Report

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August 1, 2008

SEATTLE – The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) on Thursday said it has expelled four senior members who have been involved in clandestine activities that threatened the “security” and “safety” of the organization.

In a statement released to Ethiomedia on Thursday, the Asmara-based executive committee of the OLF leadership said the decision to expel Hassan Hussein, Leeco Baatii, Kamal Gelchu, and Abbaa-Nagaa Jaaraa was reached at an emergency meeting. It didn’t specify the date of the emergency meeting.

“It has been observed that a clique has clandestinely been conducting destructive activities within the
organization for a while. This includes agitations targeting the legitimate leadership of the organization in
contradiction to the latest resolutions of the National Council that met last March, 2008,” the OLF statement said.

Ethiomedia tried to reach the affected party of four but couldn’t succeed, and would report on it whenever available. The four OLF officials are not only prominent in the Diaspora but are also noted for their astute political commentaries they often give to the media.

Following is the full text of the OLF statement from Asmara, Eritrea:

Statement of OLF Executive Committee
on
Unconstitutional Activities and Conspiracies Against the OLF

The Executive Committee (EC) of the OLF conducted an emergency meeting to deliberate on the current
internal anarchic and anti organizational activities and passed the following decision.

It has been observed that a clique has clandestinely been conducting destructive activities within the
organization for a while. This includes agitations targeting the legitimate leadership of the organization in
contradiction to the latest resolutions of the National Council that met last March, 2008. The effort of the
leadership to handle this matter wisely and patiently has been disregarded. Now that this clique has gone
public in its campaign against the organization by:

1. Conducting illegal public meetings in Nairobi, and Minnesota USA, to that effect;
2. Publicly declaring their split from the organization on electronic media and
3. Declaring, on public radio, that they have substituted the legally elected leadership of the
   organization by their own men;

4. Stated that they have, unconstitutionally, revised the political program of the organization.

The EC, as the defense council of the organization, realizing:

a) that this situation poses danger to the safety and security of the organization,
b) the need to avert the looming confusion in the organization and
c) that the members, supporters and the Oromo people at large should be informed about the possible
danger facing the organization and prepare them for the necessary required actions and
d) the need to avert any possible damage to the organization and defend the constitution, rules and
regulations of the organization
has taken the following administrative decision.

The following core leaders of the clique:

1. Hassan Hussein
2. Leeco Baatii
3. Kamal Galchu
4. Abbaa-Nagaa Jaarraa

are excluded from any responsibility or activity of the organization, as of today July 31, 2008, for their
activities against the liberation struggle lead by the OLF, violating the constitution of the organization and
declaring division within the organization. These individuals can not represent the organization in any
capacity nor speak on its behalf. The EC will subsequently take any necessary measure to avert possible
action directed against the activities of the organization by any means.

Victory to the Oromo People.
OLF EC
July 31,2003