Ethiopians support Olympic medal-winner's protest

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

The crossed wrists protest of Ethiopian marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa was welcomed in his home country on Monday, where the gesture is used by the Oromo people in protest at police abuse.

Lilesa, who is from the 35 million-strong Oromo community, crossed his arms above his head as he won silver at the Rio de Janeiro games on Sunday. In a news conference, he said he risked death or imprisonment by making the sign and said he may not return to Ethiopia.

“The Ethiopian government are killing the Oromo people and taking their land and resources so the Oromo people are protesting and I support the protest as I am Oromo,” he said.

Human rights groups have said hundreds of people have been killed by security forces since demonstrations against government plans to reallocate land in the Oromo and Amhara regions broke out last November.

“Feyisa Lilesa showed the world that the Oromo demonstration is broadly based,” a teacher from Adama, the traditional capital of the Oromo, said. “The athlete’s concern is the rights of his people, not personal because he can have all he wants materially. He is already famous.”

A businessman from Ambo, in the western Oromia region, said Lilesa’s protest would “motivate the Oromo people to get going in the face of the government clampdown.”

A middle-aged man said the athlete had run “for freedom and democracy”. All of those who spoke to Anadolu Agency did so on condition of anonymity due to concerns about their safety.

However, others on social media criticized his actions as a disgrace for Ethiopia.

Under Olympic rules, Lilesa could be stripped of his medal for his political protest. Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos had their medals revoked after giving the black power salute at the 1968 games in Mexico City.