minister Salad Ali Jele said an advance team of newly trained security forces hopes to pacify the city within 30 days.

Dozens of people have been killed during insurgent attacks since the Islamists were ousted from Mogadishu.

Somalia has not had an effective government for 16 years and is awash with weapons.

The AU mission will however not be involved in the disarmament process.

OROMO>>We should become an Oromian first!

Oh my dear Oromian friend,

Why does one break to amend?

for the unimaginable losses ensued,

for Oromummaa to end,

Please help me to understand?.

why it is difficult to assess,

this Ethiopiawinet twisted process.

Does it depend on yesterday?,

or is it the matter of June or May?

The colonization of to day and yesterday.

The source of my sorrow,

the lose of my tomorrow?

That gave the right to my enemies,

to alter my freedom and my people’s relations,

following the trends of global situations,

Does it depend on truth or fictions?

however, we are aware of what we were,

we the Oromians every where,

regardless of what we are now,

Tomorrow will bring another tomorrow,

It may bring happiness perhaps another sorrow,

hence, before we become Ethiopiawii next,

we should become an Oromian first!

But I promise that I am an Oromian and I will,

here on earth, in heaven or in hell

that is the truth I will tell!

Rundassa Ashete Hunde

March, 2007

Ethiopian PM says kidnapped Europeans in the wrong place at the wrong time

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Ethiopia’s prime minister said Monday that officials have a good idea of the whereabouts of five Europeans kidnapped in one of the country’s most remote, inhospitable regions.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi added that he did not believe their captors, who had made no demands, had specifically targeted the five, all of whom worked for or were relatives of employees of the British Embassy in Ethiopia.
The victims were ”at the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said.
”All I can say at the moment is we have a pretty good idea where these people are,” said in his first comments since the kidnapping 12 days ago.
”We do not have any specific demand from any of the personalities involved,” he added. ”Nobody has so far claimed responsibility. To some extent, that might be a positive thing.”
The three British men, an Anglo-Italian and a French woman were on a tourist trip to the remote Afar region of northeastern Ethiopia when they were taken captive at gunpoint. With them were 13 Ethiopians, five of whom are believed to have escaped or been released.
Their SUVs, which had diplomatic plates, were discovered March 5 riddled with bullet holes and grenade shrapnel in Hamedali. They still contained the victims’ luggage, shoes and cell phones, suggesting robbery was not a motive.
British investigators have examined the vehicles and an embassy official said nobody was believed to have been inside when they were shot up.
Meles refused to detail where the hostages were being held, saying he did not want to jeopardize their safety. ”So far they are safe and well. I expect that they will be kept safe and well,” he said.
The region’s ancient salt mines and volcanoes offer a spectacular, moonlike landscape. Bandits operate in Afar and tourists must have armed guides.
Afar is near the disputed border between Ethiopia and archrival Eritrea, an area littered with land mines from numerous conflicts.
Police believe the group may have been taken by gunmen from the local Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front and marched across the porous Ethiopian border into neighboring Eritrea. Eritrea has denied any involvement.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have been strained since Eritrea gained independence from Addis Ababa in 1993 following a 30-year guerrilla war. The two fought a two-year border war that ended in 2000.

Ethiopia: Eucalyptus Bad for Biodiversity - Trust

The country must halt the planting of eucalyptus trees persistently underway as part of the reforestation program for the sake of protecting the biodiversity, a senior official of the country's heritage trust said.

Planting eucalyptus trees may solve immediate problems and for a short term, but there is a danger in ignoring its long term effects on the country's biodiversity, Professor Legesse Negash, president of the Ethiopian Heritage Trust (EHT), said.

The Professor was speaking at the 7th annual meeting of Ethiopian Heritage Trust (EHT) held at Italian Cultural Institution during which he stressed the need for the country to watch the growing number of eucalyptus tree planted to protect deforestation.

He said eucalyptus trees are now replacing the indigenous plants and species rapidly in most parts of the country where reforestation programs are taking place.

"The tree can create many problems on the wealth of the country's biodiversity as it has little advantages in preserving active elements that are vital to the ecology of the environment", the president told participants of the meeting.

According to the president, the Trust is developing more than 300,000 indigenous tree seedlings to be distributed to the public in connection with the Ethiopian millennium.

"As our indigenous tree are the most precious heritages of the country, the Ethiopian Heritage Trust is planting and start to see the fruit of it in the north west part of Addis Ababa called Entoto", Professor Legesse said According to public relations officer Zenebe Desta, the Trust was successful in averting the dangers of the Eucalyptus trees at a pilot site around the capital, it secured form the City administration.

East Africa Ethiopia Environment Sustainable Development

"Various wild animals that used to live in Entoto area have begun to reappear in the area of those measures 1,300 hectare land received with the support of the Addis Ababa administration for national park," he told The Daily Monitor.

"This is due to conservation and other mechanism put in place to control the disturbance of the area following the designation of the hill for the national park", he added.

The public officer also said wild animal like Minilk bushbuck, rabbit, monkey, fox, duiker, and others have now "begun coming to sight." Ethiopian Heritage Trust (EHT) is formed in 1984 in order to preserve the country's heritage and pass on to the coming generation

Oromian History 101

Just before the beginning of the 19th century, there was a place called Biyya Oromo or (Orom-biyyaa) with a combined size of France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium & the Netherlands or the size 600,000 square kilometers with a population of ten million.

Biyya Oromo, the land of thousand Bokkus and several Odaas, self-sufficient with an affluent nation survived the exactions of it’s Turkish invaders from the east and the northern Abyssinian’s invasion who killed five million Oromians.

During the first migration of the Abyssinians to Oromia, the Tigre-Amhara controlled the size of down town Finfinnee (Markaatoo) at a place they named Menz or showa and their population constituted only less than one fourth of one percent of the Oromian population. Even half a century later, by the time when the small Menz controlled the entire 600,000 square kilometer land mass of Oromia, the Tigre-Amhara still owned less than 10 percent land in Oromia.

At the turn of the century, when the Abyssinians began laying their plans for a Habasha state, Oromia became the land of predominant Habasha and Islamic state as a result of the Habasha and Turks conquest and majority of the land became the property of the Abyssinians. Compared to the ruthless oppression of the previous Turkish rulers, the Habasha conquerors of Oromia treated their Oromo subjects with subjugation and none tolerant manners. It is fair for none Oromo scholars and individuals to ask how the minority Habashas could conquer the majority nation such as the Oromians but one major contributing factor for such an outcome is that the Oromians of different Odaas never joined together in defense of their land and that is why once the Crusaders gained the upper hand, five million wise Oromians were slaughtered. Since that day on, the reign of the Abyssinians restored the Abyssinian identity in the hearts of some Oromians, Oromians became poor but the Tigreans and the Amharas prospered. This notion also cultivated an attitude of being civilized in the minds of the Amharas and the Tigreans but demoralized the Oromians as a result, self hate became the fashion for some inferior Oromians and fanatically devoting oneself to borrowed Abyssinians names, religion and behavior became the norm. In the mean while, those Oromians who stood against the Abyssinians superiority faced the unremitting hostility and persecution by every variety of Habasha rulers Christian Europe and Arab expansionism.

At the turn of the century, the day the colonialism was in its heyday, those days when the Europeans were carving up Africa, unashamed Abyssinians borrowed the ideology of imperialism that lent them not only a knowledge how to build prisons and jails but how to use the migration of Faranj missionaries to further divided the Oromians along what they call the Seventh day Adventist, Lutherans, the Pentecostal, the Catholics, the Orthodoxies etc.

From that time on, any idea that comes from the white man was accepted as civilization that itself brought a heavy burden against Oromian’s aspiration of reclaiming their own identity because of its confusing but attractive rhetoric about civilization, economic globalization and the issue of self-determination that hides it’s motives of veiled goal of colonialism in this confusion.

After the Abyssinians colonization set it’s confusion grip upon the Oromians, Oromia’s towns and villages were bought up and their entire population were evicted. Habasha settlers now barred the Oromians from grazing their herds on land that had been traditionally their’s and Habasha settlers refused to hire Oromo professionals, universities refused to accept those Oromo youth who have Oromo names or who did not speak and did not understand the Amharic language very well.

As the struggle against the Abyssinians rule encroachments developed, Oromians loyalty to Oromummaa was transformed into a national consciousness. Gorilla war fare, riots and uprisings were broke out in Oromia with mounting intensity culminating in the great rebellion of the self determination struggle lead by several Oromian political movements. Once again, the Europeans assistance of Abyssinians in putting down Oromo resistance came not only in providing guns and bullets but it included preparing the Abyssinians with better political tactics, inelegance gathering, economic advisory, financial support and most importantly with the organizational strategy that required deep research on how to steal ideas, how to divide the Oromians along religion, region, philosophical, age, gender, clan and age line. For example, one key assistance which the Tigre minority jungle boys received from the American government was the six month management training Meles Zenawi got here in America in the late 1980s and the creation of the OPDO and many other P.D.Os and the disarmament of the Oromo liberation fighters that took place by the deal that was put together by the American Embassy in Finfinnee and by the European union.

It also needs to be noted that the murdering of the tens of the thousands of Oromians was also happened with the brokerage of these international conspiracy and stuffing of over 100,000 Oromia’s citizens into prisons took place as a part of the 1991-92 goal of assisting the Abyssinians. Thought it is not any different from the British royal air force bombardment of Walloo or Oromia in the 1950s, the 1991 methods of eliminating Oromians self determination movement included the bombardment of villages, collective punishment, such as blowing up every house in villages suspected of harboring resistance fighters, planting explosives in hotels and blame suspected Oromo individuals and groups and then hung them up in public, steal ideas from main resistance and make it look like OPDO’s idea, produce documentary films and show the burning civilians by setting them on fire to blame the resistance fighters. Here, one can see the deception of the TPLF and it’s advising international mafia government group to the TPLF by just looking at the Oromo original flag of Black, Red and White and their outright deception when they added the Odaa tree in the middle of the flag. Obviously, they did that to confuse the Oromo nation and rally them behind the artificially produced OPDO by propagating the ideals of the Oromo nation put together by the OLF for the purpose of resurrecting Oromian’s nationhood aspiration long before the birth of PDOs.
"Elman Kushii"

Ethiopia>>Gunmen attack Ethiopian soldiers in Mogadishu

(SomaliNet) Fresh fighting has erupted in the Somalia capital Mogadishu on late Sunday between Ethiopian forces stationing at the former defense ministry building and heavily armed local militiamen.

Heavy gunfire and explosions could be heard over there as residents are very concern over the shelling.

The fighting started around 7:00 pm local time in south of Mogadishu with both sides exchanging artillery, mortar and rocket fires.

There is no immediate casualty on the latest battle.

The Ethiopian forces are reported to have clashed with gunmen presumably supporters of the ousted Islamists.

Residents told Somalinet that insurgent groups have attacked the base of the Ethiopian troops at former defense ministry.

After 15 minute gun battle, the situation now resumed calm.

The latest fighting came as extra Ethiopian troops are heading towards the Somalia capital Mogadishu to enforce the already existed forces who felt threat from the Islamists.

Ethiopian soldiers in the capital are frequently attacked by supporters of the ousted Islamic Courts Union since they helped the interim government took control of the capital late December 2006.

State to determine the fate of asylum seekers.

By Edith Fortunate

The government will soon take over the role of determining refugees’ status from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

The newly enacted Refugees Act, which is yet to become operational, provides for the establishment of the office of the commissioner of refugees, who shall oversee their welfare.

The Act, which was gazetted on January 2, defines who a refugee is, even as it sets conditions for the determination of an asylum seeker as a refugee. It also sets rules for disqualifications of an asylum seeker from getting the status of a refugee.

Previously, the Government has been depending on UNHCR to determine whether asylum seekers should be granted refugee status.

The Act has a raft of proposals supposedly meant to improve the welfare of refugees in Kenya.

A senior assistant secretary in the refugees department in the Ministry of Immigration Mr. Edward Ng’etich, said the minister might, within two months, issues a notice to make it operational.

“The Act will become operational by a minister’s notice,” he said.

Ne’etich said a team of lawyers from the ministry has been meeting to create the regulations that will govern the Act.

“We have been working on the finer details and the specifics of the Act,” he said.

Once it becomes operational, refugees will start enjoying equal rights as ordinary foreigners in securing jobs in Kenya. The Act provides that foreigners who apply to be refugees in the country will be entitled to remain t in the country until a decision is made.

In case the application is rejected, they will continue to stay in the country until they exhaust all appeals.

A grace period of 90 days will be given to anyone whose application of refugee status is rejected to allow him/her to move to a country of his/her choice. Those who qualify as refugees will be issued with identity cards or passes.

The refugees shall be subject to all Kenyan laws and the international conventions, which Kenya is party to.

A refugees Camp Officer shall be responsible for managing the camps, registering asylum seekers and issuing movement passes to refugees wishing travel outside the camp.

Oromo Eva. Church in Washington, DC has launched a radio gospel ministry

To all brothers and sister in Christ:

May the peace of the Lord be with you all:

Re. Radio ministry of the Oromo Church in Washington, DC

The Oromo Evangelical Church in Washington, DC has launched a radio gospel ministry that targets the audience back home and also Oromos reside in the Ethiopian neighboring countries. This ministry began last month in February, 2007, for one day a week for half an hour, with the propose of reaching and encouraging our Oromo people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The station has a wide range of cover - entire East African countries, Mid East and Red sea adjacent countries where a large number of Oromo immigrants presently live.

Since there are thousands of Oromo immigrants and refugees in that part of the world undauntedly these is a vital ministry that needs the support of all of our churches in many parts of the glob. With a little support from the other Oromo churches we can increase the broadcast days from one to three days a week.

The following is the information about the broadcast:

Time and date: Every Saturday 7:00PM – 7:30PM Local (Ethiopian) Time

Station: 22 meter band

You can also listen worldwide on the web: biblevoice.org

Please pass this message to any Oromo individual and churches you may contact with, especially back in our home country and Oromo immigrants in the neighboring countries of Ethiopia and also Oromo refugees live in the surrounding Arab nations.

If you have comments or suggestion you can contact the church with the following addresses:

Oromo Evangelical Church

4300 16^th Street NW

Washington, DC 20011

Tele: 202 723 6012

Email: dcochurch@yahoo.com

Peace and blessings,

On behalf on the Oromo church in Washington, DC

US report accuses Ethiopian police of rights abuses

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 03/10 - Though the Ethiopian government continued to train police and army recruits in human rights, in detention centres the security personnel often physically abused detainees, says a report released this week by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour of the US Department of State.

In its country reports on human rights practices in 2006, the bureau says prison and pre-trial detention centre conditions in Ethiopia remained very poor, and overcrowding continued to be a serious problem. Prisoners were often allocated fewer than 21.5 square feet (about 1.960 square metres) of sleeping space each in a room that could contain up to 200 persons.

The daily meal budget was approximately US$0.35 (3 birr) per prisoner, and many prisoners had family members deliver food daily or used personal funds to purchase food from local vendors.

The report points out that prison conditions were unsanitary, and access to medical care was unreliable. There was no budget for prison maintenance.

"Although the constitution and law prohibit the use of torture and mistreatment, there were numerous credible reports that security officials often beat or mistreated detainees," the report charges. During the year, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited regional prisons, civilian detention facilities, and police stations throughout the country and conducted hundreds of visits involving thousands of detainees.

However, they were restricted from visiting federal prisons, including those where senior opposition, civil society, and media leaders were being held.

Although the Ethiopian constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, the report claims that the government frequently did not observe these provisions in practice.

On the role of the police and security apparatus, the report says petty corruption remained a problem in the police force, particularly among traffic policemen who solicited bribes from motorists.

Impunity also remained a serious problem, but the government rarely publicly disclosed the results of investigations into such types of abuses.

The federal police force, according to the report, acknowledged that many members of its police force as well as regional police lacked professionalism.

Meanwhile, authorities regularly detained persons without warrants and denied access to counsel and family members, particularly in outlying regions.

Although the law requires detainees to be informed of the charges against them within 48 hours, this generally was not respected in practice.

While there was a functioning bail system, police officials did not always respect court orders to release suspects on bail.

"The law prohibits detention in any facilities other than an official detention centre; however, there were dozens of crude, unofficial local detention centres used by local government militia," the report observes.

Ethiopian police say they have identified kidnappers

AFP

March 10, 2007

HOSTILE LAND: A mother and child pass in front of a satellite dish in Berahile, Afar highlands. The kidnapping of five Europeans and eight locals has put the international spotlight on a remote, barren, and searingly hot corner of Ethiopia left behind by modernity. (REUTERS)

ADDIS ABABA -- Ethiopian police said Saturday they had identified the kidnappers of the UK embassy tour group abducted in the remote Ethiopian desert March 1.

"One team [of police investigators] in Afar region found out who kidnapped them, but I do not have the complete information and I cannot tell you more," federal police spokesman Demsash Hailu said.

"We have not yet concluded our investigation. Our team is still working on the case and has not yet concluded its report," he added.

The four Britons and a Frenchwoman, all linked to the UK embassy in Addis Ababa, disappeared in the arid northeast Afar region with their Ethiopian drivers and translators during a tourist trip.

Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin said Friday that the hostages were "safe" although still being held by their captors.

"We cannot disclose the place where they are because we believe that this will endanger their safety," the minister said, speaking in the northern town of Mekele.

Mesfin indicated that his government was in contact with third parties to secure the release of the five Europeans.

"The parties that are in communication are indicating to us that they have seen them, that they are in good condition," he said.

The UK government said Friday that it was checking the report that the five are safe -- but urged caution.

"Our line remains that this is an uncorroborated report," said a UK Foreign Office spokeswoman in Addis Ababa, declining to be named.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, speaking on the sidelines of a European Union summit in Brussels, said: "We have had indications that there are people who are saying that the hostages are OK.

"Obviously the issue as to where they are is something that is having to be looked at."

The UK has said local rebel groups in Afar were probably responsible but the Ethiopian state news agency ENA, quoting local elders, said Eritrean soldiers took them some 20 kilometers (15 miles) across the border to a settlement called We'ima.

Asmara has repeatedly denied any connection to the kidnapping, claiming its arch-foe is trying to implicate Eritrea to damage its reputation.

Tourists visit the Afar region mainly to see the Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth known for its salt mines and active volcanoes.

5 European, 8 Ethiopian hostages 'safe'

Afar rebels say captives linked to U.K. Embassy are in Eritrea

Reuters.
ADDIS ABABA - Five Europeans and eight Ethiopians kidnapped in remote northern Ethiopia are “unharmed and safe” in the hands of Afar separatist rebels holding them across the border in Eritrea, an Afar leader said on Friday.

Eritrea immediately repeated its denial that the captives were on its territory.

Ismael Ali Gardo, co-founder of the Afar Pastoralists Development Association (APDA), said word of the captives had been picked up and passed on by nomadic herders close to where they were being held in the Eritrean settlement of Weima.

“There are unharmed and safe and in Weima in Eritrea,” Ismael, who returned from Afar to Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa on Friday, told Reuters.

Hostages linked to British embassy
The hostages, all linked to the British embassy in Addis Ababa, were seized by an armed band eight days ago during a tour of the Afar region, one of the hottest and driest parts on earth.

As well as eight Ethiopian translators, drivers and guides, the group includes three British men, one Italian-British woman, and a French woman.

Eritrea’s Information Minister Ali Abdu rejected the report.

“We understand the concern of the families, but this event happened inside Ethiopia and it is taking place inside Ethiopia,” he told Reuters by telephone from Asmara.

“Instead of being concerned by what happened in its country and doing its best to save the lives of these innocent people, Ethiopia’s government is manipulating this unfortunate event.”

Eritrea and Ethiopia still have bitter relations over a 1998-2000 border war and routinely fire belligerent rhetoric at one another.

Abdu said Eritrea was working with elders near the Ethiopian border and exchanging information with the British government.

'They will not want to harm them'
A British embassy spokeswoman in Addis Ababa said the report was being investigated urgently.

“But we cannot comment on uncorroborated reports and would urge people to take caution over speculation which might distress the families,” she said.

Ethiopian officials declined to comment and said a statement was expected later on Friday.

Ismael said the kidnappers were from the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF), a group that sprung up in the 1990s to seek more autonomy for the Afar region straddling Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti.

“They will not want to harm them. They are in Eritrea but the people who took them were from Afar,” Ismael said. His information came from the reliable, traditional method of communication known as “Dagu,” he said.

Under that system, pastoralists who pass each other in the desert greet and swap news, ensuring that information travels quickly the length and breadth of the region.

The End of Ethiopian Invention in Somalia

Nairobi (HAN) March 9th, 2007 - Somalis and Experts on Somali Affairs have recently witnessed a history without a known parallel. Much efforts and ink have been spent on analyzing and discussing many noteworthy history events such as the transformation of the notorious Mogadishu-based warlords into so-called “Alliance for Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism; Washington’s bungled policy of supporting them and the dramatic rise and fall of the Union of Islamic Courts. We witnessed the diplomatic u-turn of the UN Security Council, which opened the gates to flood the country with deadly arms. And finally, we saw the dawning of the occupation of Somalia by the country’s historical enemy, Ethiopia, and their troops roaming round the streets of Mogadishu.

The Somali writer, Mohamed Mukhtar in London: Even before Ethiopia invaded Somalia, there was no consensus within Somalis to give the TFG a chance to govern, due to Addis Ababa’s hand in the election or selection of the Transitional Federal Government in 2004 in Nairobi. That mistrust has widened when the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) called for the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia. The TFG is, therefore, seen as a puppet regime which is morally bankrupted and unable to act freely in the interest of the Somali people. And the call to end Ethiopian’s occupation of Somalia and the removal of the TFG is gaining momentum.


Since Somalia’s affairs are infinitely complicated, it is an arduous undertaking to develop a route map that can lead Somalia back to normality. In this paper, I am making a set of prescriptions that I consider it to be a suitable answer to the chronic situation that Somalia finds itself today. Firstly, I will outline what needs to be done if the TFG is made to realise that it has failed as a government. Secondly, I will argue what the natural response will be if the TFG is allowed to hang on power and continues to serve essentially at the convenience of the political and economic interests of its backers, which seems to be the case at the moment.

I am fully aware that what I have in mind could be difficult for some to accept. It might taste as a bitter pill to swallow, but my suggestion is based on the reality on the ground. No one can deny that what we see today is on a course leading nowhere (a cull de sac) or a vicious circle that has no end and while in the meantime both the country and people are suffering.

Amenable response

This response is possible when the TFG and the international community accept that the TFG does not have what it takes to lead Somalia and call for an all-inclusive and genuine reconciliation. The following suggestions should not necessarily be implemented in a sequential manner; in fact, some of them should occur simultaneously. However, if the international community chooses to see Somalia through green-tinted spectacles or the TFG uses coercive measures to silence its opponent, the amenable response is a non-starter.

The International community

A UN-backed government, an internationally-recognised government, a Western-backed government, an Ethiopian-backed government are some of the names that are used to describe the TFG. Unfortunately, none of these names makes the TFG a generally accepted one. Throughout Somalia’s troubled history solution imposed by outsiders has zero chance to succeed. In other words, the international community can make a government for Somalia but it cannot force the people to accept it. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer recently said, “One of the key tasks in front of us is the security of that government and those people particularly as we see an increase in violence or mortar attacks in Mogadishu.” For the last three years, the international community has been trying unsuccessfully to legitimize the TFG. Therefore, it is time that the international community changes its attitude of ‘we know what is good for Somalis’ to ‘Somalis know what is good for them’. The TFG is part of the problem and not part of the solution. Hence, keeping the TFG on a life supporting machine will only prolong Somalia’s agony and hardly makes it a popular government.

A Somali Mediation Council

Once the international community recognises that the TFG cannot function, I wish to propose the establishment of a Council of genuine Somalis who have the interest of the Nation at heart and who profoundly understand the root-cause of the problem. A Council which enjoys the trust of all the sections of the Somali society and with the people’s mandate to bring peace and can find viable solution to break the impasse. A Council with the ownership of its commission, and not guided by foreigners, who can play the role of honest brokers.

The Council will lead the country for the remaining two years mandate of the present government This Council’s priority should be the building of bridge between the different groups in Somalia so that they could, at least, normalise the situation and call for truce in order to work out for the implementation of the provisions of the Provisional Charter. I know it is difficult to convince certain quarters; however, we need a new approach to solve an old problem.

Cessation of Hostilities

Once the Council is formed, the influential leaders of the Islamic Courts and other actors need to exert maximum effort to contribute to building peace and stability in the country by ceasing hostilities, not only in the capital, but also in other parts of the country. This is hard to achieve due to multiple conflicting interests and the lack of political will among the groups. Nevertheless, one must try. This will enable the Council to operate freely in a friendly environment so that it can take up the task of finding a lasting solution to the country’s problem.

We have to understand that the enmity created within the society during the past decade and a half of civil war, and current political crisis being so strong, the people have lost the sense of trust and the fear of revenge is always present in the minds of the Somali people.

Deployment of peacekeepers

Sheikh Sharif Ahmed recently told the Aljazeera Television: “The problem cannot be resolved by international forces because what has happened is an invasion and following up on that with international forces will further complicate the crisis”. The widely shared belief is that Somalia’s problems should be solved by Somalis alone. Unfortunately, with whatever pretext, Somalia is today under Ethiopia’s occupation, which for any normal Somali would be hard to accept it. And as long as the presence of Ethiopian forces in Somali soil persists, the achievement of peaceful environment conducive to better understanding between the different groups in Somalia will remain illusive. To end the presence of Ethiopian troops International peacekeepers should be deployed but it is important to ensure that Ethiopia troops do not constitute part of the international forces.

An effective nationalistic group

Ethiopia started to undermine Abdiqasim’s government through Somalia Reconciliation and Reconstruction Council (SRRC), which was built up around a number of warlords and other faction leaders. The subsequent failure of the TNG led to two years of plodding negotiations in Kenya. In 2004, the SRRC emerged the winner when Abdullahi Yusuf became the president of Transitional Federal Government and its members dominate the TFIs. The Islamic Courts were the only effective opposition that challenged the hegemony of the SRRC. Ethiopian occupation is unacceptable to most Somalis however disunity and poor coordination among them had created an environment that Ethiopia could exploit.



SRRC is an Ethiopian backed group and it is unlikely to divorce Ethiopian sympathizers from Somalia’s politics; therefore, to counter this, it is important to create an effective nationalistic group that truly embodies Somalia’s values and identity. Somalis deserve to have a government full of honest intellectuals and not a government full of Ethiopian-handpicked ministers.

Recalcitrant response

If the government fails to listen to the many voices calling for a genuine reconciliation and chooses to serve its backers, in broad outline if not every particular, a recalcitrant response will become inevitable. Dr. Michael A. Weinstein also expressed the same concern in his article ‘Somalia’s Political Future Appears to be its Pre-Courts Past’. In it he said: “With the T.F.G. haltingly struggling for power and authority, and determined to avoid genuine power sharing; the clans and sub-clans, and their warlords asserting themselves; and an incipient Islamist insurgency forming that will league with disaffected sub-clans and warlords, reversion to political fragmentation is underway in Somalia.” Under this difficult circumstance, creating an effective, credible national movement that can arrest Ethiopia’s occupation of Somalia and offer a government that has the welfare of its people closer to heart will be a top priority. If this movement is to succeed, it must not only liberate Somalia but it must also address the dynamics behind Somalia’s ills.

In conclusion, the international community should allow Somalis bring about peace in their own country, in the way they deem it necessary and their decision must be respected without prejudice. The TFG should realise that the only way out from the present political dilemma is through a national reconciliation free from foreign interference and that it is good to leave the stage before the stage caves in. for the Somalis, it may seem to reach acceptable solutions is as difficult as it has been since the last decade and a half, ending Ethiopia’s occupation must be the first step towards the long road to recovery while keeping in mind that a nation cannot be built on the basis of collective amnesia.

Opinion: Contributed by: Mohamed Mukhtar , London , mohamed323@hotmail.com

Ethiopia>>UN demands release of arrested Ethiopian refugees

UNITED Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is giving the Malawi Government pressure to have the 46 Ethiopian refugees arrested two weeks ago released.

The 46 were arrested at Mwanza boarder as they attempted to illegally sneak out of their Luwani camp in a tiny boarder district of Neno.

Immigration authorities, who were tipped of the illicit act by the public, apprehended the refugees while hiding in an oil tanker destined for South Africa.

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Bob Khamisa told the state radio today that the UN agency wants government to surrender the refugees to them as is required by the International regulations.

However, Khamisa said government is still discussing the matter with them because at the moment its stand is to deport them as they have proved not to be genuine asylum seekers.

"These people are currently in police custody but we are failing to take them to court because the UNHCR is giving us pressure to surrender these people to them," Khamisa said.

He however explained that since Malawi is party to international treaty on refugees government is currently discussing the issue with the agency and a decision will be made soon.

The minister said some of the refugees being accommodated in the country were once fighters in their countries and if kept unchecked it poses a security hazard to the nation.

"Some of these refugees were combatants in their countries and for the country to be harbouring such people in the country are a security risk," he said.

Khamisa also said government was concerned with many foreigners particularly East Africans who are taking Malawi as their transit point.

"But we are now tightening the loose ends and let me also warn those Malawians, especially from Chitipa and Karonga, who are also conniving with such people that once apprehended the law will deal with them," he said.

Oromo>>Clashes Over Pasture Continue

Ali Abdi
Nairobi

Peace initiatives from civil society Groups in the northern frontier yet to bear fruits

The Marsabit plane crash in which six MPs and eight other people died.

Almost two years have passed since the infamous Turbi massacre and little has been done to end the frequent clashes between the Borana and Gabra.

The conflict between the two tribes, found in Marsabit, Moyale and southern Ethiopia, is caused by competition for scarce resources - pasture and water.

The communities criss-cross Kenya and Ethiopia in search of pasture and water. Conflicts occur when rival clans try to control water points and grazing fields.

During the Turbi massacre that occurred in July 2005, 70 people were killed when raiders attacked villages. Since then, more than 200 people have been killed and thousands of livestock stolen in conflicts pitting the two communities against each other.

Thirty others have been killed since July, last year. In the latest incident, two people were killed in Saku at a borehole near the airstrip, 5km from Marsabit town. Police say the bandits carried out the attack after being denied access to a water point.

Community Initiative Facilitation and Assistance (Cifa), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working among the warring communities, says the current conflict had enormous effect on the lives of the people.

In its 2006 annual report, the NGO says access by locals to pasture and water had been "reduced to the home range due to fear of raids".

"Peace initiatives from community representatives, civil society groups and the provincial administration from both countries are yet to fully bear fruits," says Cifa Chief Executive, Chachu Tadicha.

Ancient practice

Tadicha says movement by the herdsmen between lowland Kenya and the Ethiopian highlands is an ancient practice and stopping it is difficult. Subsistence farming is practised in high altitude areas while the lower region, that is in Kenya, is suitable for livestock rearing.

Kenyan lowlands have abundant water and pasture, especially during the rainy season while the Ethiopian plateau has a permanent source of water during the dry season.

The pastoralists' economy in the region had been aggravated by the drought in the last two years where it is estimated that 60 per cent of livestock died.

In an interview with The Saturday Standard, locals said if they had enough pasture, water points and livestock markets, there would be no clashes.

Those on the Kenyan side blamed the Government for doing nothing to address the underlying issues. MPs from the area say the Government must address development issues in the volatile area to bring about long lasting peace among the residents.

They say so far, only NGOs and the Kenya Red Cross Society are addressing the issues that contributed to the unending conflict.

Cifa partners with Concern Worldwide, Oxfam, Cordaid, Caritas, and the Kenyan and Ethiopian governments in an attempt to end the conflict and assist the pastoralists in social economic development.

Officials of Cifa recently toured Laisamis, Saku, North Horr, Moyale and parts of southern Ethiopia during the launch of development projects by the NGO.

Cifa together with other NGOs and the Kenya and Ethiopian governments, sponsored peace meetings between the warring sides after the Turbi massacre. The first meeting was held in Yabello, Ethiopia, while Borana and Gabra spiritual leaders in Moyale attended the second one.

Peace-building initiative

The third and final peace meeting that was to be attended by area MPs and top government officials in Marsabit did not take place after the plane carrying the legislators crashed in Marsabit.

Tadicha says peace building is important but not enough to end the conflict. He says what is needed most is water, access to pasture and a stable livestock market.

The latest peace-building initiative was held early last month in Moyale, where participants included elders from the Borana and Gabra. Other peace initiatives between various Oromo speaking communities were held in Miyo, Mega and Moyale, all in Ethiopia's Region Five Province.

During the meeting, the elders called on pastoralists to seek permission before moving with their animals into their rivals' areas.

"Conflict occurs when rival communities move into one another's areas, in search of pasture and water. The influx leads to clashes," a Borana elder observed.

Both the Kenyan and Ethiopian Governments were condemned for failing to support the peace initiatives and instead resorted to military actions.

"They should resort to the "dedha" system which is the traditional way of pasture management. They have pasture and water zone preserved only for use during drought," Tadicha says.

Apart from peace initiatives, Cifa has been drilling boreholes in North Horr, Moyale and some parts of southern Ethiopia.