‪I call on the government not to use excessive force against protesters (Obang Metho)

 I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives in Sodo and Boditi towns in the Wolaita zone. Grief and hardship from these losses are affecting families, communities and Ethiopians throughout the country. ‬

‪According to Reuters sources - At least 10 people reportedly killed and 18 others injured in clashes between protesters and security forces in Ethiopia’s southern region on Monday. Social media sources put the number to 20 people.

‪I call on the government not to use excessive force against protesters.‬

‪According to Reuters “The protests were sparked by Sunday's arrest of local officials and activists seeking a new autonomous region for their Wolaita ethnic group, said Matheos Balcha, spokesman of the opposition party Wolaita National Movement Party. Click at the link for more ‬

‪I would like to say that the whole families of Ethiopians are mourning the loss of these people. To those who lost your close family members, we are with you and also grieving for the loss of your loved one. We are praying for you and those who are injured for a speedy recovery.‬

‪Now is the time to reflect on the death of these people and to pray that God uses their death to wake up a country to stand together to create a home where people will live anywhere in Ethiopia in harmony and with respect towards each other. ‬

‪Those left behind must take responsibility to bring reconciliation among our people and to help heal the wounds dividing us. To do so,we must reject the regime’s primary means of survival—seducing us to endlessly remain embittered and isolated from each other based on ethnicity, religion or other identity factors.

‪We must understand,we have to agree to do so for them to win,while putting humanity before ethnicity or any other differences,is the way to a better Ethiopia.Becoming complicit with them in something that is wrong,will bring destruction on all of us and this is what we are now facing‬.

‪May God remind us to see others Ethiopian from different ethnic and religious groups as we see ourselves and may stand up for righteousness as the best path to a New Ethiopia.‬

‪Click at the link below to read the article ‬
‪https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN2562EQ‬