Letter to US State Department Ethiopia Desk-Foreign Policy: Death of Engineer Tesfahun Chemeda

 August 30, 2013

Dear US State Department
Ethiopia Desk

During a 2009 speech given by President Obama, preservation of human dignity was stated as core US policy objective. A portion of the speech was documented by the Congressional Research Service in a July 22nd, 2011 article titled Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa.

“When there is genocide in Darfur or terrorists in Somalia, these are not simply African problems, they are global security challenges, and they demand a global response…. And let me be clear: our Africa Command is focused not on establishing a foothold on the continent, but on confronting these common challenges to advance the security of America, Africa, and the world.”

Although the African Command goals include “confronting common challenges” of Genocide and terrorism, the question remains why US Government provides military aide to States (including African) that practice “State Terror.” Support of “State Terror” often results in oppression, human rights violation and Genocide, as history has proven repeatedly. Such was the case in Iraq where US Foreign policy, initially supported Saddam Hussein’s regime during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. The Foreign policy was instituted despite the fact that the Saddam Hussein persecuted occupied people such as Kurds and other segments of the Iraqi population. Support of Saddam Hussein at that time emboldened the regime to use brutality to suppress Kurds and Iraqi people in general, as well as neighboring Kuwait. Operating with impunity caused the death of untold numbers of Iraqi civilians. Similarly, support of the Ethiopian Government has resulted in extrajudicial imprisonment and deaths of many civilians, including Oromo, Ogaden, Anuak, Sidama and Southern Nations.

Further analysis of Ethiopia reveals the African colonial nature and desire for perpetrators (Abyssinian elites) to retain the colonial empire as the root of conflict in the Horn of Africa. The Northern ethnic groups (Amhara and Tigray) have occupied Oromo, Ogaden and Southern Nations for over 120 years. Throughout the occupation, brutality, Ethnocide and Genocide have been part of the Abyssinian policy for controlling the occupied territory through leveraging International conflicts and ideologies. The policy of ethnocide extended to cultural and linguistic domination by a population (Amhara), who constitute less than twenty percent of Ethiopia.

• While Amhara ruled Ethiopia, the Oromo language was banned in public places. The founders of Macha Tulama Self Help Association in Ethiopia, a civic organization made of Oromo professionals and leaders1, attempted to counter the repressive regime, resulting in many of the leaders imprisoned and or killed. Attached is a 1977 Amnesty International Press Release that reported on the execution of Mecha Tulama leaders, General Tadessa Birru and Colonel Haile Regassa. Colonel Alemu Qixxessa was arrested and served 10 years in prison for being one of the founding members of Mecha Tulama. http://www.amnesty.org/es/library/asset/AFR25/007/1977/en/60527fe6-4fba-45eb-a44a-922648490a70/afr250071977en.pdf 

“In some such trials in early 1976 defendants were allowed their own lawyers or state legal aid, and relatives could attend the trial. however, in general, trials were in camera, defendants were denied legal representation, and judgements and sentences appeared to be arbitrary. In one well-known case in 1975,two Oromo officers, General Tadesse Birhu (whose case had been taken up by AI in the 1967′Calla 2rial’) and Colonel Haile Hagassa were sentenced to prison terms by a military tribunal, on charges of joining a counter-revolutionary organization but the terms were changed to death penalties by the chairman of the Derg, and both were executed. ” – Amnesty International 1977

• Under the current Tigrayan regime, Oromo was included as a state, but our language and culture was suppressed including Waaqeffannaa, an indigenous Oromo religions. As was the case during Amhara regime, our founding organization in Ethiopia offices were looted and closed by Government of Ethiopia. http://www.amnesty.org/fr/library/asset/AFR25/008/2004/fr/91c51157-d5ae-11dd-bb24-1fb85fe8fa05/afr250082004en.html
• Arbitrary arrests of Oromo were documented in 2007 by Amnesty International http://www.amnestyinternational.be/doc/spip.php?page=imprimir_articulo&id_article=11649
• Oromo Support Group Australia letter on Oromo Prisoners of Conscience including Mecha Tulama members and leaders http://www.gadaa.com/OSGAStatementSept2011.pdf

Although the War on Terror is critical, sacrificing of occupied people such as Oromo in Ethiopia sends mixed messages to the World. An underlying message is that our Government allows aligned states to commit human rights violations and Genocide, under the guise of State security. The inference is that our Government stays “neutral” as long as the aligned nation supports the current Global initiatives such as the War on Drugs and War on Terror. It sets a standard for other Nations that the World accepts policies that vilify civilian populations in order to carry out a mission to suppress dissent, occupy neighbor states, Genocide and or Ethnocide, further weakening the core objectives of the United Nations.

One recent consequence of “Neutral policy” towards human rights violations and genocide by the Ethiopian empire is the death of Mr Tesfahun Chemada; an Oromo professional who was killed in Ethiopian Kaliti prison this past week.

Mr Tesfahun Chemeda fled Ethiopia to Kenya because of persecution of Oromo professionals. In Kenya, Mr Tesfahun approached UNHCR and filed for protection. UNHCR gave him a mandate based on confirmation that Mr Tesfahun was persecuted in Ethiopia. Tragically, the Kenyan Government arrested Mr Tesfahun along with another Oromo, Mr Mesfin Abeba, for interrogation before refoulment to Ethiopia. According to sources:

“The two innocent victims Tesfahun and Mesfin were handed over to the Ethiopian authorities who took them hand cuffed and blind folded at 2:00 AM local time on May 12, 2007, purportedly to have them investigated for terrorism at the JATT Main Investigation Branch in Finfinne (Addis Abeba)…… From Apr. 27 to May 12, 2007, before handing them over, they [Tesfahun Chemeda Gurmessa and Mesfin Abeba] were interrogated at the Kenyan National Bureau of Investigation near Tirm Valley by American Agents and Kenyan Anti Terror Police Unit. The Kenyan officer Mr Francis, who led the investigation, concluded the innocence of these two victims and requested the Kenyan authority to immediately let them free. However, another Kenyan CID agent Ms Lelian, who is suspected of having close connection with the Ethiopian agents, opposed the decision and facilitated the handing over of these two innocent victims. “

Kenyan Government actions were in violation of international obligations and norms. The standards that Kenyan blatantly violated include:

• 1465 U.N.T.S 185, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment2
• and Article 3 of the Convention against Torture. 3

As a result of these violations, Mr Tesfahun Chemeda was martyred as an Oromo; having been tortured and killed in Kaliti prison in Ethiopia. The tragedy is that the case of Mr Tesfahun Chemeda is much too common for Oromo.

Attached are letters by Oromo Support Group to Minister in the UK and Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa, which provide a great deal of detail on Mr Tesfahun Chemeda.

http://gadaa.com/oduu/21413/2013/08/27/open-letter-of-osga-to-hon-kevin-rudd-australian-pm-on-the-death-in-ethiopian-custody-of-engineer-tesfahun-chemeda-after-refoulement-from-kenya/

http://humanrightsleague.com/2013/08/ethiopia-the-government-is-accountable-for-the-death-of-a-political-prisoner-at-an-ethiopian-jail/

We urge the US Government to reform US Foreign policies to protect all human rights. The consequences of “neutral policies” have created vast suffering of civilian populations around the World, including Oromo.

Sincerely,

Mardaasa Addisu
Secretary of Macha Tulama Cooperative and Development Association

http://www.machatulama-usa.org/

---

1. Journal of Oromo Studies Association on Mecha Tulama Self Help Association http://www.oromostudies.org/josfiles/JOS%20Volume%204%20Numbers%201&2%20%281997%29.pdf

2. Under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1465 U.N.T.S. 185), the obligation not to return a person to a place where they will face torture or ill-treatment.

3. Article 3 of the Convention against Torture provides: No state party shall expel, return (“refouler”) or extradite a person to another state where there are substantial grounds to believe that they would be in danger of being subjected to torture.

Analysts question morality of double edged partnerships with Ethiopia

http://www.cfr.org/ethiopia/us-ethiopia-double-edged-partnership/p13922

JARRAA ABBAA GADAA WILL BE REMEMBERED WITH REVERENCE

(OLF statement on the passing away of Jaarraa Abbaa-Gadaa)

March 4, 2013 

It is with enormous sorrow and grief that all Oromo nationals and friends in Oromia and beyond to hear that one of the great leaders of Oromo liberation struggle has passed away, after long time illness, while conducting resistance from exile.

Jaarraa Abbaa-Gadaa's history is an integral part of the initiation of the Oromia-wide armed struggle for liberation. His arduous journey to launch armed struggle started from eastern Oromia, passing through the armed uprising in the southeast, Somalia, the Middle East, back to Somalia for five years incarceration in Somali prisons and back to eastern Oromia to realize the dream, which demonstrates a distinctive determination. His continued defiance of any pressure or temptation from governments and entities throughout the region and beyond, and his steadfast resolve in the principle he stood for to the last minute is something that all Oromo nationalists have to take as a reference. 

Camoo haa yaadannu

VOA: Injinar Tasfahuun Camadaa (Oromo-Oromia)

Human rights group says sentencing of 21 Oromos in Ethiopia’s court is politically motivated

Human rights group says sentencing of 21 Oromos in Ethiopia’s court is politically motivated

Jaal Jaallannee Biqilaa: Nagaa Dhaamachuu Jaal Tasfahuun Camadaa (Oromo-...

Finland’s envoy exposes “the dark side” of Ethiopia’s regime

August 28, 2013 (Formin Finland) — At the end of his four-year duty tour in Ethiopia as Finland’s Ambassador, Mr. Leo Olasvirta made some observations in his August 14, 2013 article, which appears on the Finnish Foreign Ministry webpage (in Finnish), highlighting Ethiopia’s contributions to the stability of the surrounding troubled Horn of Africa countries.

In his elaboration, he attributes this to Ethiopia’s strength, especially its active role in promoting peace and good neighborly policy. This has become necessary with aim of avoiding escalating situations in neighboring countries that “could jeopardize the country’s economy and prosperity.”

Regarding the poor record of the regime in human rights, Ambassador Olasvirta was upfront in stating, “Ethiopia does not have respect for human rights nor does the state have a democratic model”, although the country is relatively safe and stable. In other words, he cites as an example the fact that this far Ethiopia has not experienced a major terrorist attack, at a time when Islamic fundamentalists are trying to draw the region into their sphere.

On the other hand, the ambassador notes that Ethiopia’s major challenge is “the authoritarian regime and its democratic deficit.” He refers to this as “Ethiopia’s dark side.”

To amplify what he meant by that, he pointed out human rights violations that occur from time to time, with the arrests of activists and journalists. He links this to the open-ended anti-terrorism law, empowering the state to violate at will the human rights of its citizens. He says, “The Anti-terrorism law is formulated in such a way that a mere opinion, or contact with suspected individuals could trigger an investigation and the consequent criminality.”

Furthermore, Ambassador Leo Olasvirta observes, “Rough governance is justified by concerns about external and internal threats.” The fact is that, these are means they use “to justify strengthening the regime’s powers.”

As far as the economy is concerned, the ambassador believes that “the regime has chosen a game of chance”, promising the country that it would become middle-income. In the meantime, it urges and expects, he says, people “to be obedient and self-sacrificing”, as they await future rewards.

What this has done to the country’s reality is that, the ambassador opines, with political and economic power concentrated in the regime, people are “feeling excluded, while under the surface their rebelliousness smoldering.”

In turning his attention to the frauds perpetrated in the 2010 election, in which he recalls the ruling party took 99.6 percent of the votes, Ambassador Olasvirta says, “In the 2010 elections, the House got only one opposition representative; and in the local elections in 2013, again the dominant party received almost one hundred percent of the vote.”

His concern now is that the next election, for which there is not “enough time for democratic reforms, because of which the pressure is increasing.”

As far as Finland is concerned, he says, “Finland has had bilateral talks clearly emphasizing the need for poverty reduction, promotion of human rights, good governance, the information society, the rights of civil societies, peace and security, as well as the importance of land registration and eliminating discrimination against minorities.”

In 2013, Finland’s bilateral aid to Ethiopia is about 15.7 million euros. The next bilateral cooperation cycle between the two countries covers the period from 2013-2016.

In terms of Ethiopia-Finland trade, to date it is limited to a paltry five million euros. The hope for the future is Ethiopia possibly being interested in Finnish cargo equipment, as it is engaged in expansion of Ethiopian Airlines cargo services.

–Formin Finland

Ethiopia: Extreme Brutality against Civilians

HRLHA Appeal and Urgent Action

August 10, 2013

For Immediate Release

The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) strongly condemns the heavy-handedness of the Ethiopian government that is causing the deaths of innocent civilians attempting to exercise some of their fundamental rights that are provided for in the country's constitution and in international human rights instruments. According to reports obtained by the HRLHA through its correspondents, twenty- seven innocent civilians including five children (four in Kofole and one in the capital city, Addis Ababa) have been killed, hundreds have been injured and hospitalized, and thousands of others have been taken into custody in two separate incidents in the first week of August this year. In a clash between armed security forces and Muslim protestors that happened on the 3rd of August, 2013 in the Kofele region of Arsi Zone in Central Oromia, twenty- five were massacred and hundreds were injured and taken to Asela and Shashamane Hospitals. 

OLF Statement: Eng. Tesfahun Chemeda, the Latest Victim of TPLF Pogrom Extermination Campaign Against the Oromo People

OLF Statement on the death of Engineer Tesfahun Chemeda who died in the notorious TPLF/EPRDF prison of Qaallittii yesterday (August 24, 2013).

Short Biography

Engineer Tesfahun was born in 1976 from his father Mr. Chemeda Gurmessa and his mother Mrs. Giddinesh Benya at Harbu village, Guduru district, eastern Wallaga, western Oromia. He was lucky enough to get the slim chance of going to school for his likes under the occupation. He completed his school starting at Looyaa, then Fincha’aa and at Shambo in 1996. His remarkably high score enabled him to join the university in Finfinne (Addis Abeba) where he graduated with BSc in Civil Engineering in 2001. Subsequently:

1. Sept. 2004–Jan 2005 – he worked as unit manager for the maintenance of Arsi-Bale road project run by Oromia Rural Road Maintenance Authority and Ethio-Italian Company.
2. Worked at Degele-Birbirsa RR50 project in Salle-Nonno District in extreme South-west of Ilu-Abba-Bore Zone
3. Worked on four simultaneous road projects for settlements; Kone-Chawwaqaa, Baddallee-Kolosirri, Gachi-Chate and Yanfa-Ballattii
4. Worked as a project manager for Chawwaqa district head office construction in Ilu-Harari.
5. Oct. 2001–July 2003 site engineer for Siree-Nunu-Arjo Rural Road of Wallaga district.

Because of the policy of persecution and surveillance imposed on him, like any educated and entrepreneurial Oromo class as per TPLF’s standing policy, he decided to flee to Kenya for his safety. He sought protection from the UNHCR office in Nairobi explaining his position, and got accepted and recognized as a refugee. However, for unknown reasons, he and his colleague in skill and refugee life, Mesfin Abebe Abdisa, were arrested and eventually handed over to the Ethiopian authorities by the Kenyan counterpart on April 27, 2007, due to the agreement between the two countries.

Ethiopia, being a member of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT), formed under the auspices U.S. that includes Uganda and Kenya as well, continues to abduct Oromo refugees from the neighbouring countries where they sought UN protection, under the pretext of anti-terrorism. The two innocent victims Tesfahun and Mesfin were handed over to the Ethiopian authorities who took them handcuffed and blindfolded at 2:00AM local time on May 12, 2007, purportedly to have them investigated for terrorism at the JATT Main Investigation Branch in Finfinne (Addis Abeba).

From Apr. 27 to May 12, 2007, before handing them over, they were interrogated at the Kenyan National Bureau of Investigation near Tirm Valley by American agents and Kenyan Anti-Terror Police Unit. The Kenyan officer Mr Francis, who led the investigation, concluded the innocence of these two victims and requested the Kenyan authority to immediately let them free. However, another Kenyan CID agent Ms. Lelian, who is suspected of having close connection with the Ethiopian agents, opposed the decision and facilitated the handing over of these two innocent victims.

Once in the hands of the Ethiopian agents, they were taken to the notorious dark Central Investigation compound, known as Ma’ikelawii, where they were interrogated under severe torture for a year and a quarter.

Engineer Tesfahun was then presented before a court of magistrates of all Tigrian nationals in Jul. 2008, who passed the life sentence on him on March 31, 2010. The two were subsequently moved from the maximum security prison to an unknown destination for the pretext of planning to escape. They were taken for further torture in another underground location by a squad directly commanded by the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. It was only since last three months that they were returned to Qallitti main prison. The beating was so severe that the engineer repeatedly requested and needed medical treatment which he was of course denied and eventually succumbed to the torture impact yesterday Aug. 24, 2013. He became the latest victim of the vicious systematic genocide against the Oromo.

Regarding the fate of these two engineers, the OLF strongly believes that the way Kenyan authorities have been handing over innocent Oromo refugees to the anti-Oromo Ethiopian criminal regime is against the relevant international conventions. We strongly request the Kenyan government to desist from this practice of the last 22 years of handing over innocent Oromo victims who seek refuge in their country. The Kenyan government cannot avoid sharing the responsibility of such murders of innocent people who they hand over to the notorious regime that is well known for its anti Oromo campaign.

The OLF extends its heartfelt condolence to the family relatives and friends of Engineer Tefahun and calls on the Oromo people to double the struggle for freedom as the only way to be free of such persecutions.

Victory to the Oromo People!

Oromo Liberation Front

August 25, 2013