 preliminary findings on the massacre indicates killings in mosque in Gimbi , Wollega, West Ethiopia){kind=link}
Artillery was used in the attack against civilians in the Wollega region of Ethiopia. EHRCO wants the government to investigate the attack
borkena
Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRC) on Tuesday made public its preliminary findings on the massacre ( it called it human rights violations) in Gimbi, Wollega area of Ethiopia.
An armed ethnic Oromo nationalist group on Saturday massacred over three hundred, according to many sources, innocent civilians in the locality of Tolle, Gimbi district of Wollega.
Based on the EHRCO report, there were cases where residents who took refuge in a mosque in the area where the attack happened were attacked and killed while in the mosque.
“The assault against victims who had fled to seek refuge in a mosque, among whom many were killed, thus demonstrating clearly the very tragic and cruel nature of the attack…,” said a statement that EHRCO shared on its social media page.
Another striking finding and this begs for an urgent investigation, is that artillery was used in the attack against civilians. From recurring radical Oromo nationalist group attacks against civilians, there were no reports of the use of artillery.
The EHRCO report unspecified the exact number of victims from the attack but it has confirmed that hundreds of civilians were killed as the government failed in making an emergency security response to the situation.
“EHRCO was also able to gather that due to the attack, hundreds were killed gruesomely, of which many were women and children, burning of homes in the area, and the fact that the attack was backed by heavy artillery…”
Many others were wounded and properties destroyed. There are also cases of kidnapping although EHRCO did not specify numbers again.
The report indicated that the government has deployed forces to the region. However, it indicated that there is still a potential for more attacks.
EHRCO called for the government to pay close attention to the situation and for the government to discharge its primary responsibility of protecting the security of citizens.
Furthermore, the rights group indicated that the government should deploy adequate security forces to avert similar attacks.
The victims of the latest attack, as was the case in most cases from previous attacks, are ethnic Amhara who have been living in the area for generations.
The Ethiopian government has not yet disclosed the extent of the damages and the number of casualties from the latest attack by what it calls “Shane” – a group that is said to have supporters and members from within the government structure (both at regional and federal levels of government.)
The Ethiopian Human Rights Council sees government negligence as playing a part in the massacre of hundreds of civilians on Saturday in the Wollega area.
Many Ethiopian opposition parties have condemned the government for failure to protect the security of citizens and address recurring attacks by armed groups in the Oromo region of Ethiopia.
__
To share information or for submission, send e-mail to info@borkena.com
Telegram Channel : t.me/borkena
Join the conversation. Follow us on twitter @zborkenato get the latest Ethiopian News updates regularly. Like borkena on Facebook as well. To share information or for submission, send e-mail to info@borkena.com
“Many Ethiopian opposition parties have condemned the government for failure to protect the security of citizens and address recurring attacks by armed groups in the Oromo region of Ethiopia.”
Let us search our SOULS.
Will the opposition parties be democratic leaders for the benefit of the ordinary Ethiopian people — if they are on the helm??????? BE HONEST — PLEASE, PLEASE.
I tip my hat off in admiration and appreciation for the upright folks in the EHRC. They deserve every accolade there is available on this good earth. I have found them to be independent in their assessments and reports of human rights violations and crimes against humanity including those committed by members of the seating government. If there are those in the government outfit who want to be ‘funny’ with this commission, I say to you; don’t even think about it!!!
This is yet one more r gruesome mass killing pf innocent civilians by ruthlless and bloothlrusty terrorist organization in the pretext of false freedom fighter and an utter failture on the part of the regime’s responsibility to protect them. Why? Thíis group has also shows once more dísregatd for religious and worship places by spliling innocent blood in holy mosques or churches again. They are faithless ànd terorist entity in lines with past groups like the Cambodia’s Khner Rouge of Pol Pot, Renamo group of Mozambique Shining Path group of Peru, etc. In terms of brutality, human rights abuses, godlessmess and terror ideology. They aren’t freedom fighters nor ethnic liberators . They are brazen criminals. They should be dealt accordingly and the sooner confronted , the better for everyone concerned before it is too late.
This is yet one more gruesome mass killing of innocent civilians by ruthlless and bloothlrusty terrorist organization in the pretext of false freedom fighter and an utter failture on the part of the regime’s responsibility to protect them. Why? Thíis group has also shown once more a dísregatd for religious and worship places by spliling innocent blood in holy mosques or churches again. They are faithless ànd terorist entity in lines with past groups like the Cambodia’s Khner Rouge of Pol Pot, Renamo group of Mozambique Shining Path group of Peru, etc. in terms of brutality, human rights abuses, godlessmess and terror ideology. They aren’t freedom fighters nor ethnic liberators . They are brazen criminals. They should be dealt accordingly and the sooner confronted , the better for everyone concerned before it is too late.
Again and again I call upon on everyone who is rightfully hurt and angered by this savage act to exercise calm and restraints. This violence by demons should not be allowed to trigger more violence. That is because violence never solved problems for that country or anywhere else except but rather sustained them claiming more innocent victims. Violence places destructive wedges between people who have lived in harmony for centuries. The most powerful and effective force that can police communities against such repugnant crimes are the common citizens when they are united. Thugs thrive in a divided and dysfunctional society. Governments cannot be everywhere with their deterrent means. It is a screwed up world out there. Let’s monger for peace and unity among citizens. Today the victims are Amharas. Tomorrow will be Oromos if not already then followed by Tigres, Sidamas, Gambelas, Afars, Somalis and all others if they are not already. The only force that can effectively slow down or even put a stop to such barbaric violence are civilians themselves when firmly united. Sooner if not later this shall pass! Insha’Allah!