Over 52 Oromo Farmers Thrown into Jail For Resisting Expulsion from Their Land by the Name of Investment

Finfinnee, Nov. 14, 2008 (OLF News) - Over 52 Oromo farmers in Eastern Shoa zone, Liban Cuqqaalaa district, at a village called Gegeettii Gooroo have been thrown into jail, for resisting the unlawful orders of the TPLF regime to leave their land and their homes, when their land is forcefully taken away from them and given to a Swedish investor without their consent, OLF News correspondent from Finfinnee (Addis Ababa) reported.

Among the farmers arrested from Googoo village by the TPLF gun men include:

Mr. Baalchaa Dinquu
Mr. Girmaa Guddataa
Wadaajoo Lammaa (Youth)
Mr. Waaqee Kabbadaa
Mr. Jimaa Lubee (a 76 year elder), and
Badhaanee Gammadaa (Student).

The report added that the confrontation between the Oromo farmers of the village and the OPDO (government) cadres began three months ago when the farmers were told to leave their ancestors’ land without any prior knowledge or agreement whatsoever, denying them their natural and indigenous right. At that time the Farmers were able to show stiff resistance to the Wayyaanee authorities and the government was forced to leave the area with failure. Three months later, on October 28 and 29, 2008, the authorities came to the village together with a large and well organized army, and were able to take more than 52 farmers into prison, for nothing other than legally asking their rights.

It is reported that, while the farmers were fighting only for their land, and did not have anything to do with the OLF, they were actually accused of supporting the “political agenda of OLF”, and thrown to jail. It is known that, in today’s Ethiopia, any Oromo who opposes the policy of the government is branded as a sympathizer or supporter of OLF, and is being harassed and brutalized.

It is to be noted that the current Wayyaanee (Ethiopian) government has been removing Oromo farmers around Finfinnee and other cities from their God given land and giving to national and international investors without their consent and without any compensation.