A silent world remains merely just another helpless spectator to the ongoing ethnic, political and religious extermination of Orthodox Christianity in Ethiopia. The ongoing tussle in Ethiopia under all unfortunate circumstances is a well crafted and promptly executed genocide.
Call it by any name, Oromo radicalism or religious extremism, Orthodox Christians suffered the most and they undoubtedly continue to suffer the most. Churches burned, faithful murdered, local business intentionally destroyed.
Some people believe that troubles within Ethiopia do not retain a religious colour. But figures speak otherwise. After the murder of Hachalu Hundessa, more than 3362 Orthodox Christians were displaced. Many Orthodox Christian schools, clinics, entrepreneurial ventures, vehicles were also destroyed. Last year alone, fanatic Oromo groups attacked and killed a large number of Non -Oromo and destroyed more than 30 Orthodox Churches and institutions. Such direct attacks were visible even before 2019.
Hachalu Hundessa’s deliberate murder constitutes just another apparent reason for radicals to wage war against the non-Oromo population. Ironically, Hachalu Hundessa was an Orthodox Christian.
It is not merely Amhara, but it is a war waged to undermine Ethiopian national unity and against Orthodox Christianity in particular. The radical’s attacked and killed Amhara Christians, Oromos Christians and the Gurages community. They demolished property, did lynching and beheadings in the region. Oromo radicals attacked towns and cities in south-eastern Oromia and brutally murdered many non-Oromo, non-Muslim families in the region.
World Media’s who hauls a lot on the persecution of Christians and minorities seems to be silent on the sufferings of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and minorities. Off course some of them (especially Ethiopian and African media’s) circulated a couple of reports. However, these published reports have not surfaced in a proper manner. Such a dire scenario has inevitably undermined the apparent seriousness of the social and political situation.
Ilhan Omar (U.S. Representative for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district) and other politicians retweeted a New York Times story about Hachalu’s killing.
But how many politicians will tweet or retweet the story of Meron Tesfaye who was killed while she was nine months pregnant? She was executed before her husband and their two children who were made to kneel down to witness the brutal murder? Who will speak for Brihanu Ziqargachew who was brutally slaughtered by the Ormo extremists?
They are just two among the 335 (or more) people who were martyred in the name of ethnicity and religion. They were brutally executed for their faith and ethnicity.
Who will prevent the Ormo speaker who publically called for the extermination of Amhara’s in her local neighbourhood? Which leading politician will promptly stop the propaganda broadcasts by the Oromo Media Network? At least keep aside the active propaganda of OMN and listen carefully to established facts.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Holy Synod — Rise up and stand firm behind the faithful to staunchly defend them as they voluntarily risk themselves for Christian Orthodox faith.
Look at the Ethiopian government. How can they be so vulnerable? Ethiopians undoubtedly have Prime Minister who was decorated with Nobel peace prize for striking a deal with Eritrea. The Prime Minister and his local government, however, miserably failed to properly check the radicals to reinstate lasting peace in the Country. The government isolated the people of Ethiopia by terminating the internet during the crisis. It is clear they want to hide reality from the rest of the world. What an unspeakable shame!
The Ethiopian diaspora groups like the ‘United for brighter Ethiopia’ are working hard on the critical issue. However, the fragility of the complex situation in Ethiopia reasonably requires urgent attention and humanitarian intervention.
It is not about the mortal leaders like Jawar Mohammed or Ahmed Abiy, but it is about the unfortunate Ethiopians who undoubtedly suffer for their faith and ethnicity, it is about the common man in Ethiopia who is toiling hard to rightfully earn his bread and butter, it is about paving a more decent future for all Ethiopians and it is all about re-establishing lasting peace in Ethiopia.
Indeed, this is a planned and an ongoing ethnic, religious and political to subtly undermine and severely disrupt the national unity of Ethiopia.
A silent world, Ethiopians inevitably require your valuable help and support. Please do not disregard them!!!
George Alexander is a writer, orator, human resource trainer and Pan-orthodox Christian activist.
