Ethiopia’s ruling party accused of instigating clashes between Oromo and Sidama

April 10, 2008 — Once again the EPRDF/TPLF regime has succeeded in instigating armed clashes between Oromo and Sidama peoples, in and around Wando Genet town. This malicious deed of the TPLF/EPRDF regime resulted in days of violence that claimed the lives of more than 40 people as a result of fighting that went on from April 2, 2008 to April 7, 2008. The clashes caused the death of thousands of people, destruction of large amounts of properties and displacement of thousands of people. The Oromo Liberation Front and the Sidama Liberation Front strongly condemn this heinous act of the TPLF/EPRDF regime.

Ever since it came to power, the TPLF/EPRDF regime has applied the outdated divide and rule tactics to weaken peoples’ national struggles for freedom and justice and sow seeds of disharmony among friendly neighboring oppressed peoples. The TPLF regime’s track record of the past 17 years of tyrannical rule is full of such evil intrigues that instigated bloody conflicts among peoples in Ethiopia. Due to TPLF’s machinations Oromo and Sidama, Oromo and Somali, Oromo and Gedao, Anywak and Nuer, Oromo and Oromo, etc has clashed, as a result of which thousands of lives were lost, enormous amounts of properties were destroyed and tens of thousands were displaced. Behind all the conflicts among peoples in Ethiopia there is always the EPRDF/ TPLF regime’s hand. We have great fear that all these TPLF’s mischievous deeds might have sowed distrust and suspicion among peoples who lived peacefully for many years as neighbors.

All along these years, the OLF and SLF have been issuing warnings to all the peoples in Ethiopia in general and to the Oromo and Sidama peoples in particular to be cautious and not to fall into the trap of TPLF instigated ethnic conflict. It is sad that contrary to our early warnings, the two friendly peoples have now clashed and lives and properties were lost. We have no doubt that the TPLF regime will continue to foment similar conflicts among the peoples in Ethiopia. Therefore, all the people in Ethiopia need to be always vigilant and work together to foil future similar wicked acts of the regime.

The TPLF regime is the source of all instability and violence in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. A regime that purposefully disturbs the peaceful and friendly relationship among peoples it claims to “govern” impedes development and progress. Economic growth and development need peace and stability. The TPLF regime has proved beyond reasonable doubt that it is anti people, democracy, peace and progress. For democracy, the rule of law, justice, peace and progress to prevail, the TPLF/EPRDF regime should be removed from power by the joint struggle of all democratic, progressive and peace loving organizations and individuals. All traps and machinations of the TPLF regime should be foiled and defused by the active resistance of all the peoples in Ethiopia.

Finally, the OLF and SLF vehemently condemn the cruel act of the TPLF regime that resulted in armed conflict between Oromo and Sidama peoples. Again we forewarn the brotherly peoples of Oromo and Sidama in particular and all the peoples in Ethiopia in general to unite and work together against the TPLF regime’s evil regime and its unabated machinations.

We call upon the international community and governments to exert all necessary pressures on the TPLF regime to stop from its inhuman and destructive activities.

Long Live the Struggle of Oppressed Peoples

OLF and SLF