Arsi in Oromia region of Ethiopia continues to be a place of killings against Orthodox Christians. 280 Houses of Orthodox Christians burned
Borkena
Toronto – Months after the Holy Synod condemned massacre in Arsi, report emerging that at least 37 Orthodox Christians are massacred in Aleko Teleta district Tefa Kebele of Arsi zone, Oromia region of Ethiopia.
Several other Orthodox Christians are reportedly missing – likely to be killed. According to credible sources, the incident started since the eve of what many observers and critical voices described as a “sham election.”
St. Gabriel Church in the district was torched with fire and reduced to ashes. It is said to over 100 years old church. A letter sent from the diocese to the Patriarchate has confirmed the incident.
The dioceses described the circumstances of the killings in Tefa Kebele as shocking and inhuman. More than 280 households in the area are displaced as the gunmen overpowered the villagers to go on a killing rampage and burn properties.
In Kore Kuftele locality a facility the Holy Saviour Church has been using for varies spiritual functions and as guest house is destroyed, according to the dioceses.
It continued on the election day as government officials failed to dispatch security officials to the areas impacted by the latest attacks from militant gunmen whose actions is believed to be motivated by an ethnic-religious fanaticism.
Sources close to Ethiopian Orthodox Church have confirmed the story.
The attack, sources said, is extensive and large scale.
Hundreds of residential homes destroyed as the gunmen torched the villages where the Orthodox Christians have been living.
In addition to Tefa kebeke of the district, the localities of Zedibu, Erecha Michael, Sunte Mariam, Bogdo Abo, Lencho Ada, Jiso and Dire kebeles were also targeted in the attack.
The gunmen also looted properties and livestock of the victims.
Abune Elsae, Archbishop of Arsi and Somali Jigjiga dioceses, has confirmed the incident. However, the number of deaths he cited is cited.
His letter to the Patriarchate cited listed the victims by name ranging from 70 years and 25 years of age. Many of the victims were born and grew up in the area.
There has been what appears to be an orchestrated and planned massacres in the Oromia region for over sever years now.
In the early years of the Abiy Ahmed’s terms in office, the massacre of civilians – and mostly ethnic Amhara – was focused on the Wellega area of the Oromia region. Tens of thousands of civilians killed. No formal investigation into it and accountability for it although the government had been claiming that it purged government officials in area.
The rest of Oromia region has also experienced killings of ethnic Amhara and Orthodox Christians. However, the one in Arsi has been recurring very frequently particularly targeting Orthodox Christians. The government denies that the killing is not targeting Orthodox Christians. Government influenced religious council was also denying that the killing is not targeting Orthodox Christians.
Worse, it is not seemed to be taking action to ensure that the killings will not happen again despite repeated calls from Church authorities in the region.
Ethiopian Federal government and Oromia regional state have been making claims that radical forces are no longer in a position to pose a security threat in the region. Clearly, that is not the case. There are even views that government officials in the region are part of the plan to ethnic cleanse Orthodox Christians and ethnic Amhara.
In March this year, over 34 Orthodox Christians were massacred in Arsi, several others wounded. Hundreds displaced.
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This shows simply, there is no active, and working government in Ethiopia. The government who acquired a large and sofiscated arsenals to kill his own people and wants to be & reelected fancifully. The regime could have protected and saved the innocent victims with all his weapons it posses! From such barbaric act of Devilish! But this is crystal clear that what’s happening in Amhara & Tigray is the slaughter of innocents people by the regime’s so-called, Federal-army. This is a clear message that the government itself- “Pris en Flagrant délit”, meaning –
“caught in the act red-handed”. Obivious, and Clear”.
Unfortunately, it deliberately overlooks this urgent fact; now almost for eight consecutive years. Rather, the government itself 100% conspires with his malicious evildoers! No merci!!! Sad!Sad!Sad!!
This has to be reported to The ICC at The Hague. It has to be universally condemned. Most of Christians living in Arsi are said to be Oromos and almost all who profess the Orthodox denomination along with a few Catholics and Protestants. We can see that with the majority of famous athletes come from Arsi are born to Oromo families and Christians. Arsi just like Wellega it has also produced some the most bigoted connivers of our time who found the skills to commercialize the issues of the people in the region and enrich themselves beyond their wildest dreams.
In regards to the issues hounding the citizens of that country, I have said this umpteen times for decades now. The national question has been amicably addressed since 1995. The prevailing issues of our time are common to all. Have we heard an Oromo asking for black milk from a green cow? When the last time that Amhara citizen asking for oranges from an apple tree? How about the rest of more than 80 linguistic groups? We never heard anyone of them demanding custom made Boing 787’s. They all are asking for peace, stability and justice where no one is above the law among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness. And all, except for a few bigots and connivers, know that they can not achieve that by struggling it alone. Oromos will never be able to get rid of the ills they are facing alone. Ditto with Amharas, Tigres, Somalis, Afars and the rest of them. This has been fool-proofed by the senseless demise of millions since the mid 1970’s. Enough is enough with that.
Again, this savage crime has to be independently investigated and condemned universally.
Varied reaction to this savage act by certain groups and individuals here among us shows how it is so irreparably toxic is the environment in our Diaspora. Some allege that it is the government that did it and one even claims it was carried out by a Christian individual who is hell bent to trigger a religious war. The sad part about such demonic false accusations is they are being spewed around by highly educated individuals, graduates of highly rated ivy universities. My question is: do these colleges offer courses on how to expertly tell lies? I guess to such bigots and connivers it is not what you are taught at colleges but how you talk when you come out. My goodness gracious!!!