Sidama Liberation Front

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The PAFD Categorically Deplores the Massacre of Civilians in Woldya by EPRDF/TPLF’s Security!
Press Release By Peoples’ Alliance For Freedom And Democracy (PAFD) -1/25/2018

It came to our attention that, in Amhara region of Wolo Zone in Woldya town of north Ethiopia, at least 12 civilians including children and women were gunned down by a heavily armed ruling regime’s security forces and special Commando brigade known as ‘Agaazi’ on the 20th and 21st of January 2018. Over 20 civilians were also reported to be seriously wounded. Like the rest of numerous previous massacres committed by the EPRDF’s regime in the past 27 years project of State-Terrorism, the Woldya massacre seemed to be meticulously planned and executed, employing snipers who have live-shot at their targets from their previously held positions on the top of roofs.

The victims were celebrating one of their famous and the oldest annual Orthodox religious activities known as ‘Timket’ (Epiphany) to remember and celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ. They had neither weapon nor intention to cause any problem when they were murdered in broad day light. None of the previous successive regimes have committed such crimes against religious groups including the Irreecha’s Oromo massacre of 2016 where over 700 civilians similarly gunned down, in this manner. Dozens of civilians were also arrested resulting in further tension between the Amhara and Tigre people living in Amhara region; the event the TPLF wishes to promote. As the rest peoples of Ethiopia, the Amhara people shown their decency and civility by rejecting TPLF’s heinous plans by only targeting the regime and its apparatuses, not the people. The PAFD applauds their wise rejection of EPRDF/TPLF’s divisive and conquer plots.

Jus few weeks ago, the TPLF monopolised EPRDF claimed that the entire ill of the country is unfolding due to its lack of the necessary zeal in fairly governing a multi-ethnic nation of over 104 million peoples, resulting in the killings of hundreds of unarmed civilians everywhere, every year. Therefore, the regime vowed to end this by bringing those who are responsible for such heinous crimes to justice. In reality, its rhetoric is a customary lie. The massacre of Woldya civilians couple of weeks after its solemn looking fake vows proved its inherent barbarism and inability to accommodate genuine democracy and freedom without shading the bloods of innocent civilians. Its actions leave the peoples of Ethiopia with no choice other than resisting it with all possible means.

The EPRDF security forces similarity committed in the last 27 years, and to date are committing massacres in Oromia, Ogaden Somali, Sidama, Gambella, Amhara, Benshangul, Afar, Tepi-Mezenger, Konso and in various regions, zones and districts enjoying impunity. Hundreds of thousands of civilians remain unlawfully incarcerated.

The PAFD categorically condemns the massacre of civilians in Woldya and in the rest parts of Ethiopia. We demand the EPRDF/TPLF’s regime to immediately relinquish power to re- Email: pafd22102015@gmail.com * 806B Kennedy St. NW, Washington, DC 20011 * www.peopelsAFD.org store peace and order seriously compromised by its inhumane actions, by unconditionally allowing the peoples of the country to come together to plan their future. We make it unequivocally clear to the peoples of Ethiopia that, the EPRDF has time and again proved its inadequacy to represent the interests of the majority in the past 27 years. To date there is no shred of evidence that, it has indeed moved an inch towards reflecting its genuine willingness to addressing the need of the majority apart from feeding the subject utopian freedom and miraculous wealth. However, it has repeatedly shown its untrustworthiness. Given the experiences of the last 27 years, we believe that, trusting the EPRDF/TPLF regime will be political shortsightedness, and at worst utter naivety.

Therefore, we urge the peoples of Ethiopia to wholly reject the brutality, and divide and conquer tactics of the EPRDF/TPLF regime by coming together to remove the regime unrepentantly committing massacre after massacre in Ethiopia, by hoodwinking the majority with lies and deceits for the last 27 years. We call upon our supporters to decisively move hand in hand with all people of the country whilst striding towards achieving our common goal. We also call up on all opposition groups to come together, leaving their differences aside, to devise a workable strategy to move together to fight the enemy of humanity, who is only EPRDF/ TPLF. We further call upon international community who are sustaining the life line of the EPRDF’s brutal regime, to stand with the majority in defending their rights by stopping the support they are pouring for the EPRDF’s regime who is hellbent on remining in power by terrorising its citizens for far too long.

Finally, we send our deepest condolences to the families of Woldya victims and for all the previous victims of the past 27 years during the reign of EPRDF State-Terrorism!

Justice, Freedom and Equality for all Peoples in Ethiopia!

The Peoples’ Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (PAFD)
January 25, 2018