By Amane Bedaso*

The moral justification behind any nation’s fight for human rights is the God-given divine right of liberty for all humanity. Where oppression exists, human rights are denied, dignity as well as human value are denied. In a human society, we often seek what is far most close to our hearts; speaking for all humanity, nothing is far more valuable than freedom.

Ethiopia is a land of many nations, peoples of many cultural heritages. It holds a population of over 70-million, which places it as the #17 in population among the 193 countries of the world. In 2007, approximately 3% of the population was over 65 years of age; with another 44% of the population under 15 years of age. There were 99 males for every 100 females in the country in 2003. According to the UN, the annual population growth rate for 2000–2005 was 2.46%, with the projected population for the year 2015 at 93,845,000. The population density in 2002 was 61 per sq km (159 per sq mi). The area of greatest density was the High Plateau, with more than 70% of the population.

Behind that curtain of statistics, Ethiopia is a silenced land of genocide, where many nations are denied freedom and human rights. It’s often said where one is oppressed, civil laws and democracy are absent. Meles Zenawi, the current Prime Minister, is a dictator with an ideology of ethnic cleansing of the Oromos in Ethiopia. Every day in Ethiopia, there is a rule of dictatorship to oppress its peoples for the personal value of politicians and ethnocentrism of the (TPLF). Many are murdered, and disappeared nowhere to be seen; students are oppressed because of which they are revolting against the tyranny.

In history, oppression has always existed, many nations have overcome it through fierce struggle. The United States grew out of the concept of slavery and discrimination, and is now the leader of democracy. Yet, in the midst of the world moving away from gruesome ruling to a new form of democracy that gives voice to its peoples, Ethiopia lags behind.

The human rights conditions in Ethiopia are known by the world; yet, it’s ignored by millions around the world. The assurance of abuse in government is there, the bodies are piling up in the streets in Ethiopia. Many women are being raped everyday in their homes in front of their families, neighbors and colleagues. For humanity to ignore this, it is disturbing; especially, for it to be ignored by the society that “fights for human rights” abroad.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s reign has been the bloodiest dictatorship since 1991. Millions of bodies are hidden, and many are poisoned for speaking for freedom. Peoples in Ethiopia are silenced; many millions are dying of hunger and malnutrition. The evidence is clear. Yet, in the midst of all, with no regard for humanity, the Ethiopian government is still known as a fledgeling democracy. The term democracy is that, the government is there to uphold the needs of its citizens and freedom of speech, not ethnic cleansing and genocide.

The personal stories of millions in Ethiopia could not be covered by this short writing; the deaths in Ethiopia could be told for years. The hunger that kills people cannot be explained without questioning humanity’s madness. The many students, who are tortured and killed because they hunger for freedom, belong to an everlasting story of disturbance.

The genocide of the Oromo is by far the most heartbreaking story that will ever be told in human history. For over a century, the genocide has been going on; and for over a century, the world has sat back and watched as many are murdered. We, as humans, can claim that we are all created equal. Facing the facts of this dark world, we remain blind to the truth. The story in Ethiopia is one no writing or history could ever finish telling. The truth behind the dictatorship of Meles Zenawi is a story of ethnic cleansing, the same story Adolf Hitler wrote in the history books we now attain. The acts of genocide, by Adolf Hitler against the Jewish people, otherwise known as the Holocaust, are the same history that Ethiopia now attains.

On this day, this approximate second, the TPLF regime is degrading the Oromo people’s human rights and human dignity, as the world sits back and watches another history of genocide occur. We can stay blind and ignore the deaths, the millions who lost their lives, including many other non-Oromo peoples suffering from Prime Minister Zenawi’s dictatorship. Or, we can be sympathetic to the truth and to the oppression, and we can speak for those who are silenced. This isn’t a question of sympathy, though; this is a question of humanity.

History often repeats itself even though some histories are believed to never repeat again. The history of genocide in Ethiopia continues till this day. The Meles Zenawi dictatorship is rule by one, and deaths for the opposing millions against one.

In this 3-day campaign launched by the Exiled Oromo Youth group, I urge you all to campaign against human rights violations and the land grabbing that is affecting millions of lives. Join the 3-day campaign, because you will be the voice of so many millions who need it now.

* Amane Bedaso
Human Rights Advocate

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