“It is to be recalled that an ethnic conflict had flared up in 2000 between members of the Wolayita and Ocholo ethnic groups owing to a dispute over land ownership claims. The conflict had caused loss of lives, destruction of property, and other social problems including expulsion of some members of the Wolayita ethnic group from ‘edir’, a traditional self-help association.
Following this, members of the Wolayita ethnic group, who were expelled from the edir, set up a new ‘edir ’that also constituted members of other ethnic groups. However, on 13 December 2006, officials of the Lante kebele farmers’ association and the self appointed Ocholo cultural norms watchdog group issued an order saying that it is not allowed to form an edir other than the one that is formed by members of the Ocholo ethnic group and all other edirs should be disbanded immediately. As members of the Wolayita ethnic group did not take heed of the order, the officials tried to forcibly take away property belonging to members of the edir on several occasions. The aggrieved edir members brought their plight to the attention of regional officials both at Zone and wereda levels but the authorities did not give them any remedies.”
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