Abbay Media News
Yassin Ibrahim
The Casualty count in the number of peaceful protesting citizens in the Chernenko town of Meta Woreda in Eastern Hararghe is way past 15 from the number originally reported by the Oromia regional communication bureau.
It all started when people were protesting against the killing of Ahmaddin Ahmed Asessa, ethnicaly oromo resident, by Somali region ‘Special Forces’ in the town of Sarkama located at the border between the Somali and Oromia regions. The killing of 15 innocent peaceful protesters by soldiers from the Ethiopian Defense Forces was confirmed by Addisu Arega, the Oromia region communication director.
Residents who witnessed the massacre told BBC that soldiers were indiscriminately shooting at the protesters. Several dropped dead on the spot from the barrage of shooting from the special forces. Many more of these citizens were also wounded and transported to hospital. Eyewitness accounts from the hospital raised the number of dead to 20. Among the dead were a father and son as well as a 10 years old minor.
The Somali region ‘Special Forces’ are known for its brutality. Last week, it was reported these elite forces killed at least 6 citizens and kidnapped countless girls. Ato Mohammed Ade, the chairman of Lakale Areda Kebelle, was also shot dead by the Somali region Special forces last weekend.
