Hardline Oromo politicians, academics, and media personalities have classified, symbolized, demonized, & dehumanized non-Oromo minorities, specifically Amhara, in what experts call a clear pre-Genocide campaign in Oromia. Cervetto presentation 1/13 Thread:

First stage of Genocide: create a “THEM against US” narrative centered on victimization. In pre-Genocide Rwanda, Hutu created narrative that vilified Tutsi as foreign settlers from the north who took Hutu land and exploited Hutu majority. 2/13

Symbolization:“NEFTEGNA” is almost a literal translation of the word “INKOTANYI”--the KEY word that made Rwanda Genocide possible. Inkotanyi means person with sword & had been previously used by Tutsi as word to describe themselves. Hutu transformed the word into hate speech.3/13

Both “inkotanyi” and “neftgna” are also used to target moderates of own ethnicity. In Rwanda, Hutu hardliners labeled moderate Hutu who did not commit to extremist agenda as “inkotanyi”. Similarly in Oromia, hardliners target AND attack Oromo moderates as “neftegna” 4/13

Stage 3: Mirroring pre-Genocide Rwanda, armed youth in Oromia violently enforce discriminatory boycotts against anyone labeled “neftegna”. Local Oromo officials have been video taped calling for boycotts of non-Oromo, reading names and handing out lists of people to target. 5/13

Anyone labeled as “inkotanyi”/neftegna” cease to exist as humans in eyes of extremists. They are only seen as guilty of exploitation & deserving historical retribution. During Genocide, Tutsi were not massacred—“inkotanyi” were massacred. “Neftegna” dehumanized as Oromia cancer.

Stage 5 Organization: Although majority of hardliners play unwitting roles in pre-Genocide campaign, Genocides do not happen on their own or by accident. They are Organized, often secretly. 7/13

Stage 6 Polarization: Mirroring Ethiopia, pre-Genocide Rwanda had been undergoing democratic transition. However, competitive ethno-politics pushed Hutu politicians in exceedingly extreme positions against “inkotanyi”. Same as in todays Oromia against “neftegna” 8/13

Hate speech from prominent academics/politicians/media personalities/ect, “Elite hate speech”, normalizes demonization and dehumanization. It gives tacit permission to ordinary Oromo hardliners who frequently call for extermination of “neftegna" on social media. 9/13

Polarization Crisis: Hardliners blame ALL problems on “neftegna”. Historically, polarization crisis lead to false flag operations. In Rwanda, Hutu extremist assassinated high profile Hutu politician. Polarization made it easy to blame “inkotanyi” and ethnically cleans Tutsi 10/13

Stage 7 Preparation: indoctrination of qeerroo for violent attack as well as state actors graduating from tacit approval to active coordination of violence conformed this summer in Oromia. 11/13

Some Oromia security branches, politicians, and media broadcasters closely coordinated and instructed street level violence, targeting/killing “neftegna”. Their directions materialize on the ground in Oromia, particularly during episodes of violence. 12/13

The June-July “mini-Genocide” in Oromia acted as a test of international community tolerance for violence. This is the final step before Genocide. In Rwanda, this step happened nine months prior to Genocide. 13/13

Link to the whole presentation by Mr. Gregory Cervetto on the serious situation in Oromia: