Skip to content

A new Oromo political movement formed

Posted on , Updated on by EthiopianReview.com

A new political party named Oromo People National Unity and Liberation Movement has been formed and is currently introducing its political program to the public. The new party strives to make Ethiopia a country where the rights of the Oromo people are respected, according to Colonel Abebe Geresu, an executive committee member. Col. Abebe, who now resides in Asmara, is one of the high ranking officers who defected from the Woyanne regime along with General Kemal Gelchu and several others. Click here to read OPNULM’s political program.

79 thoughts on “A new Oromo political movement formed”

  2. Oh Man. i read the political program of the new party and this party should have to be established during emperor hailesilassie period. The party needs to struggle the Emperors not WOyanne as it clearly shows in the program and the era of emperors is over man, do not try to fight with the dead people. fight with the current rulares, woyanne. …

  4. YES WE HAVE BEEN LONGING SUCH A POLETICAL ORGANIZATION WHICH RECOGNISE THE OPPRESSION OF ALL ETHIOPIANS. OLF MISSD THIS FACT AND FIGHT FOR NOTHING.

    I CAN SEE THE OROMO ELITS COMMING TO THEIR SENSE. ETHIOPIA WITHOUT OROMO, OROMO WITHOUT ETHIOPIA WILL BRING MORE INSTABILITY. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNISING THE OPPERSSION OF AMAHA PEOPLE BY AMAHARA LEADERS. THAT IS THE FACT. NOW IS THE TIME IS COMMING WHEN 75% OF ETHIOPIAN POPULATION(OROMO AND AMAHARA) WILL WORK TOGETHER FOR DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM AND EQUALITY. IT IS ALONG OVERDUE!!!

    I CALL ALL OROMOS TO URGE OLF TO JOIN THIS ORGANIZATION.

    AMARA AND OROMO WORKING TOGETHER WILL SHORTEN WEYANE LIFE. NEGASO IS ALREADY IN. MEARARA IS IN. BERTUKAN IS IN. OLF PEOPLE SHALL FOLLOW THEIR FOOT STEPS AND JOIN THIS NEW PARTY. BUT DON’T TRUST ESAYAS!!! IF THE NEW PARTY WISH TO WORK WITH ESAYAS IT WILL BE A LOOSER LIKE EPPF, OLF, ONLF, G7. DON’T TRUST A TAYRANY TO OVERTHROUGH WEYANE. ISAYAS PREFER WEYANE OVER ANY OTHER PARTY THAT BELIEVE IN NATIONAL UNITY.

  9. Well, that is a good news as far as it is a genuine organization. But anything that comes from eritrea should be taken carefuly because it can (most likely) be a tool to the selfish and outdated group. Our people want unity. It is only our external enemies coupled with our own ill and misinformed citizens that want the opposite.

  10. I want to start my comment by thanking all the Ethiopian people for their contribution for the success of the battle of Adwa. There were Welayita’s, Oromo’s, Amhara’s, Tigrians etc that participated in that glorious battle. But above all the most crucial factor for the success of the battle of Adwa is the leadership of the most respected, kind, humble, beloved, majestic and POLITICAL GENUS : the one and only Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia ! Emperor Menelik II was the architect of the battle of Adwa.

    Regarding the new oromo party, over all the idea is good but I have disagreement about some issues mentioned in the article and suspicion about the overall agenda of the new party: it is pretty much like OLF agenda.

    First to classify all Famous Ethiopian Heroes as Oromo is misleading ! For instance Belay Zeleke wasn’t an Oromo. The all world knows he was an Amhara from Beth Amara (wollo) and Gojam.

    Secondly, I hear this word called “ Neftega, Neftega.. Neftega…! “ would one say the so called 19th century Neftega’s did everything right ? NO ! Did they have a positive side ? Of course ! For the least they united the many Ethiopian People and sacrificed so much in the process to give us the Ethiopia today but also people like Ras Gobena was an oromo neftega that participated in the process. It is also important to remember the so called Neftega System was totally demolished by the Derg! So called Neftega individuals are singled out and massacred by so called progressive Amhara’s and others that had their own mission.

    Thirdly, if we have to be fair, it is totally unacceptable to talk about so called 19th century Neftega alone without talking about the 16th century cruel non-Amhara Neftega expansionist that massacred the Amhara civilians and that raided historical Amhara territories. Let us not forget also historical Amhara lands and territories were forcefully renamed by the invader Clan Leaders. Those who cry about the 19th century Neftega’s should look at this historical realities: they need to turn their neck 90 degree if not 360 degree to see this historical realities ! No amount of propaganda and fabrication could erase this fact.

    Fourthly, it is crystal clear Weyane is a minority clique with NAZI ideology and to make things worse the leadership has extreme identity crisis. The weyane clique isn’t interested in correcting past injustices and wounds impartially instead it is bent on pouring flame into the fuel. The irony is the good number of the parties that opposes weyane have almost similar political ideology with weyane itself.

    Fifthly, I don’t believe anything that come out Eritrea will be good for Ethiopia. Even though I acknowledge there are proud Ethiopians of Eritrean origin: deep down the shabya leadership wants nothing but hell for Ethiopia.

    In conclusion, I do see some good spirit on the new party but I am suspicious of it’s final mission. I don’t know if it is feasible but the secession taboo seems to be still lingering around. There are some slight similarities with the Sudan situation but the Ethiopia case is quite different, for one thing, the struggle for the most part is among the different Afro-Asiatic language speakers of Ethiopia.

  11. እነ አብዲሳ ኣጋ፣ በላይ ዘለቀ፣ ገረሱ ዱኪ በኣድዋ ጦርንት ኣልተካፈሉም። በኣጠቃልይ መግለጫው በታሪክ ስህተት የተበከለ ነው። ኢትዮጵያ በዚህ ስሟ መጠራት የጀመረችው በዘመነ ኦሪት ሰለመሆኑ መፅሃፍ ቅዱስ ያረጋግጣል።

  12. Come on folks! I don’t mind people getting together and establishing social/political movements of their own likes because in general it is s sign of democracy, BUT do we really need mushrooming political movements as an end in itself while we have already many of them in existence but mysteriously prevented from pursuing their own set goals? The endless factory manufacturing of political movements outside the relevant contexts and need environments may also clearly mean the obstructionist strategy of suffocating and killing the the independent and genuine political aspirations of the people as has already been clearly demonstrated up to now.

    On the other hand, I would like to Wait and see and even wish to be proven wrong. Hmm… :)

    It may be either “A BIG DEAL” or an empty make belief barrel completely run out of gas already from the start, absolutely with NO TRACES of ANY DEAL. Time will show!

  15. You better say: “A New Ethiopian Political Movement” than to say: “A New Oromo Political Movement.” This exclusive Oromo thing sends a bad and a divisive message to the rest of the country; for example, the Amhara could say: “The New Amhara Political Movement,” and the Tegarues could also say: “The New Tigrean Political Movement.” And there will be no end for such factious new movements everywhere in Ethiopia.

    It is quite understandable some Oromo elites have been working hard to disintegrate Ethiopia for their own selfish motives, and it looks to me that the Eritrean government is using this new movement to pin down the real Ethiopian Freedom Fighters to follow the interests of Isaiah Afeworki to liberate Oromia and there by weaken Ethiopia. I used to be on the side of the Eritrean government, thinking that Isaiah may have a good plan for the two sister-countries – Ethiopia and Eritrea; however, the intimidation, the harassment, and the imprisonment the Ethiopian Freedom Fighters are facing have changed my faith in the dictatorial leadership of Isaiah Afeworki. It is clear a strong Ethiopia is a big threat for Isaiah Afeworki, the president of a tiny nation; it could have been better for him though if he give up one of the ports to Ethiopia and normalize the tense situation between a strong Ethiopia and unpopulated Eritrea.

    Where are those brilliant officials of the Ethiopian Freedom Fighters? Unless all of them are in the Eritrean jails for refusing to give up their long term goal – to liberate Ethiopia without being subservient to the Eritrean regime, we could have heard something from them. In proclaiming a new Oromo movement on the expense of the Ethiopian Freedom Fighters, the Eritrean government is using this new Oromo movement for its own long term political agenda – to prolong the Ethiopian ambition and determination to repossesses the two ports if not the entire country of Eritrea, which is possible for the mighty Ethiopian people.

    If Isaiah is playing this game of prolonging his oppressive power on the people of Eritrea, he must think twice for his own life and for the existence of the independence of Eritrea, which is impossible to maintain it without the help and cooperation of the Ethiopian people. It is politically unsafe for him to create a new Oromo movement within another movement – the Ethiopian Freedom Fighters. He is accountable for the disappearances of many Ethiopian Freedom Fighters, and he is responsible for dismantling their dynamic organization and replacing it by the most ineffective organization – the Oromo New Political Movement.

    I am sick of this Oromo thing and the propaganda some Oromo bigots propagating that Oromo is a rich country, that Oromo is densely populated, that Oromo has been oppressed, that Oromo has its own tradition, its own culture, its own language, and its own of type of government. Every region in Ethiopia has its own unique culture, tradition, language, resources, and history, and no one is disputing that each region must keep its own culture, and it has been doing it for almost two centuries without being disintegrated from the main land.

    Therefore, there is nothing new in this New Oromo Political Movement, the creation of Isaiah Afeworki, out of his desperation and out of his every day fear he has in his mind that Ethiopia may attack him at any time without notice. So, the creation of the New Oromo Political Movement is simply a new technique to divert the attention of the Ethiopian people from invading Eritrea to something else: Somalia or to Southern Sudan, which is going to be liberated from the Al Bashir’s dictatorial government.

  16. Eliase : If your recent assertion on Eritrean Government’s aversion to see a an ethiopian front working for ethiopian unity is true, how come then an oromo movement that works for united ethiopia is allowed to be formed?

  18. Here we go again. Shabia and Ethiopian opposition movements in Eritrea. Is this one also formed under the control of Col. Fitsum? The funniest thing is that one opposition group couldn’t learn from the failer of the other. This group will also be disfanctional like EPPF, OLF and countless other groups. Ethiopians need leaders that start their struggel on the soil of Ethiopia; live with people fight with the people and die or kill with the people.

  23. Hey, is in not time to blame Eritrea for whatever problem we have? Instead of saying I love Eritrea or hate Eritrea, let’s just put our house in order. What ever Eritrea do or don’t do is secondary. Stop blaming Eritrea when the problem is us.

  25. I take few of their manifesto,but if anything at all to work they should devise a way of detaching themselves from eritrean gov’t i.e if they don’t want to embarrass themselves in front of their supporter in few years down the road.If other opposition groups are not allowed in eritrea then there is noway these ones will be treated differently. Nice move in the right direction(if that is with good motive) but wrong strategy.

  26. Dear Elias and readers !!!!!!!!
    Is realy your state of mind is in order? Did you read the entire writing of the paper before you tried to send a wrong message of your political ignorance? This is a piece of paper which clearly demonstrated the level of the hatered, divisive, and narrow nationalistic belief of the authors of the paper.In this paper 1. Shabia send a clear message to peace loving a democratic Ethiopians the organisation it supports.2/The authors of New Oromo “ethiopian” librators hatered against the Amaras. 3.On this papers the authors want to see only a prosperous Oromia up on the country we call Ethiopia. How on earth you have convinced yourself that the authors intention can help to a truely democratic Ethiopia a home of all Ethiopians. Let me humbly remind you all we have killed our past , present and busy killing our future.
    Please think twice if possible more !!!!!!!!!!!!
    Erasun Eyegedele Yeminor Tewulid !

  28. There is an old adage that says ” too many cooks spoil the broth”, what is the motive behind having too many opposition movements from the same ethnic background. The more they splinter into fragments or many factions the more their movements, and adherence to their political beliefs becomes weaker as time goes on. Such a move becomes a recipe for disaster, and creates a fertile ground for corruption and dead end to their political dreams. Instead to be effective put your money, your time, and energy behind the movement that is already been recognized by the international community and the Ethiopian Oromo population.

  30. They can not move a strand of single person!!

    Specially at this time with this objective, believe me wrong wrong move. You can make any kind of name (movement, coalition … whatever) you should hold the key objective of the oromo people and like it or not that is already with OLF. Or your objective must be by far better than them but now by far NOT.

  32. Assta B. Gettu #9, i am reading your articles for a long times. You are confused and want to confuse the whole Ethiopians, not only the Oromos. You pretend to advocate for Ethiopia, but in essence you are anti-unity and igniting conflicts among the many Ethiopian ethnics. You have a hidden reason why you are atomatically attacking this newly formed organization. It is too early to reach a conclusion and to label it. You have said, THAT YOU ARE SICK OF THIS OROMO THINGS. I remember the english proverb which goes on by saying ” The one who tired of London, is tired of life “. Then if you are sick or tired of Oromos or others Ethiopian ethnics, and then you are sick or tired of Ethiopia. Really, i don’t understand why Ato Elias Kifile post such a devastating article of your which is an anti-Ethiopian Unity.

  33. The Eritrean president in his last interview had given us the road map for the creation of a united, progressive and democratic Ethiopia at peace with itself and its neighbours.

    It’s our prerogative to follow it or not, but for the last fifty years the Eritrean stand when it comes to the future of Ethiopia and its unity were consistent. In fact, it was one of sticking points between Shaebia and Tplf.

    The difficult with the Ethiopian elites is that when it comes to Eritrea and Eritrean stands they have an opaque mind. The even opposed strongly the Ethnic Apartheid system ans Article 39 that is eating and destroying Ethiopia from within.

    For change we have to recalculate our brains into thinking that what is good for Ethiopia is good for Eritrea and vice versa. After all, its the first day of the new year. Cheers.

  34. I have not seen anything that comes of Eritrea succeed before. Therefore I have no reason to believe this one will. The only thing that comes from Eritrea has been a disaster to Ethiopia. Woyane Banda is a prime example. I believe it when I see a meaningful progress. By the way when is the time when EPPF and TPDM succeed. These groups have become human robots and slaves for shabia working in the farms for free. sad but true.

  35. The program of the new organization is too brief to comment. Nonetheless the document is focussed on the so called Nefetgna theory. The Neftegna theorists do not realize that the system had been dismantled by the Italians. Land holding has been changed by Dergue and Meison. TPLF has changed the cultural hegemony of the Amaras on the Oromos by creating the land of Oromia. The remaining question is the fair distribution of political and economic power with other Ethiopians. To blame minorities living in the Oromo areas is finding an escape goat again. It is preparing the population for genocid as was done by TPLF in 1991 and 1992.

    Another factor is what difference the new organization is going to make. OPDO, OlF, ONC, and Ato Bulcha’s federalist party are also saying almost the same thing. Other than OLF and Oromo Abo, the other Oromo organizations are not separatist.

    The third factor consider is the new organization is coming from Asmara. Every Oromo and Ethiopian must ask why the new organizat is formed in Asmara. Is it because OLF is no longer useful for Asmara? Is it because OLF is talking to Ginbot 7 and Asmara is not happy about it? Or is it because OLF is no longer relevant to Oromo politics? Or is it just another splinter group from an existing organization? We need clarity.

  40. it is doomed to fail for the mere fact that it was formed in and operates from Asmara. may be the damned colonel fisum is behind it. we already have enough political parties in existence who are capable of organizing the people and bring the change we so desire. it is the lack of commitment, innuendo, selfishness and down right stupidity that has dogged the opposition for the last twenty years. some are doing the dirty work for meles zenawi for few crumbs. it is still a lingering problem that needs to be addressed and worked on. Asmara is nothing but a big prison not only the Ethiopian opposition but also for Eritreans too. we have witnessed what has happened to the brave men and women of EPPF in recent days. this is just one more name of an opposition party that is just a name on a paper. nothing more and nothing less.

  41. How come there is No such kind news on OLF website? This kind of information should make any member of OLF exited and shouldn’t be posted on OLF site before it’s appearing on any other websites?
    This is what I am thinking what’s yours ?…

  42. Dessie and the like pretenders of TPLF haters. STOP fulling yourself!!! your knowledge of history, politics and economics is shaddy as your polotics. Oromo, Amhara, Gurage and others will figure out on how to work together sooner or later as equal partner with respect and dignity. Tigrea dominated Ethiopia can’t survive for much longer.

  43. This new organization seems to share the same vision with the (OMFEU) with slight strategic difference. If they can some how recocile their dirrerence and merge, TPLF-Weyane is going to be history in no time.

    Below is OMFEU’s political program
    —————————————–

    Oromo Movement for Federalism and Ethiopian Unity (OMFEU)
    September 2005
    (A New Vision)

    I. Background

    Like so many countries in the world, Ethiopia has traversed through a long process of formation before attaining its current geopolitical form and mix of its peoples. In view of this, we believe that this generation has witnessed or compelled to witness recent alterations made to the country with respect to both aspects.

    In terms of its geopolitical form, it had undergone a situation of expansions and contractions depending upon the weakness or strength of the regimes of the period and the degree of external influences. In terms of the mix of its peoples, before it reached its current composition had passed through a series of civil wars, conflicts and alliances emanating from religious diversities, constant process of internal migrations and even marital bondages.

    At the turn of the last century, war of conquest that was waged by Emperor Meneilik II against the peoples of Oromiya and the Southern peoples and the subsequent destructions inflicted on these peoples had resulted in consummation of the internal struggle by one nationality attaining complete supremacy over the rest leaving the ugly legacy of serfdom behind. That is basically why this period, todate, run as a significant chapter in the history of the relation between Ethiopian peoples.

    As a result of the emergence of this sad scenario, the subjugated peoples of Ethiopia were subjected to untold misery. They were dispossessed of their lands and turned tenants, their languages, history, all elements of their cultures and in short their very identity were subjected to the most ruthless persecution human history had ever recorded.

    Due to this, it is proper and admissible for these oppressed peoples to view this particular period in history as a milestone from which they depart in all struggles they wage to bring about the demise of this domination.

    However, we do also believe that it will be a gross mistake to confine the long historical process of engagements between different peoples of Ethiopia to the tenet of the above-mentioned time frame.

    The main cause behind such a mistake, unlike what some would like us to believe is not a making of certain political groups but rather emanates from lopsided, erroneous and mostly fictitious nature of the so-called official history of the country. The proponents of this pseudo-history, instead of helping us inherit the balanced history that includes, among other things, the settlement pattern of various peoples of the country, interactivity between various languages and cultures, the mutual influencing of socio-economic and political structures, preferred to base the country’s history on the chronicles of successive dynasties having their origin in limited parts of the country. By so doing, they have reduced the national history of the country into fragments of ferry tales that totally excludes the majority of its peoples that otherwise should have constituted major part in it.

    That is why we say that it will be utter naivety to expect us transmit such fabrications as our own history to our children by praising the invaders as ” The Holy! The Papa and The Mama”.

    Therefore, this official history, instead of assisting us positively in our effort to build a unified strong country where all its peoples enjoy their inalienable right of determining their destiny by themselves, has right now become one major source of our problem that negatively affects all efforts geared towards promoting the unity of its peoples.

    On the other hand, those political forces that hitherto claims to have been engaged in the struggle of emancipation, had failed to comprehend the long historical processes of peoples interaction over the period of many centuries in its entirety, being unduly influenced by the wrongs done to our people during the preceding century. This, in turn, has resulted in the emergence of a situation that resembles what is usually called as ” a mirage in the desert” symbolizing, in exactly the same manner as their wrong start their end goal is also getting blurred as we go along.

    The more you think have got closer the furthest you become.

    The main rationale behind citing this issue of history is to reflect our strong belief that one of our current problems hindering our effort of forging understanding among the peoples of Ethiopia is the baseless official history of the country.

    Setting the past aside, when we proceed to the present, unfortunately, we encounter a number of similar obstacles and hindrances on our way of achieving the democratization of the country and ensuring the unity of its peoples.

    The Oromo nation, by any parameter, is one of the biggest nations inhabiting the present day Ethiopia. The role it played in the past and playing at present in safeguarding the sovereignty and unity of Ethiopia is such significant that attempting to enumerate becomes so superfluous.

    Likewise, there has never been a time that the Oromo nation relinquished from trying to fully realize its inalienable right to determine its destiny by its own.

    However, due to various reasons and most importantly due to repressive measures perpetrated on it by successive Ethiopian regimes, has not yet been able to achieve a significant result in the direction of realizing
    its cherished objective.

    In conjunction with this, if we set aside the previous regimes and concentrate on the repressive measures of the incumbent regime of Ethiopia on the people of Oromiya, we can clearly understand why the Oromo people will be compelled to strengthen its struggle in the future too.

    The 1995 Constitution of Ethiopian Federal Democratic Republic clearly stipulates for the right of nations to self-determination. However, the mere inclusion of this provision in the Constitution of the country has not brought about any meaningful solutions to this glaring problem by itself. In fact contrary to the spirit of this provision, TPLF/EPRDF has crafted an infamous policy specifically designed to put the Oromo people under the yoke of its indirect rule.

    Most glaringly, with a notable degree of contempt and hatred it has for Oromo people, it unashamedly organized POWs it captured during the armed struggle to assume a responsibility of governing the Oromo region as its surrogate. Thus reducing the role of Oromo people in discharging its responsibility of self-rule to that of relation between a captor and a captive. TPLF/EPRDF has adopted this policy with clear objectives to realize, of which the major ones are enumerated here in below.

    ? In order to cling to power as a minority, TPLF/EPRDF need to adopt a “divide and rule” policy through fomenting mutual suspicion and hatred among various peoples of Ethiopia. For such a vice, it requires a stooge that can be manipulated as desired in fomenting hatreds among Ethiopian peoples, especially among the bigger ones.

    ? By putting a weak leadership at the level of Oromiya region, it aspires to create a conducive atmosphere for itself to realize a greedy objective of effecting uneven distribution of resources among regions.

    ? In order to suppress any dissenting voices within Oromiya region without incurring the cost of the consequence, it requires a nominal entity that it can deploy upfront that serves diffuse the political repercussions on its behalf.

    ? In order to realize its satanic objective of keeping the Oromo people far behind in every respect, i.e. education, trade, career development and so on and so forth, it needs a bunch of mediocre that can be used as an accomplice to this vice.

    ? In order to deter Oromo civil servants from acquiring administrative experiences from time to time and get closer to their people, TPLF/EPRDF needs to put the regional state at its all levels in a situation of constant instability through series of reshuffles, transfers, demotions and promotions. Hence needs to have shortsighted regional officials that can only see the tree and not the forest.

    ? It is evident that TPLF/EPRDF is pursuing a double standard policy with respect to privatization. While selling government owned enterprises on one hand so also creates party owned establishments on the other. This measure, on top of seriously undermining the economic liberalization of the country, has also created an undesirable situation of proliferating corruptive practices within government institutions thus hindering the effort for the emergence and strengthening of good governance. More than and above these problems, what is most alarming with respect to these establishments is to see them operating as an instrument of pillaging resources from various regions of which Oromiya is the most glaring one. Again, to realize such unholy objective, TPLF/EPRDF needs a subservient group that only takes orders without daring to ask.

    ? In order to divide and weaken Oromiya’s civil servants, TPLF/EPRDF has adopted a policy of what it calls ” Gimmgemma”, in which procedure, public servants are encouraged to incriminate and recriminate one another so that they remain divided to pose any question in unison on the glaring malpractices they happen to witness. Therefore, to implement such a policy, TPLF/EPRDF requires putting its own stooge that will be willing to go around and glean rumors for the purpose of crushing the self-esteem of its subordinates down to the level of its own. While the above enumerated points constitute the main rationale behind adopting such a policy of an indirect rule for Oromiya, the mentioned stooge has even gone to the extent of being packed with fabricated Oromo history and has gone public to endorse the shameful act of summarily expelling hundreds of Oromo students from Addis Ababa University.

    As a result of this infamous policy of TPLF/EPRDF, thousands of Oromos were subjected to imprisonment, exile, torture and even death. And this sad scenario has continued todate.

    What is most startling is the fact that this despicable policy was favored by some of the newly established political parties who recently declared their intention of creating a stooge Oromo political organization of their own by emulating TPLF/EPRDF. This single incident can show how various political groupings of diverse origin could converge when it comes to Oromo people.

    TPLF/EPRDF, in its quest to wipe out all political forces that represent the interest of Oromo people, has gone to the extent of insanity by denying the most respected Oromo Self Help association-Metcha and Tulema Association, its right to legal existence. Metcha and Tulema Association is widely considered as an embodiment of Oromo language, culture and identity.

    Besides, TPLF/EPRDF has dared to assault veterans and elder members of this association thus committing a deplorable act that has no parallel in the recent history of the country.

    The aforementioned repressive measures and especially what has been committed on the leaders of the Metcha and Tulema Association are the ones that spurred us to ask, ” What is going on in our country?” ” What are we waiting for?” ” Who is the culprit itself?” “Why the hitherto existing Oromo political organizations could not produce a desired result?”

    After carefully deliberating on these questions, we have come to the conclusion that we should enter the domain of the Oromo peoples struggle in an organized manner and with new vision.

    In as much as the aforementioned situations spurred us to get organized afresh, there are also factors that prompt us to adopt a new strategy that deserves to be considered as a paradigm shift when seen through the prism of the hitherto waged Oromo peoples struggle.

    Had there not been for the existence of such considerations, we would not have been spurred to come up with new Oromo organization while we are attributing most of our weaknesses to the lack of internal unity.

    It is understandable that up until recently, Oromo political organizations had focused on getting rid of all forms of oppressions, as a result of which the adopted strategy became, by and large, reactive. However, in view of such forces like TPLF/EPRDF that claims to have dealt with those situations and pursue a policy of an indirect domination, the hitherto existing strategies could not be appropriate and effective. The mere fact that one knows where to go is not sufficient unless accompanied with realistic roadmap to get there.

    Therefore, it is wise and necessary to work out a new strategy that carefully takes the unique characteristics of the new dominating power and the prevailing situations at the global, regional and country level into consideration so as to be effective in realizing ones own cherished objective.

    That is why we are convinced to pursue a policy of aiming at the top in order to create a conducive atmosphere to get strengthened at the bottom. This implies the shift in strategy from being fully absorbed on the right of one to self-determination to that of accompanying it with one’s obligation of ensuring the soverngnity and unity of the country thus denying the adversary a room to manipulate.

    This in a nutshell can be stated as ” The Oromo people while waging struggle to attain its noble objective of becoming a master of its own destiny at the regional level should also proudly shoulder its responsibility at a federal level in ensuring the soverngnity and unity of the country.

    The adoption of this strategy becomes imperative as we witnessed that TPLF/EPRDF is a divisive political entity that can go to the extent of jeopardizing the very existence of the country and unity of its people in its desperate quest to cling to power.

    Besides, this strategy is further substantiated by the fact that some of the newly emerging political forces have made their intentions clear by advocating for the reversal of the already achieved results in their attempt to resurrect their ancestors oppressive policies that we already have held requiem for.

    According to these groups, erasing article 39 from the Constitution alone can guarantee the unity of the country. Such forces could not understand or not willing to understand the fact that in as much as the inclusion of this article has not automatically resulted in the full observance of the right of nations to self determination, its mere deletions could also not become a guarantee for averting further fragmentations.

    In our view what matters most is to take concrete measures that promote understanding and mutual respect among the Ethiopian people that practically forge the desired unity and understanding and not a mere inclusion or exclusion of one single article in the Constitution.

    We aim at making this article redundant within Ethiopian context through our positive actions while they aim at converting the country into a sort of guinea pig on which multiple options are tested as often as new forces seize power in the country.

    II. Basic Problems

    Our country Ethiopia, though rich in its natural endowments and productive labor, has not yet reached a stage of food self-sufficiency and regrettably continues to rely on external food aid to feed its people. This is primarily so due to defective socio-political and economic policies pursued by successive regimes in the country In a manner like adding wound to injury, TPLF/EPRDF, instead of leading the country along this desired direction has even reached an alarming stage of threatening the very existence of the country. Therefore, we would like to draw the attention of all responsible citizens to take a serious note of the major problems we enumerate here in after that we consider as requiring timely redress

    2.1 TPLF/EPRDF, instead of seeking a genuine solution for problems pertaining to nations and nationalities in Ethiopia in line with the constitutional provision, has resorted to opportunistically exploit this same legal framework to sow hatred among the Ethiopian people in its quest to cling to power through its cheap tactic of divide and rule. This therefore is the prime problem that our country currently faces.

    2.2 Some of the newly established political parties, hiding themselves behind a genuine aspiration of Ethiopian people for the unity of their country, has followed a destructive path of attempting to reverse the so far achieved results of the oppressed peoples of Ethiopia thus exacerbating the situation of mutual suspicion among the peoples of Ethiopia. This too, in our opinion, is one of the major problems we currently face.

    2.3 Some of Oromo liberation forces, instead of constantly revisiting their programs and strategies vis a vis the ever changing global, regional and country wide realities, have sunk into a state of inertia that forced them to become forces to be led than leading.

    Besides, instead of taking measures they each consider as promoting the cause of the Oromo people, they chose to drag themselves into a sad scenario of ” hide and seek’ that literally caused a situation of mutual paralysis.

    More than and above this, this situation has induced a strong momentum for the emergence of a number of political groupings thus contributing to the further scattering of our capabilities. Hence, it deserves to be considered as one of our current major problems.

    2.4 We are also faced with another problem of visible magnitude that primarily emanates from the above-mentioned problem. Some of the political forces, instead of scrutinizing their programs and strategies in view of the prevalent situations from time to time, have started attributing their failure to realize their stated objectives to that of elements of diversities that exist within our people. More specifically to that of religious diversities. As a result of this, some have naively started to pursue a dangerous path of attempting to attain religious sameness among the Oromo people. This trend, in our opinion, is the most dangerous
    development that needs to be curbed as soon as possible.

    2.5 Like the members of any other nations and nationalities of Ethiopia, quite a good number of Oromos are currently scattered throughout the world due to various reasons of which fleeing from political persecution is presumed to constitute the major reason. That is why we believe that this group, to a large extent, is mentally ready to join hands with those struggling to do away with all forms of oppression.

    However, when the current state of affairs with respect to this group is closely scrutinized, due to apparent lack of information from the ground and the prevalence of the tendency to examine situations within the political setting of one’s own current living, has resulted in a sad scenario whereby quite a good number of them sank into political fantasies that make them extremely detached from realities. Due to this, a solid group that otherwise could have been a backbone of Oromo peoples struggle is now gradually moving in the wrong direction of becoming irrelevant. That is why we consider this sad scenario, as constituting one of our current problems that needs a timely redress
    .
    2.6 The party in power, TPLF/EPRDF that is claiming to pursue a policy of market economy, in a manner hitherto unheard of, is running a multi-billion worth economic establishments. At the same time, it has continued the process of privatization by continuing to sale public enterprises thus adopting a double standard policy.

    This dubious situation, on top of distorting an equitable access of citizens to huge government generated demand has become a source of corruptive practices thus undermining the possibility for the emergence of good governance.

    Right now, quite a good number of people have become skeptic of who indirectly owns a huge plot of land that is snatched from Oromo farmers under the guise of promoting investment.

    Therefore, under the condition where a power monopoly of one segment of the society exists and where the real motto of running economic establishments cannot be ascertained, the continuation of the eviction of Oromo farmers becomes one area of our serious concern. That is why we say this situation too is one of our current major problems.

    2.7 Educational policy pursued in the past, for sure, had not enabled us to produce a skilled manpower that was commensurate with the needs of the economic development of the country. Therefore, we believe that revisiting this policy in view of the need to synergyzing the educational sector with that of the overall development needs of the country was done in line with the order of the day.

    However, the current educational policy unilaterally adopted by TPLF/EPRDF, though it aimed at addressing our collective concern has nevertheless failed to deliver an appropriate remedial policy alternative mainly due to lack of sincerity. Setting aside the shortsighted measure taken to exclude Tigray region from the domain of this national policy at the initial stage to the judgment of history, the policy TPLF/EPRDF staunchly adopted by running economic establishments of its own has created a situation of deep suspicion that impacts on the wholehearted implementation of the policy. The policy is seen as promoting a situation for the rich to continue higher education and for the poor to remain at the lower levels. It is due to the existence of several factors behind this policy that we say it constitutes one of our current major problems.

    2.8 We presume that the main motive behind acquiring an appropriate defense capability is to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of the country from any real or imagined external adversary. Under no circumstances that this force is envisaged as an instrument of the ruling party’s domestic interest.

    What we are witnessing in our country is just this.

    At the early years of TPLF/EPRDF era, due to the fact that the country’s defense forces inherited from the previous governments was demobilized; the country’s defense force that was mainly drawn from Woyane fighters had been established. Right from the start it was established in a lopsided manner lacking any meaningful representation to even be considered as national defense force.

    Despite this glooming start, the peoples of Ethiopia were hoping that situation might probably improve as we go along and Woyane becomes magnanimous as a ruler of the country and not remain parochial as a leader of the guerilla unit.

    To the biggest dismay of Ethiopian people, during the year 2003, Woyane made an extremely startling appointments of senior officers in a manner that puts members of one nationality on the command post and the rest to walk on landmines at the forefront. This despicable measure was unheard of in the entire history of the country’s defense force thus further contributing negatively to what already had sufficiently been lopsided.

    That is why we consider this lopsided composition of the armed forces as one of the major problems of the country as there won’t be any guarantee for such force not to meddle in our internal affairs.

    III. Our Basic Objectives

    3.1 To see the Oromo people, fully attain its inalienable right to self-determination and exercise a genuine self-rule in its own region based on the provisions of the constitution of Ethiopian Federal Democratic Republic without the tutelage of anyone.

    3.2 To see the Oromo people as one of the major nations and nationalities of Ethiopia, not being confined to regional matters, proudly discharging its historic responsibilities of ensuring the sovereignty and unity of the country at a federal level in close collaboration with other peoples of Ethiopia.

    3.3 To see Ethiopia become not only a democratic country where its peoples based on equality and fraternity strengthen their unity but also become a country where the ugly reality of food self-insufficiency is permanently dealt away with and a healthy course of balanced development has set in.

    IV. Suggested Remedies

    4.1 Combat TPLF/EPRDF not to reduce the constitutional provisions to an instrument of manipulation in its quest to cling to power through fomenting mutual distrust among Ethiopian people.

    Struggle to fully realize the right of nations to self-determination, as it is stipulated in the constitution of the country, by attaining a complete self-rule in our region without the tutelage of anyone.

    Proudly assume a historical responsibility of ensuring the sovereignty and unity of the country by stepping up our role at a federal level in collaboration with other peoples of Ethiopia.

    Boldly withstand all those who are trying to take us back by snatching already achieved results. In conjunction with this, try to further strengthen the current federal arrangement the basis of which has already been put in place.

    4.2 Internal Issues

    4.2.1 Try to persuade all Oromo based political organizations, their organizational independence remaining intact, to come to a sort of umbrella forum so as to synchronize their efforts.
    4.2.2 Being cognizant of the fact that Oromo people is diverse in terms of religion, and being fully aware that everyone has the right to pursue any faith of one’s own choice, exert maximum effort to secularize the national movement by getting rid of any overt or covert links to this or that religion.

    4.2.3 Exert maximum effort to create a desirable situation whereby Oromo Diaspora becomes realistic thinker on matters pertaining to its country in general and its nation in particular. Promote information exchange and a culture of debating on issues with open mindedness by trying to overcome in-built resistance.

    As part of this effort, encourage those who claim to have strong option of their own, to try to implement them by assuming an exemplary role themselves and not expect to get them done through others.

    4.3 Taking all TPLF/EPRDF manipulations into consideration and being fully aware of the existence of power monopoly in a single hand, resist the privatization of land and the continued eviction of Oromo farmers under the guise of promoting investment.

    Besides, as the main motive behind running multi-billion Birr worth economic establishments by TPLF is not known and their existence had already created a serious hindrance over the country’s developmental effort, in close cooperation with other peoples of Ethiopia, exert maximum pressure on TPLF to force it abandon them.

    4.4 One of the main shortcomings of the educational policy put in place by TPLF/EPRDF is the primacy it gives to financial capability in pursuing tertiary education than the respective potential of students. In order to overcome this distortion, we advocate for the establishment of national education center that enrolls students of all regions that complete their second cycle education with outstanding performance on scholarship basis. This measure, in our opinion, while helps to link development induced demand for skilled manpower with that of students potentialities, at the same time helps to correct the serious distortions created along the nationality mix of the students attending higher institutions of learning. This, in turn, is hoped to produce a skilled manpower that reflects a balanced representations of its people in the future.

    4.5 Article 55 sub-articles 7 of the constitution stipulates for the peoples representatives to oversee the organization and proper functioning of the national defense force and intervene to rectify should it believe that it is not on the right direction.

    Pursuant to this constitutional provision, we would like to call upon all citizens of the country to pressurize their representatives to persuade them deliver their responsibilities by restructuring the national defense force in a manner that makes it representative of all the peoples of the country proportionally and that at all levels of command.

    Though, a number of other disturbing issues do exist, we would like to draw the attention of our core constituency and others to the above mentioned issues as our areas of major concern at present.

    V. Call for Cooperation

    The May 2005 controversial election held in Ethiopia has showed, beyond any reasonable doubt, how distant the Oromo people is from exercising its right to self-determination. This election has also shown the bitter fact that Oromiya had been a domain of contention between different political groups while political organizations having Oromo origin were marginalized by all. The votes claimed to have been won from Oromiya through arm-twisting was the ones that served TPLF/EPRDF to claim victory.

    This sad scenario of allowing a political entity bent on undermining the interest of the Oromo people should be avoided once and for all. Therefore, being cognizant of this sad reality and trying to become accommodative enough to one another, we call upon all Oromo based political forces (except top OPDO leadership) to join hands in a manner we suggested here in before to salvage our honour and very existence from TPLF/EPRDF conspiratorial and manipulative subterfuges.

    In this regard, we would like to express our appreciation of the recently taken measure by five Oromo organizations to work together and express our readiness to follow suit.

    With respect to OPDO, except its higher leadership, we would like to appeal to all OPDO members to assist this effort of national redemption by remaining where they are and in a manner found expedient to them. We are saying this because we have already witnessed their dedication when it comes to Oromo cause as they did in the past with respect to the issue of Oromiya’s regional capital and expulsion of students from Addis Ababa University.

    The joint struggle waged by Oromo and South Ethiopian peoples under the vanguard ship of Mecha and Tulema Self-Help Association has already laid a strong foundation upon which these peoples could build a spirit of mutual cooperation in the future.

    Even more so when things are scrutinized within the tenet of the current setting in Ethiopia, while no word is uttered with respect to land issue in the northern part of the country at present, these two peoples should be conscious enough to sniff what is at their gate with respect to land.

    Therefore, we would like to call upon all political forces of the South nations, nationalities and people’s state to join hands in our common struggle of wiping out of any element of national oppression and achieve an impending shift of political power from its traditional center to that of all peoples of Ethiopia. By the same token, we would like to call upon all oppressed peoples of Ethiopia to join hands in safeguarding the already achieved results and score additional ones that pave the way for democratization of the country.

    As we repeatedly mentioned here in before, one of the major manipulations pursued by TPLF/EPRDF in order to cling to power is playing over the relations of different peoples of Ethiopia. Likewise, the repeated effort of this force to create discord among the Oromos and Amhara peoples had so far been rendered ineffective due to the vigilance of the respective peoples. Therefore, as we do not see any substantial reason that put these people apart, we call upon all Amhara people in general and Amhara based political organizations in particular to join hands in our struggle to unseat this divisive entity before it causes an in repairable damage to our country.

    In the same way, as we are aware of the fact that there are political organizations that claim to represent the interest of Amhara people while at the same time working against the interest of Oromo people. To such forces, we would like to convey our message to timely restrain themselves from encroaching upon our interest and call upon the rest to join hands in our struggle to get them on the right direction.

    Lastly, we would like to call upon the Tigrean people to join hands with us in our effort to combat TPLF/EPRDF.

    In our opinion, the mass of Tigrean people will not in any way become beneficiary of the current divisive activities of TPLF/EPRDF. In fact, when we closely scrutinize things, we cannot be sure whether or not TPLF is working in the interest of the Tigray people. Anyway, it is up to the
    Tigray people to make its own judgment.

    However, on our part we are convinced that what TPLF is currently doing in the country by the name of Tigrean people is against the long-term interest of this same people. Therefore, we would like to bring to the attention of the Tigray people that its long-term interest is at stake and better timely join hands with the rest of us in our quest to get rid of this vice from the political scene of our country.

    VI. Special Message to the Entire Oromo People

    Though you have discharged the noble responsibility of safeguarding the sovereignty and unity of Ethiopia with utmost sincerity, courage and sacrifice, you have never managed to become a beneficiary of that contribution. In fact, it has become a standing policy of successive
    regimes in Ethiopia to attempt to marginalize your role in an overall management of the country. This situation, at any rate, should not be allowed to persist any longer.

    It is with deep regret that we remind you that an ousted political group is clinging to power through the vote it claims to have secured from you only to elongate your suffering and misery by some more years. Such a sad scenario should come to an end once and for all. In order to achieve this, we urge you to exert maximum pressure over political organizations bearing your name to come together and wage their struggle that aims at realizing our commonly shared cherished objective.

    On the other hand, you should bear in mind that you are the only one living adjacent to various peoples of Ethiopia. This phenomenon, while clearly attests to the fact that you are the largest in Ethiopia, so also is becoming a factor that some evil-minded groups are using against your Well-being. In view of this, you should be inquisitive as to how recent conflicts with different neighbors were sparked and who the instigator could be. You should be aware that you do not have any major conflict of interest with the neighboring peoples you lived together for centuries.

    Therefore, you should be vigilant not to play into the hands of agent provocateurs who shamelessly aim at gleaning political proceeds from the people’s conflicts.

    It is evident that based on your noble “Moggaasaa” culture, you have been treating to date those groups living amidst you with love and protection. We believe that you should continue doing that in full harmony with your cultural value that urge you to always give protection to the weak.

    Now, we should be able to learn from the fact that some posed themselves as seeking secession from the country at the start only to settle for lion’s share from our national wealth as their strategic objective. But you, being the largest in Ethiopia have no option other than stretching your arms to embrace the rest. You should bear in mind that size also limits the option.
    Therefore, you should rise in unison towards achieving your cherished objective of becoming a master of your own destiny while at the same time continue to discharge your lofty responsibility of safeguarding the sovereignty and unity of your country – Ethiopia.

    United we rise the strongest we become!

    Ayele Zewge Bojia
    Chairman of the Founding Group
    September 2005

  44. Mr. Alebachew #32,

    I am glad you have been reading my article for a long time, and I have been always for the unity of Ethiopia and never for its disintegration.

    Tell me, please, what happened to the Ethiopian Freedom Fighters, and is it necessary to form another new movement while the Ethiopian Freedom Fighters movement still exists? I want you to remember the two Amharic sayings: (1) ባንድ እራስ ሁለት ምላስ (2) ባንድ ደብር ሁልት መምሕር which means one cannot have in one head two tongues and in one Church two teachers or Church officials.

    If the Ethiopian Freedom Fighters movement is dead, then you can have a new movement that represents only one country, and that country is Ethiopia, not Oromia or Amhara since two of these Oromo and Amhara regions are in Ethiopia.

  48. This is a copy of OPDO’s political program!!! Nothing wrong with the program though. My issue is why do you create your own party with an exact copy of another party’s program? If you believe in the part program, join that party! I understand that OPDO is on short leash by Woyane. Yet, if you are principled, fight it face on. The point is that so many of political leaders just wanna be a leader without earning it through sacrifices.

  49. These are the same folk who have been preaching day in day out none but all the fact-less things about Nefetegna. Trust me, they are orchestrated to achieve none.

  50. It is utterly crazy and foolish to believe anything for the good of Ethiopia will come out of the present Asmara political establishment.

    OPLF is a liberation front. One would ask liberation from whom? The document is replete with distortion of history. For example Abdissa Aga, Belay Zelek and Gersu Duki did not fight in the Battle of Adwa, some were not even born or old enough to bear arms at the time; Ethiopia was known by this name in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible.

Leave a Reply