Members of the Oromo diaspora from Norway, Sweden, Germany, UK and Belgium gathered last Friday in Brussels to protest Ethiopian manage of human rights and the nation’s natural resources in front of the European Union headquarters and the U.S. and United Kingdom embassies.
Tujube of the Afan Oromo service interviewed organizers of the protest and participants from Belgium, Sweden.
The protestors appealed to the western governments to pressure the government of Ethiopia to protect the country's deteriorating natural environment and the human rights of its citizens from what they call "irresponsible corporate activity."
They claim that with increased investment in commercial flower production, leather goods and agricultural products, the nation’s economy is expanding at the expense of the environment and the quality of life of the people of Ethiopia.
The event was organized by the Union of Oromo Students in Europe and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization in the Netherlands.