November 15, 2008
(ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian authorities arbitrarily arrested 94 opposition
members and Oromo nationals in different towns of Ormiya
region but mainly in the capital Addis Ababa, confirmed two oppositions parties
today.
Recently the Oromo Parliamentarians Council in a joint
statement said that Meles-led government has put
under unlawful detention to more than 100 Oromo’s of different background using
the pretext of supporting the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) as of
The council also said it has received the list of some of
the arrested Oromos including university lecturers
and opposition members who has been detained over twice in the past, and
tortured to the level of disability.
Two Oromo opposition parties, The Oromo Federalist
Democratic Movement (OFDM) and the Oromo Peoples Congress party confirmed the
mass arrest of opposition members and Oromo nationals in different town of
“So far we have confirmed the illegal arrest of 94 Oromo
nationals including our opposition members” Oromo Federalist Democratic
Movement chairman Bulcha Demeksa
told Sudan Tribune.
Bulcha
says what going on now is an attempt to jeopardize Oroms
people political movement in such away and close their legal political
institutions by such means” he further said
"Few says ago our parties higher representative was
illegal snatched by government agents from his friend’s car out side Addis in
the highways of Nazeret ,south of Addis & kept in
Jail for hours received threats as well" he Added
There are unconfirmed source putting the number of detained Oromos to at least 200
"Though we couldn’t confirm it at this point, medias
are putting the figure to over 200" says Merarra
Gudina, Oromo Peoples Congress party’s chairman but
says the report is likely and has no surprise.
"It is very easy to illegal arrest any Oromo
national" Merarra said adding “If you are an
Oromo ethnic and you don’t support or oppose the ruling government in a way
then you are considered as illegal and linked to “terrorists” like Oromo
Liberation Front so you are always in the hunt list by government agents”
The Oromo Parliamentarians statement called on the
international community to take action in no time.
"It is the high time for all the concerned body to
interfere in the gross human right violation against the Oromos
from all walks of life and secure their constitutional freedom," it said
The opposition board urged a number of governments,
international institutions and human rights organisations
as: European Parliament, European Commission,
Recently, Ethiopian authorities warned of a possible
terrorist attack and urged citizens to collaborate with security forces. The
caution has led into the arrest of a number of suspects including opposition
members.
Source: Sudan tribune