Bill Text: MN SR263 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Draft
Bill Title: A Senate resolution supporting the Oromo community and condemning the violence against their compatriots in Oromia State, Ethiopia
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-05-14 - Referred to Rules and Administration [SR263 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-SR263-Draft.html
1.1A Senate resolution
1.2supporting the Oromo community and condemning the violence against their
1.3compatriots in Oromia State, Ethiopia.
1.4WHEREAS, Oromo students in Ethiopia started protesting on April 25, 2014, to stand
1.5against the government's plan to substantially expand the municipal boundaries of Addis Ababa
1.6because, according to the students, the expansion would threaten communities under regional
1.7jurisdiction; and
1.8WHEREAS, under this proposed Addis Ababa Integrated Development Master Plan, the
1.9boundaries would include 15 more communities in Oromia; it would take away the authority of
1.10Oromia Regional State on the Oromo farmers and give it to Addis Ababa City; and the students
1.11are concerned that the displacement of Oromo farmers and residents will have a negative effect on
1.12the land and citizens; and
1.13WHEREAS, the constitutional right and privilege of Oromo people to Addis Ababa as its
1.14capital city are threatened by the master plan and the students claim that this plan is to de-Oromize
1.15the city, and in its history there have been clashes between Addis Ababa and Oromo; and
1.16WHEREAS, Addis Ababa is a busy city and the expansion will result in taking away
1.17farmers' positions and leaving them as daily laborers and the Oromo community states that if the
1.18master development plan succeeds, farmers' land would be sold at dirt-cheap prices and create
1.19even more institutional difference between the Oromo region and Addis Ababa; and
1.20WHEREAS, the Oromo people make up nearly one-half of Ethiopia's population; and
1.21WHEREAS, the government has reported that there are at least nine students dead, but
1.22other estimates have reached 47, and witnesses report that at least 70 people are wounded; and
2.1WHEREAS, on May 9, 2014, an Oromo rally to protest the killing and imprisonment of
2.2peaceful Oromo protesters in Ethiopia and to demand the perpetrators be brought to justice
2.3was held at the Minnesota State Capitol; and
2.4NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
2.5supports the Oromo community, condemns the violence against them, and urges the United States
2.6government to pressure the Ethiopian authorities to respect human rights and democratic process.
2.7BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare
2.8an enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of
2.9the Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to the Minnesota
2.10Oromo community.
1.2supporting the Oromo community and condemning the violence against their
1.3compatriots in Oromia State, Ethiopia.
1.4WHEREAS, Oromo students in Ethiopia started protesting on April 25, 2014, to stand
1.5against the government's plan to substantially expand the municipal boundaries of Addis Ababa
1.6because, according to the students, the expansion would threaten communities under regional
1.7jurisdiction; and
1.8WHEREAS, under this proposed Addis Ababa Integrated Development Master Plan, the
1.9boundaries would include 15 more communities in Oromia; it would take away the authority of
1.10Oromia Regional State on the Oromo farmers and give it to Addis Ababa City; and the students
1.11are concerned that the displacement of Oromo farmers and residents will have a negative effect on
1.12the land and citizens; and
1.13WHEREAS, the constitutional right and privilege of Oromo people to Addis Ababa as its
1.14capital city are threatened by the master plan and the students claim that this plan is to de-Oromize
1.15the city, and in its history there have been clashes between Addis Ababa and Oromo; and
1.16WHEREAS, Addis Ababa is a busy city and the expansion will result in taking away
1.17farmers' positions and leaving them as daily laborers and the Oromo community states that if the
1.18master development plan succeeds, farmers' land would be sold at dirt-cheap prices and create
1.19even more institutional difference between the Oromo region and Addis Ababa; and
1.20WHEREAS, the Oromo people make up nearly one-half of Ethiopia's population; and
1.21WHEREAS, the government has reported that there are at least nine students dead, but
1.22other estimates have reached 47, and witnesses report that at least 70 people are wounded; and
2.1WHEREAS, on May 9, 2014, an Oromo rally to protest the killing and imprisonment of
2.2peaceful Oromo protesters in Ethiopia and to demand the perpetrators be brought to justice
2.3was held at the Minnesota State Capitol; and
2.4NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
2.5supports the Oromo community, condemns the violence against them, and urges the United States
2.6government to pressure the Ethiopian authorities to respect human rights and democratic process.
2.7BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare
2.8an enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of
2.9the Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to the Minnesota
2.10Oromo community.
| JoAnne M. ZoffSecretary of the Senate | Thomas M. BakkChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration |
| John A. HoffmanState Senator, District 36 | Foung HawjState Senator, District 67 |
| John MartyState Senator, District 66 |
