Starting from
the official release of the surprising news about the birth of
This shows that the formation of
AFD became the major topic of discussion among Ethiopians mainly due to the
role some liberation fronts like OLF have played towards the formation of the
alliance. Most of the views expressed through different mediums and articles
posted on various web sites show that people are suspicious about the success
of AFD due to the irreconcilable stands of the organizations that formed it.
Specifically the involvement of OLF in such an alliance seems to surprise many
people and make them raise questions after questions on the commitment of OLF
to the Unity of Ethiopia. Most of the articles and comments, however, don’t
seem to see the issue of Ethiopian Unity from the Oromo people’s point of view.
Of all the articles I managed to
read in relation to the formation of AFD, Olaanaa Abbomaa’s The Essence of AFD
has addressed the serious issues related to the concern of the Oromo
people and their leading organization in understandable manner to both Oromo
readers as well as to non-Oromos. Despie Olaanaa’s efforts still many people don’t seem to
positively see the genuine approach of the representatives of the leading Oromo
political organization, OLF.
Olaanaa raised very important points and has taken
the time to clarify a number of controversial issues in his well-written
article. His thoughtful way of looking at this serious matter from different
perspectives enabled him to attract the attention of large number of serious
readers. The Ethiopian people in general and the Ethiopian Diaspora in
particular need this kind of farsighted, frank, truth-based and rational
analysis in order to understand the root causes of our problems and to arrive
at some kind of common understanding.
In this piece of writing I would
like to express my views on the formation of AFD and the issue of Ethiopian
unity as an Oromo who is eager to see a united
To begin with, I couldn't believe
my ears when I first heard the news about the formation of AFD. As I am aware
of the extreme views of many of my fellow Oromos and also the extreme views of
non-Oromos who pretend to be "the sole representatives of Ethiopian
unity", I have never expected OLF and CUD to come together and face their
members and supporters on a common agenda. This is due to the fact that these
two organizations have their own extremist members and/or supporters who do not
seem to be ready to rationally look at what their differences as well as
similarities are whenever the issues of Ethiopian Unity and people’s rights are
topics of discussion. After all extremists at both sides are suffering from
group pressure and are not ready to give attention to logical reasoning. Having
this understanding in mind, I found the formation of AFD as a perfect and
timely solution for most of the complicated problems we had and still have. In
the following parts of my writing I will try to give my thoughts under
different sub-topics based on some of the opposing views I observed in some
articles as well as different comments I heard.
At the current stage of the
Alliance for Freedom and Democracy, are the issues related to the name of the
alliance, medium of communication during the founding meeting and who was
behind the formation of this alliance are serious matters? For me all these
things shouldn’t be taken as big issues as we have more challenging issues to
deal with.
The very interesting fact is AFD
has created some kind of positive hope in the minds and hearts of very large
number of Ethiopians despite all kinds of hair splitting activities and
attempts of fault finding. Any ways, let me reflect my views on the name of the
alliance, the medium of communication, the involvement of
Regarding the alliance’s name the
existence of the name “Ethiopia” and “Ethiopians” in the coalition’s current
name is clear as the organizations that formed the alliance are not talking
about the ‘freedom’ of some unknown thing or ‘democratization’ of a
place/country that is non-existent. Unless we are doubtful about whether
millions of people that each organization is claiming to represent are
Ethiopians, it goes without saying that “
At a meeting held in
What do Amharas
feel if an Oromo try to force him/her to use Afaan
Oromo instead of Amharic? On this point the motto of the Famous Oromo self-help
association, Mecha – Tulama,
can be taken as a good lesson for all of us. Here is the motto of Mecha-Tulema: “Bante lay indidereg yematifeligewun neger belelaw wondimih
lay atadirg”. Let us try to be rational.
It seems to me that we are
contradicting ourselves if we are opposing
Ethiopians have an excellent
indigenous culture/tradition of conflict resolution through elders’ arbitration
– shimgilinna. Nobody can deny that Eritreans were proud Ethiopians before May 1991. In case
Eritrean brothers have done something to bring the member organizations of AFD
together as concerned neighbors, it could be based on our own tradition of shimgilinna. So, what is wrong if Eritreans
might have played intermediary role to bring CUD, OLF and other organizations
together in order to make them stand in unison together against Woyane? Are we going to say NO if Eritreans
may want to be reunited with their “motherland”
One of the ideas that raised by
those opposing the alliance is the acceptance of the current Ethiopian
constitution, especially the existence of article 39 in the constitution. I
don’t think the existence and/or non-existence of article 39 or other
controversial articles for that matter in the current Ethiopian constitution
should be a headache for the organizations that are struggling for the
self-determination of their people. As the existence of this article didn’t
contribute anything to the Ethiopian people after the constitution was
implemented, its removal cannot be a cause for stopping the people’s struggle
for their collective freedom and democratic rights. What Ethiopian politicians
should do about this particular article is to establish a real democratic
system and make the existence or non-existence of this article
useless/meaningless.
As far as there is any form of
subjugation and injustice in that country, the Ethiopian people will continue
struggling for their rights and our unlucky country is going to be a land of
endless conflicts. What Ethiopian politicians should do in this regard is to
honestly work towards the formation of a democratic government in which there
is established system of check and balance. Otherwise trying to put oppressed
nations and nationalities in the pre-1974 old system of master-servant
relationship in the name of Ethiopian unity will not help us to come out of the
multifaceted problems we are currently in. Practical measures will help us
solve most of our problems. Mere talking and writing thousands of articles will
be of no use to solve Ethiopia’s problems. Therefore, let us give opportunity
for AFD to move at least a step forward and show the Ethiopian people what it
promised to do as an allied political force.
As many writers have tried to
underline one of the major causes of most of the problems we Ethiopians faced
for the last fifteen years is the disunited situation we have been forced to be
in as a result of the selfish 'divide and rule' policy of the current Ethiopian
regime. Specifically, TPLF/EPRDF regime has very systematically used the
question of nations and nationalities of Ethiopia for its advantage. On the
contrary, politicians and educated people from the major nations of the country
couldn’t make visible efforts to come together and see why Woyane
is more than happy to continuously work on our differences rather than focusing
on the common values that could have united us as children of one country. Our
politicians as well as our intellectuals preferred to enter their own narrow
boxes that have been facilitated by Woyanes and
started attacking each other through all available means. Woyane
is fueling such attacks from behind in very systematic manner and that helped
it to comfortably stay on power.
Woyanes have started the same tactics after the
formation of AFD too. Looking at the different postings on some pro-Woyane web sites and listening to some radio programs that
are supporting the current Ethiopian regime clarify this truth. Can't we see
signs of frustration and worry through most of these writings and radio
broadcastings? In other words “Ke tibibiru
(tumsa) misreta wedih beweyane sefer chuhet iyeberekete
memtatun altegenezebnim?”
What do you think is the main reason behind this frustration and worry? Each
reader should try to answer these questions in his/her own way. My answer is
AFD can definitely lead the Ethiopian people towards freedom, equality as well
as real unity and that is what makes Woyane and its
supporters restless. It is obvious that unity of the Ethiopian people means
death for Woyane and its messengers. So, all they
have to do is to look for minor points that believed to create controversy and
capitalize on them. After that our intellectuals and writers will come with not
only demoralizing but also with destructive articles. We clearly observed this.
The last fifteen years have shown
us that people in TPLF/EPRDF are not sophisticated politicians but are very
dangerous, self-centered individuals who never hesitate to make genuine
Ethiopians kill one another as far as they think that Woyane
can get any kind of advantage out of it. That is what Woyanes
did in the past and what they are doing even today. They know what is good for
their temporary power and what is against their interest. Whether we like it or
not Woyane not only hates but also afraid the UNITY
of Ethiopians more than any armed force. Post-Derg
years have clearly shown us that the real unity of the Ethiopian people is what
almost all the members of this criminal group never want to see. Thus, they
have started putting all kinds of obstacles on the ways of AFD.
Are we conscious enough to
critically see these obstacles? Do we know who the people writing different
opposing articles about the formation of AFD are even on some pro-unity web
sites? Are we sure who is behind a given radio program that works hard to
discredit the initial move of AFD? This time Ethiopians need to be conscious,
systematic, tolerant and farsighted.
Out of the organizations that
formed AFD, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Coalition for Unity and
Democracy (CUD) became the main targets of irrational criticisms. This shows
how strong, popular and mass-based these two organizations are in their
respective constituents. According to the information coming from back home,
OPDO/EPRDF is running official as well as underground agitations to
"convince" the Oromo people and make it stand against its leading
political organization by saying things like “OLF has made an agreement with
forces that are against the Oromo people's interest and this will divert the
constitutional rights and gains that the Oromo people have enjoyed as a result
of OPDO/EPRDF policy”. Others say that the current agreement with organizations
like CUD will hinder the future formation of independent Oromia,
therefore, AFD should be opposed by the Oromo people.
On the other hand, some pro-CUD
people who seem to be excited by the so called result of the May 2005 national
election say that CUD is the only political organization that can get the
support of the Ethiopian people and no need for CUD to form any kind of
alliance with other organizations. In this regard, I remember reading a comment
that asks CUD where it puts the vote it obtained during the May 2005 national
election when it makes an agreement with forces like OLF who have no
participation in the election and have no representation of the Ethiopian
people. For these individuals CUD is the only political organization that has
the representation of the Ethiopian people. This, I think, is a complete
misunderstanding. For sure leaders of CUD, as they well-know the reality, are
not in a position to conclude that way, especially when they look at their vote
in most parts of Oromia.
When we closely look at places
where CUD scored large number of vote during the May 2005 election, we see that
most of these places are non-Oromo areas; especially they are constituents in the
northern part of the country. Of course, the capital city is an exception due
to various reasons. In my opinion, even if Woyane
accepted the result of the May election, CUD's
victory would be partial. This is due to the fact that CUD couldn't get the vote
of the large majority of the Oromo people. For that matter the Oromo people had
no choice to elect good representatives as OLF was not a participant in the so
called May 2005 national election. Therefore, for the Oromo people the May 2005
election might be explained by the following Amharic saying -"Yewededutin biyatu yetelutin yikelawutu".
Honestly speaking, leave alone CUD, organizations that bear the name of the
Oromo people, such as ONC and OFDM wouldn't have been the choice of our people
had OLF been given favorable playing ground to take active part in that
particular election. Whether we accept it or not OLF means the Oromo people and
the Oromo people means OLF. So, any movement that includes OLF has unreserved
support of the large majority of the Oromo people. It is only such a movement
that can bring about a government by the people for the people in our country.
AFD is such a movement and that is why it must be supported by all peace-loving
Ethiopians despite their national and/or ethnic background.
Now, looking at the current
alliance from democratic election's point of view, AFD is going to facilitate
conditions for the Ethiopian people to form a democratic government in which
representatives of all people will take active part after being elected
democratically (without any form of negative influence). If what AFD has
planned became a success, the next election in our country will be an election
in which the large majority of Ethiopians will vote for their representatives
from political parties they fully support. Thus, the involvement of CUD and OLF
in the alliance is not a miscalculation as some tried to say; rather it is a
calculative move.
Some people as well as groups that
present themselves as the sole representatives of the Unity of Ethiopia (or
those who consider themselves as license givers for Itiyopiyawinet)
are accusing CUD for joining the alliance and particularly for making an
agreement with “separatist forces” like OLF. What is wrong if OLF joins CUD and
move forward towards finding a fundamental solution to our country's major
problems? Who gave the responsibility of working for the Unity of Ethiopia for
only non-Oromos, particularly to Amharas? What
evidences do we have to show that Oromos are against the Unity of Ethiopian?
For me the fact that OLF has joined
AFD is not a danger to the unity of Ethiopia. It is rather an excellent
beginning to have a very strong, stable, and great Democratic Ethiopia in the
Horn of Africa. Whether we like it or not Ethiopia without Oromo is
meaningless. In my opinion, it is based on this understanding that OLF joined
Ethiopian forces and officially said "let us be together and work for the
realization of freedom, democracy, justice, equality, peace and development in
Ethiopia." So, we can be hundred percent sure that the Oromo people and
OLF are not against unity. Many evidences can be cited for Oromos’ commitment
for unity of Ethiopia. For instance, how many of the readers of this piece of
writing are aware that there is an organization known as "Oromo Movement
for Federalism and Ethiopian Unity"? One can see the political program,
different press releases and statements of this movement on different popular
web sites (such as www.oduu.com, www.ethiomedia.com, etc.), to understand how
Oromos are strongly working towards the establishment of a united democratic
Ethiopia.
Are we really aware of its negative
impact on the future fate of our country when we are forwarding ideas opposing
the involvement of the large majority of the Ethiopian people in their
country's affairs? Why do we are doubtful about the commitment of OLF to the
Ethiopian Unity when the representatives of the Organization publicly say they
are ready to work towards unity as far as a true democratic system is going to
be established in that country? In fact each and every Oromo is against nominal
unity that makes this great people second-class citizens of Ethiopia.
Meles managed to stay in power without the
Ethiopian people’s interest by saying that Ethiopia will be disunited if
TPLF/EPRDF is not on power. TPLF/EPRDF cadres have gone to the extent of saying
that Amharas and Oromos cannot peacefully live
together if TPLF as a political power is not at Arat
Kilo. I have never seen any kind of problem between the Oromo and Amhara people. Even if we are thinking of political
organizations directly or indirectly representing these people, is there any
problem as far as they are ready and willing to discuss each and every issue
openly and frankly? I think that is what OLF, CUD and other organizations have
started to do. On this point I would like to quote what the representative of
OLF has said during the meeting recently held in Washington, D.C. to introduce
AFD to the members/supporters of CUD and OLF. He said that -- let us not suffer
from past history and start making a new history from now onwards. Let us leave
yesterday for historians to investigate realities and move forward towards a
bright tomorrow. In fact this is not a direct quotation of his speech that was
made in Amharic, but what he said has similar message when roughly translated
into English. So what do we expect from OLF beyond this call at this very
initial stage of the formation of this alliance (AFD)? We should think many
times before forwarding ideas that may label this leading Oromo political
organization as a force against the Unity of Ethiopia. True, OLF and the Oromo
people are against tyranny. What is currently going on in different parts of Oromia under the common title "Fincila
Diddaa Garbummaa
("uprising against tyranny") is a proof for our people's firm stand
against tyranny. Does this mean the Oromo people and their leading political
organization are against Ethiopian unity? Not at all!!
It is obvious that there are also
people’s uprisings as well as armed struggles in different parts of the
country. Despite all these movements, Woyane is still
in Emperor Menelik's palace thanks to the unreserved
support of the western world and the power of the gun it always depend on. It
is only the movement of coordinated and united political forces that will
remove Woyane from where it is. So that AFD came with
a promising idea of leading the Ethiopian people's life-and-death struggle
towards victory in an organized as well as coordinated manner. The initial measure
that may lead towards such a move, AFD said, will be an all-inclusive forum
that will enable Ethiopian political forces to solve the most serious problems
for once and for all. Having all these points in mind, I couldn't understand
why people who really want to see a strong and united Ethiopia are opposing
such a beginning.
As I tried to say, the only group
that is going to be seriously affected by the current move of AFD is the
TPLF/EPRDF and its messengers. That is why I am suspecting that most of the
writings against the Alliance are authored by people who are directly or
indirectly pro this anti-Ethiopia group. Otherwise why should we worry when a
political organization like OLF says "let us establish a real democratic
system in that part of Africa and democratically solve the fundamental problems
of our country?"
All things considered, leaders of
the political organizations and liberation fronts that formed AFD need to be
supported and encouraged by all peace-loving Ethiopians for making such a courageous
decision. If Ethiopians of all walks of life are ready to support this
wonderful beginning, I believe, AFD has a very strong potential of bringing all
democratic organizations and peace-loving Ethiopian forces together.
At the end, I would like to say a
bright tomorrow is about to come for Ethiopia and Ethiopians.
Let us work towards unity based on
equality.
--------
The writer can be contacted for comments at qooraaj@yahoo.com