OLF says anything can happen anytime in Ethiopia

September 29, 2006 — The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) Executive Committee has successfully conducted its regular meeting from September 25 to 29, 2006. After listening to the reports of the different departments, thoroughly analysing and deliberating on the overall condition and performance of the organization, the struggle of the Oromo people, the Oromo society, the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)-led government of Ethiopia, the political condition of the Horn of Africa and the global situation at large, the committee has
issued the following statement.

The committee observed that the organization’s overall activities have been fruitful with creative responses and approaches to challenges of the time. Tangible achievements have been registered during this period. The organization’s efforts in expanding the horizon and coordinating of the different liberation and democratic forces on the Ethiopian arena have been consummated by the formation of the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (AFD). Plans to build on the successes and overcome the shortcomings have been laid down in order to further intensify the struggle and bring it to the next stage.

The committee concluded that the human rights abuses, economic
disenfranchisement, social disintegration and political repressions of the
Oromo and other peoples under the current regime of Ethiopia have not shown any improvement. Despite all these repressive and heinous deeds of the regime, the Oromo people have continued to challenge the repression. The open resistance to this oppressive regime has gone beyond the student protests with the core of the regime’s mainstay, the military, including highest ranking officers, quitting the regime in protest and joining the Oromo liberation camp. In response the regime is resorting to further repression, isolating itself and inviting further chaos.

The Executive Committee expresses its appreciation for the Oromo people’s organized peaceful resistance headed by the gallant students of all levels of education and categorically condemns the violent repressive deeds of the TPLF regime. The committee also expresses its highest appreciation for the heroic actions of the courageous Oromo nationals serving in the military institution of the regime led by top ranking officers who joined the people’s struggle. The committee calls upon the Oromo people in general and those serving in the different sectors of the system in particular to stop serving this dying regime and take immediate action to further accelerate its imminent downfall.

The TPLF-led government of Ethiopia has never demonstrated any change in its policy of handling political problems of the country or in its dealings with political organizations and parties. The formation of AFD has introduced a new paradigm in Ethiopia’s political arena where polarization, confrontation and unhealthy competition between differing political questions and opinions had been the norm all along. The urgency for an all-inclusive conference is more real now than any other time before. Hence, the Committee calls upon all members of the Alliance to heighten their activities in all aspects to implement its stated program and objectives. We also call upon all other political forces to rally to play their roles in the achievement of the overall objective of the Alliance. The Committee also calls upon the general population to stand behind the AFD so that it meets the demand of the time.

On the regional level, the Executive Committee has observed that the
TPLF-led Ethiopian government has continued its destabilizing activities in Somalia defying the UN imposed embargo of arms and military intervention. The committee calls upon all the stakeholders of the stability in the region to support dialogue among the parties concerned to find a lasting solution without any direct external intervention.

In conclusion the Executive Committee sees that the situation in Ethiopia is daily deteriorating. Peaceful political expression, both popular and organised, is increasingly stifled. With the regime’s continued
intransigence to all proposals to peacefully resolve outstanding political
issues impatience, desperation, frustration and hopelessness is mounting. Defections and resistance is tremendously escalating in all sectors to the extent that anything can happen anytime. We therefore call upon all concerned parties to embark on facilitating a process that will lead to a comprehensive solution to all outstanding problems.

Victory to the Oromo People!

The Executive Committee

Oromo Liberation Front