Challenges Ahead as Sidama Nation Marks New Year‐Fiche

Today marks Fiche, the sidama new year, which has been celebrated by Sidama people for thousands of

years. Fiche is major cultural event of the year for the sidama people. Sidama nation is one of few

nations in the world to have developed its own calendar. As lunar calendar is used to determine exact

date, the fiche changes from year to year. Tomorrow will be ‘Chambala’ day and series of celebration

events will continue there after that lasts for about a month.

As it has done for past several years, Sidamas are celebrating this year’s Fiche in the midst of challenges

that have been facing the nation. Among other things, Sidama people are denied fundamental rights by

ruling EPRDF/TPLF party. Justice has not been served for the lives that were taken by the assassins of

this brutal regime. Self administration that is granted to others is denied to Sidamas. On this Fiche night,

many Sidamas are languishing in jails merely for speaking up against injustices. Deliberately induced

hanger and Poverty is widespread, especially in rural areas, while the regime elements committing

generational crime by spoiling their resources. By so doing, the regime and its collaborators are working

day and night to change the very fabrics of the nation to their own advantage.

SLF Wishes happy and prosperous New Year to all Sidama people at home and abroad. During this time

we all have to remember all Sidamas who have given us their precious life so we could live free. We also

remember these who are behind bars by choosing truth over wickedness. SLF also calls up on all

Sidamas to continue resisting injustice without being distracted.

Worancha ወራንቻ