Ogaden rebels condemn sentencing of Ethiopian opposition leaders

17 July 2007 — The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) strongly
condemns the sentencing of the leaders of the
Coalition for Unity & Democracy (CUD) member of the
Alliance for Freedom & Democracy (AFD) to life
imprisonment. Both the arrest and the sentencing of
the duly elected leaders of the CUD were illegitimate
and politically motivated.

The Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) regime currently
in power in Ethiopia has determined that change, even through
the ballot box, is unacceptable as far as it is concerned.
The TPLF regime by virtue of this act has sent a clear
signal to the international community that it will not
tolerate any form of effective opposition.

The ruling by the TPLF controlled court represented a
gross miscarriage of justice and coupled with the
current war crimes taking place in Ogaden, clearly
demonstrates the brutality and desperation of the TPLF
regime.

The ONLF calls upon donor nations in particular to
recognize that the current political dispensation in
Ethiopia is unsustainable and unjust. Only through a
comprehensive and all inclusive dialogue called for by
the AFD can the aspirations of the people be realized.

The ONLF stands in solidarity with the CUD during this
period and with our other alliance partner
organizations in the AFD.