Oromantic’s Weblog

We are making this appeal on behalf Berehanu Caalaa Heyii (LL. B., LL.M., JD) who is currently in  hospital in California for a serious health problem that is threatening his life.

Attorney Berehanu Caalaa Heyii was a prisoner of conscience (political prisoner) for more than a decade under dictator Mengistu regime. He immigrated to the US and currently lives in California. He was an American Bar Association licensed practicing attorney and public defender until his health condition deteriorated. He is, now, without any source of income or insurance to provide to his deteriorating health, two years old daughter and wife. His wife and daughter are recent arrivals from Oromia and just embarking on adjustment of life.

It would be helpful if we present a short social biography of Attorney Berehanu Caalaa Heyii for the sake of letting you know who he is since this will help to jog the memory of those who knew him from background and for the benefit of those who want to know more about him to extend their hands for help as individualâs social worth appeals more than simply being a human.

Attorney Berehanu:

1. was born in BACHO, Central Oromia. He married to Tsehay Fufa Birri. They have a 2-year old daughter, Ayyaantuu.
2. was educated in Finfinnee and graduated from Haile-Sellassie I University in LL.B.
3. Practiced as a private counsel and pro bono counsel for many years
4. Senior expert at the Ministry of Justice,
5. Senior Legal advisor at the High Construction Authority
6. Successfully completed LL.M, and J.D from  SSU
7. Successfully passed and licensed by the American Bar Association.

Attorney BEREHANU CHALA Heyi Edo is known for his socially beneficial activities:

1. He was one of the leading Oromo students of the Addis Ababa University (then Haile Selassie I University) at the law school.
2. Active member of KANA BEEKTAA - a clandestine Oromo group in the campus.
3. Berehanu Caala played a leading role supporting the Development Through Cooperation campaign adopted by the PMAC unlike manyNeftenya student circles that vehemently opposed to the programme.
4. In the wake Oromo intellectual regroupings to form a pan Oromo political organization later evolved into OLF, Attny. Berehanu Caalaa was among the avanguard militant group members that first convened in Finfinne.
5. Berehanu was one of the authors of the historically acknowledged and first in kind political paper by the natives at home in the center of the nation and in the citadel of the empire, THE VOICE OF OROMO AGAINST TYRANY - the paper that was widely circulated in the Finfinnee/Addis Ababa in the history of Oromo elites in Shaggar.
6. Berehanu Caalaa is one of the founders of BILISUMMAA group.  (Please see, BILISUMMAA, vol.2, No.5, and Oromia, Vol. 1, No.3 1975). The organ was the second boldest paper that courageously condemned the murder of Gen. Tadesse Birru Kenne and Col. Hailu Reggaasaa by the colonial fascist Junta then in power.
7. As a campaigner/Zemach and head of campaign center in central Oromia, he formed Oromo Framers’ Self-Defence Squads in Meetta, Ada’aa, Holeta, and Wolmara wherever he had a chance as campaigner and later when he went underground against the heinous Dargoffensive.  He formed  Oromo campaigner society to defend itself against the Maoist group that was bent on destroying GALMA (Oromo spiritual centres), and other Oromo institutions of Ateetee andBoranticha especially in Wolmara, Meetta, Holota, and Sandafaa areas. Finally he was imprisoned at Holata Military Camp known as Gen. Mulugeta Buli Cadet Academy in solitary confinement until the 1975 proclamation of the Darg to release all campaign participant prisoners of conscience.
8. While in the EPRP central committee, Berehanu secretly communicated with Oromos Leftists in the field specially in the North exposing the sinister act of the party against Oromos and helped flee before they were consumed in the field.
9. Attorney Berehanu Chala Heyi helped many people handling immigration (asylum, family reunion, claims, crime, civil rights issues) matters  in which HE LOST  ANY CASE at all before courts of law in USA. He did every thing he could to assist people with no representation.

Dear friends, Obbo Berehanu Caalaa Heyi who is currently unable to help his daughter, two, and his newly arrived wife from Western Oromia is without insurance care as he was a self employed in private practice after he left the Attorney firm he was associated with for valid reasons. He soon became ill and is unable to help his family and medical treatment. Any help or advice you may forward is appreciated. If you have any question:

Please call his cousin in California, Obbo Moti Margaa Heyii Edo, cousin of Berehanu Caalaa Heyii Edo at  408-603-7413, or contact by email: Moti.Marga@ssa.sccgov.org

Further information can be obtained from the California Oromo community networks: Community, Waaqefataa, Christian and  Moslem.

On his behalf:

O. E Boru