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O.N.L.F. Statement On
Military Operation Against Illegal Oil Facility In Ogaden |
24 April 2007
Before dawn this morning At 0430 AM local
time in Ogaden, the 'Dufaan' commando unit
of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)
conducted a military operation in the
vicinity of Obala, 30km North-West of Degah-Bur
in in Northern Ogaden. The operation
targeted 3 military units of the TPLF regime
who were guarding an oil exploration field.
Exploration activities at the field began
recently following an agreement between the
Ethiopian government and a Chinese company.
As part of this agreement large areas
inhabited by ethnic Somalis were cleared
with civilians being forcefully removed from
their homes by Ethiopian troops. In
addition, Ethiopian forces closed off a
large area denying the local nomadic
population their
traditional grazing areas in order to
establish a security perimeter guarded by
Ethiopian troops for the oil facility.
TPLF forces in Obala have now been wiped out
with many having surrendered to ONLF
commandos. Nearly 400 Ethiopian troops have
been wounded or killed. Explosions caused by
munitions during the battle resulted in the
death of a handful of Chinese oil workers.
The oil facility itself has been completely
destroyed.
ONLF forces rounding up Ethiopian military
prisoners following the battle came across 6
Chinese workers. They have been removed from
the battlefield for their own safety and are
being treated well.
The ONLF has stated on numerous occasions
that we will not allow the mineral resources
of our people to be exploited by this regime
or any firm that it enters into an illegal
contract with so long as the people of
Ogaden are denied their rights to
self-determination.
By refusing to discuss a comprehensive
political solution to the Ogaden issue in a
neutral country and in the presence of a
third party, the TPLF regime has made clear
its intention to continue to pursue a
military solution in Ogaden. As such, we
wish to reaffirm to the international
community that the Ogaden region continues
to be a battle zone between armed forces of
the current TPLF led regime and our
liberation forces. It is not a safe
environment for any oil exploration to
occur.
The ONLF has informed the Chinese government
in the past that it would be unwise to
pursue discussions with the TPLF as it was
not in a position to guarantee the safety of
any firm operating in Ogaden nor was it in a
position to enter into contracts with
foreign
companies for Oil exploration in Ogaden.
Unfortunately this warning fell on deaf
ears.
We urge all international oil companies to
refrain from entering into agreements with
the Ethiopian government as it is not in
effective control of the Ogaden despite the
claims it makes.
Oil investments in Ogaden will result in a
similar loss for any firm that believes
assurances of security it receives from the
Ethiopian government which has never been in
effective control of Ogaden
Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)
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For question regarding this statement please
contact
onlfpress@onlf.org |
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