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Today's News May 18, 2006 |
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Testimony of
Hassan Hussein, Foreign Relations head of the Oromo
Liberation Front (OLF), at EU Parliamentary hearing |
Honorable
Chairperson, Esteemed Lawmakers and Invited
Guests:
Thank you for holding these important
hearings
My name is Hassan Hussein, head of Foreign
Relations with the OLF.
Today I speak not only on behalf of OLF but
also ONLF and SLF. To the extent that the
yearning for these ideals is universal, I
speak for all who yearn for freedom and
democracy in Ethiopia.
It is an understatement to say that Ethiopia
is at a crossroads. The next year is likely
to determine whether we are able, at long
last, to overcome the bitter legacy of the
past in which small cliques have ruled and
the majority suffered and whether Ethiopia
becomes a source of regional stability or
instability. If Ethiopia descends into
chaos, it will be Somalia on steroid.
Over the past year, in consultation with our
constituencies inside the country and around
the world, we have given much thought to
finding ways to resolve the current crisis.
After sober analysis and soul searching, we
have concluded that dialogue offers the only
way to achieve a lasting solution.
Honorable Chairperson and Your Excellencies,
In order to get such a process started, we
need the support of the international
community. It is for that reason that we
welcome this hearing.
The international community has long played
a crucial role in Ethiopian politics.
Unfortunately, rather than supporting
democracy, it has usually chosen to back
whichever group happened to be in control of
the state.
In 1992, interim elections were held which
could have led to the creation of a
government that represented all of the
diverse groups that live within the
political boundaries of the Ethiopian state.
Instead, the EPRDF chose to use the tactics
of intimidation to prevent other
parties--and the OLF, ONLF and SLF in
particular--from freely and fairly
contesting those elections, making that and
all subsequent elections hollow exercises in
futility for their respective populations.
In the 14 years since, as Human Rights Watch
has documented, the government has
systematically and often brutally repressed
political activity in Oromia, with rampant
violation of human rights.
If the international community had taken a
strong stand in support of free and fair
elections in 1992, it would have given us a
reason to remain in the political process
and perhaps avert years of mayhem. Instead,
however, it implicitly sanctioned the
EPRDF’s monopolization of power.
As a result of last May’s elections, the
international community now has a new
opportunity to support the struggle for
freedom and democracy.
Those elections demonstrated that the
peoples are unwilling to be ruled as they
have been for the last fifteen years. It
should now be clear that the present rulers
cannot continue to monopolize power without
resorting to increasingly draconian
measures, instigating more instability.
Fuelled by frustration by the absence of
real choices in the elections and lack of
political settlement to legitimate political
demands, a popular uprising has been
underway in Oromia since November. As in
apartheid South Africa of the early 1970s,
students have been in the forefront. In
response, the ruling party has stepped up
repression. Many have been killed. As I
speak, thousands are being detained without
trial. A military confrontation is ongoing
in Ogaden. The Sidama face heightened
suppression. Repression is fuelling tension
all over the country. Unfortunately, these
violations are taking place in the
countryside - away from the watchful eyes of
the media.
Events in Oromia, Somali state and Sidama
demonstrate that the people are no longer
willing to endure their traditional status
as second-class citizens. The experiment in
democracy in Ethiopia needs the meaningful
participation of historically marginalized
groups--who make up the majority population
in Ethiopia-- to be successful; else the
problem would simply be postponed.
Your Excellencies,
We believe now is an opportune time to
launch an all-inclusive process that would
afford us all a new beginning. It gives me a
great pleasure to inform you that we are
currently talking to various parties on how
to initiate such a new beginning. Charting
this new course requires the participation
of all--including the ruling party and the
international community.
An extraordinary situation now
prevails--demanding extraordinary solutions.
We sincerely believe that the only way out
of the quagmire is dialogue.
It is my hope that the EU would partner with
us in the search for just peace and a
genuine transition to freedom and democracy.
Thank you.
For further information, contact:
Lencho Bati, E-mail: olf_fr@earthlink.net
Phone: 202 415 5847
Foreign Relations Department
Oromo Liberation Front |
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