Africa Speaks Reasoning Forum

RAS KABINDA FIGHTS TO PRESERVE SHASHEMANE LAND GRANT

Report
By Ras Albert Williams


Black activist and Rastafarian Elder, Ras Kabinda Habre (Desmond Trotter) Sellassie is in a frantic struggle to hold on to ownership of 500 hundred hectares donated to Rastafarians and Black people in the West in 1955 as a way of saying thanks for their support for Ethiopia during the Italian invasion and occupation during the Second Italo–Abyssinian War of October 1935 that ended in May 1941.

His Imperial Majesty, Haile Sellassie Ethiopia, returned to this throne in 1941 when Italy was defeated by a force of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth of Nations, Free France, Free Belgium, and Ethiopian patriots. On 5 May 1941, Haile Sellassie entered Addis Ababa and personally addressed the Ethiopian people, five years to the day since his 1936 exile.

Ras Kabinda who repatriated to Ethiopia in 1992 told this correspondent:

“OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AN ATTEMPT BY CERTAIN LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO BREAK DOWN I HOUSE ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT IS IN THE PATH OF AN INTENDED NEW ROAD.. THIS HAS BEEN ABOUT THE 7TH TIME THEY HAVE TRIED TO TERRORIZE I MAN.. EARLIER IN THE YEAR, A GANG ORGANIZED BY THE LOCAL KEBELE, TORN DOWN I FENCE, IT COSTS I OVER 3,500 BIRR TO REPAIR IT.”

Ras Kabinda, who survives in Ethiopia by selling his agricultural products, and other Rastafari artefacts, lamented that he had initially drew back his fence by five meteres so as to not to be involved with technical department,

“I BROUGHT IN I FENCE FIVE METERS SO AS NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY SEMANTICS. PREVIOUSLY, THE TECHNICAL DEPT. HAD DETERMINED THE ROAD AND PLACED CERTAIN MARKINGS, BUT SOME OF THE LOCAL OROMO PEOPLE BUILT THEIR HOMES OVER THESE MARKINGS AND NOW THE MUNICIPALITY HAS COME TO EFFECT THESE MARKINGS, THROUGH BRIBERY AND TRIBAL LINKS, THEY WANT TO DIVERT THE ROAD INTO I YARD.

I AM FORCED TO GO TO ADDIS TO REPORT TO THE CENTRAL OROMO GOVERNMENT AND INFORM THEM OF THIS ILLEGAL ACTIONS, FORTUNATELY, THE BROTHERS IN THE URBAN PLANNING DIVISION ARE CONSCIOUS AND HAVE ISSUED A LETTER TO THE DHASHAMANE AUTHORITIES NOT TO INTERFERE WITH I LOCATION, UNTIL AN EXPERT FROM THE URBAN PLANNING DIVISION COMES UP FROM ADDIS ABABA TO SETTLE THE MATTER. I PRAY RASTAFARI THAT THIS WILL SUFFICE AND I WILL BE ABLE TO FORESTALL THEIR EVIL INTENTIONS..

THE NEED FOR FURTHER REPREDENTATION AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS IS NOW FUNDAMANTALLY CRUCIAL IF I AND I AS A PEOPLE ARE TO ATTAIN EQUAL RIGHTS. THEY HAVE EXECUTED SIMILAR ACTIONS AGAINST THREE OTHER BROTHERS, WHO JUST ACCEPTED IT, TWO OF THEM HAD TO BREAK DOWN STRUCTURES IN THEIR YARDS, WITHOUT ANY COMPENSATION, WHICH IS AGAINST THE LAW. IT IS AN ATTEMPT AT ETHNIC CLEANSING..


Since the dethronement of Haile Sellassie the repatriated brethren have be under a steady campaign by the Ethiopian Government to reclaim the land, for allegedly developmental purposes. Many of the policies, particularly the attitude of the Mengustu regime towards the Emperor are still maintained even though, the dictator mengustu was ousted by a counter coup in 1991. The royal standard of the Lion of Judah has also been removed from the nation flag. Mention of the Role of Emperor Haile Sellassie and Empress Menen are all but erased from the official school syllabus, Says Ras Kabinda.

Ras Kabinda, who first visited Ethiopia in 1989, and migrated permanently in 1992, has been involved in Agricultural development and the building of additional classrooms for nearby schools. He is also actively involved in teaching Ethiopian farmers alternative farming methods such as integrated farming.

Part of the problem, Ras Kabinda cites is the failure of some organisations to make good their promises at the development of acquired lands. Also the fact that the import duty to import vehicles for development purposes is almost 100 percent, and to obtain investor status one needs to give the government one million Birr (Ethiopian currency) or £48,056.50 British Pounds to obtain duty free concessions. He also notes that reggae stars who make pledges to financially assist the brethren are not forth coming, despite representation to the Ethiopian Government on their behalf.

“THERE IS A CRUCIAL NEED FOR I AND I TO ESTABLISH A RASTAFARI UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCE, ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY, ESTABLISH OIL PRESSES AND CANE JUICE PROCESSING UNITS,” Ras Kabinda says, adding, “CONSTRUCTION FIRMS, TRANSPORTATION FLEETS, CERAMIC FACTORIES AND PRIMARILY HAVE HUNDREDS OF HECTARES OF LAND UNDER CULTIVATION..THESE ARE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS THAT I AND I AS A RASTAFARIAN NATION ARE YET TO ATTAIN.

Last week, Ras Kabinda initiated the representation to the Ethiopian Prime Minister in Addis Ababa, Meles Zenawi and the Orima President and will return next week to begin negotiations.

MESSAGE FROM KABINDA RE THE SHASHAMANE LAND GRANT

GREETINGS OF PERFECT PEACE AND LOVE IN THE MOST IVINE NAME OF HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTIC EXCELLENCY, EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE I. I MAN PRAY THAT PEACE PREVAILS IN THE HOUSE AND PROSPERITY AND PROGRESS IS THE JUST REWARD OF I AND I LABOURS.


ALLOW I TO INTRODUCE I SELF..I AM RAS KABINDA HABRE SELASSIE (DESMOND TROTTER) AND HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS. I AM ONE OF THE EDERS OF THE NIYABINGHI TABERNACLE AND THE R.C.S. OF LOCAL 14, E.W.F. SHASHAMANE. I AM AN ORGANIC FARMER AND HERBALIST, A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AND A SCRIBE.

IT IS I DUTY AS AN ELDER AND A SCRIBE TO INFORM THE INTERNATIONAL RASTAFARI COMMUNITY OF THE REALITIES THAT FACE I AND I, AND THE CRUCIAL NEED FOR I AND I TO CLOSE RANKS AND MAKE THE APPROPRIATE REPRESENTATION TO DEAL WITH THE DISCRIMINATION BEING EXERCISED AGAINST I AND I BY THE OROMO LOCAL ADMINISTRATION.



BACKGROUND....

THE SHASHAMANE RASTAFARI COMMUNITY IS A CLOSE KNIT FAMILY, I AND I FUNCTION REGARDLESS OF HOUSE AND LOOK FOR EACH OTHER'S BACK.DURING THE DERGUE REGIME, THE MAJORITY OF THE LAND WAS TAKEN AWAY, REPRESENTATION BY THE THEN ELDER SETTLERS ENSURED THAT 11 HECTARES WAS ALLOCATED TO BE SHARED BETWEEN 18 FAMILIES. THE FULL 11 HECTARES WAS NEVER GIVEN.

THE ELDER TWELVE AND FEDERATION ELDERS BRAVED THE FIRE AND PAVED THE WAY FOR I AND I WHO HAVE VENTURED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS.SINCE THE CENTENARY OF HIS MAJESTY, RASTAFARI FROM ALL MANSIONS HAVE COME HOME, FROM EUROPE, AMERICA, FRANCE, JAMAICA, BARBADOS, MARTINIQUE, BERMUDA, ST.VINCENT,DOMINICA,CHILE..I AND I AS A COMMUNITY DO NOT EXCEED 300

ETHIOPIA IS GOVERNED BY A FEDERAL SYSTEM, WHEREBY THERE IS A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, BUT THE COUNTRY IS DIVIDED INTO REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS, REPRESENTING DIFFERENT TRIBES, SO THERE IS OROMO, AMHARA, TIGREY, GAMBELLA, GURAGHE,SIDAMI AND AFAR REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS. SHASHAMANE IS THE FASTEST GROWING TOWN WITHIN THE OROMO REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN DRAMATIC CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY GEARED TO ESTABISHING IT WITH THE URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE BEFITTING A TOWN.

FIVE YEARS AGO, A MASTER PLAN WAS INITIATED TO SECTIONALIZE THE TOWN INTO RESPECTIVE CLASSIFICATION,DISTINGUISHING INVESTMENT AREAS, RESIDENTIAL AREAS,SCHOOLS,STADIUM AND RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. THE AREA WHERE THE SHASHAMANE TABERNACLE IS HOUSED AND THE RESIDENCE OF RAS KABINDA IS LOCATED, IS CLASSIFIED AS S44 ON THE MASTER PLAN. THIS BEING SPECIFIED AS FOR RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

WHEN THE AUTHORITIES FIRST STARTED TO INITIATE THE MASTER PLAN, IT WAS CALCULATED THAT A 25 METRE ROAD MAY DAMAGE PART OF TRHE TABERNACLE. I AND I PROTESTED AT SUCH A THOUGHT TO LOCAL, REGIONAL AND CENTRAL AUTHORITIES AND AN AGREEMENT WAS MADE TO BRING IN THE FENCE TO THE WALL OF THE TABERNACLE, I AND I LOST THE HALF COMPLETED FEMALE QUARTERS, WHICH WAS DEEMED TO BE IN THE ROAD.

THERE WAS AN EIGHT METRE ROAD THAT RAN AT THE BACK OF RAS KABINDA,S
HOUSE AND THE HOUSE THOWEVER WHEN IT CAME TO THE FENCE, BEHIND I AND I HOUSES, A GANG OF 24 PEOPLE, ARMED WITH STICKS, CUTLASSES AND SPEARS, ORGANIZED AND LED BY THE LOCAL KEBELE AUTHORITIES, VIOLENTLY CUT DOWN I AND I FENCES. IT WAS A MOST VICIOUS ACT AND EXPOSED THEIR DESIRE TO EXERCISE ETHNIC CLEANSING. WHEN I AND I SOUGHT AN EXPLANATION FROM THE CHAIRMAQN, ONE OBBO MOHAMMED, HIS REACTION WAS PURE HATE AND MALICE.

THAT THE ELDERS DWELL WITHIN, I AND I FENCE MARKED THE BOUNDARY FOR THE ROAD . I AND I DWELLINGS HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THE PAST FIFTEEN YEARS. WHEN THEY FIRST CAME TO DETERMINE THE TRUE PASSAGE OF THE ROAD, IT WAS INDICATED WITH THE RIGHT MARKINGS, BUT THROUGH CORRUPTION, IT WAS CHANGED TO IMPEACH INTO I AND I YARDS.ON ONE SIDE, IT WAS INDICATED THAT I AND I SHOULD COME IN FIVE METRES, I AND I COMPLIED.

NOW IT IS ALMOST A YEAR, AFTER THIS INFRINGEMRENT, I AND I BROUGHT IN I AND I FENCES RIGHT UNTO I AND I WALLS. OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, THEY HAVE RETURNED AGAIN, THE SAME CHAIRMAN,WHO HAD BEEN REPLACED, WAS REINSTITUTED . THEY FIRST STARTED ON THE PROPERTIES OF THE TWELVE IDREN, MAINLY SISTER JOANNE, BRO. DESIE. BRO.. MOSES, ELDER ZION, RAS FLIPPINS AND BRO. CHIKA. WITHOUT WARNING, ROADS WERE CUT THROUGH ALL OF THEIR PROPERTIES,
THEY HAVE NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO THIS ,AS THE ROADS ARE NOT INDICATED ON THE MASTER PLAN. THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT EDICT THAT STIPULATES THAT EVERYONE LIVING IN THE SHASHAMANE AREA ARE ONLY ALLOWED 200 SQ. METRES PER PERSON, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 140 SQ, METRES FOR 1 CHILD.

SOME OF I AND I, HAVE AREAS OF 2,000 T0 3,500 SQ. METRES, THAT I AND I LIVE ON WITH FAMILY, CULTIVATE THE LANDS AND BUILD HOMES FOR ONES AND ONES .
BRO. FLIPPINS, WHO HAD UST BUILT UP A HAIRDRESSING SALON, WAS ORDERED TO BREADOWN THE BUILDING , WITHOUT COMPENSATION, WHICH IS ILLEGAL, ACCORDING TO ETHIOPIA LAW.

LAST WEEK, THEY CAME AND STARTED MEASURING BEHIND I AND I HOUSES,I WAS NOT PRESENT,BUT THEY INDICATED THAT THE ROAD PASSAGE WOULD NECESSITATE THE BREAING DOWN OF I YARD AND THE ELDERS QUARTERS.THE IDREN AND SISTREN WHO WERE PRESENT OBECTED AND INDICATED THAT THE ROAD MARINGS WERE INSIDE WHERE THE LOCAL OROMO PEOPLE HAD BUILT THEIR HOUSES. THE SAID OBBO MOHAMMED, THE KEBELE CHAIRMAN ORDERED THE ENGINEERS TO LEAVE THE HOUSES THAT HAD BEEN BUILT IN THE ROAD AND DIVERT IT INTO I YARD AND THE ELDERS QUARTERS. HE FUTHER ARTICULATED THAT IT WAS ONLY THREE ELDERS LIVING IN THE BINGHI YARD, SO BREAK IT DOWN, NO PROBLEM...TOTAL CONTEMPT AND DISREGARD FOR I AND I AND I WELFARE.

THE IDREN AND SISTREN ASKED THEM TO RECONSIDER, BEARING IN MIND THAT RAS KABINDA HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN BUILDING OVER THREE FOUR CLASSROOM STRUCTURES FOR OROMO CHILDREN AND HEALED HUNDREDS OF VILLAGERS WITHOUT CHARGE. THEIR ARROGANCE DID NOT FALTER, A SITTING MAGISTRATE, WHO WAS PART OF THE CREW, COMMENTED NOT TO FEAR FOR KABINDA, HE WOULD FINISH WITH HIM.

THIS IS THE REALITY, I WAS IN ADDIS ABABA, DEALING WITH MATTERS RELATED TO I LEGAL STATUS, HAVING BEEN INFORMED OF THE SITUATION, REPRESENTATION WAS MADE TO THE OFFICE OF THE OROMO PRESIDENT, WHICH DIRECTED I AND I TO THE WORKS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT BUREAU.I AND I INFORMED THEM OF THE BIAS AND CORRUPT PRACTICES BEING EXERCISED AGAINST I AND I. THEY LISTENED ATTENTIVELY AND TOLD I AND I THAT I AND I WERE RIGHT TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AND GAVE I AND I A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE SHASHAMANE CITY ADMINISTRATION, INSTRUCTING THEM TO INFORM THE KEBELE AUTHORITIES TO DESIST FROM IMPROPER PRACTICES AND AWAIT AN ENGINEER FROM THE CENTRAL BUREAU TO DETERMINE THE TRUE MARKINGS. I AND I ARE AWAITING THIS LETTER TO BE DELIVERED TO THE KEBELE, BUT IT IS IN PROCESS.

THERE IS A TENSION IN THE AIR, ALL OF I AND I ARE FACED WITH THE SAME SITUATION, A LOT OF THE IDREN AND SISTREN LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE KING,S HIGHWAY AND WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL BE FACING THE SAME SITUATIONS. THE KEBELE AUTHORITIES ON I AND I SIDE ARE MORE VICIOUS AND LET I AND I PRAY THAT GREATER LOVE AND TOLERANCE WILL BE SHOWN TO THEM AND NONE OF THEIR HOMES THREATENED.

OBVIOUSLY THE TIME IS LONG OVERDUE FOR I AND I TO MAE FAR GREATER REPRESENTATION TO THE FEDERAL AND CENTRAL OROMO GOVERNMENTS ON I AND I STATUS AND IMMEDIATE NEED FOR CITIZENSHIP, PROPERTY RIGHTS AND ALLOCATION OF SUITABLE LANDS TO CREATE SELF-SUFFICIENT COMMUNITIES, WHERE I AND I CAN BE ENGAGED IN COLLECTIVE COMMERCIAL FARMING,SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR NATIONHOOD, WHERE I AND I CAN BUILD HERBAL RESEARCH CENTRES, NATURAL ARTS AND CRAFTS, A RASTAFARI UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCE, APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY AND CREATIVE ARTS, SEWING AND KNITTING MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, AGRO INDUSTRIES, OIL, SOYA,SUGAR CANE PROCESSING, ESSENTIAL OILS EXTRACTION, HERBAL REMEDIES, DREHYDRATED FRUITS ETC,

I AND I CANNOT FRET, REGARDLESS OF THEIR THREATS, THERE ARE SET THRONES OF JUDGEMENT ON THE WICKED IN CREATION. I AND I MUST FOCUS ON THE ESSENTIAL PREREQUISITE OF OBTAINING LAND FOR I AND I TO RECOGNISE I AND I SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO RETURN HOME AND BE HONOURABLY WELCOMED. I AND I MUST NEVER ACCEPT SUCH TREATMENT AND I AND I AS A PEOPLE MUST STAND IN SOLIDARITY. IT IS TIME FOR I AND I TO COME OUT OF BABYLON AND SOLIDIFY I AND I SELF IN THE MOTHERLAND. I AND I ARE THE REMNANT THAT IS DESTINED TO LIBERATE THE CONTINENT..IT IS BECAUSE I AND I ARE NOT IN TOUCH WITH ON THE GROUND REALITIES, I AND I LINGER IN THE WEST. IT IS I AND I DESTINY TO COME HOME, FACE THE FIRE AND TRAMPLE THE DRAGON.

THE STRUGGLE TO ILEVATE THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF I AND I PEOPLE IS AWESOME
BUT IS ONGOING, THE MAJORITY OF CHRISTIAN ETHIOPIANS ADORE A WHITE JESUS, WITHOUT APOLOGY. THEIR IGNORANCE IS I AND I BURDEN, WHY IT IS SO FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE THE SINGERS AND PLAYERS OF INSTRUMENTS TO COME HOME AND FULLFILL THE PROPHECIES.I AND I HAVE TO IBERATE I AND I PEOPLE FROM WESTERN IMPERIALISTIC INDOCTRINATION AS PERPETUATED BY HOLLYWOOD AND RELIGION. IT IS A MONUMENTAL TASK, THAT REQUIRES THE PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTION OF ALL OF I AND I WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO WALK IN THE WAYS OF THE KING OF KINGS, EMPEROR HAILE I SELASSIE I..... I AND I WILL BE PROJECTING CERTAIN ASPECTS OF NATION BUILDING THAT I AND I HAVE CONCEPTUALIZED AND PRAY THAT I AND I AS A APEOPLE HAVE MATURED THROUGH THE AGES AND ARE PREPARED FOR THE WORK AT HAND... COME OUT OF HER.... I PEOPLE....ONE BLESSED RASTAFARI LOVE