Ethiopia opposition OFDM accuses Oromo ruling party of violence

Dec 3, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM), one of the opposition political parties with wide popular support in Oromia, said ruling OPDO -led killings, harassment and jailing of its supporters and members was on the rise.

“The indiscriminate killings have led to a complete no-peace situation, where several schools have been closed and parents were unwilling to send their children to schools owing to prevalence of insecurity,” a statement the party issued on Thursday read.

The press release which pointed out that killings in Ambo, Tikur Enchini Jeldu and Western Wollega over the last two weeks have gravely affected normal day-to-day activities, further underscored that OFDM members have been undergoing harsh jail treatments in Lalo Asabi, Bodgi, Dirmedgi and Bale Robe areas of the region.

“A regime that reverses its own repeated promises to promote democracy with outright killings to avenge its people is no different from a totalitarian dictatorship,” the press release said.

According to OFDM, the “intensified harassment” was only discouraging people from peacefully undertaking their day-to-day activities and forcing them to consider other options.

Concerning the upcoming Woreda elections, the party said the ruling OPDO was deliberately misinforming the public that “no such election would take place and that OPDO would continue to rule whether they liked it or not.” The press release said OFDM member students were being egged on to renounce their memberships to get transfer documents to higher institutions.

The party thus demanded the immediate release of its members and the reopening of branch offices. OFDM further said it was incumbent upon the government to desist from all violent means of quelling nation-wide resistance to its unlawfulness. The party further demanded that perpetrators of the recent killings in Oromia be brought before the court of law and compensations be paid to the victims’ families.

Police said some civilians and a policeman were killed in shootouts when rioters snatched away guns from the police and opened fire when violence freshly erupted last Tuesday in Jeldu Woreda, West Shewa zone.

Woreda administrator Adjima Tolessa told The Reporter that rioters shouted anti-EPRDF slogans and destroyed houses and several offices.

(The Reporter)