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Silencing The Gun Among Brothers
A Petition by Gamtaa Qeerroo Dargaggoo Oromoo (GQDO)
Created and Initiated by Gamtaa Qeerroo Dargaggoo Oromoo (GQDO)
Origin of the Movement and Slogan
The creation of Gamtaa Qeerroo Dargaggoo Oromoo (GQDO) and the development of the slogan “Silencing the Gun Among Brothers” are associated with the peace-oriented work and vision of Ibsa Negassa Wegassa, a member of Gamtaa Qeerroo Dargaggoo Oromoo (GQDO).

His contribution to the initiative emphasizes Oromo unity, peace, reconciliation, protection of civilians, and constructive participation of Oromo youth in political and civic life.

Petition Organizer
The initiative to organize, prepare, and bring this petition to Change.org is led by Gamtaa Qeerroo Dargaggoo Oromoo, a top and dedicated member of Gamtaa Qeerroo Dargaggoo Oromoo (GQDO) are participated.

Through Team work within GQDO, all members  has contributed to promoting Oromo unity, peace, youth participation, dialogue, and the peaceful pursuit of legitimate Oromo interests.

 
Why This Matters
Too many lives and communities have been affected by violence and conflict. Brothers have been placed against brothers, families have suffered, and communities have been divided.

We believe the time has come to choose dialogue over violence, reconciliation over division, and peaceful political participation over armed confrontation.

The Oromo youth and all Ethiopian citizens deserve a future in which their voices are heard, their dignity is respected, and their aspirations can be pursued through peaceful and democratic means.

 
Our Demands
1. End the Killing of Innocent Civilians
We call upon the Ethiopian government and its security forces, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), FANO/Amhara armed groups, and every other armed actor to immediately stop killing, attacking, or deliberately harming innocent civilians in Oromia and anywhere else in Ethiopia.

No political, ethnic, territorial, or military objective can justify the deliberate killing of innocent people.

Civilians Are Not the Enemy.
Every human life deserves protection, regardless of whether a person is Oromo, Amhara, or from any other Ethiopian community.

2. Protect Civilians from All Armed Actors
All armed groups and state security forces must distinguish between combatants and civilians and must respect applicable human-rights and humanitarian principles.

We reject attacks against civilians, collective punishment, unlawful killings, abductions, torture, forced displacement, destruction of civilian property, and other abuses by any actor.

3. Empower Oromo Youth
Oromo youth must have meaningful opportunities to participate in political, civic, and peacebuilding processes without being forced into cycles of violence.

4. Protect Oromo Interests and Dignity
We support the protection of Oromo cultural identity, dignity, community interests, and legitimate rights through peaceful and lawful means.

5. Promote Reconciliation and Healing
We call for mechanisms that encourage dialogue, reconciliation, truth, healing, accountability, and restoration of trust among communities.

6. Respect Human Rights
All people, including youth, activists, civilians, and community members, deserve dignity, equality, justice, and protection of their fundamental rights.

7. Stop Ethnic and Communal Violence
We call upon political leaders, armed groups, community leaders, and citizens to reject ethnic hatred, incitement to violence, collective blame, and revenge.

An individual's ethnicity must never become a reason to target them.

8. Pursue Dialogue Instead of Armed Confrontation
We urge all parties to pursue peaceful political dialogue and negotiations wherever possible and to prioritize the protection of civilians above military or political objectives.

 
Our Vision
We envision an Ethiopia, and an Oromo society within it, where:

Unity replaces division.

Dialogue replaces violence.

Youth participation replaces political exclusion.

Peace replaces fear.

Reconciliation replaces hatred.

Human life is valued above political power.

 
Our Call to Action
We call upon Oromo people, all Ethiopian communities, friends of peace, civil-society organizations, youth, community leaders, political actors, armed groups, and international supporters to stand together for a peaceful future.

We ask the Ethiopian government, OLA, FANO/Amhara armed groups, and every other armed actor to put down the gun when it threatens innocent life and to place the protection of civilians first.

Let us make our message clear:

“Silencing the Gun Among Brothers is the path to peace, justice, and unity.”
Let this petition become a peaceful expression of our shared determination to protect lives, strengthen unity, empower youth, defend human dignity, and build a future based on dialogue, justice, accountability, and reconciliation.

 
Acknowledgment
Gamtaa Qeerroo Dargaggoo Oromoo (GQDO) — Initiating organization

Ibsa Negassa Wegassa — Member, Gamtaa Qeerroo Dargaggoo Oromoo (GQDO)
Associated with the creation and development of the “Silencing the Gun Among Brothers” peace slogan and initiative.

Gamtaa Qeerroo Dargaggoo Oromoo — Top Committee Member, Gamtaa Qeerroo Dargaggoo Oromoo (GQDO) are participated to
Lead organizer responsible for preparing and arranging the presentation of this petition to Change.org.

Official Abbreviation
Gamtaa Qeerroo Dargaggoo Oromoo = GQDO

GQDO stands for unity, youth participation, peace, dialogue, human dignity, and the protection of innocent lives.