Undeniably, you are entitled
to your views with no boundaries; however I have also the right to encounter
your schismatic and unwarranted statements that has neither a truth nor
advantage unless it keeps those few Oromo’s who want to remain in blind
political arena as well as in unfeasible non-tangible empty fantasy. Surly, I can’t
force you the truth as the truth shouldn’t be forced on people, but it should
be available to people who need it. In fact, I don’t have the monopoly on the
truth, however I feel like I’m obliged to correct some of the visible defects
that I noticed on your piece. Unquestionably, there is no any individuals or group
who is not affected directly or indirectly by the TPLF ethno-fascist rulers’
tribally prejudiced agenda, so instead of splitting words and spend our
valuable energy to repair our minor difference it would be advisable to focus
toward the common enemy which is killing us as well as our country.
Let me put
a couple of your outrageous long statements for clarifications. You stated that
“The buzz on both ends of the political
divide about OLF dropping ‘secessionism’ and embracing ‘Ethiopianism’ is
equally misleading. The Oromo movement, particularly one led by the OLF, had
never foreclosed on the possibility of resolving the Oromo question within the
existing Ethiopian state structure. The OLF program, through all of its
amendments from the time of founding to now, left the door open for both
options: reforming Ethiopia and establishing an independent Oromia.”
Seemingly, you are trying to divert the core concerns of the Oromo’s people
struggle by undermining the long and strenuous struggle and portray the
question of Oromo as if it’s merely the question of secession, while the
fundamental demands of the vast majority of Oromo’s including & excluding
OLF members is very identical to non-Oromo Ethiopians and is a question of
justice, freedom and democracy. In addition, you blindly slammed the door as
you miraculously represented as if the major demands of Oromo’s will not be
resolved separately from the question of secessionism. However, unlike to what
you untruthfully claimed democracy without equal participation in the political
process is unworkable, so irrespective of some biased, prejudice and emotion
driven individuals like you, the long and vigorous struggle of Oromo’s is to
make sure that everyone has equal right to form and join autonomous
associations, including political associations, such as political parties, and
interest groups. Hence, the struggle has been to facilitate for every citizen the
right to vote in the elections, right to freedom of expression, particularly
political expression, including criticism of the officials, the conduct of the
government. Indeed, as we clearly observed that many Oromo’s have already
identified the core problem and don’t want to buy your failed political path
despite trying to sail under false colors, and portray the old OLF secession
dogma as the vanguard of democracy and justice.
Another
deficiency of you is that “Unfortunately,
neither the OLF faction nor Ginbot 7 has tangible operational capabilities.
Both parties are diaspora-based with little to no organizational visibility on
the ground. They lack organizational strength and a feasible strategy to build
one. The leaders themselves are not willing to directly engage in the conflict
and are resigned to waging a long-distance war.” Obviously, it would be far
too easy to simply denounce the upcoming potential unity of these groups and
pointing out fingers without having an alternative solution. Your polemic
statement is not only untrue but apparently undermine as well as insulting the
intelligence of large number of Ethiopians who are a member and supporters of
OLF & G7. Indeed, this is the same baseless accusation that comes from G7
& OLF rivals, but the truth is that both organizations shouldn’t publicly
announce what kind of ground works that they are undertaking in Ethiopia due to
the fact that they have their own political strategy where it’s too early and
inappropriate to predict the fate & the outcomes of these organization now
using cynic thoughts.I barely
understand your concern and agree that there would be always a possibility of
lack of capability in every political group, and giving early warning and
encouraging those members to refrain from a complete failure is very vital,
however, your approach was wrong, as it focused more on undermining of the
initial efforts instead of providing the intended message with cogent argument
in order help to strengthen the unity message. Anyhow, your accusation of on
both OLF & G7 and defaming if they are a tool of the enemy seems absurd,
because the same accusation is spread by the TPLF gangsters, as well as by some
worthless EPRP, MEAD and anti-unity forces and seemingly you are sharing the
same deliberate misguided political schema.
You also
added that “It might be the case that, in
order to become a dominant voice in its envisioned coalition, Ginbot 7, despite
the rhetoric, prefers to have a weaker OLF faction than a united front. But
this is a serious strategic blunder.” Again, your visionless conclusion
about the relationship between G7 & OLF is laughable as you first
categorized the OLF led by Brigadier General Kemal Gelchu as a weak
organization without providing us any sufficient evidence about the strength of
the other OLF factions except uttering your own unjustified wistful calculation
and secondly you concluded that G7 prefers to alley with the weaker OLF where
your accusation is baseless and not supported by any facts. However, you sound
like you are driven by emotion instead of reason and logic as a result you
rushed out only to vent your own frustration that is not reinforced by any
facts and yet apparently this shows that you are trapped in the same empty blaming game bucket. But, accusing and
blackmailing these groups who doesn’t share your dogma seems baseless and
imprudent. Instead it seems that your judgment is biased by your own toxic
ideology and it’s obvious from your writing that you are on denial sticking
with liars like glue by accusing some group based on factious unjustified
stories, but those who originally brainwashed you were crafty liars
unfortunately they stripped your mind adequately along with other gullible
Oromo’s who are still screaming day in and day out about Minilik & Amahra
while they are currently being eaten by TPLF beasts. For that factor, genuine
Ethiopians should be happy to see collaboration among different opposition
groups, because such coordinated struggle shorten the life span of the TPLF
gangs who are using divide and rule as the main political instrument. Definitely,
unlike to your underestimation, the G7’s approach and endeavor to work with
other Ethiopian ethnic based organizations and accept their autonomous right
seems wise and of course makes the democratic process very smooth and hopeful. Without
doubt, what you’ve said is a complete contradictory to what particularly both
OLF & G7 are going for.Despite to
your’s and others narrowly based and ideologically intoxicated ethnic chiefs,
it’s evident that G7 stands for unity based on equality, democracy and social
justice for all regardless.
Aside from
the struggle against TPLF by OLF, I think at the same time it’s not a bizarre
anymore to anyone that majority of the Oromo population went through different
periods of clash against OLF some biased and arrogant leaders and members. The
saddest part is that even today some of the Oromo politicians are still fixated
to Amygdala politics (based on what happened in the past) and blame Amhara,
while their house is plundered by the TPLF gangs. Seemingly, they are unable to
see the reality behind the curtain and identify the sheep in wolves clothing character of TPLF
gangs. I admit the fact that, you have a way better understanding than me in
regards to politics. But, politics based on what happened in the past and with
the intention of revenge does not help, but instead it multiplies the enemy.
Therefore, you should promote & encourage the Oromo politicians as well as
the naïve followers to reevaluate their dogma in order to know that the current
Amhara people are not responsible for what had happened hundred years ago, but
what should matter it what is happening today instead
of repeating the same detested motto and expecting different result. For that
matter, the recent release of OLF statement led by B.G. Kemmal Gelchu is a huge
gear shift and deserve the most outstanding credit, as it positioned the
fundamental concrete foundation to be a crucial remedy for the current problem
yet this is the very beginning not the end. Surely, this is not going to be a
task for only a few OLF leaders, members & supporters, instead everyone
including you and I should be a part of this in order to see the profitable
result. Otherwise, pointing fingers to others in order to avoid your own
responsibility is impolitic and should be condemn by all of us.
Jawar, I am optimistic that you are not one of those naïve OLF sympathizers who
want to remain in the dark as they still restlessly screaming purposefully or
mistakenly with the intention to unearth Minilik and his cabinet in order to
face justice, what they are doing right now is unwise and damages
the popular struggle and endangers the survival of their own people and will
hurt their own future dream, i.e. flourishing justice, freedom and democracy
for the generation to come. The truth is that we cannot change the past, or
change the fact that people acted in a certain way, but we should use the past
to guide us in order to understand the present and foresee the future. The past
is over, so we should not clutch tightly as if it solves our present problem. Thus,
the remaining Oromo politicians should understand this simple fact and instead
of focusing to the ghost of Minilik and intend to revenge the current Amhara
the crime nothing to do with it, they should focus on
the TPLF gangs who are sucking their blood and eating their flesh, and forced
them to wretched of poverty in the mid of plenty. The Amhara’s on the other
hand also should remove the biased attitude about Oromo and the new coordinated
struggle against the common enemy (the TPLF gangs). They should automatically
stop & drop their filthy rotten politics to regain their power interest in
the name of Ethiopian unity. Truly, I have said it many times that especially
the current so called anti-unity forces who are titling themselves “Unity
Forces” that are a combination of EPRP, MEAD and other self-claimed members and
supporters should end uttering their disliked failed fake unity agenda and
should either come forward to join the new coordinated struggle or follow their
own path without verbally attacking others. They should recognize that having
wished the unity of Ethiopia without recognizing the autonomous of every ethnic
group seems inappropriate and apparently causes more damage to the popular
struggle than benefiting it. They should not confuse narrow nationalism to the
autonomous right of every ethnic group, as narrow nationalism is a politics of
hate. They should swallow the fact that democracy without respecting the
self-governing of different part of the society, or ethnic groups could not be
feasible. Therefore, whether we like it or not, there is no vicious enemy to
both as well as other Ethiopian tribes more than the TPLF gangs. There is no
crueler than those who are deliberately starving the people to fill their
pocket and fund their extravagant life style.
Therefore, the so called “Unity Forces” should accept that fact that the OLF
question should be addressed properly and have acceptable resolution instead of
trying to ignore it as if it is not a political issue.
Finally, in
my opinion the bold move by OLF, G7 and others to form alliance is very
encouraging not only to organization members, but also to the general public,
and at the same time it will emasculate the divide and rule tactic of TPLF
gangs. The different groups deciding to coordinate their struggle is not
political suicide as you and some other individuals portrayed and assumed,, but
a smart move to challenge the well-armed tribal gang, otherwise without it, it
would be considered as if they are trying to clamp with one hand and of course
they would be eaten by ravenous wolf (TPLF gangs) turn by turn. And yet there
is only two choices we have, either accept slavery and live our life with shame
and disgrace or fight back and reclaim our dignity and pride. In my opinion, of course the new courageous
step taken by the OLF sends shock in the TPLF gangsters’ camp and on the other
side it is a boost on the popular struggle. Despite to your groundless
conclusion, the OLF led by B.G. Kemal Gelchu not only understood the important
of coordinated struggle, but also realized that the Oromo people problem is not
solved separately without having solved the problem of other Ethiopians. There
is no question that the OLF’s decision to coordinate its struggle with other
Ethiopians is a big blow to the TPLF gangsters. Apparently, nothing makes happy Ethiopians more than seeing their fellow
citizens understand each other and mange to organize their struggle against the
common enemy, the TPLF thugs. Whether you like it or not, the ground fact is
that the future of the Oromo youth is not different to the future of either
Amhara, or Gurage or other Ethiopian tribes’ youth including the Tigreans;
their future is in danger and of course the TPLF gangs who make life intolerable
and dreadful are responsible. So, regardless what yours’ loud and senseless
discouraging noise as well as deceiving article, the OLF decision is historical
and inspiring. Removing TPLF from power is the most decisive and should be
given priority more than anything else, so after that we should deal with other
problems based on the seriousness the problem. TPLF is deliberately creating as
well as inflicting hate among Ethiopian tribes, otherwise it would not survive
without dividing as well as weaken our power, so we should not fall in its trap
by playing its part of divide and rule political schema. Therefore, Mr. Jawar,
in our side we should also show our willingness to work with them, instead of
failing on TPLF’s divide and rule trap. We have common enemy (TPLF gangs), so
we should be able to coordinate our struggle instead of splitting words and widen
the bridge among us. Apparently, we have spent so many times degrading each
other as “Ante Amahra vs. Ante Oromo” and it would not important to continue as
such, because if we do so the enemy would benefit more than anyone of us. I
hope you wouldn’t deny that the TPLF gangsters are number one enemy to the
people of Ethiopia, so instead of focusing on the acute problem, which could
kill you on the spot, you seem divert your attention to tackle the chronic
problem, which could have been dealt in the future.
“The
past is a ghost, the future a dream, and all we ever have is now.” Bill Cosby
TPLF:
Tigrean’s People Liberation Front
EPRP:
Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party
MEAD: A
term used to refer All Ethiopians Unity Party (AEUP) led by Ato Hailu Shawel
G7: Ginbot
7 Movement For Justice Freedom & Democracy
