Ethiopia's Abiy Accuses OLA Rebels Of New 'massacre'
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published July 05, 2022 | 08:30 AM
Addis Ababa, July 5 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jul, 2022 ) :Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Monday accused rebels of carrying out a new "massacre" of civilians in a restive area in the far west of the country and vowed to wipe out the group.
Abiy said the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which is designated a terrorist organisation by Addis Ababa, was "inflicting damage" on people as its fighters fled an offensive by security forces in western Oromia.
"Citizens living in the Qellem Wollega zone of Oromia state have been massacred," he said on Twitter, without giving details.
"We will pursue this terrorist group to the end and eradicate it," he added.
It was not possible to verify the information as access to western Oromia is restricted, and the area concerned was under a communications blackout.
Officials have blamed the OLA for a number of massacres targeting Amharas, Ethiopia's second largest ethnic group, although the rebels have denied responsibility.
The US-based Amhara Association of America (AAA) said in a message to AFP that the attack targeted Amhara in Mender 20 (Village 20) in the Hawa Gelan district of Qellem Wollega.
"One of our investigators did talk to three eyewitnesses... hiding in a forest nearby," the AAA said, adding that the attack began at 6:00 am on Monday and was still going on when he spoke to the witnesses around noon.
It said the telecommunications network in the zone had been cut since around 1:00 pm.
"Nobody came to our rescue," one survivor was quoted as telling the Amhara Media Corporation, a state-run regional outlet.
"They (the attackers) have left and bodies are now being picked up, so far 300 (bodies) have been collected. But it's still early, there are many others whose whereabouts we don't know." The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, a state-affiliated independent body, said it was alarmed by the reports and called for an "urgent reinforcement" of government security forces to prevent further civilian deaths.
It said in a statement that government security forces were reported to have reached the area but that residents continued to seek shelter elsewhere.
"The continued insecurity in the area and what appears to be the ethnically targeted killing of residents must be put to a stop immediately," EHRC chief commissioner Daniel Bekele said in a statement.
Ethiopia's armed forces have for years been fighting a rebellion by the OLA in Oromia, the largest and most populous region which borders South Sudan.
In June, several hundred people, mostly Amhara, were massacred by gunmen in the village of Tole in West Wollega, an area adjacent to Qellem Wollega, according to witnesses.
Local authorities said the OLA was responsible, but the rebels denied any role in the killings and blamed a pro-government militia.
No official toll has been published, but Abiy spokeswoman Billene Seyoum told reporters on June 30 that 338 victims had been identified so far.
UN rights chief Michele Bachelet called on the Ethiopian authorities to conduct "prompt, impartial and thorough" investigations into the Tole attack.
Also in June, the OLA attacked the Gambella regional capital -- the first such strike on a major city by the rebels.
US-based Human Rights Watch said on Monday it had documented serious abuses in Oromia, including in the west where an "abusive" government campaign against the OLA had trapped civilians in the crossfire.
It said the Tigray conflict in northern Ethiopia was overshadowing a "persistent cycle of violence" against civilians by security forces and armed groups in Oromia.
The OLA last year allied with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which has been fighting government forces in the north since November 2020.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
185 held for violating 'roti' price orders in 6 days
Record-setting Duplantis lights up Xiamen, Richardson upset
Dry weather to prevail in most parts of country:PMD
Open letter to customers from Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline
4th Int'l Public Health Conference concluded
DG SBCA says launching one window operation soon besides setting up complaint ce ..
Heavy rain and hailstorm paralyse life in Hazara division
RoboTec 24 kicked off in Mechatronics Department Hayatabad
Commissioner orders 100pc recovery of DMC fee from defaulters
Police arrest two wanted criminals: SSP Larkana
Commissioner for comprehensive strategy against measles as 203 cases detected
Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) recovers 39 kg drugs in nine operations
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
1 day ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
5 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
6 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
6 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
9 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
11 days ago
-
DC, DPO Haripur inspect bus terminals to review fares compliance
13 days ago -
Second phase of refugees’ repatriation to start after Eidul Fitr vacations
13 days ago -
Reaping bounties as Ramazan culminates
13 days ago -
Digital transformation – a boon or bane
13 days ago -
Plants’ business: Another casualty of climate change
15 days ago -
Eid shoppers prioritize children’s joy over personal comforts
15 days ago