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Friday 27th/2019: Members of Kidane Mihret Church in Bishoftu on their way to observe Demera procession, were halted in the city for more than 2 hours by provocateurs. Their outfits had the plain green, yellow, and red engraving which incited the incident.
The ministers and churchgoers attempted to go through gently to proceed with their walk and chanting. The provocateurs summoned the police and obstructed their way once again. The churchgoers attempted to clarify and argue however the police were reluctant to hear them out.
The police forced them to remove the green, yellow, and red colored t-shirts with images of St. Mary and the Holy trinity imprint. However, some of the congregates and Sunday school members refused to take off their religious clothing. And they were forced to turn back.
When congregates from other churches realized Kidane Mihret members were missing they went to the church and tried to bring them to Mesqel Square, but they did not succeed. So, they came back alone and proceeded to the celebration with prayers and worship.
But the mass refused to light the Demera bonfire in the absence of KM members’ and the ceremony was concluded without lighting the Demera. Once the mass and priests dispersed, an organized group of youth encircled and burned the Demera.
The following day, Saturday, the Archbishop of Eastern Shewa Diocese arrived in Bishoftu's St. Michael Church for early prayer and to calm the situation. Meanwhile, the Mayor's office summoned 15 church reps to discuss public apology and proposing to light the Damera on that day.
Everybody agreed, but after a phone call with an unidentified individual, the decision was reversed and the regional government withdrew its promise of apologizing to the followers.
Saturday 9/28/2019 - the Demara was found burnt down by unknown individuals. The perpetrators are not apprehended or identified.
