July 12, 2007
The Executive Committee of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) held its regular session from July 5-12, 2007. The Committee took note of the rising political tension in Oromia, Ogaden and Ethiopia in particular and the increasingly worrisome regional situation in general. After an evaluation of the performance and achievements of the organization, the state of the Oromo people’s just struggle and the quest for freedom and democracy in Ethiopia, it concluded its meeting by calibrating its strategic plan and issuing directives to guide its future activities.
During this period the regime intensified its repression both at home and across the border in the neighbouring countries. The atrocities upon the Oromo people have gone from bad to worse. The agents of the regime continuously abducted refugees who had fled from the persecution at home. Moreover, the malicious rumours and false promises by the regime are meant to pit the people against one another so that they will not unite in the struggle for freedom and democracy. The Committee takes this opportunity to reiterate its unwavering commitment to AFD and the dream of an all-inclusive dialogue and comprehensive solution. Despite the obstacles encountered, we still believe this is an idea whose time has come.
One of the many deceptive schemes concocted by the regime is talk of an opportunity for investment at home. This entailed mainly the purchase of land at far below bargain prices from unwilling poor peasants in central Oromia and their distribution to regime loyalists from the Diaspora with the big bucks, which in effect is an excuse to evict our poor people from their ancestral homeland. Another misleading propaganda campaign is the highly publicized preparation for a pompous millennium celebration in a manner reminiscent of the Dergue regime’s extravagant festivity of the 10th year of its ascension to power when millions were starving and the whole country was engulfed with war. This is shamelessly going hand in hand with a relentless assault on basic democratic rights and freedoms throughout the country. Consequently, the country is gripped by a deepening political, economic and social crises resulting from the ruling party’s insatiable desire to perpetually monopolize power.
On the regional level the Committee observed with grave concern the continuing mayhem in Somalia and rising border tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea as the mandate of the border commission nears expiration. The troubled Horn of Africa has once again become a theatre of war, instability, repression and rebellion. The risk of further instability is great.
The Ethiopian military intervention in Somalia, like all previous external interventions, has done more harm than good both for the Somali people and the future relation of the neighbouring peoples of Ethiopia and Somalia, not to mention its damaging impact on regional stability. The Committee reiterated its position that the political problem in Somalia should be solved through a comprehensive dialogue leading to a credible and inclusive structure of governance.
Like the situation in Somalia, the one in Ethiopia itself also calls for an all-inclusive dialogue without any preconditions and further delay. Major political forces are systematically excluded from the political process. The systematic emasculation of the “legal” opposition has rendered the nominal parliament less than even a talking shop. The dominance of the ruling party is maintained through the barrel of the gun and manipulation of the judicial system. Popular grievance against this state of affairs is escalating day by day, making the status quo untenable.
The irresponsible and shortsighted actions of the regime are leading the country towards the path of self-destruction; making the ominous possibility of making Ethiopia another failed state in an already troubled and chaotic region.
We therefore press the Ethiopian regime to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners and desist from harassing, intimidating and persecuting innocent civilians. We also call on our people to remain steadfast and intensify their just struggle for freedom and democracy under the guidance of OLF and AFD.
Given the fact that the many regional tensions are interconnected and tend to feed on each other, OLF urges the international community and all protagonists to concentrate their efforts and energy on the search for a comprehensive regional political solution as a priority.
Victory to the Oromo people!
OLF Executive Committee