Regardless of our differences in language, culture or religion, all the panellists agree the power of unity. All also see the need for a united front against Meles’s tyranny and total economic domination of Ethiopia. The panellists saw the need for putting a stop to the Woyane-driven genocide being committed in places such as the Ogaden and Oromia. Furthermore, the panellists emphasized the need for a united front against Western indifference to what the Meles regime is doing in Ethiopia.
In order to build unity within the disparate communities in Ethiopia, the panellists believe that the unity must be based on the restoration of the inalienable right for all Ethiopians to decide their own destiny.
The panellists believe that such unity could be achieved based on trust amongst the disparate communities. Such unity must also be enhanced through constant communication amongst the groups in order to guard against mistrust and suspicious that the Meles regime would certainly create. Finally the panellists emphasize the need for pooling resources to achieve the common objectives.
While the panellists were buoyed by the large crowd that attended in today’s gathering, they believe that our differences should be viewed as strength instead of a liability that Meles’s administration has made it and exploited it to its advantage.
Sincerely,
Alo Aydahis, Jawar Mohamed, Mohamed Hassan, Abebe Belew and Obang Metho
May 7, 2011 Toronto, Canada
Comments (4)
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written by Liban, May 15, 2011
But Somalis are not Ethiopian they are only forced to have Ethiopian government and passport.
What the Somalis in Ogaden needs is freedom they are not part of Ethiopia, Ethiopia expanded its territory in 1897 thanks to Britain and they took over Ogaden as a result, but the Ogaden Somalis dont need Ethiopia, they wanna be their own country and have put up with Ethiopias shit for over 110 years now, we need freedom from Ethiopia.
What the Somalis in Ogaden needs is freedom they are not part of Ethiopia, Ethiopia expanded its territory in 1897 thanks to Britain and they took over Ogaden as a result, but the Ogaden Somalis dont need Ethiopia, they wanna be their own country and have put up with Ethiopias shit for over 110 years now, we need freedom from Ethiopia.
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written by dker, May 21, 2011
Liban:
Yes, Ogadenies are ethnic Somali. They always will be. But we are not talking about ethnicity here. We are talking about crafting a nation, instead of an ethnic enclave. There is no ethnic group called Ethiopian in the country called Ethiopia. There are Oromos, Amharas, Somalis etc., but not Ethiopian ethnicity.
When you say Somalis are not Ethiopians, perhaps do you mean Somalis are not Amharas?. Of course Somalis are not Amharas, and Amharas are not the only Ethiopians (Ethiopian citizens). Ogadenis have equal claim to Ethiopian citizenship.The problem is not the name Ethiopia. Many Ogadenies now have citizenship of America, Canada, UK and etc., with all the duties and privileges of a citizen. Surely, you'd not argue that Ogadenies shouldn't be American, Canadian or British citizens, would you?
So, the question to ask is can we build a nation called Ethiopia, where citizens, irrespective of their ethnicities, share equally the duties and privillages of the country? Can we build a country called Ethiopia where all the languages, cultures and aspirations of its various ethnicities respected? or is it going to be a nation of exclusively one ethnic group, as we are experiencing right now?
Yes, Ogadenies are ethnic Somali. They always will be. But we are not talking about ethnicity here. We are talking about crafting a nation, instead of an ethnic enclave. There is no ethnic group called Ethiopian in the country called Ethiopia. There are Oromos, Amharas, Somalis etc., but not Ethiopian ethnicity.
When you say Somalis are not Ethiopians, perhaps do you mean Somalis are not Amharas?. Of course Somalis are not Amharas, and Amharas are not the only Ethiopians (Ethiopian citizens). Ogadenis have equal claim to Ethiopian citizenship.The problem is not the name Ethiopia. Many Ogadenies now have citizenship of America, Canada, UK and etc., with all the duties and privileges of a citizen. Surely, you'd not argue that Ogadenies shouldn't be American, Canadian or British citizens, would you?
So, the question to ask is can we build a nation called Ethiopia, where citizens, irrespective of their ethnicities, share equally the duties and privillages of the country? Can we build a country called Ethiopia where all the languages, cultures and aspirations of its various ethnicities respected? or is it going to be a nation of exclusively one ethnic group, as we are experiencing right now?
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written by Khalid, September 03, 2011
Can Muslims and Christians live to together in peace? If the OLF receive their goal, it will prove to the world that Muslims and Christians cannot get along. Right now the focus should be on trying to create a stable democracy in Ethiopia with free- Fair -elections. The people should focus on building a democracy that’s focused on ideas like political religion, socialism, and capitalism but not based on ethnicity, tribe, or clan. Don’t give up and try to secede. Stay united. Nothing comes easy. It takes patience, hard work, toleration, and decades of sacrifice to build a great nation. Yes, there were mistakes in the past but focus on the future. Ethiopia and Somalia should become one country and that should be the ultimate goal. Let’s make sure the creditability of the African Union stays strong and the bond between Muslims and Orthodox Christians is unshakable. Long live EthioSomalia!
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However also it might not be geared toward a fruitful coalition yet, your consistent criticism of this regime is atleast helping us in shaping the regime to exert its utmost effort in Development objectives to get legitimacy, support and credit from the people which are a rare commodities for them and highly strived by the Ruling group.
Unite in principle and political and economical objectives(which achieve all the Ethiopian people with better freedom, developmfor and lasting unity)for today and tomorrow not merly for the sake of standing against the Rulling Group which has also its objectives some to be lauded as we witness it Today after a long period of dismay.
Thanks