Press Release

Press Release by Gambellan Democratic Movement (GDM)

Press Release 1

Due to long history of oppression and neglect imposed by successive Ethiopian regimes on Gambella people, we, the people of Gambella, are hereby announcing the formation of a political party called Gambellan Democratic Movement (GDM). Since the birth of modern Ethiopia, the successive regimes in Ethiopia have led the country without due consideration to the people of Gambella.

The leaders in Addis Ababa refused to encourage the equal participation of all Ethiopians. And over the years, they developed a view that there is only one truth; and that they alone hold that truth. This led them to think that they alone know the truth, and therefore; why waste their time to even attempt to listen to minority Ethiopians on how to better lead the country. These leaders and their supporters developed an attitude that says: we are the strongest, therefore we are the best; and our way, which is right, works for us, therefore it must work for you too. And if you do not see that, we may have to help you, perhaps even force you to see things our way. This attitude by the successive leaders and their supporters toward minority Ethiopians led to the absolute exploitation and domination of Gambella people, and to the eventual massacre of Anyuaks in 2003 by the current regimes in Ethiopia.

By forming GDM, we, the people of Gambella vow to struggle for the rights of our people to be respected and to govern themselves. Our fundamental objective is to struggle for our people’s rights on land, political and social economic and to get rid of a century long oppression and exploitation by the successive Ethiopians’ regimes. To achieve this, we will build an understanding with other opposition groups of likeminded on the basis of equality and respect for all Ethiopians.

GDM’s commitment to this objective is based on a democratic principle, that the people of Gambella are endowed with the right to decide for themselves the type of governance they want to live under and the type of relationship among states they want to see in Ethiopia as whole.

If you want to contact GDM, please do not hesitate to contact us at gambellandemocraticmovement@gmail.com

Freedom to Gambella people!!

Respectfully,

GDM’s Central Committee.