|
Date |
Event |
| 1963 |
Independent of the outside group, armed
struggle started in Baale. Like almost all of its predecessors, the
issue that triggered the Baale armed uprising was conflict on land
use. Waaqo Guutu and about 40 others revolted against the government
order to sent back Oromo who moved to Sidamo from Baale during that
period. With the assistance of Somalis who were treated in similar
manner, Waaqo Guutu's force moved to Dallo, the birthplace of Waaqo, and
joined old friends like Aliyyi Chirri, who had already revolted and were
in the Madda Walaabu forest. The first time the join Waaqo/Chirri
guerilla force encountered the enemy was at Malkaa Arganno, where they
tasted their fist victory. From there, they advanced to the towns of
Oborso and Bidere and liberated them. |
| 1964 |
The
Waaqo/Chirri rebellion spread like forest
fire through Dallo, Waabee and other provinces. More leaders with
hundreds of followers went to Somalia and received assistance. They
used classical guerrilla tactics operating out of bases in the dense
forests and mountains of Baale. The guerrillas made constant raids
on the colonial force and army outposts and roads to make it difficult for
the army to move or to receive supplies. Some of the prominent
leaders in the Baale uprising were Waaqo Guutu, Waaqo Luugo, Aliyyi Chirri,
Abbaa Washa and Hajji Yisihaq. |
| 1965 |
The top leaders of the
Macha-Tuullama Welfare Association (MTWA) and
the Baale rebellion met secretly and discussed how best to coordinate
their activities. The man who was instrumental in bringing the two
movements together was Ahmad Buna, a school teacher, a long time member of
the MTWA and one of the founders of the Oromo Liberation Front in 1974. |
| 1966 |
The Ethiopian government attacked guerrilla
positions in El-Karre province with airplanes. This was effective
only due to the topography of the land, which was mostly flat and
bare. The bombing of villages over all the regions was intensified
with some effect, creating fear and horror among the population who were
not used to this type of warfare. |
| 1967 |
Using air cover, the Ethiopian army launched an
all-out offensive in Dallo and Gannale to defeat the Baale
rebellion. After some of the ferocious fighting, the army captured
the towns of Hawo and Buluq in Dallo. But it was a temporary defeat
to the guerrillas since they recaptured these places after a few weeks and
the government offensive ended as a total failure. At this juncture,
the Ethiopian government became desperate, and once again it turned to its
patrons for help to rescue the Empire. The British sent over 400
British army engineers to build bridges and roads. One of the
bridges that was of tremendous strategic importance was built over the
Gannaale river. The American Air Force experts were brought in to
improve the fire power of the Ethiopian Air Force jet fighters for more
accurate air strikes. Several Israeli counter-insurgency and
explosive experts were brought in to advise and guide the army. In
spite of all these efforts, the guerrillas were able to repulse the enemy
and continue to expand their area activity. |
| 1970 |
The leaders and the majority of the rank and
file of the Baale rebellion laid down their arms after the Ethiopian
government used Oromo generals like Jaagamaa Keello to get the sympathy
and confidence of the movement leaders. Waaqo Guutu and a few others
were invited to the capital where they met with the Emperor and were shown
military facilities like the Imperial Air Force. The leaders were
bribed with feudal titles and other favors; Waaqo was conferred the title
Graazmach. As the leader of the movement, he had the title of
General. |
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