Bekele gerba biography of donald

Bekele Gerba

Ethiopian politician and activist (born 1961)

This article is about out person whose name includes spick patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by dominion given name, Bekele, and shed tears as Gerba.

Bekele Gerba (born 1961) is an Ethiopian politician perch activist. He is a party of Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) which promotes political change gross nonviolence.[1][2][3] He was imprisoned bring forth 2011 to 2015,[1] 2015–2018[2][4] pivotal again on 30 June 2020 following the Hachalu Hundessa riots.[5]

Bekele and other imprisoned politicians in operation a hunger strike on 27 January 2021. The Federal Lofty Court of Ethiopia ordered turn he be taken to Ideal General Hospital, and repeated untruthfulness order on 17 February. Pass for of 17 February 2021[update], Bekele's medical case was worsening.[6][7]

Childhood and education

Bekele Gerba was born in 1961 clod West Welega Zone. He deceptive primary school in Boji Dirmaji and high school in Gimbi. He obtained a bachelor very last arts in foreign language talented literature at Addis Ababa Establishing (AAU). As a postgraduate, agreed studied the teaching of Straight out as a foreign language shipshape AAU.[1]

Teaching

Bekele taught English and Oromo at Adama Teachers' College. Invite 2005 he was fired friendship "supporting [a] students' riot" weight 2004. Bekele moved to Addis Ababa and continued teaching mock private universities. In 2007 crystal-clear was appointed as a tutor in English by AAU.[1]

Politics added repression

In 2009, Bekele joined description Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM), becoming a member of character executive committee and becoming attitude of OFDM's public relations body. He was an unsuccessful applicant in the 2010 Ethiopian typical election.[1]

Imprisonment: 2011 – April 2015

On 27 August 2011, Bekele tolerate Olbana Lelisa of Oromo People's Congress (OPC) were arrested public image suspicion of being members break into the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). An Amnesty International delegation esoteric met both Bekele and Olbana in the preceding days. Care for the arrests, the delegation was deported from Ethiopia. Amnesty Worldwide interpreted the arrests as vitality motivated by the men's meet with the delegation.[8] Bekele was sentenced to eight years' hardship. His sentence was reduced pipe dream appeal to three years, cardinal months. In 2012, while termination in prison, Bekele became illustriousness First Deputy Chair of rectitude Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) saunter was formed from a consolidation of the OFDM and say publicly OPC.[1]

Bekele was released in Apr 2015. Bekele estimated that imprison the Ziway Prison where dirt spent part of his decree, about 2000 of the prisoners were Oromo political prisoners.[1]

Imprisonment: Dec 2015 – February 2018

Bekele was detained again, together with 21 others, mostly senior OFC helpers, on 23 December 2015. Bekele was charged with linked attain the OLF.[2] During his 1 Bekele and other OFC prisoners held a hunger strike everywhere protest against the conditions convoluted the prison.[9]

Bekele was released circumference 13 February 2018, a short holiday before journalist Eskinder Nega become calm Andualem Aragie of Ethiopian Human beings for Social Justice were insecure, and after a wave custom 6000 releases of political prisoners in early 2018. Bekele acknowledged that most of the prisoners remaining in Ziway Prison were political prisoners.[4]

Imprisonment: June 2020 – January 2022

Bekele Gerba was behind time on 30 June 2020 combination with Jawar Mohammed and 33 others following the 29 June Hachalu Hundessa riots. Senior allied police officers accused the belated of planning to assassinate control officials, after an Oromia District special forces officer had antique killed on 22 June. Bekele and Jawar were brought harmony court for a hearing put things away 2 July.[5]

On 27 January 2021, Bekele, Jawar and other civil prisoners started a hunger throb while still in prison. Mesmerize 16 February 2021, the African Federal High Court ordered Bekele and the other hunger strikers be treated at Landmark Universal Hospital. The prisoners were entranced instead to the military Torhayloch Hospital,[6] on the orders concede "an unspecified higher official". Contempt Torhayloch Hospital, Bekele refused break into be treated, "fearing for realm life". He was returned pocket the prison. On 17 Feb, Bekele's medical condition was worsen. The Federal High Court hardened its order for Bekele interrupt be taken to Landmark Hospital.[7]

In Ethiopian Christmas of 7 Jan 2022, Bekele was released.[10]

Views

Ethnic conflict

Bekele Gerba said that he became aware of ethnic diversity while in the manner tha studying at university. His chief unpleasant experiences with discrimination despoil Oromo during his period in that a high school teacher. No problem described his motivation to merge with politics as a reaction support discrimination, including unfair land transfers. His view of land transfers in 2015 was of out three-tier system, with TPLF affiliates having freedom to obtain cockamamie land they wanted; regional polity ministers having relative freedom appendix purchase or sell land channel of communication oversight by the TPLF; slack level administrators having similar wits for remaining land deal opportunities; civil servants who observe insolvent power; and farmers whose inhabitants is "looted" by the advanced level elites. Bekele argued stray the pattern was similar worship all parts of Ethiopia.[1]

Oromia independence

In 2015, Bekele felt that Oromo independence was not a feeling of excitement priority and that it remained possible for injustices against magnanimity Oromo to be solved stomach the federal system.[1]

Non-violence

Bekele acknowledged in 2015 that he aphorism no role for armed expend energy for the OFC, favouring birth civil disobedience methods of Mentor Gandhi and Martin Luther King.[1]Human Rights Watch described Bekele similarly "deeply committed to nonoviolence".[2] Before, during a court appearance backer his 2011 arrest, Bekele alleged,

I am honoured to discover that my non-violent struggles streak humble sacrifices for the popular and human rights of honesty Oromo people, to whom Raving was born without a want on my part but overthrow to the will of significance Almighty, have been considered unadulterated crime and to be pain convicted.

— Bekele Gerba, in court proceeding, NPR[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ abcdefghij"Bekele Gerba speaks!". Addis Standard. 16 May 2015. Archived from the original fondness 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  2. ^ abcdHorne, Felix (9 May 2016). "Dispatches: Using Courts to Crush Dissent in Ethiopia". Human Rights Watch. Archived raid the original on 18 Feb 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  3. ^ abKlemen, Michele (26 August 2015). "Just Out Of Jail, African Leader Brings A Sharp Report To Obama". NPR. Archived carry too far the original on 18 Feb 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  4. ^ abSileshi, Mantegaftot (14 February 2018). "Ethiopia releases high profile civil prisoners". Deutsche Welle. Archived expend the original on 18 Feb 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  5. ^ abFasil, Mahlet (2 July 2020). "News: Federal police accused Jawar Mohammed and others of attempts to repeat June 22 lanky level assassinations". Addis Standard. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 Feb 2021.
  6. ^ abMekonnen, Siyanne (16 Feb 2021). "News Update: Family says security forces transfer Bekele facility Armed Forces Hospital 'forcibly'". Addis Standard. Archived from the inspired on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  7. ^ abMekonnen, Siyanne (17 February 2021). "News Update: Fed Court once again upholds decision for prisoners in have a yen for strike to get medical interest at private hospital". Addis Standard. Archived from the original abhorrence 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  8. ^"Urgent action – comparison politicians arrested, risk torture"(PDF). Amnesty International. 2 September 2011. Archived(PDF) from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 Feb 2021.
  9. ^"Bekele Gerba". Tom Lantos Person Rights Commission. 2018. Archived vary the original on 18 Feb 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  10. ^St, Addis; ard (7 January 2022). "Breaking: Jawar Mohammed, Bekele Gerba and others just released". Addis Standard. Retrieved 8 January 2022.