By Ewnetu Ashenafi
Our indifference towards Ethiopia Somalis in Ogaden who suffer from the barbaric acts of genocide perpetrated by the TPLF regime is likely to have a long-term impact on freedom, democracy and Ethiopia’s unity
It is a sad and regrettable fact that Eritrean independence is the result of lack of freedom and democracy in Ethiopia. Are we repeating the same historical mistakes in the Ogaden? One of the historical mistakes that led to the secession of Eritrea from Ethiopia is the lack of statesmanship and political maturity of the then Ethiopian leaders. It seems that we have not yet taken the lessons of the past. What is currently unfolding in the Somali region of Ethiopia is indicative of this fact.
What is currently happening to Ethiopia Somali’s in the Ogaden is totally catastrophic. It is really shocking when one imagines living in Somali region at this time. People are being killed, houses are being burned, women and girls are being raped, young people are routed, kidnapped and killed and the list goes on and on. Oh my God! It is really shocking! The people of Ogaden are paying a high price alone due to the divisive political arrangements of the incumbent regime in Ethiopia.
The issue has now made headlines in the New York Times thanks to the brave work of its journalists. Thank God, the hidden dark work of the Woyanne forces has now come out into the open. It has also entered into the minds of some concerned U.S. officials such as Senator Patrick Leahy. Shouldn’t we be even more concerned about it as Ethiopians?
TPLF is using a combination of war and starvation strategies to force the Somali people to abandon supporting ONLF fighters. TPLF is causing immense damage to the people of Somali region as well as to the unity of Ethiopia in general.
What is even disconcerting is our indifference to the cause of the impoverished Somali people in Ethiopia. Our indifference is due to the wrong perception we have towards the just cause of the people of Ogaden resulting in poor response that do not go beyond mere lip service so far. If our indifference continues, the current crises will escalate to form the basis of another war of independence that is difficult to reverse in its advanced stages. This reminds me of an Ethiopian joke. A hyena came to a group of donkeys lying and sleeping in the dark night. As the hyena starts eating one of them, the victim whispers to others: you guys be quiet, the hyena starts eating me from my legs, not knowing that the hyena would not rest until he sees each one of them devoured one at a time.
The enemy we face is an angry hyena that will pursue each one of us one at a time. The divide and rule tactic is working closely with the divide and hit tactic. TPLF will not rest until it finishes its job of making Ethiopia the then Soviet Union. Meles Zenawi is the Gorbachev of Ethiopia. His Revolutionary democracy is the perestroika that is on its way to complete its job if a regime change does not happen in the short term.
The TPLF would like us to believe that the Ogaden problem is an issue of secession and as such it should be condemned and fought. Surprisingly, many Ethiopians who even oppose the current tyranny fell into this trap. The best way to avoid session is to tackle it at its root. Think of what happened to Eritrea because of the same old war policy of Mengistu Haile-Mariam. The TPLF policy is in fact aimed at fueling the conflict and exacerbating the struggle for session. What is being done has happened and will definitely happen in Oromia, Amhara, the Southern Region, Gambella and other regions of the country. Woyanne is an evil force and anti-Ethiopian in its nature. Its control of governmental powers in Ethiopia makes it even more dangerous not only to Ethiopia but also to east Africa in general.
What we need is a proactive approach to counter the divisive propaganda and action of the Meles regime. We should stand alongside the peace loving people of Ogaden, as they are Ethiopians as we are. We need to identify with them and cry for them before the international community to get attention and support. We need to coordinate our struggle with them for freedom and democracy.
We need to change our perception towards the Somali region of Ethiopia. Let us see the cause of freedom and democracy behind their secessionist movement. Let us not grossly condemn them like we did to Eritrea. The problem in the Ogaden region is part of a larger problem in Ethiopia. It is the lack of democracy and rule of law in Ethiopia.
Let us make it clear to the people of Somali region of Ethiopia and to the international community that what is being perpetrated in Ogaden is the work of TPLF regime. It does not represent the wishes of the Ethiopian people who sees the people of Ogaden as Ethiopian equally subjugated to tyrannical rule in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Somalis urgently need our help in this critical moment. The barbaric acts of TPLF in Ogaden should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. As such, condemning, not supporting, the terrorist acts of TPLF in Ogaden is standing up for human rights, democracy and Ethiopia’s unity.
28 thoughts on “Divide and hit policy of TPLF in action in Ogaden: Why are we so indifferent?”
What do you mean by saying “our indifference”? Before demanding anything, the country sovereignty must be respected. The comparison between Eritrea and ogaden shows how you are suffering with lack of knowledge about Ethiopia. Eritrea has/had at least a reason (under Italy for 40 years) to claim a statehood.
I ask you what is the Ogaden reason to claim a statehood and massacre innocent Citizens? Go back to school man to learn something.
The Govt is doing the right thing, eliminating all ONLF elements before they get some root to produce a poison that would affect the country in future. I’m 100% sure, that Ethiopians back home are behind the govt in this regard. The Diasporas are not there. So, need to shut up.
Before the league of nation, during the league of nation and during UN Ogaden is always part of Ethiopia. And no one will change that now and in the future except blah blah.
Wayane knows better than any one else killing, raping, burning house….is only going to add more fuel to the rebels cause by drawing more radicalized man power to fight to their version of the old TPLF struggle. But unstable, and a divided Ethiopia is what the Wayane crave for, and that’s exactly what they are doing across Ethiopia. They masterfully, with the wetsern support and so called Aid money, created war and enemies from Eritrea all the way to Somalia and beyond!
Pray for Ethiopia!
Hi ato ewnetu!
this is really a great and radical policy shift taken by ethiopian opposition groups twoards Eritrea. for the first time ever they are admitting that the privious regims of ethiopia have been persuing a wroung policy twords Eritrea that ineffect created an independent Country.
The silence is deafening!
“First they came for the communists, but I did not speak out because I am not a communist.
Then the came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I am not a Jew.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, but I did not speak out, because I am not a Trade Unionist.
Next they came for the catholics, and I did not speak out, because I am not a Catholic.
Then they came for me, but there was no one left to speak for me.”
By Pastor Martin Niemöller, a Germnan anti nazi priest under Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
Really, I admire the article, it is exellent.
We stand for our people peace, stability & unity. And also we cry for those innocent victims.
Mr. Ewenetu,
you didn’t give any technique, you didn’t give any solution to the ONLF. When you said “The best way to avoid secession is to tackle it at its root.” We thought you will give a specific solution, but you didn’t give any solution.
ONLF wants seccession and if you don’t have any specific solution to this please don’t waste our time. Secondly, we are not going to fall for the ONLF propaganda. Islamic courts (ICU) said 100 somali girls are raped, ONLF says many are raped. This is the technique of ONLF/ICU to lie with propaganda.
so please don’t waste your and our time. In summary-
– You didn’t give any specific solution to the separatist ONLF
– You didn’t show any reason for us to believe ONLF/ICU propaganda.
thank you for wasting my time reading garbage.
Dear Ato Elias Kifle,
I would like to thank you for the comprehensive and all-inclusive coverage of Ethiopian news.
Well done!
With respect to the massacre of our brothers and sisters in Ogaden, I fully agree with you that the diaspora Ethiopians must do more as we have been doing for other areas, for instance supporting the release of Kinijit leaders.
One of the avenues we have successfully used was launching a petition website. Is it possible that you could design and host a petition drive, US and Europe focused, that can be handed to the respective powers after the cut off date of signature?
With appreciation
Biri
What the TPLF is doing in Ogaden is a clear genocide. Starving the population is cowardice. i am sure it will backfire. But on how to allow ONLF to persue its goal can be debatable. It has clearly stated in its program that the Ogaden question is a colonial question. There need to be made a wise decision and action to stop that. It is dangerous to support ONLF on its activity. Our solidarity should be with the people of Ogaden.
Ethiopia suffered from some pretentious individual intellectuals during the Derg era and at present. These intellectuals always want to appear knowledgeable and liberal in the face of the public and not that they are concerned much about Ethiopia but they find it convenient and available topic to write about Ethiopia. That is the case with Ewnetu. The Ogaden case is very much connected to the aspiration of the Mogadishu leadership for Greater Somalia. This concept existed since the inception of the creation of Somalia state. Ewnetu thinks that the Ogaden case is the cause of freedom and democracy and for this reason he suggests we should change our perception. We need to change our perception towards the Somali region of Ethiopia. He thinks it is the lack of democracy and rule of law in Ethiopia that is causing the secessionist movement. He has no idea what the root cause is. The Ogaden liberation movement is not really concerned about democracy or any sort of policy the Ethiopian Government deploys. They simply do not want to be part of Ethiopia under any circumstances. Ewentu therefore should think twice before he resorts to writing prescription to remedy the situation.
I would like to thank mr. Ewnetu for reminding us what is going on the ogaden rigion.In the past month when TPLF was commiting atrocities in ogaden all the focus was only at CUDP leadres.Now lets turn to the ogaden people befor they are wiped out by this thugs.lets help them with finance and material. god bless ethiopia . zenawi and his ethnic cronies they will pay dearly.
Lots of appologetic and hypocritical individuals as we are, we are used to blame the victims of succesive dictators who have never seen or never experienced anything positve by living under such despotic man eating dictators down the line.
“They are secsesionts, they are claiming to have been colonized, they are planing to join Somalia, may be we need to sympathize with people but not the ONLF, they simply do not want to be part of Ethiopia under any circumstances” etc, etc. self serving excuses of cunning foxes dressed in sheep skins.
Mind you this people have been living down to earth disgraceful life of hunger, dihumanization, misery, hoplesness and everything bad on this planet earth while chest drumming successive dictator baboons were/are killing and displacing them in mass. And we still want to keep them live that way and conspire to steal their resources and kill them if they open their mouth. BIG SHAME!
Why should’t these chest drumming baboonic dictators put in place genuine pluralistic democracy with genuine rights for self administration and see if the Ogadenians still want more? The Ogandenians have always stated their desire for a genuinly negotiated settlement that is faire and just so that a fairly and justely treaded Ogaden can be part of a fair, just and democratic Ethiopia.
Short of that, ultimately they will fight to the end and gain their complete independence just like Eritrea.
If backward feudal but influential Haile Sellassie did not manipulate political events and process as to completely destroy the Eritrean federal status and managed to incoprporate an autonomus state pulling down the Eritrean federal flag from its mast and tried to make them Amharas, I think that we should have remained under the same federal government and owned all ports jointly untill now with every one benefiting from everyone. No one will go to 40 or 100 years war just for something very samll and something token.
Otherwise, the Ogandenians have no choice other than keep fighting for their rights and that is only human. Pretending to be loving a cultural group minus their leaders is only a well known old tricks and crafts of all the colonialists, black and white.
what intersting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a secession front like TPLF is killing ethiopia’s in ogaden . what a shame!!! Ethiopia has never been governed by it’s enemies in it’s long aged history. Our brothers and sisters in ogaden region, we are with you.
RON RIVER I think you are lost some where in the web, wake up you are in the wrong place. All your comments is not constructive and it’s even poisonous, we don’t need you here.
Ogaden is 100% Ethiopian, today all our people suffering a great deal under the tyrant Melesse’s rule. Without mercy he is killing our people all over the country including the Ogaden Ethiopian. Our struggle is to liberate our people and country from yoke of Melesse Zenawi. The Ogaden and the rest of Ethiopia will recover their freedom soon.
Our fight will target equally our natural enemy who always sought to breakup our beloved country Ethiopia. Make no mistakes we know who really care about us and we smell our enemies from distances. Patient is not fear or indifference, our country is going through very difficult time, we know its not going to be easy but lot of progress is in the making, Ultimately we will find the right disinterested leaders those truly who will lead us where we can remodel our Ethiopia to be a sweet home for all of us. This will be achieved thanks to the true visionary children of Ethiopia.
Ewnetu,it`s very encouraging to know that there are some Ethiopians-such as yourself who are not willing to hold the coat for Meles while he is slaughtering our people in Ogaden.By remaining silent,most of the Ethiopians became abettors and willing accomplices for the bestial Meles.These misguided Ethiopians repeat the hudrum and the failed argument of defending the unity of Ethiopia.Do these Ethiopians realy believe Meles and his TPLF are the sole defenders of Ethiopia?We Ogadenis believe that Meles and his Woyanne savages are not interested about Ethiopian unity and sovereignty but to feather their own nest while it lasts.If they are not stopped,there will be a very truncated Ethiopia.
The main cause to the troubles our country facing is the Ethnicity policy that is nowhere but in Ethiopia forcefully implementing by a little, bold, ugly and evil creature (meles) and his dogs from Adwa, axum and shire.
If there is no kilil and all Ethiopians have the right to live and work anywhere in the country they want/like, there will be no ONLF and OLF attack against Ethiopia. The right to live anywhere in the country to the citizens is the very basic human right issue no nation in world is suffering from except us. Shame on the Banda woyanes. The world is moving towards creating one small village. The woyane Bandas are creating kilils and making boarders inside the country. Unbelievable.
Intellectuals need to behave up to their expectation. Most of them are behaving as if they have lost their mind and became unable to see things the right way. Supporting Islamic terrorists (ONLF) is not making you famous. Remember, TPLF comes from Tigry supported by Arabs. The Arabs are supporting right now ONLF and OLF that have the Al qaida doctrine. Being oppositions to the Ugly and little meles Ethnicity and Kilil doctrine is one very important thing, Supporting ONLF and OLF is another very damaging thing to Ethiopia. Writing garbage will not make you intellectuals and famous. For this reason keep quiet if you don’t know how to behave the right way for the short as well as long term Ethiopia’s benefit. We all agree Woyane must/will be eliminated. But supporting terrorists such as ONFL and OLF behind the computer will not do that.
We have to oppose any group rising arms and use Ethnicity the means to the struggle. ONLF and OLF are Ethnicities as TPLF is. Take US. All Ethnic members the world has are living in US. Africans, Asians, Europeans, Indians, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Jewish and other religions are practising in US. There are more than 50 million Spanish speakers living there. Is any one demanding a separate state or ethnic policy or kilil there? No. US will not allow this.
But they come to Africa/Ethiopia using AID as a tool to divide us saying they will help only each and every ethnic group learns with own language. More than 75% ethnic groups in Ethiopia has less than 75 000 members each. Some of them 5000, 3000, 2000, 1000 and even 500 and 200 members. US and other western nation are using their AID while giving school material for separate education to these people with aim to destroy the only black people language (Geez) that have alphabets in use for thousands of years.
Do they allow Emigrants all over the country and some Ethnic groups have millions members to study and use their own language in US or other western country? No. Do they allow the Spanish speakers to have own Kilil and use their language with all activities? No. But they force us to do that by fully supporting Ethnicity in our country.
All western countries have at least 200 Ethnic groups. But they are working in order all Ethnic groups to speak one language and work together as a nation. Because this is the way how it must work. Yet, they are working secretly and openly with the Ethnic divide and rule policy to destroy Africa and hurt the Africans.
Intellectuals need to oppose or support these kinds of issues rather than being part of Ethnic policy conducted by the west and implementing by TPLF as ONLF and OLF are Ethnicities.
It is obviously clear that TPLF regime is committing unspeakable crime against the ogaden people.
What it should be done is all political organization should discus first their problem
tehaye:
Like always you forgot that in multicultural and multinational states democracy means justice for all in the form of linguistic rights, cultural pluralism, citizens participation in the affairs of the government and autonomous control and equal distribution of resources, etc.
Your one language, one religion, one nation policy under the African cunning dictator foxes dressed in sheep skins is neither viable nor acceptable because it means the imposition of one single minority language, religion, ethnic values that are always the prime cause and basis of conflict, warfare, violences and underdevelopment.
Don’t blame the democratic west but blame your dictatoria back yard and minority self serving gangsters who only work for themselves by imposing their own minority language, own minority single religion, minority culture, while brutally suppressing that of the others.
That people who are/were brutally oppressed and massacared due to their religion, language, cultural and traditional values and practices, excluded from political and economic benefits aspire to get free and independent human beings is natural to humans and should be supported instead of forcing them together by some minority hedonistic self serving Nazi black Nazi dictators.
People need to live together on the basis of mutual understanding, equality, freedom, justice for all, etc. But short of that,it is just good to get divorced like the mismatching husband and wife and go to live their own separate and independent and pleasant lives as it pleases them. That is only natural and there is no need of making such big empty noise.
Who willingly likes to live under facism except the facists themselves.
If people are not asking from you anything and attempting to take what belongs to you but only demanding to have control over their own destiny why do you make such a big noise, unless you are dreaming to become the leader of a gang boss or mafia god father?
It is excellent that the democratic west appreciates and supports the current post colonial African second revolution in which nations focrcefully chained together in the unstable and unjust multinational states under brutal ignorant dictators fight for their rights and independence.
The problem is not about ethnicities as such but about one single minority ethnic robbing all other ethnics or nationalities, thereby perpetuating injustice, inequalities, brutalities and dehumanizations. Where have you seen in the democratic west one tiney minority ethnic group monopolizing political and economic power and completely dehumanizing the majority? Please don’t mix and compare apples and tomatoes.
You sound like a parochial 18th century dictator just trying to rise from his grave.
Kendie:
Yes, I am lost in the web as you have said, but found myself in the right place contrary to your wishful assertion.
If you really don’t need me as well as other people who some times state things as they are with fresh and differet ideas you would become just like a stinky standing pond where parasites gather and cause unhealthy contagious deseases. That is also why we need you here with your eyeballs and ears wide open.
I did not mean to write my comment in order to sound as a nice constructive person for this occassion inorder to please everyone even when inhuman genocide is taking place and I have to say something little about the tragedy.
Shall I say, ” well, Ogaden is our country and the resources located in there belongs to us, so we must be silent when the entire communities are being massacared and cleand from there by chemical weapons.” And then go to sleep in peace since I have been constructive?
However, the timely topic,” Divide and hit policy of TPLF in action in the Oganden: Why are we so indiffirent?” in my opinion, demanded from me reflection, guilt and self criticism. Why are you so indifferent? why am I so indifferent? why are all indifferent? when a genocidal dictator expelled all humaniterian groups form Ogaden, food and essential life and living supplies cut from reaching the civilian people, mass killings, mass rapings and genocide taking place infront of our own eyes.
You don’t have to be so secretive in remodeling Ethiopia if it has to be a sweet home for all of us as you have stated, but make it public, popular, participative, democratic, inclusive and acceptable to all.
What you are remodeling in the darkness and in secret may easily fall apart when it comes to light. And the true visionary children of Ethiopia need to be defined so openly by all Ethiopians together and in consensus, but not only by people who smell imagined enemies from distance.
I don’t understand also why you see my comments in a negative light because of the fact that I oppose dictatorship and bad government in support of democracy, justice for all, transparency and respect for human rights regardless of religion, region, gender, ethnicity, etc.
If you are supporting the opposing views actively or pasively like you have been dead silent on the Ogaden mass massacar, mass displacements and gross human rights violations you are right to be bitter about my comments and that is your business.
I am not a perfect human being but I do my best in respecting and suppoorting every interest of the oppressed including that of yourself, if you happen to be one. Let peace reign on earth!
Well thought!
If 3 million Eretrians(The Shabians) fought back and defeated one of the strongest and well trained army in Africa(over a million)and succeeded what they wanted, why not our Somali brethrens who are as double as Eretrians in a population could not succeed just like the Eritrians? The entire Somali Ogaden clan is over 6 million if you do not know. Many of Somali Ogadens live abroad (mostly in the West). They could support their brothers and sisters for their cause financially and politically. They could influence the leaders of the west and they are doing so. We need to be there as Ethiopians for their need/help.
If we are not there as their concerned Ethiopian brothers and sisters, the country we all care about( ETHIOPIA is in a great danger. Like I said… Not only they would get what they desire but also they could see the destruction of our beloved Ethiopia unless we stand by them. If 3 million people did it, why not 6 million? Let us talk about t logic here. If these ruthless (Ethiopian hating thugs )continue committing the unspeakable deed/crime (genocide) on our Somali brothers and sisters, we are waiting for the same fate as our Somali brethrens. The TPLF evil forces are there to see the final destruction or to fulfil the disintegration of our motherland ETHIOPIA.
We will have to be there for the call of our Somali brethrens. We will have to stand by our Somali brothers and sisters in this critical time. They need our help because they are Ethiopians. If we do not act in this time of crises, we had not only let our Somali brethrens down, we had also let our motherland Ethiopia down. Or we are all waiting for the same fate as our Somalian brothers and sisters.
As long as the TPLF (these ruthless thugs) are there to rule us by force and by divide and rule tactic, you better think well that the country called Ethiopia is in an eminent danger. Or you are marching on to see the disintegration of our ETHIOPA. Or you are marching on to see a state called Oromia, or a state of Tigray, or a state of Ogaden, Amhara etc..with their own flag.
We will have to show our concern for our Somali brethrens.
Finally I would like to say peace and love for our Somali brothers and sisters and Down with the TPLF ruthless thugs/mafias!
Ethiopia Tikdem/Ethiopa first!
Regards
Aba Alenga in Oromo/ the future judge in English/ Dagna in Amharic
PS. When I was a little I never thought I would be in the Battle! But I am now real in the battle.
Mestawet= you are a mess from your head.
You have no idea what you are talking about here. You must be either one of the ONLF or OLF Islamic terrorist member or supporter, or a blind Diaspora no matter what just opposing each and everything comes from the govt. you have to know differentiate when and what to support and when and what to oppose.
Nations that cannot communicate with common language is/will not exist. Most black African nations use their masters and colonisers beyond the sea and ocean languages and religion as common tools to communicate and unite. Ethiopia has own religion and language that is very old and have been tools to unite the nation. If you are mad about Geez (amharic) being the official language, it is a thousands years historical factor decides about. What we want is they nation has a common language to communicate as a nation. You have to be proud we Ethiopians have own language and the only alphabet black people has that each and every Ethiopian can feel and call it proudly my own unlike the rest of Africa. Their skin colour and other issues do not allow them to feel and say the way we can do to ours.
Why most Africans use English while it is a colonizers and beyond the sea language? Why EU, UN or other organizations use English language by far while Chinese, Russian, German, Spanish or many other languages have more mother tongue speakers? Nobody cares to whom the language belongs. The important thing is its use value serving the people to communicate.
60 years a go Europe was at war. 17 years ago it was a cold war between them. Now 27 European nations eliminated the boarder issues and everyone can live and work any county he or she wants and likes. Yet, in our country, the country rules with Ethnicity and kilil. Do you think this is good to the future of the country? Is it part of the western democracy we are seeing in Europe today? You are a sick and little head boy, unable to think these kinds of basic things
More than half of residents in London, Paris and many other European cities are immigrants. The trend will continue this way all over the west. That means according to you, stupid mess, with in few years immigrants in west have to demand their separate language, nation, culture and religion. You are really crazy. When I say about immigrants you and your similarities have to know that I’m also saying about immigrants Ethiopia has started since the 16- century and continued until the end of Second World War in welega.
Remember each and every individual right must be respected. But the common country future must be guaranteed. Citizens need to communicate and understand to have nationhood together. Ethnicity and kilil are the worst thing no rational and healthy human demand about.
Just an example: our neighbours such as Sudan has more than 210 Ethnic groups, Eritrea has 9, Kenya has 55, Uganda has 45, Tanzania has 110 and continue all over Africa this way. Nigeria has the highest with more than 500. Cameroon about 250. Ethiopia has 69. But the Ethnicity and kilil policy is implementing in Ethiopia. This is a shame and disaster.
hi ewnetu
i appreciate ur concern about these people, except some reservations. could u tell me why ONLF start to roar at this moment, why not before? they wnat to be an opportunistic, r n’t they? concerning our indefference r u sure other part of this country people live in peace? were the oromos, amharas, sidamas and others not massacred? why u didn’t u blow the whistle by then and why do u want us to support secessionists, who slaughter civilians on the broaddaylight? they r the same like woyane. useless and cancer to that country.
Excellent Article!!!. Well I am from Mogadishu,Somalia and as you all can understand,I am very angry at the current massacre,torture,and rape committed daily against my people by the TPLF regime. I also do understand that they do the same to the people of Ethiopia whatever ethnicity or religion they might have.
The only way this madness could be stopped is that we, the good people of the Horn of Africa,to come together,have a dialogue about our future,and reject any government that does not follow the rule of the law in our constitutions.
The Somali people in the Ogaden are the same as the Somali people in Kenya who are happy to call themselves Somali-Kenyans. If there is fairness in the political system of Ethiopia,then they wouldn’t seek other options including secession,which other Ethnic groups would do being Amhara,Oromo,Afar etc.
So,instead of blaming the victims,let’s all reject the Woyane regime and their TFG boys in Somalia and then continue to propagate better govenments for our people and countries.
This is great piece. I believe we are finally mature enough to keep our country united. One we sympathize one another, we create a positive enviroment. What is happening in Ogaden is unacceptable to every Ethiopian with sense of nationalism, Meles is killing at will indiscriminately.
Thanks Ewnetu for this great piece!
Jamal it’s been 17 years since this evil creature full of all noxious ideas start killing our people, who welcomed him when he stormed in the capital of Ethiopia.
The people then hopeless and all tired of the former military dictator who shade countless blood of dearly, mostly educated Ethiopians young men and women, didn’t show any resistance thinking nothing could be worse than the Col. Mengistu government as far as the in coming force is Ethiopian.
What a serious mistake then, time thought everybody the contrary, because the incoming force was not an Ethiopian nor had any Ethiopian identity, it was merely an occupier a mercenaries for Neocolonialism who speak and resemble the people. All his action and deeds, starting from the very first day, bear witness that he was and is the enemy of the country and the people. Mind you the murderer Mingistu was enemy of the people, at least he believed on the countries integrity, he respect the countries longstanding policy to respect the other nation’s national border and national integrity, he never invade Somalia even though Somalia invaded Ethiopia then, Mengistu pulled his army back after the former General Siad Barre’s force left the Ethiopian territory.
Believe me Jamal there is no any antagonism among our population around the country, today our population have no luxury to fight each others for any nonsenses, they have enormous problem just to feed their own off spring, to win against starvation, malnutrition and diseases.
The rest of the World are searching for other planet for life, we are here incapable to feed ourselves, what a shame brother Jamal.
You see our enemies’ are the likes of Mr. Meless Zenawi who takes pleasure to spend millions US dollar just for lobbying around the world and in the US to justify his bankrupted policy and his lost government.
All this wasted resources are taken from the mouth of millions starving and dying children.
Brother, Only our unified effort to narrow our difference and by building upon our commonness and rising against the individual and group who divide us by feeding us all kind of moth-eaten stereotypes just to stay in power, will get us briefly beyond our basic and fundamental needs.
It is crystal clear that this regime is committing war crimes against the people of Ogaden. Many newspapers reported that the regime’s forces have made rapes against women, burned houses, killed civilians, and other crimes which shouldn’t have been committed by a government on its own people.
Especially, the burning of houses reminded me of evil tasks which were being made 100 years ago during the feudalism era. At that time, the emperors’ soldiers had the right to burn the houses of those people who had been defeated or surrendered.
So, it is a clear indication that the current regime is almost the same as those kings, emperors, and warlords who were living hundred years before. What a pity.
Good job Ewnetu!! You got it right.
As Eritrean, I always had the same thoughts. If the ethiopian rulers had respected ethio-eritrean federation and let the eritreans free and govern themselves and have some form of federal gov’mnt, we would never had seen current situation at all. But, not many ethiopians understand this unfortunately.
One of the main reasons is that they never had seen how the eritreans were treated under the ethiopian rulers, esp. under Mengustu’s time. I had ethiopian friends at school, and other places, male & female, we are the same in every aspect but i can see the reason why we wanted separate eritrean state, it’s not easy for them to understand it because they were blinded and never told the truth about what was happening.
Thx.
Your article enthused different feelings among the Ethiopians of different ethnic groups and backgrounds.
Also Your article bears an important messages to both Ethiopians and Ogadenis ;to the Ethiopians, you have shown them, the courage, that Ogaden cause and ONLF is an issue that demands from Ethiopians to re-examine their perception, leave a lone to be sympathetic with Ogaden populace under the Tigrian hegemony, to the Ogadenis, your message, to stand with them against the tyrannical rule of TPLF is a rare commodity.
Having said that, I must also say, it doesn’t help sometimes to be diplomatic and as long as we blind ourselves from the reality of our problems we will keep on singing until cows come home.
The Ogaden problem is, as old as Ethiopia it self, and wanting us to believe it started with coming of the woyane is like milking a camel in the sand or for your case a cow.
What is happening in Ogaden, is not new, it is a century old problem, that successive Ethiopian regimes failed to resolve peacefully and Ethiopian population in general and intellectuals in particular failed to acknowledge.
It is therefore, ludicrous that some Ethiopians are only coming to realize what is happening in Ogaden through the Western media and calling ONLF a terrorist group instead of asking why is ONLF is fighting is supporting TPLF’s agenda of divide and rule.Ethiopian must re-read their countries history with a critically mind and not distaste to be reminded fissures of that history.
In 1892,the British Consul for the Somali Coast Protectorate reported that: “a large Abyssinian expedition has returned from the Ogaden bringing with some booty thousand of camels and cattle and property of all description. I hear from other sources that they have devastated the people…Many people are dying of starvation and epidemic said to be cholera, but which may be “starvation fever” has broken out, and carried off numerous victims daily.. This state of affairs is attributed entirely to the conduct of the Abyssinian soldiers who eat up every thing
Were these innocent nomads supporting ONLF! What have they done to be starved?
In 1901,Captain R.B Cobbold accompanied an Abyssinian expeditionary force across the Ogaden. Dear friends here is selection from Cobbold’s diary through his three months journey and what he witnessed.
May 28th A long the Tog Fafan. Yesterday the commander sent some mounted men to loot a village of the Sheikh Asha; they returned today with much plunder. Fortunately, however, the villagers had fled an managed to drive a way their camels, but much grain and household utensils besides many sheep and goats had been captured. The Somalis were very indignant about it, and it is a great shame the way in which the Abyssinians loot the villages lying within twenty miles on either side of the march. It matters not whether these tribes are friendly to the Abyssinians or behaved themselves and paid the tribute due from them to the King, they are none the less subject to plunder as the army has to live on the country through which it passes, whether the tribe be friendly or hostile
It is easy to accuse each other or call each other names like terrorist but trust me that will take us no where.
Compare the reports emanating from the Ogaden today and the above and tell me the differences?
May 31st.(Sasamane) the Abyssinian interpreter explained,” Every one is our enemy and when we have passed from here all these people also will be our enemies” this I observed was hardly a matter for surprise seeing how persistently and indiscriminately the army looted all the villages on the line of march.
I, am sure many of you don’t like to hear about this, but this is what our people were subjected to, since the arrival of the Ethiopians.
Put your selves in that situation and tell me what you would have done?
June 5th.(Warandad) The soil of the country we passed through today seemed of unsual richness,being of the ruddy colour so prevalent in Harar and the Ogaden. There was much cultivation of dhourra and traces of a large population but now not a village or sign of humanity was to be seen. All had fled t the approach of the army, knowing from bitter experience that to stay behind was to be robbed and possibly killed, certainly ill-treated.
Is this an OLNF propaganda?
June 22nd (Gerlogubi) Singing their hateful songs of murder and rapine and bearing aloft the trophies taken from the bodies of the unfortunate Somalis they had killed. How hateful and disgusting it is to think of these brutes with their rifles, shooting down these poor villagers who cannot defend themselves…we cannot help thinking that H.M Government will hardly wish us to continue passive spectators of this horrible carnage on before our eyes.
Tell me guys, is Captain R.B Cobbold is anti Ethiopian?
One thing that successive Ethiopian rulers were constant and inherited from each other was how to rule the Ogaden.
The Successive Ethiopian rulers, followed the foot prints of their predecessors,when it comes to Ogaden Killing looting and raping were permitted in Ogaden under all regimes including the current one.
Keep on singing the Ethiopian unity and call me a terrorist, and let history witness the end result!