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A critical juncture for the OLF to make it or lose it again
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In this short note I am trying to present my concerns revolving around OLF as an organization leading the struggle of Oromo people for freedom and democracy. This note is meant to raise some questions that Oromos have to ask ourselves in relation to OLF. Today, it seems that OLF, which we believe is an organization leading the struggle of our people, is suffering from lack of focus and disorientation. Therefore, it is unwise to hope that this disoriented organization would bring about meaningful changes for the people lined behind it, Oromos.
I believe that today OLF finds itself again at a decisive juncture in its history, either to reorganize itself to become a vibrant organization or proceed with the same old way of doing politics. The route this organization chooses will again define the future of Oromo people in particular and Ethiopians in general. As the title of my note indicates, the theme of my commentary revolves around one central problem which I think has “paralyzed” OLF, an organization which is able to draw the support of majority of Oromos. This central problem I am referring to is lack of crystal clear goals and missions.
I believe that deficiency of defined goals and missions were manifested through out the history of OLF, from its conception, than progresses toward the outcomes. The issue at hand ranges from the indecisive nature of the organization on the organizing principles to the excessive dualism that surrounds the causes of Oromo people. In this article, I focus on the lack of defined goals and missions as the most inhibiting factor holding back the organization and the Oromo people from earning the role it deserve in Ethiopia and/or become an independent society. I leave the discussion on dualism surrounding the struggle of Oromo people, in the form of regionalism and factoring in different religious elements to the causes of Oromo people, for some other time.
To make my points in a very effortless and clear manner, I draw your attention to the post 1991 developments in and around Oromo people. It is suffice to see what OLF has accomplished since 1991. We may argue that OLF has accomplished a lot in raising self consciousness of Oromos and cultivated Oromo nationalism. Nevertheless, cultivating Oromo nationalism and other trivial changes we attribute to OLF are not an end by themselves. On the broader political front, however, once again Oromos are marginalized from political platform that would shape the future of Ethiopia and hence have an effect on the destiny of Oromo people. It is easy to give an example for this. While CUD is becoming a prominent opposition both in the eyes of Ethiopian people and international community, the grace of OLF which led/leading the struggle of Oromo people for decades is fading.
It seems that OLF is stuck at point where both its military wing and diplomatic fronts are frozen. This inability OLF to move the struggle even an inch forward is more than a signal for all concerned parties (particularly the Oromo people) who are willing to rescue the organization from collapse. While I am thankful to the current leadership of OLF, to the minimum for keeping the organization alive, I guess it is time that this organization reinstates itself on all fronts. If we all can see the concerns outlined above, we have the responsibility to undertake everything in our reach to restructure the organization and put it on the right truck. The efforts to remodel the organization would make sure that the organization and the Oromo people, who lined behind this organization, would play the role they deserve in Ethiopian politics and have a say in deciding the destiny of our people.
To get to the heart of the problems we need to ask a rather awkward question, i.e., what is the objective of the OLF? I raise this question because; restructuring of the organization has to start from looking at the objectives and missions of the organization. Though asking this question seems itchy, we have to deal with it if we really want to get to the heart of the problems surrounding OLF and the struggle of Oromo people.
I am raising this question because I believe that most, if not all, of the problems we witness in/around OLF emanates from lack of clarity in its goals. Hence, I dare to say that confusion of objectives is at the heart of OLF’s problem in becoming a dynamic organization that liberates the Oromo people. I say this because, an organization under disarray would not have the capacity to lead the struggle of our people and produce something fruitful. Reexamining the health of the organization would also be helpful to get a good picture of what we should expect from the organization.
Hence, it is time that Oromos have to ask ourselves that whether our question is the quest for independence - “liberation of Oromo people from colonial rule of Ethiopia” or the struggle for rights of self-determination (defined in its narrow sense, without session) i.e., to ensure democratic rights of Oromo people are respected within Ethiopia.
We often hear the leadership of OLF saying that, the organization is struggling to end the century long oppression of Oromo people by successive Ethiopian governments. The leaders of OLF also claim that the decision as to whether to live independently or in association with the rest of Ethiopian people on the basis of equality and respect for one another is left for the people to decide. I appreciate this answer because the leaders left the decision to be done by the people, well done! But I have one problem, a big one; with this indecisive goal comes the inability to decide on what to accomplish. To be frank, these two aspirations have pulled the organization apart, produced a state of uncertainty within the organization, and became source of series of splits and mistrust in the organization. The current state of the organization and its inability to work with other political forces in Ethiopia is also a manifestation of these confused goals. Confused between these two, rather conflicting goals, the organization has hard time deciding on anything and even identifying friends from enemies.
Hence, the notion that “let the Oromo people decide on what type of state to form, independent state or voluntary association with Ethiopian people,” produced the core weakness of the organization. In simple terms, lack of clear goals produced the inability to focus and prolonged struggle.
Intertwined with lack of defined goals in the organization is the need for change on the nature of Oromo politics. It is time that the Oromo question becomes the question about the present and the future, not solely about the past. It seems that today, OLF is in pursue of politics of habit and tradition rather than a politics based on a well studied, and feasible politics guided by reality in Ethiopia and around the world. The current state of OLF, consumed by the politics of tales, implies that it is difficult to accomplish any meaningful job without some fundamental changes in/around the organization.
If we are honest, the failure of OLF is also the failure of the majority of Oromo people, who have lined behind this organization. I feel that the cost of up holding this rather ineffective organization has become unbearable to the Oromo people. In addition to the massive scarifies that the people paid, the presence of OLF has made it difficult to establish a new strong organization that would represent the people. Hence, Oromo people, as a society has to say enough to the same old way of doing politics practiced by OLF for decades. Oromo politics need a fresh look and dynamic leaders who can look far into the future, not into the past. Do not get me wrong, what I am just trying to communicate here, in this article, is that OLF with full of hesitation and unclear goals won’t be the organization that we can count on. Unless we fix it today, all the problems that we see today in OLF; be it being suspicion of each other, regionalism, sense of ownership of the organization by some group, and lack of clarity in goals, would live with the organization, holding it back from making any meaningful advancement.
Email: xiqqa@yahoo.com
I believe that today OLF finds itself again at a decisive juncture in its history, either to reorganize itself to become a vibrant organization or proceed with the same old way of doing politics. The route this organization chooses will again define the future of Oromo people in particular and Ethiopians in general. As the title of my note indicates, the theme of my commentary revolves around one central problem which I think has “paralyzed” OLF, an organization which is able to draw the support of majority of Oromos. This central problem I am referring to is lack of crystal clear goals and missions.
I believe that deficiency of defined goals and missions were manifested through out the history of OLF, from its conception, than progresses toward the outcomes. The issue at hand ranges from the indecisive nature of the organization on the organizing principles to the excessive dualism that surrounds the causes of Oromo people. In this article, I focus on the lack of defined goals and missions as the most inhibiting factor holding back the organization and the Oromo people from earning the role it deserve in Ethiopia and/or become an independent society. I leave the discussion on dualism surrounding the struggle of Oromo people, in the form of regionalism and factoring in different religious elements to the causes of Oromo people, for some other time.
To make my points in a very effortless and clear manner, I draw your attention to the post 1991 developments in and around Oromo people. It is suffice to see what OLF has accomplished since 1991. We may argue that OLF has accomplished a lot in raising self consciousness of Oromos and cultivated Oromo nationalism. Nevertheless, cultivating Oromo nationalism and other trivial changes we attribute to OLF are not an end by themselves. On the broader political front, however, once again Oromos are marginalized from political platform that would shape the future of Ethiopia and hence have an effect on the destiny of Oromo people. It is easy to give an example for this. While CUD is becoming a prominent opposition both in the eyes of Ethiopian people and international community, the grace of OLF which led/leading the struggle of Oromo people for decades is fading.
It seems that OLF is stuck at point where both its military wing and diplomatic fronts are frozen. This inability OLF to move the struggle even an inch forward is more than a signal for all concerned parties (particularly the Oromo people) who are willing to rescue the organization from collapse. While I am thankful to the current leadership of OLF, to the minimum for keeping the organization alive, I guess it is time that this organization reinstates itself on all fronts. If we all can see the concerns outlined above, we have the responsibility to undertake everything in our reach to restructure the organization and put it on the right truck. The efforts to remodel the organization would make sure that the organization and the Oromo people, who lined behind this organization, would play the role they deserve in Ethiopian politics and have a say in deciding the destiny of our people.
To get to the heart of the problems we need to ask a rather awkward question, i.e., what is the objective of the OLF? I raise this question because; restructuring of the organization has to start from looking at the objectives and missions of the organization. Though asking this question seems itchy, we have to deal with it if we really want to get to the heart of the problems surrounding OLF and the struggle of Oromo people.
I am raising this question because I believe that most, if not all, of the problems we witness in/around OLF emanates from lack of clarity in its goals. Hence, I dare to say that confusion of objectives is at the heart of OLF’s problem in becoming a dynamic organization that liberates the Oromo people. I say this because, an organization under disarray would not have the capacity to lead the struggle of our people and produce something fruitful. Reexamining the health of the organization would also be helpful to get a good picture of what we should expect from the organization.
Hence, it is time that Oromos have to ask ourselves that whether our question is the quest for independence - “liberation of Oromo people from colonial rule of Ethiopia” or the struggle for rights of self-determination (defined in its narrow sense, without session) i.e., to ensure democratic rights of Oromo people are respected within Ethiopia.
We often hear the leadership of OLF saying that, the organization is struggling to end the century long oppression of Oromo people by successive Ethiopian governments. The leaders of OLF also claim that the decision as to whether to live independently or in association with the rest of Ethiopian people on the basis of equality and respect for one another is left for the people to decide. I appreciate this answer because the leaders left the decision to be done by the people, well done! But I have one problem, a big one; with this indecisive goal comes the inability to decide on what to accomplish. To be frank, these two aspirations have pulled the organization apart, produced a state of uncertainty within the organization, and became source of series of splits and mistrust in the organization. The current state of the organization and its inability to work with other political forces in Ethiopia is also a manifestation of these confused goals. Confused between these two, rather conflicting goals, the organization has hard time deciding on anything and even identifying friends from enemies.
Hence, the notion that “let the Oromo people decide on what type of state to form, independent state or voluntary association with Ethiopian people,” produced the core weakness of the organization. In simple terms, lack of clear goals produced the inability to focus and prolonged struggle.
Intertwined with lack of defined goals in the organization is the need for change on the nature of Oromo politics. It is time that the Oromo question becomes the question about the present and the future, not solely about the past. It seems that today, OLF is in pursue of politics of habit and tradition rather than a politics based on a well studied, and feasible politics guided by reality in Ethiopia and around the world. The current state of OLF, consumed by the politics of tales, implies that it is difficult to accomplish any meaningful job without some fundamental changes in/around the organization.
If we are honest, the failure of OLF is also the failure of the majority of Oromo people, who have lined behind this organization. I feel that the cost of up holding this rather ineffective organization has become unbearable to the Oromo people. In addition to the massive scarifies that the people paid, the presence of OLF has made it difficult to establish a new strong organization that would represent the people. Hence, Oromo people, as a society has to say enough to the same old way of doing politics practiced by OLF for decades. Oromo politics need a fresh look and dynamic leaders who can look far into the future, not into the past. Do not get me wrong, what I am just trying to communicate here, in this article, is that OLF with full of hesitation and unclear goals won’t be the organization that we can count on. Unless we fix it today, all the problems that we see today in OLF; be it being suspicion of each other, regionalism, sense of ownership of the organization by some group, and lack of clarity in goals, would live with the organization, holding it back from making any meaningful advancement.
Email: xiqqa@yahoo.com
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Comments (59 posted):
( All OROMOs,marginalized OLF members,neutral Intelctuals, Doctors, Women,all young generations,all artist,all Oromo fighters, farmers,students )
1.Are we ready to take over if we win the struggle tomorrow?
2.How far is our unity in diplomacy with International community?
3.Are the youngsters ready to replace Old managers ,top party posts ,diplomatic functions, top management?
4.How many years take to Organize and unify the Oromo poeple in organized way?
5.Can we be ready for reconsilation and reconstruction Oromia by stoping personal pristege and eigo ?
For today I stop and I will be come for the solutions.
It could be selfish,need fame,they think they know better,relgion,region,family, friend to look business and use poltics personal interest.
They use thier power till to death
history is a back bone of politices, OLF do nothing with history of oromo people , oromo history is limeted to gadda ? wereing old styel ornament fight agnist the amara culture ? this is the oromo history say meles zenawi
well, the oromo people is the most part of ethiopia land encluding one forth of tigray like alula abanagga braves buried by meles zenawi , who is ELLALI BALLA of wallo ? all history of ellali balla is belongis to oromo people . who is abraha ashine (king kaleb of akisume )how named the city by his older son name AXUME meaing succoser and young son yakisume were a governer of yeman
who brought the ethiopian alphabetic words today you say amara words . It is the history of oromo people , oromo people is femous and rich in historical background while olf today ignored it to satisfay meles zenawi and countinue beging for its exestance as it is .
the most enimey of oromo people TPLF OR TIGRAY PEOPLE THAN AMARA PEOPLE . oromo should fight agnist for his femous history that ethiopian means oromo and tigraian should be undermined, but in such olf step Oromo people will organizing a new oromo nationalist that it may represent all oromo people
On my part it sounds sweet and this is the kind of action many of us have been waiting for,for twenty years or so.It has been undrestood for many years now the ony way to lead the Oromos and other Ethiopians to get rid of Meles Zenawi"s tyrannt rule is to uinite all Ethiopians and then replace it whith democratic rule in which Oromos has nothing to lose but muct to gain.Though your web site did not comment on this matter yet,let me take the lead to congratulate OACCPR.I hope the objectivity of the OACCPR may help others to come out of their closet.Finally it is the reponsibility of each and every Oromos to give their opinions.By staying in our hood we do not help Oromos.Uncover your selves and support reality.
Saying that I am pleading with all of you out there regarding OLF.At any time of the day no matter what I do ,when I think the way OLF oprets bothers me and even its own supporters.No vision,the same leadership for two generations or so,and no new idea that brings Oromos out of the misery in which OLF shares the blame with Wayane even if not all of it.It is some thing to try different tactic and abandon the strategy that did not work for some thing else objectively nd is another thing to hide behind the name of libration front.So,if OLF still think that guerrilla war is by itself alone is the only way,it is dead wrong.Because,first and for most for the Oromos to be free the remaining Ethiopian ethnics must be free.Secondly the World has gone by us long time ago.Now days the sophistication of modern theknology makes impossible to wage Guerrilla war evenif the objective is right.The movement of any soul can be pinpointed and attacked.There could be mony other things that could be mentioned.With this reality in mind if it is still breathing,OLF has to think twice.At this moment when the objectivity of OLF is in question,as an individual Oromo who believes in justice for every soul in ethiopia,I am demanding OLF to face reality and make change in every thing that did not work at all so far.The strategy is amess.it become instrument for Wayanes to exploit and kill the Oromos in the name of OLF.So my advice to OLF is be objective abandon the old way and trasform yoursef to the realistic world and incourage its members to be objective.Do not duel on the thing that does not improve the life of the Oromos.If it was my way Oromos would have been leading Ethiopia for long time by now.So pretention does not solve athing.Be objective.
Thanks.
They purpose of this Organization is to hold back the Oromo to be independence from Ethiopian Empire after they see the Oromo upraising Struggle against the Ethiopian government from Bale,Harar and Sidamo regions.This organization has no gain at all since they started claiming the Oromo people and the Oromo people too much suffering under the name of this Organization.
Now I feel the oromo people must know thier real enemy otherwise they will be suffering more to come in the future.The Oromo people should really understand the way of out for this mess organizational system and also they must stop like without blinder just supporting unclear leadership failer organization, the OLF must stop being Gospel-word of bible they just acting like terrorism behavour.The Oromo people the price of such partneship with this organization would be too high and too difficult to justfy and to partner with this OLF organization with so much baggage in a war.
Gurra guddinni harreedhaafuu (HABASHOOTAAFUU)homaa hin goone.
Maarree ati ILMI DADHA'ABAAN angoodhaaf jettee Sabaaf Lammii kee akka tasaatitti Waraabessaa dabarsitee hin kennini. Ati Sabaafi Lammii kee dabarsitee akka Goobana daace kennitus garuu Gaafiin hin ooltu.
Oro it is time to arise!
We commit ourselves for the case of our people, our dignity, our liberty because we are what we are. Regardless of how the world chooses us to portray us we are tthe ONE NATION-OROMIYAA thier has yet to realise its full potential. We are yet the sleeping giant. And as much as our people has suffered we know.We know of our past history that Habashaas togather with the West hus burned and destroyed all our human values and replaced it with thier far more inferior histories.We Oro's all carry the ancient dignity and freedom of our ancestors in our heart. We have unparalleled SPIRITUAL,SOCIAL,CULTURAL,GREATNESS THAT GOES BEYOND ANYTHING WE WITNESS TODAY.Go back to your inner voice and listen.Nothing else but it is this reality that today exploting like active volcanoes. THIS IS THE ONLY HERITAGETHAT CAN NEVER BE TAKEN FROM US!! NOT WHILE EVEN ONE OROMO'SIS STILL ALIVE.
Oro it is time to arise.We are great people.As a single person and as well as numerically.
Be aware that our spiritual power has the strength to transform our own history and civilization.
Even those of the world. Why not! Each and every oro commit yourself for the noble case of your poor but great people.
BUT UNTIL WE RECOGNISE OUR OWN GREATNESS,WE SHALL CONTINIUE TO TO CREAT THIS INFERIOR RIALITY FOR OURSELVES.
Oro it is time to arise and awaken the soul of Oro this great sleeping giant.
"GARAA DIIRAATII FI DHIIRSA SINBIRAA EENTU BEEKA"jedhu Oromoon yoo mammaksu.
Garaa ilma Oromtichaa ilma Oromtichaa malee eenullee hin beeku.
Rakoo nu keessa Jirru....
That is the main reason why I am posting
this message.As we all know in an strugg
le to achieve a sounding reasult,the str
ategy and tactics must be planned well
and the knowledge regarding the cause
should be aquired.Otherewise to achieve
the unachievable costs too much and alo
se of human life displacement and so on.
according to my observation and undres
tading that is where the leadership of
OLF is short handed.
Among other things,even the World aroun
d them is changing and moving on they
are still where they started thirtyfive
years ago.Amazingly when they followd
TPLF to Addis/Finfinne when they were
supposed to exploit the condition,being
among the Oromos they did nothing .sadli
ly they were shippedout.
To my undrestanding this group faild
big politicaly ,faild their followers
and among otherthings they diappointed the Oromos.Our people sufferd muchbecause of them and may be better
without them.Tyrannt Meles Zenawi uses
the name OLF as apretexst to attack any
Oromo prson be it palamenterian or ordi
nary citizen.Yet no one knows were OLF
is.It looklike as if they are enjoying
TPLF"s action against our people.
Finenally I am pleading with the Oromos
who know where about this group is to tell to put up or shut up and disolve so
that our young people can find anothere
alternative and move on.
Rakkataa rakkoo hin odeessiin!
IUOf!!
nothinga such keeping a house inorder.Th
e rule is keep on the move with genuine
idea or getout of the way.
As I argued before,the problem with OLF
is not fight between Oromos or the diori
entation you are talking about.The reaso
n is very fundamental and it is theory
of secession or death itself.Oromos got
nothing to be afraid of struggle for
democracy but much to gain.Let us not
forget that Oromos are the largest one
ethnic group in East africa and majority
is always power if used properly.
Xiqqa it look like as if you are saying
that the THEORY SEcession or Death is ok
with you but the problem is the infight.For your information, we have to
welome the fight because it clears the
air and helps to undrestand the real sol
ution and intensify the struggle.
Secondly OLF left our young people with
out alternative,follow thier way or go
home .IN an struggle you do not fight fo
r the unachievable.That is where OLF is
at present.
So, the call for OLF is or should be ge
t your act together or get out of the way to give our young Oromos to find oth
er altenative.
Dear Xiqqa
I am happy if you put this article in an envelope and send it to our OLF 'leaders' if they really exist. Where are they by the way? Do they really exist? If they exist, what are they doing?
I haven't gave up yet to visit OLF website daily, only to find what ONLF did in Ogaden and about 'Fincilaa Didda Garbuma' by Oromo students. Where is the leadership and military front of OLF? What about the international relation department?
We are really in a very disparate situation. Akkam sabni haman gudatu kan isa gagesuu dhaba? I quot a phrase from article of Soddise 'OLF is the hope of the Oromo nation, and we take pride by its presence, but our national pride has been injured by its lack of action'
Please if you know an active Oromo political party please share with us so that we may take as an alternative. I don't think that OLF is the only hope of Oromo. Let us start to think differently. Look CUD, a party that just established 3 years ago shacked the whole nation. Look what is going on on the Diaspora. Don't look at the problem they have now. Think if the influence they made and the attention they got both in the country and internationally. Some thing is wrong with OLF I want to know that>
I am happy if you put this article in an envelope and send it to our OLF 'leaders' if they really exist. Where are they by the way? Do they really exist? If they exist, what are they doing?
I haven't gave up yet to visit OLF website daily, only to find what ONLF did in Ogaden and about 'Fincilaa Didda Garbuma' by Oromo students. Where is the leadership and military front of OLF? What about the international relation department?
We are really in a very disparate situation. Akkam sabni haman gudatu kan isa gagesuu dhaba? I reapet your final phrase 'OLF is the hope of the Oromo nation, and we take pride by its presence, but our national pride has been injured by its lack of action'
Please if you know an active Oromo political party please share with us so that we may take as an alternative. I don't think that OLF is the only hope of Oromo. Let us start to think differently. Look CUD, a party that just established 3 years ago shacked the whole nation. Look what is going on on the Diaspora. Don't look at their problem they have know. Think if the influence they made and the attention they got both in the country and internationally. Some thing is wrong with OLF I want to know that>
with wrong formula and organized our young people under that without any option and hit dead end.Secession or death did not help them but brought abou
t thier dimise.When they were in honey
moon with TPLF I met almost all the lead
er ship here in Washington and observed that they have problem moving with the
changing geo-poletics.As the reasult this commentator has never took them as
Oromo represetatives though nobody elected them.so I think that oromos are
much better without them and they got no
my vote.
tion,had no clue about struggle itself
and what it takes to adjust tacthics and
strategy accordingly.I say that the leadership of the organization were just
providing the Oromo people with empty posturing throughout the history of the
organization.AS the result of their empty posturing our ppeople sufferd alot
and lost part the struggle against wayane natoinaly as well as Internationaly.So do our people follow the organition which has no direction or got no cofidence in itself? They got no my vote or other Oromos who believe in democratic system approuch in solving the proplame that our people face now,
Thanks a lot for your comments. The whole purpose of my short note was to engage us into discussion that would clear our understanding and end the disorientation surrounding Oromo politics. I would have liked to discuss openly what our political ambitions are as a society, and also assess the costs and benefits of each. Having said this, I will shortly post my other commentary which asks whom should we, Oromos, struggle against?
In that article I argue that the struggle within ourselves, to keep the house in order, should precede the effort to fight against whomever we call enemies. In other words, I am claiming that the number one enemy of Oromo people is our inability to stand each other (inability to work together) and running away from an organization, which would be letting few people to play around with the causes of our people. Specifically, the tradition of rushing to form a new political organization rather than fighting within OLF, the oldest organization, to ensure that things are in order makes the politics complicated. Such acts are manifestation of lack of democratic structure within the organizations and hence, such organizations would not be a hope for freedom and democracy. We need to look into ourselves for two main reasons. First, if the organizations are not democratic by their own, they would not be a solution to the problem at hand and second, the rush to form a new organization and condemning each other is becoming a burden to the struggle of Oromo people than it provide with an option. It would be suffice to mention branches within OLF and organizations which broke way from OLF. Such tendency of running away and forming a new organization is becoming a threat the very sense of our unity because the line around which these people draw differences include religion, tribes and regions. Ofumaaf sakaale oof kufisaa jira. Finally, I will share my view, which is the need to reform and work with OLF for two reasons. First, OLF is at forefront in Oromo people’s struggle and it is deep in the hearts of Oromo people (at home). For the majority of Oromos at home, it is a way of life, it is everything. Second, as historical records show, it is difficult to surpass this organization and become effective. Hence, it is time we get back to the organization and reform it in such a way that it would be an organization that would really represent the interests of Oromo people. I am writing this commentary because I believe that it is time we stop the blame attribution and start looking into ourselves. We, as a society, have contributed a whole lot to the suffering of our people. It is time we become realistic and assess which acts of ours are plus and which acts are detrimental the politics.
Thank you again
Xiqqa
its Leader. Dimensions of the political environment that provide incentives for collective action by affecting people's expectations for success or failure. As we have seen in the past OLF isolated the the majorette interest and their claims. Our struggle to reform should start inside of Ethiopia to give hope to live peace full.
Peace out, Aleut continual.........
Oromo will be free.
OLF should demand or tell USA that
to STOP standing on our basic human right in the name terrerism, If not Oromo people will stand against anyone who stand on our basic human right as Oromo!!!! Oromo has nothing to do with
a terrerism and will never. We are a
peace lover nation. If anyone act against Oromo,we should act as self defence. If not now, it will never....
There is or will never be a peace anywhere in the world if individual, group, soceity..nation, basic human right is not respected.
Waa tokko isin gaafadha,
Hanga yoomii,gabrummaa fi baqattummaa jalatti cichina laataa?
Yoo naa deebisuu feetan,teessoon kiyya kan imeelii:-
hundee_oromoo@yahoo.com
I believe people always Exaggerate about oromo peoples division by religion and region. Any time when two oromos start conversation they use this two words as excuse. let me tell you where this division starts are expands then.People in kenya start and come to America and other foriegn countries and expand their personal interest issues. Please don't make excuse religion and regin for prelonged oromo freedom that is false and that only exixts in diaspora. Please you guys who created this problems be there never come back to Oromia Even if we get freedom becouse you will poison our clear and hunble people.Give your ear to OLFs dayly activities; or go to the battle and share. don't just sit here ,enjoy life and criticize OLF. If you start today , your friend will follow you. Sorry bro.... Loving with out holding tight is not a love,rather a lie...
Gama biraan immoo,wal shakkuu(wal amantii dhabuu) fi eenyummaa waliituu maqaa hin taane walitti moggaasuu dha.
Kanaaf,utuu wanti kun akka sadarkaa duraatti hin sirraayin isa birootti dabarra jechuun tasuma(Paper game)walirratti taphachuu ta'a natti fakkaata.
Dimshaashumatti,utuu amantii fi kutaan wal qooduun hafee,tokkummaan jiraate,bilisummaa jechuun jechuma faarsuu utuu hin taane,waan yeroo hin ramadamne keessatti gonfannu ture!
Garuu akka Eebbisaan baane"Abaarsi Waaqaa "kan nutti jiruu kaan hin beeku!!
Deebiin isin biraa haa ta'u,
Bilisummaa irratti wal nu haa agarsiisu,Rabbiin guddaan!!
I though my point is quite clear. But if you have not got it, I can try to make it again. What I am saying is OLF is suffering from lack of clear vision. By the way, that problem could possibly be a societal problem. That is why I said; it is decisive for OLF to transform to be a vibrant organization that we all need to see. Otherwise, in its current form of existence nothing can come out of it. Then I said; one area which I think deserves the attention of the organization and Oromo people in general is to look at the goals of our struggle. There is one saying “if you do not know where to go, any road can take you there”. I feel Oromo politics deserves more than a random walk; we need a clearly defined goal toward which we all can work. Period.
As to the proposal you mentioned about. I do not want to rush to make a proposal. I have my personal opinion just like everyone else. But, I wanted to discuss these issues with you, fellow Oromos, before I draw conclusions and suggest proposals. Devising a workable, grand strategy requires research, discussions, opening up our eyes beyond our little world and looking into ourselves etc. That is why I did not make a proposal right away. On the other hand, lets see what you said, “world is unanimously working on us.” Do you real mean that? For me nobody, I mean nobody cares about us, Oromos. Do not try to hide from the truth. One question, is that really the tactics of the enemy or our inability to stand together that is hurting us today? I guess our inability to achieve anything as a society is primarily our fault. Most of the problems mentioned in this blog such as regionalism, lack of support, one working against the other, undemocratic nature of the organization, hatred etc are more of internal problems that we carried as a society. Hence, the struggle within ourselves to fix all those problems worth our attention than living under fear holding attitude like “world is unanimously working on us.”
I liked your answer about the goal of our struggle. You said our goal is “with democracy and equality we can live together or otherwise we may form our own democratic state.” Good. The next natural question is, what kind of strategy should we follow then? I guess the sequence of what you said; “with democracy and equality we can live together or otherwise we may form our own democratic state” matters a lot in shaping the strategy that the organization can take. (a) For instance, if we think about the injustice in the past, that would definitely leave as with forming our own “democratic” state. (b) Despite the injustice in the past, if we think we can democratize Ethiopia (or at least give it a try) to live with others with democracy and equality that would give us a room to work with other organizations. Therefore, the goal you mentioned “with democracy and equality we can live together or otherwise we may form our own democratic state” can refer to a totally different things when we try to implement it in practice. If you like more on this I can share my thoughts some other time or you can send me an email.
As far as we love to praise this org., we also need to accept when it is critcized for its weakness. Xiqqa's comment is a productive one and it needs to be taken seriousely and work on it. If olf wants the support of majority of diasporas, it needs to show some positive progress. The old way is not working and its needs to design a new method otherwise it will just be a name. This is my honst oppenion; i am not against anything olf does but rather support it.
Oromia shall be free only when we stop attacking each other and attack the enemy in an organized fashion.
Tnx 4 expressing ur views! And all kudos go to u!Have u said these words living closer some where in Africa, they would have made u pay for it dearly.You do not jock with a proxy organization that ur enemies fron to keep the Oromo people in chains.
Jokes aside, dear brother,
Which OLF r u talking about? The skeleton of a once vibrant organization now in the hands of another enemy for the purpose of disorienting Oromos while firmly establishing the christina Tigringa empire in the Horn region? An organization from where Oromos are displaced and into which non-oromos are invited and which is now happily controlled by Oromiffaa speeaking Habashas and forune hunting hooligans?
Or are you talking about an OLF reduced into a shambles that only serves a tiny group of individulas(we all know them, no need to call names) as a private NGO and a lab for conflict resolution and Oromo disarmament nonesense?
First, brother, admit that OLF as an Oromo politca force is dead!!! Who killed it? Why? When? Where?
The global struggle is undeniably entwined in racial, religious ,economic and historical realities!! Locate yourself in this arrangment, dear serious Oromo, and think hard and identify ur enemies and friends both internal,regional and international.When u achieve that and then and Only then, I believe, u can see what has bewitched/ still bedevils u and can firmly chart the way forward!There is no freedom for the victim when led by the very enemy itself and its proxies!!!!!!!!!!!
OLF is dead, long live OLF!
Oromia Shall be Free!!!
miseensa qofa osso hin ta'iin, yeroo hunda ummata waliin mar'achuu barbaachisaadha.
Kan sodaatanis du’aa, kan hin olles du’aa jedhani.
Buusa
I agree that OLF's lack of accepting criticism to be a major determent to our struggle. That's why we need to implement GADA in to OLF.
We have thousands of years of proof that GADA is a strong organizational system. Just how GADA has allowed in history, we can implement small modifications to bring the system current.
Perhaps we have indegineous knowledge of democracy which the organization fail excersise!
Forget what the leaders talk and read the OLF political program. Just in case you have read it and omitted from your analysis, it states "the objective of the sturggle is to establish independent democratic republic of Oromia". To me this clearer than clear. If you cannot get it, forget it!
Duulaa
Thank you for your reflection on my commentary. Let me briefly respond to the comments some of you guys have made. Note: the whole purpose of my commentary is to engage us into a discussion to figure out the root causes of the organization leading the struggle of our people.
Summary of my article
In its current shape, neither OLF is not able to move forward nor does it leave the Oromo people to search for another feasible option. As a result, Oromos are once again marginalized from the political arena that would shape the future of Ethiopia and hence have a far reaching implication on the fate of our people. Lined behind this organization, the Oromo people have paid enormous sacrifices that do not worth if the organization is dysfunctional in its own. To rescue the organization from collapse we, Oromos as a society, have to pressure the organization to reexamine and reestablish itself. One such area which deserves the attention of all of us is to look at the goals of the organization. I find that the organization is confused and does not have clearly defined goals. For me this lack of defined goal is the breeding ground for dozens of problems that we see today in the organization. That is why I suggested for a fresh look at Oromo politics, from the need to change the leadership to change the way we do the politics.
For those who are here with the attitude that OLF is a perfect organization and do not want to hear anything negative about it, I am sorry this is not a right place for you, we are hear to discuss the problems that we see in each and every corner of the organization. Blind attachment to the organization is neither helpful for the organization nor does it serves you. If we truly want this organization to be the organization that we want it to be, lets do something about it.
Mr. Mil’isaa
I want Mr.Mul’isaa to elaborate on what he meant by “you mentioned an effect as a source of the problem.” I was not surprised to see these kinds of comment. And the whole purpose of this article is to discuss some of the things which we look at them differently (some as an effect and others as the source of the problem). Anyways, I really want to hear your position as to how “lack of defined goals” is an effect rather than the source of the problems for OLF.
For me all what you have mentioned such as “lack of democratic structure and transparency, lack of trust, regionalism etc “are symptoms, which we may not cure unless we identify the source/s of all the problem/s. You also mentioned the growing indifference of people (especially the Diaspora) in backing the organization. That is what I am talking about. People are saying enough, we do not have shoulder to carry a rather skeletal organization. Nevertheless, the solution I am proposing here is not to turn our face to the organization, rather to reorganize it so that it becomes the organization we opted for. To do that, however, requires all of us to look deep into ourselves and be ready to admit some of the bitter realities that we see in the organization in particular and in our society in general.
General comment
As I said before, some of the issues raised such as “lack of democratic structure and transparency, lack of trust, regionalism etc “are just symptoms. It seems that you are afraid to comment on the rather delicate issue which I suspect is the main cause of all the problems.
Does the organization have defined goals? And if yes what is it? Is our question the quest for independence - “liberation of Oromo people from colonial rule of Ethiopia” or the struggle for rights of self-determination (defined in its narrow sense, without session) i.e., to ensure democratic rights of Oromo people are respected within democratic Ethiopia. For me all the other problems we see today are derivatives of this, unless you guys can convince me otherwise. With unclear vision, the organization is in uncertainty. In such uncertain environment even ones sincere comments could be considered as threat to the organization or what have you. For instance, a person who would comment to work with pro Ethiopian unity would be labeled as disloyalty to the causes of Oromo people. If the organization had a defined goal which can serve as point of reference we will have less room for misinterpretation and mistrust in the organization. Double mentality would at best produce unnecessary noise that will keep the organization from moving forward. To be frank, the uncertainty is deep in the hearts of each one of us, as it can be evidenced by your comments that none of you want to comment on the center piece of my article, which is OLF lacks defined goals.
Thank you all for your comments
Xiqqa
Thanks
This is really rubbish, I’m so sorry for my time reading from top to bottom to find the titled massage. I see your topic as very irrelevant to what you listed-- you should have simply said “Lack of clarity and goals in the OLF objective” then your intended audience will jump to dig it and the rest will save their time.
Thanks
Garidha yadni ke, garu dhuga ganee demuu hin qabnu waliti hima wal jabessa demudha. Qabso fi bilisuma kan jibbu gantu ykn ergamtudha. Dinnis "gap" jiru nuti akka fayadamu beekus qabna. Yeroo hunda atti oromodhaa jedhanii wal gaafachuu malee ani shawaa arsii ykn wallagga jedhu wal hirrun akka enguyu hin fayadne, halagaaf nu kenna malee esayu nama hin gessu. ilaalcha 'oromo in disapora' mee ilaali kessatu biyya Awuropa'. Kun hundinau mal irra ka'a yoo jette rakkoo dhaabichaa irra kan ka'eedha. Ani gama kootni malif OLF walaggaan hoganama jedhee mormii hin qabu, rakkoon koo "cadres" wanti hojatuu ummata tokkummaf ykn bilisumaaf lolu adaan bitneessa. ABOn ULFO waliin hojachuu qabaa, kana boda kophaa demuu hin qabu, ULFO ummata oromo hunduma hin mufachisu. Rakina diju isaani jiru hikani, ULFO cimsuu, ummata jajabeeu barbaachisa. Isa biyya natti hin immin achuumaan dhufe. umani ABO malee kaan hin beekku. Haa ta'u malee "oromo dispora"dhan degeramu wan qabuuf, ULFO jabessuu. Degeraa isaani tufachuu hin qaban "otheriwse, it seems the cart before the horse" jedha faranjiin.
What i would like to say is OLF should reform itself, try to make OLF branches working in diaspora active, assign people from different regions of oromia in various positions, assign on merit based not becausing of personal relationship. They must respect their supporters and members.
Yoo jabachuu baatan, ega jabaachuu kan qabu oromoon hin dhabu beekaa kanas. Nuti jabaadha jenne malee badaa hin jenne.
you said the truth ABO is holding us back.we need change
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