Oromo: No Illusions About the Elections
The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF, Ethiopian opposition group supported by
Eritrea) has no illusions about the outcome of the Ethiopian legislative elections
in May. Three OLF executives spoke to The Indian Ocean Newsletter on March 29,
while in Paris, as part of a tour to inform European officials about their movement's
positions. Daoud Ibsa, chairman of the OLF, was accompanied by the Front's head
of external relations, Hassan Hussein (normally based in Washington) and the
deputy chairman for external relations with Europe, Shigut Geleta, who is based
in Berlin. For these OLF officials, the result of these forthcoming elections
is a foregone conclusion, since they are "totally under the control of
the government" of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Accordingly, this election
will be no different, in the eyes of the OLF, from the previous one since its
outcome "is predetermined". Furthermore, the rebel movement states
it is "in war against the regime" today as well as after the elections.
According to its representatives, it was the government of Addis Ababa which
left the OLF no alternative but that of armed struggle, having ousted it from
the transition government a decade ago. Asked about their vision on the future
of Ethiopia and the Oromos, the OLF executives stated that they were in favour
of self-determination for the Oromo population without excluding the possibility
that this may lead to the creation of an independent Oromo State. But the immediate
outlook is, according to them, to liberate the Oromos, like the rest of the
population, from the yoke of the domination by the current regime. Afterwards,
following Oromo self-determination, the creation of a new relationship between
this currently marginalized community and the other peoples of Ethiopia may
be envisaged. Finally, the OLF states that it wants to contribute to the emergence
of a political alternative in Ethiopia. It is planning to discuss these issues
at a forthcoming conference, open to non-Oromos.
Source: THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER