Ethiopian rebels warns against oil exploration activities in Ogaden

August 7, 2007 — Recent sensational claims by the Ethiopian regime that
it has been able to realize military gains in Ogaden
have no basis in reality and are designed to give a
false sense of security to oil companies being urged
by the regime not to abandon their exploration plans
in Ogaden.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) would like
to make clear that our forces are largely intact,
operational and effective. We also wish to confirm
that the regime of Melez Zenawi does not have effective
control of Ogaden, a factor which has contributed to
their policy of denying entry to international
journalists and expulsion of the ICRC.

Pursuing oil and natural gas exploration activities
in Ogaden at this stage can only be characterized as
gross corporate irresponsibility given the war crimes
being committed against our civilian population.

The ONLF will continue to uphold the principle of
justice, democracy and respect for human rights before oil exploration in Ogaden
and as such, we will not allow this regime to benefit
from our peoples natural resources.