Statement from the National Movement of Amhara(NAMA):
Our organization called the Amhara National Movement (NAMA)believed in an recent “genocide” in various parts of the Oromia region and called on government officials who were involved in the massacre, who did not fulfill their responsibility to protect the people, to be held accountable for their shortcomings and to rehabilitate the injured.
From the day the attack took place, NAMA has been actively involved in many aspects of life. “Abin ” traveled to the scene of the attack in a timely manner, collected and compiled detailed evidence and passed it on to Amhara associations and institutions working specifically on the case. In the near future, it will provide full informations to the world, especially to relevant human rights organizations and international diplomatic missions.
In connection with this, more than fifteen (15) Amharas were tragically killed and many others were displaced in the racist attacks that took place on August 12, 2012 in the area known as Nesh in Jarnega Woreda, Horogudru Zone, Oromia Region. We learned that there was still a security threat in the area. The Oromia Regional State and the Federal Government have a responsibility to ensure that the rule of law is upheld. NAMA called on the government to put an end to this planned genocide .
On the other hand, when we look at some of the individuals arrested in connection with the violence in the Oromia region, we can see that there is a tendency to use crime as a pretext to undermine political views or to maintain the political balance of the perpetrators. NAMA urged the government to address the issue immediately and take appropriate action.
In particular, Asrat TV journalists and staff members, Belay Manaye, Mulugeta Anberber, Yenatan Mulugeta and Misganawu Kefelegn, believe that they were arrested only because they are a voice for the people of Amhara. On the other hand, they have been expossing corruption, racism and oppression of our people while working for the people of Amhara. On the other hand, racist and corrupt government officials have resented and arrested them.
It is well known that the atrocities committed against the people of Amhara for centuries have also been suppressed by the media. Asrat TV has been playing a significant role in providing media coverage for important issues of the Amhara people. As a result of the lack of support in various areas of the struggle, the recent misrepresentation of Asrat TV by senior government officials during a recent spate of crimes in the Oromia region undermines the credibility of subsequent arrests.
NAMA expressed its concern about these issues to the relevant government officials at the time and hoped that they would be resolved honestly and quickly in the future. On the one hand, the media outlets that have been openly campaigning against “Abin”, on the other hand, have called on the entire Ethiopian people to be held accountable for their actions. NAMA would like to point out that political surveillance has been a major challenge.
We also know that our detainees are only peaceful and that they are focused on exposing the perpetrators of organized attacks. Given that they were all peaceful, Amhara, and critical of government officials, it is safe to assume that those arrested were taking advantage of the situation to seek revenge or to silence their voices.
“Abin” therefore called on the government to immediately release the imprisoned journalists and staff of Asrat TV.
Addis Ababa, Shoa, Ethiopia
August 22, 2012
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