Despite these all harks and barks, tits-tats and bluffs, huffs and puffs, the Sidama people are determined to peacefully and non-violently continue their Constitutional quest for regional self administration

Update on a Deliberately Orchestrated Crisis in Sidama Region.

Our reporter from Hawassa (Sidama), July 07, 2012

On the 6th of July 2012, Shiferaw Called for another meeting in Hawassa town. Various Hawassa towns’ sub-regional appointed councilors were called by the aforementioned cadre who is increasingly obsessed with implementing illegal and unconstitutional acts of re-installing a previously dropped Manifesto of federalizing Hawassa town; the attempt that outrightly angered Sidama people from corner to corner. The said meeting was mainly dominated by the usual intimidation of the Sidama councilors by Shiferaw Shuguxe who repeatedly threatened them with intimidation and harassment. 

Mr Shuguxe told all participants that the plan of the regime must go ahead whether Sidama people like it or not; therefore, he reiterates that the participants must implement the Manifesto regardless. Besides, his lecture went into deaf ears. The Sidama participants asked Shiferaw that whether he is playing such game with himself or deliberately undermines the Constitutional right that unequivocally guarantees Sidama people to regional Self-Administration. Instead of responding to the Sidama people’s civilized and nonviolent argument, he barked at the participants in an intimidating fashion as his boss ‘Meles Zenawi’ who never tolerates an opposing idea, always does at their Pseudo-Parliament. 

The Sidama participants once again bravely reminded Shiferaw, that just two weeks ago he emphatically denied the presence of such a Manifesto. Yet they wondered whether he is telling Hawassa city Sidama councilors to implement a miraculously produced new Manifesto that was previously alleged to be produced by the United Sidama Parties for Freedom and Justice (USPFJ) - a baseless allegation that proved to be not only incorrect, but also a blatant lie that embellishes the glaring truth about the intent of their Manifesto.

After failing to be listened by such pathetic pariah, renegade, Shiferaw Shuguxe who sales the interests of his brothers and sisters and appeared to be increasingly paranoid and instable; the Sidama participants heroically walked out of the said meeting disregarding him. 

In another development Shiferaw re-called 19 districts Cabinet members in groups of 2 or 3 districts together- where he said to the groups of participants separately that the Sidama framers need to learn how to plough their farms (an insult that must be denounced by all Sidamas); thus they don’t need to raise the issues of regional Self Administration. According to him, it’s these very representatives and others Sidama individuals who live abroad are the ones who are stirring this. Therefore, he told the Cabinet members that they must go and convince Sidama people once again by emphasizing that they don’t need regional self administration, but development; the mantra he learnt from his federal compulsive liars. All participants said to have been obliged to keep silent during the meeting and went out without saying a word either for or against. 

Subsequently, this news reached Sidama people all over the districts who warned all agents not to go to their districts as the Sidama people have already put their request forward. The Sidama people all over the districts made their quests crystal clear; no nonsense any longer!! Their quest is and remains regional self administration. Thus, all Sidama people emphatically rejected the plan that is clear and against these interests. Previously, Shiferaw also told the participants of this particular meeting when he warned them that they don’t have any option apart from convincing Sidama people to accept the plan of the regime-despite an out right rejection of the Sidama people in Unison. 

Our confidential source also disclosed that Shiferaw on yesterday’s Hawassa meeting threatened that the Sidama New Year ‘Fichche’ Celebration won’t take place if the Sidama people decide to push with their constitutional quest for regional Self Administration; the remark out rightly being ridiculed! The said inner circle also disclosed that he also additionally threatened by telling Sidama cabinet members that there won’t be the Sidama language symposium that took place on a yearly basis for the last over a 17 years in a row. 

Despite these all harks and barks, tits-tats and bluffs, huffs and puffs, the Sidama people are determined to peacefully and non-violently continue their Constitutional quest for regional self administration where the Sidama people be able to manage their own affairs without being lectured by the outsiders how to live their own lives in their own soil. 

The neighboring regions such as Oromia and Gedeo are also said to have shown increasingly enthusiastic solidarity to the causes of the Sidama people - the situation that caused severe panic among the regime from federal to the region. Consequently, the regime accumulated Special Forces of unknown numbers encircling Sidama region, around the areas where the Sidama neighbors Oromia and Gedeo. Despite the presence of Special Forces, all parts are having an in-depth analysis of the situation and strategically thinking the way forward to end the brutal rule of Meles Zenawi lead dictatorial regime that legally terrorizes peaceful citizens all over the country. 

Therefore, the regime is walking towards the dead end in a glaringly burning fire!! Let the popular fire burn the Brutal Rulers and let the rule of law and truth triumph over Lies and Deceits!! 

Kukkisa from Hawassa, Ethiopia, July 7, 2012