(OLF Statement – May, 12, 2014)
The insistence of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) regime on escalating the use of violent and brutal means to respond to the peaceful and legitimate demand of the Oromo people triggered and intensified wide uprising in Oromia. In this uprising that involved the youth and the others from all walk of life, tens have been murdered, hundreds wounded and thousands detained and dismissed from school. This brutal action of the fascistic dictatorial regime in front of the Ethiopian peoples and the rest of the world once again exposed its hatred for the Oromo people.
Even though the regime could not deny the glaring atrocity, its 23 years history shows that it will concoct its usual boring stage show to create escape goat for its atrocities as evidenced by the following episodes.
1. Following forced withdrawal of the OLF from the Ethiopian Transactional Government 20,000 members of the organization and civilians including children were detained and tortured in the camps of Dhidheessa, Hurso and others. Many of those who were later transferred to Zeway camp and those detained in Hammarreessa camp perished. Subsequently thousands of Oromos are illegally detained at Qaallittii, Qilimto, Zuay, Shawa Robit and in countless military detention centres for peacefully demanding their legitimate rights. Nobody has been accounted for these.
2. The Sidama people, like other peoples under this regime, are denied their legitimate right on their own land. They were massacred in cold blood when they demonstrated against forceful eviction from their ancestral land. Instead of investigating this atrocity committed by the regime’s special notorious unit known as Agaazi, as promised by the regime, the evidences were suppressed and the perpetrators were also promoted. One of the culprits of that atrocity is the president of the Southern Peoples’ Region at the time and the current Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn.
3. It is a known fact that the Gambella people have been subjected to genocide for refusing to evacuate their ancestral land for foreign investors. Again the perpetrators of this incident have been promoted and transferred to Tigray for their maximum safety.
4. One of the subject peoples of the Ethiopian empire, the Ogadenis, have been subjected to total burn down of their villages, systematic looting of their properties and violent raping simply for demanding their legitimate right. Nobody has been accounted for this vicious act of the military and security forces of the regime yet.
5. Officially acknowledged murder of 193 peaceful demonstrators protesting the rigging of the fake election of 2005 by day light in the capital, has never been accounted for because the judge who was in charge of the investigation had to flee the country to save his own life.
6. Because of its lack of self confidence, the TPLF regime wants to muddle even in the affairs of the religious institutions to put its henchmen in charge. Chaos has been created as people normally resist such ominous policies with violent consequences. One of the victims of such chaos is the Muslim community, composed of Oromo majority. Again in this case instead of peacefully resolving their legitimate question, the demand to elect their own leaders instead of being appointed by the state, they ended up dead, tortured or in jail. In the Muslims case they were not only violently mistreated but they were labelled “Extremist Jabhat el Harakat” and convicted with predetermined crimes and jailed.
This regime, in its 23 years of reign, has once again ascertained the successive Ethiopianregimes’ tradition of violently suppressing legitimate demands of the people under their rule. Therefore the only option for the Oromo to claim their legitimate right in the face of this heightened repression is to firmly resist to the last. Oromo nationals inside and outside the country have to stand in unison against the current large scale campaign that threatens their livelihood and existence. Specifically, the Oromo at home have to be wary of the regime-run media misleading propaganda and step up the resistance to avoid further aggravated atrocities. The OLF will work relentlessly for the success of this effort and is confident that this issue will be settled for good.
This antagonistic regime could survive for so long because it could recruit uninformed or myopic elements that run after temporary benefits at the expense of good neighbourhood, fraternity and love taking advantage of the weakness in the liberation camp. Therefore the OLF forwards its call to the following, in a way to rectify this.
To the Oromo Nationals
As history vividly testifies, no Oromo national who has ever served any of the successive Ethiopian regimes, however faithfully he performed his duties, has ever been trusted, accommodated, respected, honoured or felt confident. Oromos are taken in only when the system is in crisis. The sacrifices that the Oromo paid in the war of conquest against Oromo, the wars with Italy, the wars with Eritrea, Somalia and others under the previous regimes, and the external and internal wars under TPLF has never been recognised. It is embarrassing to see Oromos pay further sacrifice either due to ignorance of this fact or for temporary petty benefits. Therefore the OLF renews its call to all those serving the regime in the military and police force, and it’s other structures, since you will eventually be abandoned, mistreated or being body guard of the oppressor; standing for the right of your people is dutiful and right historical record.
To Oromo Nationals in the rank and file of the OPDO
You have worked to implement the TPLF orders on Oromia and Oromo, for the last 23 years, with some of you being involved in the crimes against your people. Therefore we call Oromo nationals and nationalists to take this chance by taking firm stand no more to serve the enemy against the interest of your people and compensate them by joining the struggle and reconcile. Failing to do this and continuing to facilitate the crime against the people is not only going down in history as such but also legal liability.
To the other nationals in the Regime’s Structure
It is obvious that the duty of the military, under the oath, is guarding the country’s borders against external aggression. However, the TPLF has transformed the national army, built on
this the contrary basis, to the army of only its party and uses it to commit crime against the people. Since this is against the purpose of its creation and the “constitution” itself taking part in this is legal liability. Therefore the OLF calls all nationals serving in the TPLF armed forces to know that the legitimate demand of the people has to be resolved peacefully not by military force and hence not to partake in the illegal campaign of this regime against the people under its rule. We want you to understand that those who are killed, detained and tortured are peoples subjugated by the regime you are serving.
To the Ethiopian Peoples and Political Organizations
Everybody knows that the Oromo people are subjugated on their own homeland simply to deny them the benefit of their own resources. Therefore we call on those of you, who believe in justice, peoples’ rights and claim to struggle for the equality of nations and nationalities, to contribute your share in halting the current TPLF inhuman onslaught on the Oromo people and support their legitimate struggle. Condoning these atrocities against the Oromo will not help future peace, equality and neighbourhood.
Specifically, to the Tigrian People in General and Individuals
It is obvious that the Tigraian people had paid heavy sacrifice in the struggle for their legitimate right. We also believe that the Tigraian people are aware that the rights they achieved cannot be protected by oppressing other peoples. This being the general truth it is also the case that many Tigraian nationals in Oromia are widely engaged in activities that harms relation between these two peoples for temporary benefits. Many of these who are in the security, military and other structure of the regime are engaged in atrocious activities that leave considerable cloud in the future relation of the two people. Our people are also observing many of those involved in individual activities but acting against the interest of the Oromo people and providing intelligence to the regime. OLF wants to remind these individuals and others engaged in similar activities, it is better to live in peace without fear instead of accumulating wealth under constant insecurity. We warn all to immediately refrain from such acts against our people.
Besides there is no question that the aspiration of the Tigraian people, like any other, is peace, stability, development and prosperity. We believe that was also the goal of your struggle. However, we think you are also aware of some of your children who mobilised you under the struggle for democracy, equality and liberty, and grabbed the Ethiopian state power with your sacrifice, are committing atrocities worse than the regime they fought. The resentment that is building up in the other peoples due to the atrocities these elements of your children are committing should be of concern to you for the future relation with these peoples. Therefore the OLF requests you to give appropriate decesion so that they desist from these activities. We further request that you understand the true goal of the Oromo struggle and stand by it.
To the governments and the International community
The political, diplomatic and economic support to the dictatorial regimes has brought more harm than bringing peace, stability, development or prosperity. It is undeniable that the TPLF dictatorial regime is using the diplomatic and economic support given by the western and other nations for purpose of suppressing the people under its rule which is contrary to what it is meant for. It is used to silence the citizens so that they cannot freely express their ideas in any form. Therefore many organizations and the people have been repeatedly requesting the donor nations to monitor the utilization of their resources. Therefore the OLF requests once more that you monitor the use of the resources you make available to this regime, use your leverage to force this regime to resolve peoples’ legitimate questions peacefully, and condemn the widespread violation of human rights and the latest atrocities committed against the Oromo people.
Victory to the Oromo People!
Oromo Liberation Front
May 12, 2014
