By- Andualem Buketo
On Friday, families and their children, who make a living by growing vegetables in the Peacock Park area, came to my office. “It is said that the settlement is about to be developed. We have been in this area for 73 years, since the time of our parents,” they told me.
I replied, “It is the government’s duty to first facilitate a place for you to relocate. If there is an attempt to begin demolition without proper arrangements, I will file a petition with the court to have it stopped!” We parted after discussing their concerns.
On Saturday, I was preparing the necessary documents for the case. Early Sunday morning, they called me again. “When we came back from church, we found our house falling apart,” they said. I went there with my colleague. We assured them, “We will try to stop this and help preserve what we can.”
On Monday morning, as I was working on legal petitions for the case, I received a distressing call. A bulldozer had arrived to demolish the association members’ quarters while they were still awaiting legal representation. Tragically, Mr. Dula, who had served as the community’s chairman for 20 years, took his own life. He left a note, saying he felt he had failed the community that had lived in the area for over 70 years.
Harassing a peaceful community at 2 or 3 a.m. with no proper prior notice is unjust and inhumane. This incident highlights the devastating impact of such evictions.
His funeral will be held tomorrow.
May their souls rest in peace, and may the Creator accept them!
