Repression, Denigration and Trading in the Name of Terrorism

In its statement of August 29, 2002, the Executive Council of the
Oromo
Liberation Front clearly stated its policy on terrorism: condemning
any
and
all acts of terror against peaceful and civilian population. In the
statement, we forewarned the international community and all peoples
in
Ethiopia that the regime in Addis Ababa was desperately trying to jump
on
the anti-terrorism bandwagon to use it as a political ticket to stay
in
power, to deceive the international community and blackmail opposition
forces that struggle for legitimate causes.

Following the bomb explosion in Tigray Hotel in the capital, the
Ethiopian
regime has unleashed a campaign of arrest and torture of innocent
Oromos to
further justify its acts of repression and slander against the OLF.
The
arrest and torture of Oromos is designed to link the incident with OLF
hereby tarnishing its image at home and abroad.

The Oromo Liberation Front strongly condemns the bomb explosion of
Tigray
Hotel that affected the innocent patrons of the hotel and private
property.

While denouncing the bombing of the hotel, we would like to draw the
attention of the international community to the fact that the Wayane
regime
has track record of fabricating lies and deceitfully maneuvering
incidents
to blackmail and incriminate its opponents. Rather than desisting from
gross
violations of human rights and addressing the demands of the Oromo
people
for freedom and justice through political and peaceful means, the
EPRDF
regime has made a habit of manufacturing disingenuous schemes to frame
the
OLF and stamp it as a terrorist movement.

Our Organization considers terrorism in all its forms as an act of
desperation. The OLF has an unequivocal stand against terrorism and
opposes
terrorism as a means to achieve political goals. Anti terrorism has
been
and
remains a core policy of the OLF.

The OLF struggles for the legitimate cause of the Oromo peoples’ right
to
self-determination, for democracy, for respect of human rights and
freedom,
and for the rule of law. Our peoples’ just cause, the OLF’s
far-sighted
political vision to resolve the core ills and its strategic
decision to cooperate with all who seek freedom, democracy and lasting
peace
is gaining ever increasing converts even amongst the regime’s own
cadres.
OLF is confident that the day shall come when justice triumphs over
tyranny
where the architects of these futile, despicable and wicked acts will
receive the verdict of the people.
Oromo Liberation Front

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