ENDF open fire, wound many in Bodi

ESAT News

April 04, 2014

A squad of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) that has travelled to the Southern Omo region of Ethiopia to quell the month long fights between the Bodi and Konso communities has on April 2, 2014 fired heavy weapons on the Bodi people wounding many. Among the wounded, at least 17 elderly women, children and youth are attending medical treatment in Hana Health Centre in Jinka, Southern Ethiopia, the Omo Peoples Democratic Unity (OPDU) office told ESAT.

The Administrator and the Deputy Administrator of Selamago Woreda are in a row with the Head of the Security Head of the area following the actions taken by the ENDF.

According to OPDU, the Konso elders have complained to the officials “When you resettled us here, you told us that you have talked with the people and that everything was alright. However, after we have come here we faced several clashes. Despite our progresses in resolving our conflicts via peaceful and traditional methods, you have taken such a reckless measure which could dim our hope of living together after now. ”

Members of the Party have visited the wounded from both communities in Hospital.

Fights between resettled Konso communities and Bodi people have so far resulted in the death of four Konsos and two Bodis and another driver. Three people from the Konso community have been wounded, 72 houses have been burnt and a fertiliser stockpile has been burnt, OPDU indicates. Berhanu Mamo, a driver who travelled to the area to transport aid that was to be distributed to displaced Konsos has been shot to death by an unidentified person while he was taking a shower near a river.

The Party said the tension in the area is still high.