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WCHR
Press release
November 28, 1818
After the Gurage District Council voted in favor of the creation of a state asylum (Kilil) of the Gurage people, the corrupt party of the Democratic Movement of the Peoples of Southern Ethiopia (SEPDM) suddenly rejected their constitutional demands. This illegal action will unleash further humanitarian crisis in southern Ethiopia. The Wolayta Committee for Human Rights (WCHR) condemns this partial and dictatorial decision of the SEPDM to refuse the Gurage people; after the council of the SEPDM has already approved the state of Sidama less than three weeks ago. It's unfair, favoritism and unconstitutional.
Although this action seems strange to outside observers, it is consistent with the modus operandi of the Sidama-dominated ruling party in Hawbada, which refused justice for the hundreds of Wolaita people burned alive or mbadacred by crowds in June 2018. .
According to the constitution, every nation, nationality and people of Ethiopia has the right to self-determination and administration. Instead of continuing the TPLF's old tactic of dividing people by inciting Kebena, Silte and other Gurage families, the ruling SEPDM party must apply the rule of law and grant the state to all aspirants and respect the human rights of all Ethiopians. in our multi-ethnic urban centers. Similar to the TPLF's old tactic of dividing Christian Oromos from the Muslim Oromos, the attempt by SEPDM President Muferiat Kamil, and pro-TPLF cadres like Siraj Fegessa to exploit the dialect and religious diversity of the Gurian peoples should end at the earliest. To stir up religious conflicts will lead to a greater humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia.
"Special Interests" of Gurage on Addis Ababa
The WCHR also supports Gurage's special interest claim on Addis Ababa and Hawbada. This is in line with Oromia-Addis precedents and past practice. It will be unfair for the ruling party to deny Gurage the "special interest" for Addis Ababa, after approving the Oromia "Special Interest" for Addis Ababa. The Wolaita Zone Council also referred to its "special interests" over Hawbada because of the historical and economic role of the Wolaita people in Hawbada and its large population in the city. Approving Wolaita's "special interests" over Hawbada will mitigate the xenophobic attacks our people have suffered in the city.
Similarly, the Gurage have a multidimensional economic, historical, political and social link with Addis Ababa and its surroundings. In fact, the historical migration patterns of Gurage in central Ethiopia and their settlement in the region in the 8th century (Sultanate of Showa) predate the Amhara migration of the 12th century and the migration of Oromo in the 16th century . More than a million Gurages live today in Addis Ababa and the surrounding area. The recent Burayu mbadacre is a historic lesson for our country: ending the defamation and dehumanization of minorities in the urban areas of Ethiopia.
In 2018 alone, nearly 2 million Ethiopians were displaced and hundreds perished due to misunderstandings and conflicts with the current federal structure.
It is imperative that the ruling party approve as soon as possible the regional state and the special interests of the Wolaita and Gurage peoples.
That the ERDF will allow the Gurage and Wolaita States will be an indicator of the legitimacy of the current multinational / ethnic federation. As recently reported the media in Hawbada, if the Ethiopian government requires people who speak gurois to separate on the basis of dialectal divisions and religious; then the regions of Amhara and Oromia must be broken as soon as possible.
If Gurage and Wolaita are not allowed to become independent regional states (with special interests), all current regional states in Ethiopia must be dissolved immediately until a new form of federalism is established in the country. nationwide.
CC: Office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
SNNP Regional Administration
Amnesty International (AI)
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
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