Oromo TV shutdown raises fierce anger

Sudan Tribune - September 27, 2008

"This once again reveals the at most hatred and contempt the regime has for the Oromo people and their language Afan Oromo," OFDM Chairman, Mr. Bulcha Demeksa.

The state-owned Ethiopian radio and TV agency (ERTA) reduced drastically earlier this month the majority of airtime of the Afaan Oromo TV program. The decision left some 60 Oromo journalist jobless and raised anger.

Two Oromo opposition groups told Sudan Tribune by telephone from Addis Ababa that the move is politically motivated and violates the ruling party's own constitution and the international treaties it has ratified, too.

"This is a political motivated action of the ruling party which targets to put the Oromo people's national political role out of the game by weakening their role from every angle by such undemocratic acts," Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement(OFDM) Chairman and parliament member, Bulcha Demeksa told Sudan Tribune. Read More.