Ato Bekele Gerba, who has been involved in Ethiopian politics for many years at the personal and party level, told the BBC that he resigned from his party, the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFCO), and sought asylum in the United States.
Ato Bekele told the current political situation in Ethiopia is serious for “peaceful struggle and personal freedom”, so he requested asylum to live in the United States.
Ato Bekele, the first deputy of the Oromo Federalist Congress, said that it is not useful for them to continue holding the power while abroad, so they have decided to separate themselves from the party.
Mr. Bekele Gerba was arrested following the riots that occurred after the killing of artist Hachalu Hundesa, and after being released, he traveled to the United States after spending 18 months in prison. He added that when Mr. Bekele traveled to America after his release, his purpose was to thank the diaspora community that had been demanding his release, but he had no plans to stay there.
“It has been one year and three months since I came to this country. When we first came, my plan was to meet with our people living abroad, firstly to thank them for their struggle to release us from prison and secondly to discuss what we should do in the future.
Ato Bekele said, “I don’t think it is necessary for him to return to that country” because the situation in Ethiopia has changed during the 15 months he stayed in America. Explaining the political situation in Ethiopia that prevented them from returning to the country, he said, “Since the political change in Ethiopia, especially the last year, it is very dangerous.”
“It’s been a year since it’s been so sad. People are being taken from prisons and killed, anyone who wants them arrests people, people’s addresses are lost, people are evicted from their land, Oromo’s borders are broken and their houses are burned, they are burned while they are still alive, and there are those who are killed and buried in the pit they dug themselves.
Mr. Bekele says that the offices of political parties are completely closed. Because of this, it is impossible to do political activities in the country, he said. “In this situation, even staying alive has reached a critical level. Secondly, since it is impossible to do political activities by returning to that country and there will be no results, I have decided to stay here.” Ato Bekele explained that when he returned home, he was unable to return to his job as a teacher at Addis Ababa University.
“They sent me a letter as soon as I got out of prison. They said you are retired because you are 60 years old. My efforts to secure my pension have also failed. I can’t find what I’ve been searching for all my life. Thus, I am forced to leave empty-handed in the land of mankind.”
Ato Bekele Gerba has informed his current country that his life is in danger if he returns to Ethiopia and has submitted his asylum application.
Ato Bekele Gerba recalled that he returned from America to Ethiopia once or twice in the past with the hope of peaceful political participation, “but now there is no hope.” When the famous politician went to America for a visit in 2018, an institution called ‘Scholars at Risk’, which provides support to scholars whose lives may be in danger if they return to their country, rejected their request to facilitate their permanent residence in America and said that they returned to Ethiopia.
Ato Bekele stated that he was imprisoned in Ethiopia after his visit, and when he was released from prison and traveled to the United States in 2018, although the said organization asked him again to facilitate his permanent residence in the United States, he stated that he returned to Ethiopia to continue the struggle he started through his party
Mr. Bekele refused the repeated request and was imprisoned for the third time after entering Ethiopia. After his arrest, they traveled to the US last year and asked the company that had asked them twice to facilitate a residence permit, but they said that they did not give a third chance.
“If we can win, we thought that we have a hope of ruling the country by formulating a policy that can benefit the people. I gave up the opportunity that was offered to me for the second time and returned home. “But now there is no hope at all.” If Ato Bekele has lived a long political life and decided to leave his country of origin and live in exile abroad, is there any part of the agreement reached with the government to get out of prison? They denied the request.
After Ato Bekele was arrested along with several politicians, he said, “There are no conditions offered for my release from prison; “There was no warning until I left the country,” he said. From 2001 Ato Bekele Gerba, who has been involved in politics since then, said to the BBC, “This interview is my word as the first vice-chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress.”
Ato Bekele says that a political party is important when it comes up with policies that benefit the people, and if it gets the chance, it is to form a government, if not, it is to donate recommendations to the government.
“So I don’t need to stay in a political party right now. I am not campaigning for political power. I am not mobilizing the people of that country in the name of a political party. I am not working for that nation. I’m not likely to do that.”
As a result, Ato Bekele said that he left the party because he did not consider it necessary to continue his participation in the OFCO party in view of his current situation.
“This interview is probably my word as the deputy chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress. From now on, like any other person who cares for the Oromo people, I will not continue as a party leader, but as an Oromo.”
Ato Bekele stated that he has not told his party or anyone about his decision to withdraw from the Oromo Federalist Party.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about this. I did not see the benefit [of staying in the party], so I came to a decision recently,” he said.
Ato Bekele recalled that the Oromo Federalist Party is an organization that cares deeply for the people who are fighting for it, and that he spent many bitter moments with party leaders who sacrificed themselves. “I feel great sadness when I think of not being able to fight and work with them like before,” he said.
Ato Bekele Gerba himself said that he has withdrawn from the OFCO party, but said, “I am ready to be present whenever needed in the struggle of the party and the Oromo people.”
“It does not mean that I have stopped politics. It does not mean that I will stop talking about the Oromo people. Whenever Oromo needs me, I am ready to be present whenever Oromo institutions need me.”
Ato Bekele stated that he did not receive any pressure from his party and that he worked respectfully with the leaders of the party and that he would have been happy if he officially separated from the party.
He said that he does not believe that his separation from the party will have any negative effect on the political party.
It will be remembered that many prisoners, including Bekele Gerba, Jawar Mohammed and other prisoners, went on a hunger strike for days after they were arrested following the murder of Artis Hachalu Hundesa.
Mr. Bekele has been on hunger strike to demand an end to the torture and arrest of politicians and the arrest and harassment of others.
The politicians, including Ato Bekelen, were on a hunger strike for a long time and suffered serious health problems.
