Oromo Prisoners are suffering in Ma’ikalawii and Karchelle prisons

July 09, 2006 (Oromia) - It is known that several Oromo nationalists who have been arrested in connection to the popular uprising since November 09, 2005. Reliable sources from Oromia reported that many of the prisoners in the so called "karchelle prison" in Finfinnee are suffering from continuous beating and different forms of torture. Although these prisoners have appealed to various governmental and humanitarian organizations, their situation is deteriorating from time to time and their suffering (torture) by the government agents is intensified.

A. Those whose are unable to hear form cruel beating in Karchelle

1. Assafaa Lataa, age 25, arrested from Ambo
2. Guddataa Shubee, age 24, arrested from Finfinnee (Addis Ababa)
3. Taammiruu Alamaayyoo, age 30, arrested from Geedo
4. Asfaw Waltajjii, age 25, arrested from Hoplota

B. Those whose hands became out of use in Karchelle

1. Daawit Urgaa, age 22, arrested from Ambo
2. Laaqo G/ tsaadiq, age 40, arrested from Meetta Roobii

Mean while, several Oromo prisoners from Ma'ikalawii and karchelle prisons (the names of some 60 of them is listed at the end of this report), who have been arrested from their work, their home and their life are appealing to the Oromo people, all concerned nationals, international organizations, and humanitarian organizations. The prisoners say that they have been arrested only because of their Oromoness and Wayyaanes and their instrument OPDO fear that they would incite the people to fight for their democratic right.

The prisoners said that the Wayyaanee government agents are continuously engaged in a cruel torture that a human being would not do on another human being. They take our brothers and sisters away from us at any time they want and beat them, harass them, and return them back to us after making them physically disabled. Some are taken to court, but after the court gave them a verdict to be released by calling a guarantor, they refuse to release and keep them in prison. There are many others whose file is totally closed, but they subjected to remain in the prison for an indefinite period of time.

The Oromo prisoners in Ma’ikalawii and Karchellee further said that the TPLF’s dream of trying to demoralize the Oromo people and make them hopeless by keeping the Oromo in prison is a very backward philosophy. The Oromo, they say, is born with their inalienable right. Keeping us in prison and torturing us will not and should not keep us from struggling for our right, they said.

Mandela of South Africa was kept in the prison of the apartied regime for 27, but the truth came out finally and he was released. Similarly, keeping us in prison and the inhuman torture of the TPLF agents wouldn’t terrorize us, it will rather intensify the struggle for freedom, they said.
Therefore, we prisoners in Ma’ikalawii and Karchelle ask all Oromos at home and around the world:

1. To intensify the popular uprising at home and put pressure on the Government by
demanding for our unconditional release.
2. Those Oromos outside of the country and around the world should write a letter about
our situation to various governmental and non governmental bodies, should stage a
peaceful demonstration demanding for our release.
3. We ask all humanitarian organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights
Watch, and others to put pressure on the current regime by demanding our release.
4. We ask the ambassadors of various countries in Ethiopia to come and visit us and explain our situation to the world.
5. We ask all Oromos in the Wayyaanee parliament to appeal to the Government and to the world about our situation.

Bellow, please find the names of some of these prisoners and place where they have been arrested.

1. Guddataa Shubbee from Finfinnee (Addis. A) unreleased due to lack of guarantor
2. Kabbadaa Baqqalaa from Finfinnee (Addis. A) Unreleased due to lack of guarantor
3. Asaffaa Lataa from Finfinnee (Addis. A) Unreleased due to lack of guarantor
4. Asaffaa Waltajjii from Finfinnee (Addis. A) Kept in prison by closing his file
5. Laaqoo G/Tsaadiq from Finfinnee (Addis. A) Unreleased due to lack of guarantor
6. Gonfaa Dureessaa from Naqamte (A teacher) unreleased due to lack of guarantor
7. Dhaabaa Asafaa from Naqamte unreleased due to lack of guarantor
8. Dhugaasaa Maangashaa from Naqamte Kept in prison by closing his file
9. Bafiqaaduu Dabalaa from Naqamte kept in prison by closing his file
10. Fiqaaduu Nagaraa from Naqamte kept in prison by closing his file
11. Sanyii Taaddasaa (student) from Naqamte kept in prison by closing his file
12. Abraahaam Likkaasaa from Naqamte (A teacher) kept in prison by closing his file
13. Bantii Kumaa from Gimbii kept in prison by closing his file
14. Walqixxee Olanii from Gimbii kept in prison by closing his file
15. Yaasin sayid from Gimbii unreleased due to lack of guarantor
16. Zawudee Tulluu from Meettaa Roobii (A teacher) unreleased due to lack of guarantor
17. Galataa kafanaa from Giinci kept in prison by closing his file
18. Taammiruu Alamaayoo from Geedoo kept in prison by closing his file
19. Tashoomaa Eebbisaa from Geedoo unreleased due to lack of guarantor
20. Yoonaas Galaanaa from Dambi Doolloo unreleased due to lack of guarantor
21. Fiqaaduu Shibashii from Qeellam unreleased due to lack of guarantor
22. Birraa Roorrisaa from Adaamaa unreleased due to lack of guarantor
23. Asaffaa Taaffasaa from Adaamaa kept in prison by closing his file
24. Caalaa Huummoo from Adaamaa unreleased due to lack of guarantor
25. Warquu Fayyiisaa from Ambo
26. Caalumaa Mangistuu from Ambo
27. Furgaasaa Barsiisaa from Ambo
28. Shuumii Dandanaa from Ambo unreleased due to lack of guarantor
29. Daawwit Urgaahaa Ambo Left hand broken by excessive beating
30. Fufaa Gulee from Ambo kept in prison by closing his file
31. Abbabaa Gonfaa from Ambo kept in prison by closing his file
32. Likkaasaa Leejjisaa from Ambo
33. Taaddasaa Teessoo from Ambo
34. Shifarraa Taganyi from Ambo
35. Shifarraa Daksiisaa from Ambo
36. Alamuu guddataa from Ambo
37. Tasfaayee Beekaa from Ambo
38. Baqqalaa Beekaa from Ambo
39. Taakkalaa Koorsaa from Ambo
40. Habtaamuu Gaaromaa from Ambo
41. Rattaa Makonon from Ambo
42. Taammiraat Eebbisaa Ambo
43. Massalaa Caalaav from Ambo
44. Minilik Jifaaraa Ambo
45. Qana’aa Chuuchee Ambo
46. Abdataa Baatirii from Ambo
47. Abiyoot Daandanaa from Ambo
48. Sisaay Dhinsaa from Ambo
49. Imnat Hayiluu from Ambo Arrested several times
50. Simmanyi Dayyaasaa from Ambo She was arrested in 2004 together with student Jaagamaa Badhaanee (who was later killed in Ambo) and was in Ambo prison for long time.
51. Sawunat Taammanaa from Ambo
52. Taarik Girmaa from Ambo
53. Moosisaa Dirribsaa from Ambo
54. Shifarraa Eebbisaa from Ambo He is in a critical condition due to excessive beating (and was denied any medical attention.)
55. Bars.Toleeraa Owwaataa from Ambo unreleased due to lack of guarantor
56. Maammush Tasfaayee from Adaamaa
57. Adam Gaarisoo from Adaamaa
58. Minishaa Girmaa from Adamaa She is the one who beated the former Oromian President in the may 2005 election in Arsi.
60. Sannii Xilaahuun from Ambo Kept in prison by closing his file

Imprisonment and Killing will Never stop us from struggling for our rights!!

Victory to Oromo People!
Oromo Prisoners of Ma’ikalawii and Karchalle, Finfinnee (Addis Ababa)