โWhen the Nazis came for the communists,I remained silent; I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist.
1/2
History should be respected, not rewritten for politics.
Fitawrari Habte Giyorgis Dinagde and Dejazmach Balcha have long been recognized in many Ethiopian historical accounts as Gurage figures. Even writings connected to the Menelik era support this discussion.
Leaders should unite people with truth, not reshape identities for political narratives.
#Ethiopia #Ethiopian #Eritrea #Eritreans #Ethiopianhistory #history #fact
Once again, Oromo Militants affiliated with OLA carried out a heavy attack on innocent Kistane Gurage civilians in Dugda Woreda, in the localities known as Joro, Reqa, and Weji Menjikso, which borders the East Gurage Zone of Soddo Woreda in eastern Gurage.
According to information reaching us from the area, today, Nehase 29, 2017 E.C. (Ethiopian Calendar), starting from 11:00 AM, the group carried out a sudden, heavily armed attack. By the time this report was completed, 15 civilians had been killed in the assault.
Other sources indicate that the group operates with impunity and instills terror among the population, and some of its members are considered dangerous entities who benefit from spreading fear.
From the reports coming out of the area, the death toll has now risen to 15. Those whose deaths have been officially confirmed include:
Mr. Alemayehw Megnase
Mr. Abule Tulu
Mr. Beri Tageze
Mr. Gofte Endale
Mr. Beriso Abebe
Mr. Shekne Sima
Of the 15 confirmed deaths, Beri Abebe was from Weji Menjikso, while the other five victims were from Joro Rega Kebeles.
Although the kebeles differ by name, the area has previously experienced similar attacks during the rainy season, which resulted in multiple civilian deaths and extensive damage to property. Today's incident, unfortunately, continues that pattern.
Many locals reported that the attackers abducted people, and some victims died while trying to escape.
#JusticeForGurage #Kistane
@UNHumanRights@hrw@amnestyusa@USEmbassyAddis
๐ก๐ก๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐ก๐กโฃ
โฃ
This is Birtukan, a young woman from the Senan District, Eastern Gojam Zone in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.
Even in the face of a tumultuous childhood, Birtukan radiated a light of hope, with dreams soaring high and a heart overflowing with unwavering determination. Studying at Dembi Dollo University in the Oromia region, she was an outstanding sophomore. Her heart was set on becoming a pharmacist. She saw herself as a symbol of hope, a lighthouse of healing, and a comfort fountain. She had an unwavering resolve to mold her destiny with her own hands.
But, on one fateful day, all of that was mercilessly ripped from her hands. The unrelenting violence of armed gangs, who are organized, empowered, and shielded by the federal and Oromia regional state authorities, destroyed her innocence, dreams, womanhood, and her humanity. With profound harshness, they destroyed Birtukan's world and turned her bright future into an unrelenting sink of suffering and despair.
Apart from yearning for a hopeful future, one could wonder, what crime did she commit to deserve all of these? The answer was straightforward but profound: ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. And for that, they unleashed a depth of suffering upon her that was unfathomable. They unleashed upon her a torment so horrific, so grotesque, it shattered the essence of what it means to be human. Her story briefly surfaced on EBS TV, a courageous expression of her truth, only to be rapidly silenced as the clip was ordered to be deleted, suppressing her voice once again.
Her own testimony below reveals a nightmare so severe that words cannot fully capture her anguish. Armed gangsters kidnapped Birtukan and carried her far into the wilderness, where the terrible darkness of wilderness soon eclipsed the warm and youthful vibe of college life. Among the six college girls caught in that nightmarish existence, Birtukan was one of those whose freedom, dignity, and hope were mercilessly ripped away.
Their captors deceived them, referring to their abduction as a โtraining.โ A facade they employed to conceal the unimaginable terrors they had in plan for the girls. Birtukan and the other girls soon realized that what their tormentors referred to as โtrainingโ was nothing less than the total destruction of their womanhood and humanity.
Days blurred into weeks. Weeks merged into months, each one heavy with the weight of time. The unrelenting passage of time just made their suffering worse. Their only option was to hang on to life, surviving on few scraps of bread their captors threw at them and the priceless drops of water they could gather in the large, hostile wilderness. Still, the agony of hunger was little compared to the deep grief of what loomed over them, night after night.
Birtukan and her friends endured a relentless cycle of brutality so horrific that it is hard to comprehend. They endured unimaginable horrors and suffering at the hands of merciless gangs, day after day, night after night. They were subjected to a fate that stripped away their humanity, reducing them to nothing more than sex toys for the twisted desires of their captors.
The viciousness was relentless. Birtukanโs tormentors went even further, as if the unimaginable horrors of repeated gangrape were not enough. On several occasions, when her body finally collapsed from pain and exhaustion, they drove knives into her flesh to force her awake and to make sure her suffering continued. Her agony was their entertainment, and her pain was their triumph.
And still, the cruelty had no end. The injuries inflicted upon her went beyond repeated gang rapes. Her captors, who were determined to strip her of her dignity and humanity, mutilated her private parts with knives and shards of sharp iron. They left her bloodied and broken, and her body looked like a canvas painted with unimaginable pain.
The anguish that tore through Birtukanโs soul cannot be easily understood by any reasonable mind. The terror, the degradation, the torment was so deep no human being should ever endure such horrors.
Birtukan is now a mother of a three-month-old boy fathered by one of her rapists, which is a poignant reminder of the traumatic experience she endured. The world she lived in has shown no compassion; it has stayed cold and objective toward her suffering.
For a young woman who has gone through such level of trauma, what words could actually help to heal her soul? How does society grapple with the profound truth of what she endured? Birtukan still carries her pain and trauma and showcases not just the visible scars of her abuse but also the profound wounds that may never fully heal.
A Heartbreaking Injustice Against Amhara Women
Birtukanโs story resonates deeply with many others. This is a piece of a larger, harrowing campaign of terror designed to shatter the spirit of the Amhara communities by the current regime. It represents a calculated effort to dismantle the essence of the Amhara community.
The Oromia political class, which harbors these armed gangs, carries the heavy burden of one of the most horrific crimes in Ethiopia's history. Those who should speak up choose to turn their backs instead. Those who hold the responsibility to protect the vulnerable have chosen to ignore their anguish, allowing their cries for help to fade into silence.
A Plea for Justice
Every decent human being who values justice and the sanctity of human dignity should be touched by Birtukanโs story. It should ignite a fire within activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and politicians, urging them to take meaningful action. We must come together to seek accountability. The Ethiopian government must face accountability for permitting and even fostering such inhumane acts.
Feeling sympathy for Birtukan is simply not sufficient. It is essential that we take steps forward. Steadfast, unwavering, and boldly decisive movement.
Birtukan's suffering is profound. Her story reflects the strength of the human spirit, yet it is heartbreaking that she has to embody such resilience. She deserves the chance to find her tranquility.
How many more Birtukans must endure pain before the world chooses to respond? How many more voices will be muted before we finally face the reality that lies before us?
We must stand together for Birtukan's justice. We must stand up for the innocent Amhara women who endure their pain in silence, deserving of justice and recognition.
In early December 2019, members of the Oromo Liberation Army OLA kidnapped a group of students, primarily Amhara, from Dembi Dolo University in Ethiopia. This is the story of Birtukan, one of the abducted students. @BBCBreaking@amnesty
A regime-forced rally transformed into a massive show of defiance, with people expressing support for Fano and those sacrificing their lives to oppose Abiy Ahmed. They loudly condemned the regime's oppression, pledging to fight @AbiyAhmedAli
No one has taken responsibility for this horrific and inhumane crime of genocide against Kistane Gurages. More than 60 Gurages slaughtered and burned alive by OLF and Oromia Special Forces.
#GurageUnderAttack
Your contribution, whether large or small, can help provide essential resources for displaced individuals and communities.
YeGordna Shengo
A/N - 1000618185366