Ethiopians up in arms against governor's visit

08 June, 2008

Richard Cuthbertson, Calgary Herald Published: Friday, June 06, 2008

He'll likely speak about new economic opportunities in the Gambella region of Ethiopia -- preaching to the region's diaspora, former residents now living in Calgary, the virtues of returning to the East African nation.

But as Gambella governor Omot Obang Olom is set to arrive in Calgary this weekend, he is also a man dogged by allegations. Some human rights groups accuse Olom of being involved in the 2003 massacre by government troops of more than 400 people of Anuak ethnicity in Gambella.

And Olom's expected arrival in Calgary is sparking a sharp rebuke from a Saskatoon-based organization, which accuses the governor of human rights abuses.

Obang Metho, director of international advocacy with the Anuak Justice Council, said Olom's appearance should be boycotted and argues Canada should refuse the governor entry to this country. "This is a criminal," Metho said of Olom.

Olom has denied he ever had a hand in the massacre. He reiterated his innocence in Minnesota last week where he spoke to members of the Anuak diaspora, saying he tried to stop the bloodshed.

At the time of the killings, Olom was in charge of security in Gambella (he later became governor of the region in 2005).

While he is not accused of killing anyone, at least one human rights group alleges he helped draw up a list of targets.

Calgarian Gatkuoth Bim is one of the organizers helping facilitate Olom's visit to this city. He believes the allegations against the governor are false rumours spread by those who want power in Ethiopia.

He also points out that Olom is an ethnic Anuak, the same group targeted in 2003.

"That killing happened," Bim said. "But it does not mean (Olom) was the architect of the killing. He did not do anything, he has nothing to do with it."

Bim said there are a "good number" of people from Gambella living in Calgary, most of whom welcome the governor's visit.

The governor is tentatively scheduled to speak Saturday at the First Church of the Nazarene in S.W. Calgary.

Ojulu Didumo intends to be at Olom's talk in Calgary and wants to ask the governor how the massacre took place under his watch, and why Anuak should return to the region. "Unfortunately, there are a lot of allegations that (Olom) was very instrumental in perpetrating those killings," said Didumo, an ethnic Anuak now living in Edmonton.

"For the majority of the (Anuak) community members, he is a part and parcel of that killing."

Meanwhile, Metho believes Olom has been granted an entry visa to Canada and is due to fly from Washington D.C. to Ottawa today. He's then scheduled to travel to Calgary.

The fact it appears Olom may have been granted a visa to Canada is "most disturbing," said Dan McTeague, the federal Liberal critic for Consular Services. "I would find it of considerable concern for most Canadians to learn that Canada's prepared to accept somebody who has a checkered past, particularly in violation of human rights, is granted open access to our country," he said.

rcuthbertson@theherald.canwest.com