The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) wishes to inform the International community that the upcoming so-called elections in Ethiopia will not be free, fair or unfettered. The Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) led Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Front (EPRDF) regime will declare a landslide victory in all areas and continue its policy of repression throughout Ethiopia and war crimes in Ogaden primarily because the regime is convinced there will not be consequences.
The Ethiopian regime continues to bet on the fact that it's security cooperation with donor nations will give it a pass to operate with impunity, particularly in the Ogaden. It also feels that the particular humanitarian Aid it is dependent on will be politically problematic to cut.
As such, the regime believes that it is in a position to continue its current policies effectively eliminating all forms of dissent and attempts to create democratic space in Ethiopia because of its unique position Vis-a-Vis the security interests of key democratic donors and their lack of leverage on this regime given that humanitarian and development aid has been effectively off the table as a leverage tool.
This strategy on the part of the regime also includes partnerships with relatively wealthy undemocratic nations in order to make up for any shortfalls in critical development assistance. Such partnerships
comfort the regime in that they know forthcoming assistance will not be used as a leverage tool to bring about respect for human rights, freedom of the press and freedom of association. The TPLF led regime
has made clear It will continue to utilize international security relationships to get a free pass on its actions while systematically and deliberately expanding its relations with undemocratic donors it
knows will not hold them to account for their gross violations for human rights.
This fine line that this regime is walking is designed to maintain the status quo in the short to medium term with any changes in leadership on the part of the regime being only cosmetic in nature. However,
walking this fine line is simply not sustainable in the long run.
As opposition groups see democratic space narrowing and their leaders being either killed or arrested, they will choose to defend themselves in the long run as the people of Ogaden have. They will come to realize that the only true leverage is what they are prepared to do themselves. What we see in Ethiopia today is a clear path towards the predicament of the people of Ogaden for all peoples repressed by this regime. There are clear parallels to be made.
The Ogaden has never had a free press, freedom of association existed only for a brief time after the fall of the previous Marxist regime, political leaders have always been either killed or arrested, even the
concept of an independent judiciary does not exist. Ogaden today is effectively a large military garrison. This is what the future holds for the peoples of Ethiopia as well if they do not remove this regime
from power. Through its actions, this regime has shown that it can not be reformed by the ballot box because it does not believe in the ballot box or even it's own Constitution.
The international community must recognize that the current political dispensation in Ethiopia and the strategy of this regime to render itself immune to foreign pressures for reform is a recipe for long term disaster which will eventually harm the interests of the International community in general and the Geo-strategic interests of key democratic donor nations in particular.
Dealing with such an eventuality tomorrow will prove to be more costly and less effective then recognizing and addressing the challenges associated with the repressive policies of this regime today.
The Ogaden National Liberation Front stands prepared to partner with the international community in not only finding a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Ogaden conflict but also in working with other non State actors in the region to avert what is sure to be a recipe with alarming regional ramifications in the future should Ethiopia be allowed to continue down this path.
It is only through engaging non State actors in a substantive manner that the international community can realize a more peaceful and democratic Horn of Africa. Non State actors have significant influence over facts on the ground in the region in general and Ethiopia in particular. As such, with the outcome of this so-called election all but certain, given the current environment of fear, what remains is the people who understand that democracy is not a staged event but rather a dynamic and real process. A process this regime has rejected through its actions repeatedly.
Ogaden National Liberation Front (O.N.L.F)
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written by Melkam Eyeta, May 24, 2010
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written by Fiaza Xaaji Cabdiraxmaan Shaafi, May 24, 2010
It really pains me to know that the entire survival of this evil racist dictator has been due only to financial aid and support provided by the regimes of England, France and America.
While at home they enjoy democracy and rule of law it is ironic how comfortable they are in denying other nations to democratize their nations.
Assuming that their leaders are not morons they surely know that their aid is a crime and a declaration of war against the subjugated nations whose identity, culture, historical heritage and rich natural resources are targeted with extinction by the genocide perpetrators Monophysitic Tigray Ethiopianists, who get their shameful support
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written by Bashir, May 25, 2010
mekez or any body else, and I want talking about France British and America they know Africa for any body else they know those dictators what they diong is wrong they know that very well but they will never remove from the office, but also most of the time support them, the believe this is hall Africa problemes and no body ganna fixed them until they fixed them self that's what they believe, if you look back in those dictators who ruling in Africa right now they came to power by force no one came to the power by free vote then the only way they can leave power is by force, or if they die that's all but ogadenia is different we just need our freedom and our indepedent,
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written by Fiaza Xaaji Cabdiraxmaan Shaafi, May 25, 2010
Historically England and the Frence supported the the barbaric Amhara and Tigray tribes of the tiny early 19th century Abyssinian kingdom to invade and colonise many nations including Ogaden.
And now England, France and America whole heartedly support this regime with wealth and morale support and watch him commit genocide with the wealth and support they provide .That does not sound your problem is your problem. That sounds more like I don’t care who gets hurt as long as I feel in comfortable.
Well we say who is proud now millions of innocent people are being exterminated by this woyane regime as a result of their Panaroa.
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written by Bashir, May 26, 2010
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written by Fiaza Xaaji Cabdiraxmaan Shaafi, May 26, 2010
First of all you don’t have to apologise for anything, if your way of thinking is different than that of mine it just shows possession of a sound mind and freedom of contemplation and utterance.
Secondly I am not sure if there is a relationship at all, because a relationship is between two equivalent partners but in this case we have
1. Master and servant relationship ,that is Zenawi, and
2.Master and Slave relationship where the Slave is supposed to have vassals but unfortunately for the west one of the vassals is Diehard ,that is ONLF.
Thirdly u need to stop day dreaming there is no Ogaden Flag on the UN yet though we hope it will fly there soon.
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written by Bashir, May 27, 2010
what I'm talking about onlf they gave good relation ship with west so I'm very proud to ogadenia and we are happy who we are and also we need to get more closer to the west because they don't need for us but we need for them. Thank u huno to support onlf
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written by louis vuitton outlet, August 23, 2011
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Appreciating ONLF's long time struggle to have justice, freedom and supremacy of law in Ethiopia! Unfortunately, we, Ethiopians, missed all viable opportunities because of short-sightedness among all Liberation movements and opposition parties! Just in our life time we have seen so many silly mistakes that have been continuing to be used by authoritarians and dictators in this land! Clear and honest understanding of the current political economy and political moves around Africa in general and in the Horn of Africa in particular. If Mr. Meles and his western alliances confront the people with too much reality, it is the same to committing political suicide! We have seen widespread apathy among main donor countries for more than a quarter of this century! So, What are critical to have Free land and free people? Watch out! The coming days are more challenging than ever before because of so many complicated interests of various types in that particular land!