by Engidu Woldie
ESAT News (September 20, 2018)
Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians has so far raised close to 250,000 U.S. dollars in two days to help compatriots displaced due to recent ethnic attack in the outskirts of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.
The gofundme fundraising launched yesterday has gotten quick response from Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia in the Diaspora who were shocked by the weekend attack in Addis Ababa, which victims say was perpetrated by a group of Oromo youth against the Dorzes and other ethnic groups who hail from Southern Ethiopia. Police, however, said the attack was carried out by a group that claim to represent two political parties.
At least 65 people were killed in the attack that also left several people wounded.
Thousands flee their homes and are sheltered in schools in the capital. Those who spoke to ESAT reporters say they would not return to their homes as there is no guarantee that the perpetrators would not return for further attacks. They called for protection from the government saying local police have failed to protect them and in fact some police officers were collaborators in the attack.
Over 700 people have so far been arrested in connection with the attack.
The attack mainly took place on Saturday, on the day of a rally to welcome an Oromo opposition group called the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), which returned to Ethiopia from its base in Eritrea. Thousands of Oromos from outside Addis Ababa took part at the rally at the central square in the capital. But as the group marched into and outside the capital, they clashed with residents of the city over the display of flags and banners.