If not kill me, they will put me in prison.
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In a news conference, the silver medal victor told reporters that the gesture was a sign of protest against the Ethiopian government, USA Today reported.
Explaining his actions, Lilesa said: “The Ethiopian government are killing the Oromo people and taking their land and resources so the Oromo people are protesting and I support the protest as I am Oromo”.
“If I go back to Ethiopia, the government will kill me”, Lilesa added. I raised my hands to support with the Oromo protest. If he returns home, he said he fears he will now become one of them. Most of those who watched Lilesa’s spectacular silver medal performance didn’t know what that meant – or just how unsafe a protest they were watching.
“Security forces regularly arrested dozens of people at each protest, and in many locations security forces went door-to-door at night arresting students and those accommodating students in their homes”, wrote Human Rights Watch. “I have not decided yet, but maybe I will move to another country”.
“Oromo is my tribe”.
It wasn’t the first time an Ethiopian athlete had considered defecting after competition. Four Ethiopian runners defected during the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and are now seeking asylum in the United States. Earlier this month, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa said that it was “deeply concerned” about the most recent killing of protesters. “It’s a very unsafe situation among Oromo people in Ethiopia”. But likely because Ethiopia remains a USA ally in the fight against Somali Islamist group Al-Shabab, American officials have been reluctant to offer any further condemnation. Plenty of others took to social media to praise the Ethiopian. Ethiopia is one of Africa’s fastest growing nations, and it seen by many as a model of economic potential.
Lilesa, who was second to Kenyan favourite Eliud Kipchoge, crossed his arms above his head in an “X” as he finished the gruelling event as a protest against the Ethiopian government’s crackdown on political dissent.
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Lilesa won the silver medal in Sunday’s marathon with a time of 2:09:54.
