I would like to publicly express my heartfelt appreciation to all Ethiopians who sent me their comments, suggestions and questions. I also respect the ideas of fellow Ethiopians who do not seem to agree with the points I raised. I hope we will come to common understanding in the near future as far as we are ready and determined to work towards a common goal.
In my today’s posting I will try to kindly respond to most of the feedbacks I received. To do this I preferred to take a selected comment and question of a fellow Ethiopian that I thought directly or indirectly reflects most of the comments I received from many readers. This individual whose comment and question I selected as a representative of most of the comments I received allowed me to post his two comments as they are by removing his last name and e-mail address for his privacy. I accepted Birhanu’s (he allowed me to use his first name) request and removed his last name and e-mail address from both messages so that readers will see his comments without any addition or deletion in this posting.
Why do I prefer this way of giving responses to readers’ comments, suggestions, critics and questions?
First of all Birhanu’s final comment enabled me to know that we have started to move towards mutual understanding thanks to the promising beginning of AFD. On the other hand, I learned that if every one of us tirelessly try our level best to explain each and every reality to one another using all our formal as well as informal contacts, it is quite possible to make Ethiopians of different nationality or ethnic background arrive at positive agreement and work towards a common goal of building a united democratic Ethiopia. Finally, I believed that this particular communication between Birhanu and me clearly shows Ethiopian web sites have decisive role to play in making at least the Ethiopian Diaspora form a very strong unity of purpose putting their minor differences as well as disagreements aside for the sake of our common home, Ethiopia. Thus, I would like to kindly request readers to see my today’s contribution from this point of view.
Below is Birhanu’s comment and question to my posting of June 6, 2006:
Hello Mr. Qooraa Jaarsoo
I read your article posted on Ethiomedia.com. I have seen a lot of reasonable and great thoughts in your article and would like to give you my sincere appreciation for your wonderful views. I support the fact that the Oromo people have a great input in the formation of United Ethiopia. I though want to mention one thing in your article. You were trying to convince that the Oromo people are supportive of the unity of Ethiopia and that is a reality every one knows. There is no united Ethiopia with out oromiya or Amhara or Ghurage or Tigre. The one thing I didn’t agree with is that you portrayed OLF as a typical organization that represents the Oromo peoples’ thought and interest. There are a lot of Oromos who don’t believe in a separated Oromia, instead they believe in a united Ethiopia, the Oromo people being one big part.
I also want to mention the Ethiopians’ attitude towards OLF. Would you support a liberation front that works to only liberate the Amhara people like the organization formed by Proff. Asrat before he died? Starting from the party’s name it only stands for the group of Amharas who believe in it’s policy and no one else. And I know you don’t support it and not a lot of Amharas or other tribes support it. People of Ethiopia have the same thought towards OLF. Starting from the name it struggles only for the part of Oromo people that believe in the separated oromiya. I guarantee you that if there is an oromian political party, starting from its name, works for the well being of united Ethiopia, every one will be voting for that party. Ethiopians don’t care about which part of the country a political party arises from; all they care about is that the party starting from its name to the action should be working for the well being of united Ethiopia and not a single tribe. What I’m trying to say is that don’t be surprised if Ethiopians do not support OLF because it doesn’t stand for a United Ethiopia. They wouldn’t support an Amharan party that stands for Amhara people only. If I’m not wrong when OLF talks about united Ethiopia, they mean to say all Ethiopia with the exception of Oromiya as they want a separated Oromiya. So I want to know how you can justify this issue.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
Birhanu
My Reply to Birhanu
Dear Birhanu,
Many thanks for your critical comments on my piece of writing. I fully agree with most of the points you stated. Let me try to very quickly respond to some of the points you raised even if your questions need well-thought and detail answers with clear explanations.
True, the majority of Ethiopians were not supportive of Prof. Asrat’s party known as “Melaw Amara” based on their belief of having a multi-national organization that works for all Ethiopians. However that lack of support has nothing to do with the issue of the Oromo people. Nobody can feel the unbelievable pain Oromos from different parts of the country have passed through mainly due to their identity. Let me try to address some of your points using examples wherever possible. Mind you, you may not agree with me but I should disclose my thoughts to you as I have taken your approach as a very thoughtful and frank one.
In your comment, you have said the following:
“The one thing I didn’t agree with is that you portrayed OLF as a typical organization that represents the Oromo peoples’ thought and interest.”
Sorry my dear brother, I also don’t agree with you on this point. OLF, as a leading Oromo political organization is in the minds and hearts of each and every Oromo. The only Oromos that may oppose OLF nowadays are those individuals running to fully control power in the organization and some radical elements who believe that the only solution for the problems of the Oromo people is establishment of an independent Oromia. Unlike these people, OLF says we can peacefully live with in Democratic Ethiopia as far as we can establish a true democratic system. That is why I personally am supportive of the current measure the organization has taken to join AFD.
“People of Ethiopia have the same thought towards OLF. Starting from the name it struggles only for the part of Oromo people that believe in the separated Oromiya .….. don’t be surprised if Ethiopians do not support OLF because it doesn’t stand for a United Ethiopia.”
You are right, most Ethiopians are against OLF due to their love for united Ethiopia on the one hand and due to the much exaggerated propaganda the Ethiopian government runs against this organization. Despite all these, however, the large majority of the Oromo people support OLF and ready to pay whatever sacrifice required for the success of the Organization’s objectives. This is mainly due to the problems the Oromo people have faced under successive Ethiopian regimes. In other words, the Oromo people strongly support OLF not because they hate Ethiopia and Ethiopians, but because of the unbelievable problems they have faced in the name of Ethiopian unity.
Let me try to further explain this point as large number of readers also asked me what makes the case of Oromos different or unique from that of other Ethiopians as far as all Ethiopians have also suffered and still suffering under oppressive government systems.
Lot of things can be said on the problems Oromos have faced and are still facing under Ethiopian rulers. Of course, some of these rulers could be selfish Oromos who have been given some kind of symbolic posts and became instruments of the ruling systems just like what we have today.
There were instances when Oromos used to be labeled by government forces as ‘dangerous criminals’ for using their mother tongue, Afaan Oromo, at public places. Apart from that, some of us are living witnesses as we have observed when our language has been discredited and undermined by many. I myself have heard and repeatedly get into conflicts with some Ethiopians (I don’t want to say people from this or that nationality) on wedding ceremonies when they say ‘Oromigna indet serg layi yizefenal? There were and still are people that say ‘Oromigna iko wonz yemayashagir kuwankuwa new’, whenever the issues of using Afaan Oromo as medium of instruction and official working language are topics of a discussion. For our surprise when the question of having Afaan Oromo programs in different information communication mediums, such as newspapers, radio and television programs was an issue there were people who try to make a fun out of such a discussion by saying ‘Oromigna radio yisebral, etc’. What do you feel about these and many other demoralizing comments on your mother tongue if you are an Oromo my dear brother? What do you expect from an Oromo old man or adult who was grown and lived in this kind of situation? Mind you, I am trying to give you a very simple example based on a language issue to clarify why the majority of Oromos are supporting OLF’s all-round struggle.
Back in the 1940s (E.C.) most Oromos of my father’s age were forced to change their Oromo names in order to join schools. This is a very simple example that makes my fellow Oromos hate Ethiopian identity even if hatred by itself was not, is not and will not be a solution for our problems. Despite these entire problems very large numbers of the Oromo people want to see united democratic Ethiopia. As you have clearly said “There are lot of oromos who don’t believe in a separated oromia, instead they believe in a united Ethiopia, the oromo people being one big part.” If we know this reality we should be able to appreciate the tolerance of the large majority of the Oromo people to peacefully live with Ethiopians despite all kinds of unbelievable discriminations they have faced and are facing.
We can also mention few things out of many injustices done to our people in a very recent past. This will take me to cases almost all the readers of this message know very well. These cases include the very sad case of Oromo students of Addis Ababa University, the issues of Oromia’s regional capital and the illegal measure taken to the famous Oromo Self-Help Association, Mecha-Tulama and the reaction of Ethiopians to these illegal measures.
Each and every Ethiopian should ask him/her self that what he/she has done to publicly show that Oromos are not only part and parcel but also the backbone of our country. As all of us know, messengers of the current regime suspended more than three-hundred Oromo students from AAU for the simple reason that these students raised questions related to their people’s democratic rights. Leave alone ordinary Ethiopian citizens, can we mention any leader of a given Ethiopian political organization that officially opposed this inhuman measure taken against Oromo youths who could have been hopes for their country and people? What would be the reaction had the same kind of measure been taken against students from the other dominant nationality? For sure, the streets of most large cities of the world would have been full of Habesha demonstartors for many days and even weeks. Why Ethiopians didn’t say a word opposing this inhuman measure of TPLF/EPRDF officials if they consider Oromos as their true brothers and sisters?
Mind you, I am not trying to capitalize on things that may make as stand apart from one another. In stead I am trying to say these kinds of things are what make Oromos support OLF through all possible means and that is why Woyane is detaining, torturing and killing hundreds and thousands of Oromos in the name of supporting OLF. This is just like what we see happening to other Ethiopians, especially Amharas, in the name of supporting CUD after the May 2005 election. It is my belief that non-Oromos with critical mind and farsighted outlook understand the Oromo people’s multifaceted problems, but nobody wants to say a word in public for the reason that I don’t really know.
Even if all the injustices have been done to the Oromo people by the rulers not by the general public, what the general public could have done is to courageously question each and every action of the government forces. In other words, Ethiopian people should have asked why all kinds of injustices have done to this great people? Did we see that? NO!!
What I am trying to say is there are lots of things that have happened to the Oromo people and force them to fully support the liberation struggle led by OLF. By the way, OLF was emerged from the movement of the famous Oromo Self-Help Association, Mecha-Tulama more than fifty years back. The leaders of this famous Association have been thrown into prison by Woyane gangs just like leaders of CUD for strongly opposing the move of Oromia’s capital from Finfinne (Addis Ababa) to Adama (Nazret) and for supporting Oromo students. For our surprise, Ethiopian people have said nothing against this measure of Woyane, except a single patriotic man, Dr. Taye W/Semayet, who strongly opposed the decision of moving Oromia’s capital from Finfinne in his interview with one of the Amharic radio programs on this particular issue. I still remember what the then ‘Ethiopia’s Great Politician’, Ato Lidetu Ayalew (as the representative of EDP-Medhin) has said on the same issue even if most of us afterwards have learned who he is and what he stands for.
The very interesting thing is that kind of divisive situation is going to be “past history” thanks to the formation of AFD. In other words, if all of us are ready to support it the current courageous measure taken by different political organizations to form AFD, will enable all Ethiopians to stand together and confront all kinds of injustices. I hope, from mow onwards, we will not say ‘this is an Amhara issue, this is a Tigre issue, this is an Oromo issue, etc.
You laso said the folowing:
“If I’m not wrong when OLF talks about united Ethiopia, they mean to say all ethiopia with the exception of Oromiya as they want a separated Oromiya. So I want to know how you can justify this issue.”
No, Birhanu!! There will never be a ‘United Ethiopia’ minus Oromia. No healthy mind can think of a United Ethiopia without the Oromo people and without full inclusion of Oromo land. I don’t think the current OLF leaders are thinking about an independent Oromia on the one hand and United Ethiopia (minus Oromia) on the other hand. To be frank with you this is not my understanding and I don’t think it is the understanding of OLF leaders either.
As you can understand from my piece of writing that has been posted on ethiomedia and other web sites, I believe in the existence of a Democratic, United, Strong and Developed Ethiopia. Ethiopia that will be a loving mother for all her children; Ethiopia that will be a comfortable home for all of us irrespective of our nationality or ethnic background.
Coming back to my piece of writing, I tried to say what most of my fellow Oromos are not in a position to say due to the reasons I mentioned above. That kind of open approach, I believe, will make us think from different directions about the advantages of being together. From hundreds of feedbacks and very encouraging comments I received so far, I learned that what I thought before posting that particular writing was correct. I am happy to know that there are very large number of Ethiopians who are eager to see real democracy, equality and unity in Ethiopia.
My personal belief is that whatever problems we had and still have under the oppressive Ethiopian regimes; we will benefit a lot if we stay together as a one united country of different nations and nationalities. Our diversity is our beauty; our large number is our strength, our natural resources are our endless wealth if we are ready to make proper use of them. We will be able to see the development we are aspiring if we can have a real democratic government in that country. We will be free from almost all our major problems (such as poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy) if we honestly come together and focus on development related activities rather than wasting our precious time on useless discussions and unnecessary hair splitting activities. We will have a strong motherland if we really believe in equality of human beings and treat each other as children of the same mother. That is why I tried to express my views in my piece of writing. I am very happy to see that my piece of writing became a cause for you and me to write to each other on important matters. For me, this is a very good beginning. Such kind of discussion will lead us to mutual understanding.
My apologies if my message is a kind of disorganized and full of unnecessary errors as I have written it quickly in between my regular office work. I also apologize if I didn’t address all your points.
Thank you once again for your wonderful idea and critical comment.
With very best regards.
Qooraa Jaarsoo
Birhanu’s reply to the above message:
Dear Qooraa, I can’t tell you how happy I am with you being very open minded and constructive. I also enjoyed reading your article, every single one of the lines. One thing I feel sorry about is that Ethiopians don’t have all the media coverage we needed. I didn’t know to this day that OLF believed in United Ethiopia(Inclussive of Oromia). Some times name is desceiving. all the opposing political parties namely EPRDF uses OLF name to it’s advantage saying that OLF wanted to Liberate (separate oromia from Ethiopia). The missleading name of OLF takes a lot of explaining for ethiopians to accept it. On my side if what you said is the goal of OLF I am definitely a big fan. I’ve read on many documentations that oromian people have very democratic leadership in history and can contribute a lot to the leadership of future democratic Ethiopia. I believe that OLF will have to either change it’s name to a more inclussive one or make a hell of explanation to the ethiopian public and I am definitely sure that it’ll get full support from clean ethiopians. As you know, not a lot of people in ethiopia have the lexury of getting unbiased information and the name itself inaddition to the propaganda by the negatively minded EPRDF can mislead them. That’s why I said it takes a lot of explaining or changing names.
I believe that the oromo people through out the nation had been opressed for the longest time in ethiopia. I believe that there are also other tribes that have been oppressed even though not as harshely as the oromo people. But the oromo people due to it’s democratic culture couldn’t take supporession and since it constitutes the biggest part of the population was able to raise a question of freedome. I think the question of democratization have backfired on Oromo people unlike others who didn’t have the power to raise the issue. I believe that inorder to proceed forward we’ll have to let go the past and move on. I believe that an oppen minded OLF working together with other great ethiopian parties like CUD can bring about a bright Democratised ethiopia where where every one inclusively shares freedom and lift the motherland up. I hope great people like yourself who do their share of the work can help a lot in Ethiopia’s future.
I promise you that I will keep in document all the wonderfull explanation you made and will definitely spread the good word to misgueded brothers and sisters of ethiopia. I’ll try to do my part of explaining about everything and so should you.
I hope to see a bright future in Ethiopia and Ethiopians
Have a wonderfull day brother
United we stand, divided we fall.
Concluding Remark
I hope readers will learn something, especially from the last comment of Birhanu. The success of AFD requires active participation of all Ethiopians. It is impossible to expect an agenda or program that may satisfy all of us at this very beginning stage of the alliance. However, the fact that organizations that have very different programs (such as CUD and OLF) managed to come together and tried to agree on some common strategies is not an easy achievement for the future fate of Ethiopia.
We have seen that this beginning has even improved our interpersonal relations. We in the Diaspora know that people from different ethnic backgrounds were not in apposition even to politely greet each other leave alone to openly discuss serious political, economic and social matters. The formation of AFD, however, has somehow started to change this negative situation. Here in Washington, DC, may be for the first time in fifteen years, Amharas, Oromos, Tigreans, Gurages, Wolayitas, Kambatas, Hadiyas, and other Ethiopians managed to attend a historical meeting under one roof. This by itself is an excellent achievement of AFD. Lots of things can be done if we are ready to work together under the alliance. The purposeful and genuine unity of the Ethiopian people can even influence the political organizations that formed the alliance to compromise some of their differences and work towards more tangible results. Let us hope that will happen soon.
Finally, from what I have seen so far, I learned that popular web sites like ethiomedia have contributed, are contributing and will contribute a lot in the continuous efforts of solving various problems of our country by bringing Ethiopians of different views together. I wish our people at grassroots level have such an opportunity and learned a great deal from what is going on in cyberspace.
