Oromo: Parliamentarians Speak Out
Below is an article published by
To: European Union,
Dear Sirs:
Following assurances by the international community, particularly the European Union and
Although we were discouraged by the experience of gross violations of human rights that we witnessed on the ground, we belied the advice of the international community that participation in the legal political process offered the best way to win the rights of our population who have been facing massive violations of human rights.
Our hope was that we would be able to use our presence and position in the parliament to speak against violations of the political, economic, and social rights of our population. Although many of the ordinary citizens who spoke against these violations ended up in detention, where they routinely faced torture, we believed our parliamentary immunity would spare us from facing a similar fate. Today, there is no peace, stability, democracy and rule of law in
The international community that gave us assurances to partake in the election is today not ready to defend us now when we are clearly become victim of so called democracy. Our families live under constant terror.
Having no means to provide them the support they need, with out any defence from world community for there lives. As a result the millions of voters who voted us into parliament and tens millions our supporters are being disenfranchised. The people in
I am appeal to you to kindly request your assistance in facilitating the holding of a hearing at the European Union, UNO, USA congress, Human Rights Watches, Amnesty international to look into the desperate situation of Oromo parliamentarians and the human rights situation in Ethiopia in general and in Oromia regional state in particular. It is my sincere hope our appeal will be favourably received.
Sincerely,
Dr. Getachew Jigi Demeksa MP, Chairman of Oromo Parliamentary Group