
Ethiopia: Oromo Political Prisoners Defence Team – Hamza Borana Pleads Not Guilty: Full Statement He Delivered in Court (22.03.2021)



This piece is written because the Ethiopian government and others went out quickly to dismiss the evidence and the reporting of the Amnesty International Report, which was published in end of February 2021. While now, the same state actors are addressing and not questioning the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRC). This is very ironic and is the reason why I will show the similarities and differences.
Amnesty first reports:
“Between 19 and 29 November 2020, Eritrean troops operating in the Ethiopian city of Axum, Tigray, committed a series of human rights and humanitarian law violations, including killing hundreds of civilians. Over an approximately 24-hour period on 28-29 November, Eritrean soldiers deliberately shot civilians on the street and carried out systematic house-to-house searches, extrajudicially executing men and boys. The massacre was carried out in retaliation for an earlier attack by a small number of local militiamen, joined by local residents armed with sticks and stones” (Amnesty, February 2021).
EHRC states:
“Information collected during this preliminary investigation confirm that during the two days of November 28 and November 29, grave violations of human rights were committed and that in Aksum, over one hundred residents including visitors from other parts of the country who came to mark the annual Aksum Tsion celebration and internally displaced persons from other parts of Tigray, were killed by Eritrean soldiers” (EHRC, March 2021).
Just by these statements alone. We can see that Amnesty International wasn’t wrong or had the wrong witnesses. As the state own authority is saying the same thing. They are claiming the human rights violations by Eritrean soldiers in Axum during November 2020 last year. These two things are showing the ones speaking ill of Amnesty should reconsider stance. Especially, if they are accepting the Preliminary Report of EHRC.
About the November 28th November Amnesty wrote this:
“From about 3 to 4 pm, lines of Eritrean trucks and tanks reportedly entered the city from the east. Their numbers bolstered by the new arrivals, Eritrean soldiers went on a rampage, shooting at civilian men and youths who were out on the streets attempting to flee in panic. The killing, which one witness said began around 4 pm, was carried out on a large scale and continued until the evening” (Amnesty, February 2021).
EHRC report says this:
“On November 25, members of ENDF were seen to be leaving Aksum and on November 26, residents said they could not see any “soldiers moving around the city”. On November 27, however, “a large number of Eritrean soldiers began coming into Aksum”. “They took up posts in three different locations of the city: ‘Maye Kuho’; ‘Samuna Fabrika’ and ‘Tsele’a’. On November 28, 2020, we started hearing heavy gun fire all around the city.”” (EHRC, March 2021).
Here we see again that the reports are saying similar things. The stories are fitting together. So, the ones who dismissed the Amnesty report was insincere. As both the EHRC and Amnesty is saying the same thing went down.
We know the EHRC is working in favour of the state. The EHRC will downplay and also undermine the total damage done by the state authorities and its allies. However, the Amnesty has its interests too. Still, it is interesting how similar the stories are and how they can co-exist together.
When you read the two reports. The stories could be mended together and explain further what happened. Both reports are blaming Eritrean forces in Axum and they were using vile force on civilians. Therefore, they are the ones responsible for the massacre occurring there in November 2020.
The ones that went after Amnesty and called it “fake news”. Have to go out and held accountable. As the state authority EHRC is validating the same things. They are both claiming the same things and showing similar results. When that is happening. The Amnesty clearly didn’t make things up, but reported factual evidence on the ground. EHRC is doing the same, but are not as direct as Amnesty. As Amnesty is there to defend civilians and their rights. While the EHRC is there to do its duty and mandate in concern with orders of Addis Ababa. This is why the EHRC report isn’t as horrific and straightforward in comparison to Amnesty. However, that is because of their role and their mandate is vastly different.
We can clearly see that the massacre went down. That innocent lives was taken. The Eritrean forces violated the rules of war. The accounts mentioned in the reports is devastating and shows a sinister side. The war in Tigray is clearly more bloody than the authorities and the state wants out. They are clearly aiming at civilians and destroying society. That is the clear message in the reports and reflects the actions made by the ones in-charge of Law Enforcement Operation. They have to be held to account and answer for the injustice served in Tigray. Not only what happened on those days in Axum, but all across the State of Tigray. Peace.



Yesterday in the House of Federation or the Parliament in Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali was addressing several of topics for the lawmakers. During this national address or speech. He spoke about the Tigray Region and others involvement, which he has not revealed before.
Clearly the Prime Minister have been pressured to say this or seen the need to speak about the involvement of Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) in the Operation Law Enforcement in Tigray. However, now there is an official explanation now for their entering there. Before, it has been dismissed and the authorities have claimed it not to be true. Though reports has stated otherwise.
Eritrea Letter:
“The reason for the lack of evidence regarding the presence of Eritrean troops in Ethiopia is not for the lack of effort by media organisations like yours, but because of the simple fact that there are no Eritrean troops in the region” (Yared Tesfaye letter to Chief Executive of Channel4, Alex Mahon – Embassy of the State of Eritrea, United Kingdom – 22.03.2021).
As we saw two days ago, the Eritrean Authorities did like they normally did. They said there was no troops, no soldiers or any presence of Eritrean forces within Tigray or in Ethiopia in general. However, the fact that has been called “false” is now proven by the allies, the Ethiopian Prime Minister himself. He said it loud and clear yesterday.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali to the Parliament:
“However, after the Eritrean army crossed the border and was operating in Ethiopia, any damage it did to our people was unacceptable” (…) “We don’t accept it because it is the Eritrean army, and we would not accept it if it were our soldiers. The military campaign was against our clearly targeted enemies, not against the people. We have discussed this four or five times with the Eritrean government” (…) “Eritrea told us it had national security issues and as a result had seized areas on the border” (…) “The Eritrean government has severely condemned alleged abuses and has said it will take measures against any of its soldiers accused of such” (Abiy, 23.03.2021).
If there ever was an ally. He would have at least played along or said the same. Now, Addis Ababa is giving another memo than Asmara.
President Isaias Afwerki should be alarmed by this. Now the whole downplaying and acting innocent cannot work anymore. That because the Ethiopian government are now throwing them under the bus. This after the Eritrean have fought the battles of the Ethiopians. Yes, the TPLF might be joint enemies. However, there is still much more at stake for Abiy than Afwerki.
Afwerki and Eritrea is already sanctioned and seen as a pariah-state. Abiy on the other hand was a Noble Peace Prize Winner and Reformer. He has so much more to loose and his already loosing it all. Because, he thought he could quickly win the battle of Tigray and be crowned supreme King. Nevertheless, the Ethiopian-Eritrean Operation has done more harm than good.
This is why yesterday really says a lot. When both parties have been willing to lie about this for months. What else are they willing to hide or not tell? When they are speaking with a double tongue for so long… what is the next revelation they will reveal?
Reports was saying this for so long, but until yesterday was it said by anyone in power. Abiy have now released the cat out of the bag. It is now official. The Prime Minister and President is co-operating and they should play with open cards. But… that we know will never happened. Because, they don’t want the world to know the truth. Peace.










We have been receiving reports from credible sources that the Amhara Militias and special forces have launched an armed attack on civilians in the Amhara Regional State, Oromia Special Administrative Zone in districts such as Atayi, Afrata, Jiille and other several places. Also, today, March 21, 2021, the Amhara Regional Government has released a press statement admitting that they have deployed the Militias in different parts of the Oromia Regional State under the pretext of restoring peace and the rule of law in the Region. The question is why the Amhara Militias needed to be deployed in Oromia Regional State to restore peace and order while the Oromia Regional State has its own security forces to do so, provided that there was security threat, in the first place, in those districts? It is customary for the Ethiopian Government to use such excuses to justify their unconstitutional actions, and this one is no different.
Several unverified social media postings originating from Atayi, Afrata, Jiillee and other several places show burning smokes, suggesting that the Militias might have launched a large-scale attack on civilians likely caused civilian causalities. OLF calls for an immediate end to such senseless attacks on civilians and their properties, and these deployed Militias must pull out from those districts. As we have already witnessed in Tigray and Benishangul Gumuz Regional States, the Amhara Militias have crossed Regional boundaries and attack civilians. Such self-importance is a recipe for triggering a clash between Nations along ethnic lines. And therefore, the Federal Government, however it is weak, must stop the Amhara Militias from terrorizing citizens and interfering in their daily life.
The Oromo Liberation Front has also learned that the Amhara Regional State has deployed a large number of Militias in various parts of the Oromia Regional State. Creditable sources are reporting that these Militias are deployed in:
• West Welloga in districts like Gidami, Gaba Arbi, Mugi, and other districts.
• East Welloga in districts such as Guttin, Haro Limmu, Hagamsa, and Amuru.
• West Showa in districts like Gindeberet and Jaldu.
• North Showa in Darraa area.
Not knowing the motives behind this deployment, the residents in those locals and surrounding districts are living in fear and anxiety. It is also important to note that the Amhara Militias and special forces that have massacred the Gumuz and attack Oromia citizens in Benishangul Gumuz Regional state and Tigray people in Tigray Regional State. They are reported for killing innocent civilians whom they think don’t belong to their ethnic group, raping women, burning down homes and properties, destroying farmers’ harvest, etc.
Knowing the Amhara Militias from their previous actions, the deployment of these forces in large quantities is causing stresses and security threats to residents in the locality. Even the Amhara Militias are becoming a challenge for the Regional States to handle them as well. Therefore, it is crucial to bring such a terrifying acts of the Amhara Regional State Militias to an end before getting out of control and aggravating a civil war among Nations in Ethiopia.
In conclusion, the OLF requests the Federal authorities to immediately withdraw the Amhara Militias deployed in a different part of Oromia and safeguard innocent civilians from such a terrifying Amhara Militias. We would also like to call upon the international community to be vigilant about the Amhara Militias’ actions and the potential consequences on civilians in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa’s security.
Victory to the Masses
Oromo Liberation Front
Finfinnee
March 22, 2021

