Baʻālu Germā

Bealu Girma (Amharic: በአሉ ግርማ, romanized: Be’ālu Girma; 22 September 1939 – 1984) was an Ethiopian journalist and author known for his criticism of prominent members of the Derg in his book Oromay ("The End"). He was a notable journalist during the time of Emperor Haile Selassie I and served in various media positions in the country. Girma also wrote notable works, including Beyond the Horizon, The Bell of Conscience, The Call of the Red Star, and Haddis. Girma was born to an Indian father from Gujarat and an Ethiopian mother in Illubabor Province, Ethiopia, in 1939, while fascist forces led by the Axis were occupying the country. Nonetheless, Girma's career centered around the capital, Addis Ababa. His writings were influenced by George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, and other critics of government and philosophical positions regarding freedom and natural rights for societies. He also served as acting deputy minister of information and then as minister during Mengistu Haile Mariam's rule. In 1984, Girma disappeared, widely suspected to have been assassinated by the Derg for his critical writings and opposition to the government of Ethiopia at the time.