Afar People’s Party condemns with strongest possible terms the barbaric act of terror and aggression of TPLF/EPRDF military

July 24, 2014
PRESS RELEASE
July 23, 2014 was another tragic day in the village of Adgura, around 15 kilometres south of Gawani town. The pastoral community of Biriforo kebele is among hard-hit by the flooding caused by Awash River since July 17, 2014. The community has lost most of their belongings and escaped to the Adgura hill 5km from the flooded villages. Many of the families were occupied in building their shelter (Daboyta), when the federal military forces rounded up flood displaced people who are in panic and emergency situation. The federal army justified it blatant act that the Adgura settlement could threaten the security of Addis-Djibouti road and should move to another distant location. One of the villagers, Mr Guuro Hammadu tried to explain the emergency situation to the military. He argued that “We have nowhere to go and this not new settlement and you know the situation and you see the disaster, help us instead of intimidating us”. Without finishing his talk Mr Guuro was shot dead in front of his wife, his 8 children and other villagers. Following the killing of Guuro Hummad fierce fight has been reported between Afars and Federal army. War songs (Horra) have been heard during the funeral ceremony of the Mr Guuro that indicates the fighting will continue.
Mr Guuro was a well-known state man and a peace-loving Ethiopian. He served his community in different positions in Afar Regional Government. Mr Guuro was elected administrator of Buremodaytu wereda, and later worked at Rural Development Bureau. Furthermore, Mr Guuro was member of the peace keeping committee in Gawani district. He died while attempting to make peace, sadly by the bullets of blood thirsty and repressive regime. Killing the agents for peace will only escalate the existing tension between Afars and the regime in Addis Ababa.
Similar tragic event has been reported by Afar People’s Party on April 20, 2014 when 12 Afar civilians were gunned down by the federal police near Awash 7 Kilo. This act of state terror was committed by the federal polis and no one has been held accountable so far. Outraged by this act of terror, the civilians in Awash blocked Addis Ababa-Djibouti road causing stop for all goods coming from Djibouti port demanding the of removal corrupt army from the locality. Likewise, in March 2014 the militia of the Tigray Region besieged Konnaba district in North West of the Afar Region, which also ended in blocked road to Tigray Region.
Afar People Party strongly warns the TPLF/EPRDF regime from restraining its dogs from hunting the civilians. If this act of intimidation, extrajudicial killing, and mass detention of civilian continues the heroic Afar people will be forced to defend their land and freedom through all necessary means.