Millennium, a Disguise for Human Right Abuse
Gubirmans Publishing - September 2007
By Ibsaa Guutama
It was in 1980 that many Oromo nationals were rounded up and taken to Minilik’s Grand Palace. The Grand Palace had the Grand Hall where imperial feasts were given and where graduation ceremonies and appointments were made. In front of it was a large parking lot for dignitaries that come to the Grand Hall occasions. Under the parking lot was a grave like underground structure. Darg’s ceremonies start with chanting slogans and throwing left arm with clenched feast into the air. One of such slogans was “We shall build our party on the grave of antirevolutionary”. Oromo Nationals were taken directly to the torture chamber at a time when Darg was celebrating the formation of Commission to Organize the Party of the Working People of Ethiopia (COPWE) in the Grand Hall. True to their slogan underneath, Oromo were in the process of death from torture.
World socialists and so many others congratulated the Darg on its success. That success was success in putting the Oromo under full control and averting the alleged menace they were to cause. The same people and governments looked the other way consciously when millions were being devastated by the great famine of 1984 as many did to that of the sixties. As it was said history repeats itself, but how many times should it repeat itself before the Oromo is able to defend itself? Every regime that has come and gone had always something to celebrate on the grave of Oromo nationals that lived with their conscience. Like during the other regimes still hunger and decease is destroying the population. Oromiyaa that had rarely suffered from famine has now been the major beggar for food ...