OLF statement on the ongoing mass arrest of the Oromo people by the TPLF Regime
Malicious Propaganda Does Not Cover Up The Truth
The TPLF/EPRDF regime is staging a hilarious drama alleging to have apprehended members of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) leadership and others who were planning anti government activities. OLF unequivocally and emphatically dismisses such allegation as fabricated and completely false propaganda intended to confound the OLF with terrorism as well as to divert the attention of the general public from the current wave of mass persecution being committed against the Oromo people.
Contrary to what the EPRDF regime is trying to convince the peoples of the country, there is un- announced mass campaign targeting Oromos across all sectors of the society and regions. As of last week, waves of mass abduction and arrest are going on targeting Oromos in all the regions. Oromo business men, teachers, university lecturers, journalist, members of Oromo legal political organizations who have seats in the parliament, students and peasants are being rounded up and put behind bars. Even though complete list of those detained have not fully been compiled yet, an estimate of more than two hundred innocent Oromos have so far been arrested. The wave is still continuing in all regions.
The glaring evidence of this poorly managed fabrication is the exhibit of weapons displayed as evidence. The same weapons were shown while accusing another organization. How can the same weapons be in the hands of two different organizations with no relation what so ever, is a simple question of any lay person. The truth is that this propaganda of the TPLF is a fabrication that utterly failed from inception.
All these dreadful atrocities against the Oromo people is a sign of desperation and hopelessness of the EPRDF regime that thinks detention, intimidation, harassment and abduction will dampen the Oromo people’s determination and commitment to the legitimate struggle for freedom and democracy. The OLF takes this latest action of the regime as an intensification of its war against the OLF and the Oromo people. The OLF will continue to defend itself and the struggle and call upon Oromo people to intensify its struggle of self defense.
We also call on the peoples of Ethiopia and the world public at large to do everything possible to save the lives of innocent Oromo individuals who are inhumanly rounded up, incarcerated and exposed to all forms of torture in the prison cells of the TPLF regime.
Victory to the Oromo People!!
Oromo Liberation Front
November 6, 2008