Ethiopian community sees beginnings of genocide in former homeland

Over 50 people have been killed and dozens more injured in Ethiopia's Oromia region after security forces confronted protesters at a festival. Witnesses say some people died in a panicked stampede after police employed tear gas and rubber bullets. Thousands had gathered for a religious festival in Bishoftu, around 40 kilometres from the capital Addis Ababa. It comes just hours after a candlelight vigil in Sydney by parts of Australia's Ethiopian community over what they say is a government campaign of violence in their homeland.Gary Cox reports.

Ethiopian community members at protest march in Sydney. Source: SBS

Sections of the Ethiopian community are calling on the Australian government to help stop what they say is a Rwandan-style genocide being carried out by Ethiopia's government.

 

They say they face a campaign of threats and intimidation in Australia, too, but they have had enough and will not be silenced anymore.