AUSTRALIA'S Oromo community is urging Moonee Valley residents to sign an online petition in response to the reported massacre of 65 refugees in Somalia.
Oromos are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, with many community members in Melbourne's western and northern suburbs.
Head of the Footscray-based Australian Oromo Community Association in Victoria, Aliye Geleto Anota, made an impassioned plea at a public forum in Moonee Ponds last week.
He said 65 were murdered and more than 100 injured when grenades were thrown at two hotels owned by Oromo refugees Melaku and Jamal Arsii on February 5.
"One day prior to the attack in Bosaso, houses of Oromo refugees living in Borama and Buro towns of Puntland were searched by Ethio-Puntland security agents.
"Thirty seconds before the attack, the power was turned off and the whole town remained in absolute darkness.
"The town was fully surrounded by heavily armed security forces and all roads leading into and out of the town were blocked.
"After the attack, bodies of the victims were loaded onto two trucks and taken to unknown places."
He urged people to act.
"There is a difference between 'I don't know' and 'I know, but I'm not doing anything about it'."
To sign the petition, visit http://www.oromocommunity.org.au< p>