Deadly protests continue in Ethiopia

ESAT News (October 6, 2016)

                                                     (Photo obtained from social media)

At least twenty protesters were killed in the last few days alone in the Oromo region of Ethiopia where violent protests flared up following the massacre of hundreds of festival goers at the Irreecha celebrations in Bishoftu, Debre Zeit.

The Ajo town of west Arsi saw the deadliest protests. Guder and Holeta, where an American, Sharon Gray of UC-Davis, was killed on Tuesday were also the scene of violent protests on Thursday.

In Sebeta, few miles from the capital, protesters set ablaze eleven factories affiliated with the regime in the last few days, police said in a statement on Thursday. Sixty government vehicles were also destroyed by protesters.

A manager of a Turkish textile factory also told the media that 30% of the factory was destroyed.

Government officials confirmed destruction of properties but did not mention the loss of lives. Opposition political parties say over 678 people were killed during the Ireecha massacre while the government insists only 55 people lost their lives in a stampede.