Urgent: Save the Lives of Innocent Oromos Condemned to Death by the Ethiopian Government

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are writing this petition letter to request you to save the lives of fifteen prominent Oromo intellectuals, business people, professionals, and others who were wrongly and unlawfully condemned to death penalties, life imprisonments, and long prison sentences by the Ethiopian kangaroo court on March 31, 2010, for merely being Oromo nationals. These Oromos are: 
1 Mr. Mesfin Abebe; Death penalty
2 Mr. Tasfahuun Camada; Life Imprisonment Sentence
3 Mrs. Abarash Yadata (mother of four children); 12 Year Imprisonment (without parole)
4 Mrs. Lalisee Wadajo (mother of three kids); 10 Year Imprisonment (without parole)
5 Kol. Olaanii Jabeesa; 12 Year Imprisonment (without parole)
6 Mr. Roba Degefa; 10 Year Imprisonment (without parole)
7 Mr. Dejene Dhaba; 10 Year Imprisonment (without parole)
8 Mr. Bakele Negeri; 10 Year Imprisonment (without parole)
9 Mr. Bayisa Hussen; 10 Year Imprisonment (without parole)
10 Mr. Hailu Delessa; 10 Year Imprisonment (without parole)
11 Mr. Dejene Boranaa; 13 Year Imprisonment (without parole)
12 Mr. Bakele Jiraata; 13 Year Imprisonment (without parole)
13 Mr. Kabade Borana; 12 Year Imprisonment (without parole)
14 Mr. Isheetu Kitil; 12 Year Imprisonment (without parole)
15 Mr. Wabee Hajii; 12 Year Imprisonment (without parole)

We are gravely concerned about the growing repressive actions of the Ethiopian regime and also about how these Oromos will gradually %u201Cdisappear%u201D (euphemism for secret killing) like thousands of other Oromos who have secretly been murdered by the minority Tigrayan government of Ethiopia. The Oromo people, the largest ethnonational group in Ethiopia, are targeted by this regime and are being annihilated by state terrorism, clandestine genocide, and political repression. The decision that was made on these Oromos' lives was made by a racially motivated court that is not independent and that ignores the so-called constitution of the regime. There is no the rule of law in Ethiopia; the Meles Zenawi regime is above the rule of law, and it controls the executive, the judiciary, and other branches of the government. It is now apparent and known that in the name of the %u2018Federal Court of Ethiopia%u2019, capital punishment and hostile decisions are being imposed on Oromo nationals.

These imprisonments and court decisions are inhuman, politically and racially motivated decisions by a so called "court" which is under complete control of the Meles Zenawi government of Ethiopia. The only "crime" of these victims has been being Oromos. Therefore, we believe all governmental, non-governmental and humanitarian organizations should condemn the persecution of these innocent people and speak loudly on their behalf. These court decisions have also violated the Ethiopian constitution which is what the Ethiopian government claims to be the safeguard of individual and collective rights and freedoms. The decision is a blatant attempt to continue the attack on the Oromo people and to deny them impartial, evenhanded and fair treatment by the law.

We appeal to you to help save the lives of these innocent Oromos. Please show your support against such capital punishment, life sentences and long-term imprisonment (without parole) decisions of the court, and pressure the Ethiopian government to invalidate these unjust decisions and to end the brutal attack on the lives and human rights of the Oromo people.