Ethiopia says 18 Ogaden rebels killed
May 12, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian forces has killed 18 fighters including a top military official of a separatist guerrilla group, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF).
Deputy Commander and training head of the rebel group, Abdukereh sheik Muse was killed on Saturday along with 17 other members of the front at a raid carried out in the vast Ogaden region of the Somali regional state. Regional security and Justice Bureau disclosed today.
Regional officials said that the death of the commander is a big blow to what they said was an already weakening and vanishing rebel group.
The Ethiopian government has long blamed the ONLF, an ethnic Somalis fighting for independence from Addis Ababa, for a number of attacks on government troops in the dry Ogaden region and in towns else where.
Designated as a terrorist group by Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian government accuses the ONLF of fighting a proxy war on behalf of Eritrea. An allegation Asmara completely rejects.
In April, 2007, the rebels claimed responsibility to an attack at a Chinese-run oil-field which then killed 65 Ethiopians and nine Chinese workers.
ONLF has repeatedly issued a threat to foreign companies operating in the eastern region and also to other international oil companies warning them to refrain from entering into agreements with the Ethiopian government.
The rebel group strongly argues that it will not allow mineral resources of the Ogaden people to be exploited by the current ruling government or any foreign firms.
Ethiopia now says that the group is defeated and is no more a threat at the region and oil exploration projects are well underway.
(ST)
solo
Ethiopia says 18 Ogaden rebels killed
In Ethiopia the government writes laws which it violates routinely when it stands on its way and applies it on its political opponents when it helps it quash dissent. The violation of law and basic rights is done with full impunity. Often it looks like that they do it to prove to the rest of us that, not only that they are above the law, but that they are the law. The use of government resources, money, vehicles and all other government property for personal and EPRDF activity is as normal as breathing air. They ruthlessly rampage on the poor country as if it is their mother’s kitchen. Try finding employment in government without EPRDF membership these days. You can even be as genius as Einstein, you will not be considered if you don’t hold the EPRDF membership card. People in Ethiopia call it “woyin Lesira” and they take it when they are desperate. It has almost become mandatory now, and Meles Zenawi’s government doesn’t even make a secret of it. Membership in EPRDF is now a precondition to get opportunity to go to a government graduate school. You can be an A+ student and may not apply if you are not a member of the EPRDF. You can forget thinking about it altogether if you are a member of an opposition political party. Many people are forced to join the EPRDF outside of their wish just to survive. Even peasant farmers have to have the card to buy fertilizer or receive foreign donated food aid in time of need. Fraud and abuse by government authorities are quite common in Ethiopia that you think it is normal and legal.
Responsive
Ethiopia says 18 Ogaden rebels killed
Dear Readers,
We in Ethiopia have two groups of political forces, since the old times, namely the Amhara(& their Affiliates) and the TIgre(& their Affiliates). These two groups hate each other so much and fought for power in the country to oppress it’s majorly people (which are by far more in number than both of these groups combined). These two groups have one thing in common. Both Oppressed the Majority of Ethiopians b/c of their Ethnicity and religion. They oppress Oromos, Somalis, Benishanguls, Afars, Southerners, Gambellas & Muslims… But the Tigres are by far better than the Amharas. For one thing , Tigres are not as selfish as the Amharas!! For that , we Ethiopians call Amharas “Hodam” which means greedy!
solo
Ethiopia says 18 Ogaden rebels killed
Dear Responsive : clearly you are Tigre.it is the method you use to divided the Ethiopians people . you try to open your mouth that amhara is hodam. Funny, let the Ethiopian people say about that ,MAFERIYAWOCH Tebayoch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNM1MIRm2lA