Ethiopia gov’t remarks on peace deal plan misleading-rebel group

June 3, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) – The rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), an ethnic Somali separatist group in eastern Ethiopia has dismissed Ethiopia prime minister’s recent remarks which says that the two sides will soon reach into a political settlement.

In a statement it emailed to Sudan Tribune, The rebel group today said that Ethiopian Prime Minister, Melez Zenawi, in his most recent press conference has said that his government will “soon sign an agreement,” with ONLF.

However, the rebel said that the group didn’t engage in any kind of peace talks with the Ethiopian government and the claim made by the Ethiopian premier is fabricated.

“The statement has no basis in reality and is intended to mislead the international community in general and foreign oil firms in particular,” the statement read.

“The ONLF has maintained a principled position that any negotiations with Addis Ababa can only take place under the auspices of the international community in a neutral venue with a third neutral party mediator.”

The rebels further accused the Ethiopian government of consistently refusing neutral third party mediation under the auspices of the international community.

“Melez Zenawi government clearly seeks to create the impression that he is on the verge of reaching a political settlement to the Ogaden conflict in a bid to convince oil companies that Ogaden is no longer a war zone and divert attention from Ethiopia’s recent so-called election.”

ONLF rebels repeatedly accuse Ethiopian government forces of continued acts of collective punishment and war crimes in the oil promising Ogaden region, further accuse of wide extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, forced displacement of civilians, rape, torture and use of international humanitarian aid for political purposes, an allegation Addis Ababa rejects.

The Ethiopian government has long blamed the ONLF, for a number of attacks on government troops in the dry Ogaden region and in towns elsewhere.

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 rejects.

The rebel group strongly argues that it will not allow mineral resources of the ethnic Somali Ogaden people to be exploited by the current ruling government or any foreign firms.

On April 24, 2006, ONLF issued a threat to foreign companies against exploring for oil in their homeland, further warning them to refrain from entering into agreements with the Ethiopian government.

Exactly one year later, In April, 2007, the rebels claimed responsibility to an attack at a Chinese-run oil-field in northern Ogaden region which then killed 65 Ethiopians and nine Chinese workers.

(ST)