Hangaasuu Bilisummaa Journal Volume 1 - ULFO

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Rooting out the Oromos and exposing them to hunger VOLUME 1 SPRING 2010 Cambodia received $35 million in food assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In Philippines, nearly 70 percent of the poor live in the countryside, and approximately 90 percent of the rural population lives below the poverty line. Even if the product of large-scale farm is not transported to other countries, there is another problem the land grab creates: the inability of local farmers to purchase food. The main concern of any foreign investor is the total return manifested in the total percentage change in the value of an investment over a specified time period, including capital gains, dividends, and the investment's appreciation or depreciation. Simplified, the foreign investor is after his/her profit. This results in increased dependency of locals on foreign markets. Moreover, to make profit, the investors use cheap labour paying workers small amount. The landowners and inhabitants will be forced to sell their labour cheaply on their own backyard and possibly can even make them jobless exposing them to abject poverty and famine. The local Oromos do not have the capital to compete on the foreign market and could not buy food. As such food security of millions of Oromos is endangered. Finally even if the above two factors are met, i.e., even if the product of large-scale farm is remained locally and local people could be able to purchase food, there is still another concern that affects food security of the locals: the nutritional content of the available food. Foreign investors produce mainly one or two type of crops such as maize and/or rice. Nutrition wise such crops deliver carbohydrates and not enough of or nil protean, vitamins, and minerals and so on. To meet their dietary and nutritional needs, small-scale Oromo farmers usually divide their land to cultivate barley, beans, lentils, vegetables and fruits from which they get the proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. With their land grabbed the Oromo locals would loose the capability of producing crops of their choice that provide them with balanced nutrition. Consequently millions of Oromos will be affected by diseases related to nutritional deficiency. In the long-run, this results in physically crippled and mentally enfeebled future Oromo generations. By leasing land that affects food security, the Ethiopian government violates international agreements. Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights obliges states to ensure for everyone under its jurisdiction access to the minimum essential food which is sufficient, nutritionally adequate and safe. A state that does not respect, protect and fulfil food security of its citizens violates human rights to food. Rooting out the indigenous population Large-scale land lease drives the native landowners off their land rooting them out of their aboriginal backyards. Since their land is gone, these landowners depart to cities and other location in search of work so as to sustain their life. They might not find work. Consequently they are not only being rooted out from their ancestral land but also exposed to beggary, misery and hunger at foreign place where no one familiar is there to stretch a helping hand. Evicting Oromos from their ancestral land is a violation of international law. Under Article 8 Para. (2b) of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, states shall provide effective mechanisms for prevention of and redress for any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing indigenous peoples of their lands, territories or resources. Moreover, the Oromo people have a distinctive spiritual relationship with trees, rivers, lakes and hills that surrounds them. For example Oromos celebrate Irreechaa (Thanksgiving Day) once a year. Irreechaa takes place at the banks of lakes, rivers, or Odaa trees. Oromos go to these places for seeking quiet and natural scene that is suitable for attention to thank and worship God with full concentration. Furthermore, Oromos believe that green is holy, water is life, and the places are peaceful where the spirit of God is found. Besides, according to Oromo spiritual tradition one house is Hangaasuu Bilisummaa 32
Rooting out the Oromos and exposing them to hunger VOLUME 1 SPRING 2010 reserved for and used as a place of worship. Such a house is called Galma. Evicting Oromos from their ancestral land is divesting Oromos of their spiritual life. Divesting Oromos of their spiritual life is violating international law. Articles 25 and 26 of the United Nations Declaration recognize the distinctive spiritual relationship of indigenous peoples with their traditionally owned or otherwise occupied and used lands, and that they have the right to own, use, develop and control these lands. States must therefore give legal recognition and protection to these lands, territories and resources, with due respect to the customs, traditions and land tenure systems of the indigenous peoples concerned. Environmental disaster At this crucial juncture when the world is debating how to tackle environmental disasters that is looming and that has already affected large portion of the globe, it is irresponsible to engage in activities that exacerbate environmental disaster. Large-scale land lease contribute to environmental degradation, desertification and destruction of ecological systems and biodiversity because forests should be cleared to facilitate the land for cultivation. Large scale land lease clears virgin and pristine forests that is home of endemic wild lives with which Oromia is blessed and that serve as coolant against the scorching tropical sun. The indigenous Oromo population who are entirely dependent upon forests for their livelihoods, food, medicines and/or building materials will face disaster. Trees are Oromo’s sacred places used as a natural and quiet place where Oromos worship Waaqa (one God). In this regard deforestation caused by land lease causes not only physical environmental disaster, but also bereaves Oromos of their spiritual life. As investors care only for a shortterm and quick profit from the land, they use chemicals that serve this purpose. Hazardous and toxic chemicals are dumped into the soil in the form of fertilizer, pesticide and herbicide. Acidification of soil by nitrogen compounds hampers soil’s ability to retain and recycle natural nutrients and organisms in the soil making it useless in the long run. Emission of nitrogen into the air causes greenhouse gases and depletion of Ozone layer. Moreover, these chemicals can be washed off to the nearby water bodies and not only kill aquatic lives but also impact on the health of humans who use such contaminated water for drinking purpose. The following internet link is a tragic example of the effect of toxic chemical washed off to water used by locals for drinking. http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=eUqgUR4qI98 In conclusion, the Ethiopian government should respect international laws and refrain from leasing Oromo land which otherwise creates food insecurity and exacerbate hunger, eviction of indigenous populations exposing them to abject misery, divesting them of their spiritual life and creating cataclysmic environmental disaster. To boost production and eliminate hunger, the government should invest in technologies and means that can be used responsibly by local farmers. Local farmers should be trained and equipped with modern agricultural know-how instead of evicting and appropriating their land to so called investors. Failure to do so and continuing with the land grab would leave the Oromos with no alternative but fight for their inherent rights for life. Hangaasuu Bilisummaa 33
Page 1: Contributions by Idries Jemal Taj
Page 4 and 5: Hangaasuu Bilisummaa Journal Volum
Page 6 and 7: Hangaasuu Bilisummaa Journal Volum
Page 8 and 9: Hangaasuu Bilisummaa VI
Page 10 and 11: The organizational behavior of Orom
Page 12 and 13: this goal to succeed, they put in p
Page 14 and 15: incessant simmering that is debilit
Page 16 and 17: The organizational framework of ULF
Page 18 and 19: agenda only after an exhaustive deb
Page 20 and 21: its ultimate political goals. It is
Page 22 and 23: Saamichalafa Oromoo Saamicha Lafa O
Page 24 and 25: uqqisuun alagaa wajjin saamaa jiran
Page 26 and 27: kutannoon dura dhaabate san akka ho
Page 28 and 29: Naannolee Oromiyaa birootti jechuun
Page 30 and 31: The basis of Mushrooming Factions w
Page 32 and 33: The basis of Mushrooming Factions w
Page 34 and 35: Biyya Oromoo Laalistuu VOLUME 1 SP
Page 44: Volume 1 Spring 2010

Hangaasuu Bilisummaa Journal Volume 1 - ULFO

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