Januar 14, 2002

CONTINUING ETHNIC REPRESSION AGAINST AMARAS IN WOLLEGA

More than 12,000 Amaras living in Eastern Wellega region were forcefullyexpelled and scores murdered in an officially sanctioned violence undertaken bythe cadres and militia of the ruling EPRDF. The repression against Amaras inthe area continues without let up as the EPRDF refuses to put an end to theethnic discrimination and violence to which Amaras have been subjected. The violence against Amaras in Gimbi and other places is a result of the discriminatory and hate fanning ethnic politics adopted by the governmentitself.

The violence is perpetrated by the cadres and militia of the Oromiaregional administration dominated by the OPDO, a group within the EPRDF. Shops belonging to Amaras as well as Gurages have been damaged (for example in the big marketof Gimbi , in the area called Taiwan Sefer), grenades have been thrown intohomes of selected Amaras, shops havebeen burnt, hotels destroyed and other property belonging to Amaras laid towaste. Appeals to the police and security authorities to stop the violence havebeen ignored up to now. The campaign is aimed at chasing out Amaras from the area and toappropriate their property in the process. It is a local version of theinfamous ethnic cleansing observed in other places. People are being repressedbecause they belong to an ethnic group categorized as “enemy” by the rulinggroup though this is not publicly affirmed.

The campaign of denigration againstAmaras grinds on relentlessly, hatred is fanned deliberately. Though thepresident of the Oromiya region did assert that all Ethiopians have the rightto live and work in the region now designated Oromiya, the practical policy isaimed at chasing out non-Oromos and the violent campaign against Amaras is themain part of this deplorable campaign.

 Demand the immediate halt to the repression of Amaras in Gimbi and other areas of Wellega.

SOCEPP