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Ethiopian Olympic protest runner Feyisa Lilesa finally gets award | Ethiopian Olympic protest runner Feyisa Lilesa finally gets award |
(32 minutes later) | |
An Ethiopian runner who brought the world's attention to a wave of protests in Ethiopia at the Rio Olympics has finally been awarded by his government. | An Ethiopian runner who brought the world's attention to a wave of protests in Ethiopia at the Rio Olympics has finally been awarded by his government. |
Feyisa Lilesa, who received $17,000 (£13,000), said his struggle had paid off given new freedoms in Ethiopia. | Feyisa Lilesa, who received $17,000 (£13,000), said his struggle had paid off given new freedoms in Ethiopia. |
The athlete had held up his crossed wrists as if they were shackled as he took marathon silver in 2016 in protest at the treatment of demonstrators. | The athlete had held up his crossed wrists as if they were shackled as he took marathon silver in 2016 in protest at the treatment of demonstrators. |
He had remained in exile for two years, saying his life might be in danger. | He had remained in exile for two years, saying his life might be in danger. |
'No longer shackled' | 'No longer shackled' |
But sweeping reforms implemented by Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy, who came to office a year ago, encouraged Feyisa to return home last October. | But sweeping reforms implemented by Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy, who came to office a year ago, encouraged Feyisa to return home last October. |
Mass demonstrations by members of the Oromo community - Ethiopia's largest ethnic group - had precipitated the resignation of his predecessor. | Mass demonstrations by members of the Oromo community - Ethiopia's largest ethnic group - had precipitated the resignation of his predecessor. |
''I'm very happy, not because of the prize money. I'm happy because I'm witnessing my struggle being fruitful in the country,'' Feyisa told the BBC Afaan Oromoo after the ceremony. | ''I'm very happy, not because of the prize money. I'm happy because I'm witnessing my struggle being fruitful in the country,'' Feyisa told the BBC Afaan Oromoo after the ceremony. |
He joined Mr Abiy and President Sahilework Zewude in doing a gesture showing that his hands were now unshackled. | He joined Mr Abiy and President Sahilework Zewude in doing a gesture showing that his hands were now unshackled. |
Anti-government protesters had used the crossing of arms above their heads as a symbol of defiance. | Anti-government protesters had used the crossing of arms above their heads as a symbol of defiance. |
Feyisa became the first Ethiopian to finish in the top two of a men's Olympics marathon since 2000, taking silver behind Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge. | Feyisa became the first Ethiopian to finish in the top two of a men's Olympics marathon since 2000, taking silver behind Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge. |
After his political protest, Ethiopian officials denied he was in danger, saying he would be welcomed home from Rio as a hero. | After his political protest, Ethiopian officials denied he was in danger, saying he would be welcomed home from Rio as a hero. |
But at the time, Mr Feyisa said he had relatives who were in prison and if they talked about democratic rights they would be killed. | But at the time, Mr Feyisa said he had relatives who were in prison and if they talked about democratic rights they would be killed. |
He told the BBC that since his return to Ethiopia he had not been able to race competitively as he was struggling to acclimatise back home. | He told the BBC that since his return to Ethiopia he had not been able to race competitively as he was struggling to acclimatise back home. |
Feyisa is from Oromia, home to most of Ethiopia's 35 million Oromo people, where a wave of anti-government protests began in the region in November 2015 with people complaining about social and political marginalisation. | Feyisa is from Oromia, home to most of Ethiopia's 35 million Oromo people, where a wave of anti-government protests began in the region in November 2015 with people complaining about social and political marginalisation. |
The demonstrations led to the resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn as prime minister in February 2018. | |
In just a few months, his successor had lifted the state of emergency, ordered the release of thousands of prisoners, allowed dissidents to return home and unblocked hundreds of websites and TV channels. | In just a few months, his successor had lifted the state of emergency, ordered the release of thousands of prisoners, allowed dissidents to return home and unblocked hundreds of websites and TV channels. |
He also ended the state of war with Eritrea by agreeing to give up disputed border territory, in the process normalising relations with the long-time foe. | He also ended the state of war with Eritrea by agreeing to give up disputed border territory, in the process normalising relations with the long-time foe. |