President Exposes Government Assaults on Himself and Oromo Civil Society Organizations in Ethiopia - Oromo Press - August 9, 2008

Reported by Qeerransoo Biyyaa from Minneapolis, Minnesota

"I want my people to thrive in freedom," Dirribi Bokku told me.

The president of Macha and Tulama Association (MTA), Mr. Dirribi Bokku, who came to the United States, Minnesota, to make a keynote address at the 22nd Oromo Studies Association annual conference, exposed assaults against himself and the Civil Society Organization (CSO) he is leading. Bokku is also the author of a new Oromo book "Ilaalcha Oromo" (Oromo View), which is a guide to the traditional African Oromo religion "Waaqeffannaa".

"I was swept from the street and taken to the area of Police Headquarters, which was under construction in the capital city then. They confiscated my bag and forced me to take off all my clothes except for my underwear at gun point. They took me to the edge of the big holes dug for construction and threatened to burry me alive if I did not give up calling the meeting about Finfinnee's being the indigenous center of the Oromo people. And I said to them, I prefer you take my life instead of doing what you demand. They held a gun at me and shouted that they would kill my son and my wife if I did not comply." Such was the tragedy Bokku described during his first imprisonment. Read More.