OFDM - ONC: “free Oromo prisoners”
Jimma Times - September 5, 2007

In light of the approaching millennium celebrations, some of the Oromo-led opposition parties have demanded the immediate release of all Oromo prisoners in Ethiopia. Bulcha Demeksa of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) says the situation should be solved quickly and Ethiopia carrying her historical burden with her towards the new millennium would be detrimental.

Mr. Bulcha continued by stating that “after inspecting and listing the names of prisoners and how they got imprisoned, we have come up with 107 names.” The document included the location where they were arrested, the name of their current prison as well as the profession of all detainees.” According to him, some of his party’s supporters were also imprisoned after July 14, 1999 E.C, with most of them being in Oromia state.

On his part, Dr. Merera Gudina, the chairman of Oromo National Congress (ONC) stated that he knows of one person who was charged but “hundreds” of others are just “imprisoned, beaten, suffering and simply being freed by the court without any charges" ...