Members of the Europian Ogaden and Oromo Community demonstrate againist Meles Zenawi

Members of the Europian Ogaden Community demonstrate againist Meles Zenawi

Friday 18 December 2009

Members of the Danish Ogaden community demonstrate outside the Bella Center, the venue of the U.N. Climate Conference in Copenhagen Thursday Dec. 18, 2009/ Getty Images

Dozens of Ogaden and Oromo communities in Europe demonstrated outside the UN climate change conference on December 17-18, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The group were demonstrating against Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi participating in the COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Meles Zenawi is one of the worst environmental records in the history of Ethiopia and that he has no respect for fundamental human rights. Waving the Ogaden National flag, the protestors chanted Meles belongs at the Hague for trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) instead of being honored as a spokesman for all African nations at the global conference this week. Members of the Ogaden community accused Meles Zenawi of committing genocide in the Ogaden.

Many Afican countries seek financial compensation for the continent in order to combat climate change. Recently, some African groups opposed a deal between Meles and European leaders.

Members of the Danish Ogaden community demonstrate outside the Bella Center, the venue of the U.N. Climate Conference in Copenhagen Thursday Dec. 18, 2009/ Getty Images

The Ogaden people are fighting for self-determintion. Extra-judicial killings, rape, disappearances, destruction of livelihood and the displacement of thousands of Ogaden people are the dialy norm in Ogaden.

There is constant fighting between Ethiopian troops and ONLF forces in the Ogaden region. Human rights organizations accuse the Ethiopian soldiers of violating the human rights by harassing the people in the Ogaden region.