Dear Representative,
I am one of your constituents. I am reaching out to you regarding the human rights and humanitarian situation for Oromos living in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. As you may be aware, on April 9, 2022, the Ethiopian federal and Oromia regional government announced that they had launched a military campaign aimed at eliminating the OLA from the region. I have also heard reports that other regional security forces, including from the Amhara region and other regions, have joined in on this effort.
This is not the first time the Ethiopian government has launched a military offensive in Oromia. In their latest attempt, which began in 2018, the Ethiopian government installed military command posts inside Oromia with the mission of fighting “OLF-Shane” (a term frequently used by the Ethiopian government to refer to the OLA, who they have labelled a terrorist orgnization), then a relatively small group. It should be noted that, like pervious governments, the current regime often labels opposition groups as a terrorist organizations. Today, the OLA has amassed a large army and the support of many Oromo people from various parties
Above all else, I am deeply concerned about the impact this military offensive will have on ordinary Oromo civilians throughout Oromia. Since the military command posts were established in 2018, there have been countless human rights abuses perpetrated against civilians by security forces associated with the command posts, including arbitrary arrests and detentions and extrajudicial executions. I fear it is inevitable that more Oromo civilians will lose their lives and face other abuses as a result of this campaign.
I know that the US government and the international community have been calling for the Ethiopian government to take concrete steps towards a peaceful resolution to conflicts in Ethiopia. To me, it seems that the decision to launch a military operation in Oromia directly undercuts any recent steps the government has taken towards resolving the conflict in northern Ethiopia. The US government must not stay silent in response to this military offensive, and must condemn any such actions that undercut calls for peace throughout the country.
I, therefore, respectfully request that you do all that is in your power to draw attention to the recent decision to launch a military offensive inside Oromia, and condemn it as a measure that undermines peace and stability throughout the entire Horn of Africa. Your office should also call for the Ethiopian government to seek peaceful means to address conflicts inside Oromia, as it is doing with the TPLF in northern Ethiopia. The lives of countless Oromos are at stake.
This issue is very important to me, and I thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours
