Dhumarra Ga’a Kolonummaa Gaanfa Afrikaa

Dhumarra Ga’a Kolonummaa Gaanfa Afrikaa

Ibsaa Guutama irraa* | Bitootessa 2013

Tigraway sirna malbulcha Habashaa keessatt miiltoo maadhaa turan. Erga mootummaa Zagu’ee as Amaarri, guggufannaa xixiqqoof malee, olhaantummaa qabatee jiraate. Sun Kaasa Marcaa, hoggana Tigraway bara 1872 Yohannis IV mootii mootota Itiyoophiyaa jedhe of muudeen gargar cite. Mootiin Tigray kun achi gahuuf mataa Amaaraa fi kanneen biras hedduu cire. Ergasiis akka isaan mataa olqabatanii hin laalle daa’imsiisee moo’e. Mootiin Shawaa Minilik fi mootiin Gojjam Taklahayimaanot olhantummaa saa hala duree malee fudhatanii turan. Hayyama saatiin biyyoota kibba saanii jiranitt duulanii qabachuun kan eegale. Empayerri Habashaa hoobbaatii duulota sanaati. Yohannis duula Matammaa irratt (1889) Sudanotaan qalame. Isa booda Minilik korma tokkicha mooraa Habashaa keessaa ta’ee gadi bahe Tigraway irratt haaloo bahatee sillimii jaarraa tokko fudhate keessa galche. Bara 1991 gadoo kuufatanii, koloneeffato isa dhumaa tahuun waanta ijaaruu gargaaran yeroo diigamu ragaa bahuuf deebi’an.

Minilik booda hogganummaa Amaaraan mootota afurtu aangott dhufe. Hunduu dorsisa fi shororkeessaan moo’an. Isaan keessaa waggoota shanan Xaaliyaanii dabalatee kan bara dheeraa (1916-1974) aangoo irra ture Tafarii Mokonin. Bakka saa kan bu’ee tuuta loltuu Darg jedhamu ture. Dargin akkuma kanneen isa dura shororkeessaan moo’e. Dargaggoon Oromoo fi Habashaa adda addatt ijaaramuun fincilanii gaara seenan. Habashaa keessaa Tigrawayi Eertraan ollummaan walii tumsaa turan. Dargiin hundatt Goolii Diimaa fi meeshaa hunda mancaasaan ibida roobse. Hoggansa Amaaraan kan fincilan jaarmaa “EPRP” jedhamu jalatt hiriiranii Dargii fi Tigroota gidduutt akka lamuu ol hin kaanett rukutaman. Isaan keessaa kan lola irratt booji’aman maxxannummaan ijaaaramanii dhaaba “Sochii Demokratawaa Saba Amaaraa” ta’an. Tigrawayi isaanii fi kan isaan fakkaatan qabatanii empayera dhunfatan.

Haaloo salphina kufaatii Yohaannis duuba gahee irratt dabalamee aariin Dargii irraa Tigraway qaban injifannoo saanii duuba akka hamaatt Amaara hube. Waraana isaan waggaa dhibba ijaaran diigee facaase. Bulcha biyyaa bakka furtuu taate hundaa isaan yaase Tigraway itt galche. Mirga sabummaa sabooti qabaachuu beekeefii afaan saaniitiin akka baratanii fi hojjetan irratt waliigale. Sana gurgudoon Amaaraa ammayyuu hin fudhanne. Hawwa Amaaraa alatt Tigraway walabummaa Eertraa raggaasisan. Akka isaan hin feenett jarmaa “Sochii Demokratawaa Saba Amaaraa” jedhaniin itt tolchan. Dudhaan, jaleen isa injifatamee sirna haaraan dhuunfatama ture, amma garuu hin taane.

Duulli Tigray jaarmaa cimaa ABUT (HWHT) jedhamuun gaggeeffamaa ture. Hogganooti saa kanneen qabsoo wareegammi guddaan itt bahe keessatt muuxannoo qaban turan. Hunda saaniirra hogganni saanii, Mallas Zeenaawwi nama abshaala, collee ayyaanlaallataa ture. ABUT humnoota Dargii boodaa hunda caalaa hidhannoo guddaa qaba ture. Seenanii ji’a tokko booda dhaabota Dargii lolaa turan, dhaabota ala turan isaaniin waldhabdee hin qabnee fi kanneen yerosuma akka ijaaraman jajjabeessan kan haammatu “Kora Nagaa fi Tasgabi” jedhamu waaman. Korichi Chartara Mootummaa Cehumsaa ijaaru tumee ka’e. Isaan dura ummatoota Habashaa hin ta’inii fi kolonoota hundaaf dhaabota boojuu irraa “Adda Warraaqaa Demokratawaa Ummatoota Itiyoophiyaa (ADWDUI)” yk “Ihadeg” jedhamu uumuun maqaa saatiin biyya bulchuu eegalan. Booda irratt heera empaayerri ittiin bulu kan mirgoota ummatootaa fi abba tokkootaa eegsisa jedhan baasanii Mootummaan Cehumsaa raawwate.

ABUT lolee mootummaa abbaa hirree aangoo irra ari’uun dhaabota saboota gara garaa walitt qabee chartara ittiin bulan irratt walii galuun; ADWUI boojuu ummatoota garagaraa akka walqixxeett ijaaruu; qophii fi meeshaa waraanaa kanneen biraa qaban caalu qabachuu; deggersa angota addunyaa dhihaa qabaachuu fi dhaabota kora irratt qooda fudhataniin akka warana empayera hundaa waloott fudhatamuun, seerawummaa yeroo argamsiiseefii ture. Itt hansee akka heera baaseett goloota aangoo malbulchaa dorgommeen qabachuu danda’an hayyamee galmeesse. Isa booda sagnata kennata ummatootaa ifaa godhe. Kanaan goloti murna Habashaa aangoo irraa konkolaatee “Hidhata Tokkummaa fi Demokrasii (Qinijjit)” jaarmaa jedhamu ijaarratan.

Qinijjit kennata bara 2005 keessa seenanii sagalee guddaa argachuun Wayyaanee baragsiisan. Garuu tooftaan harkaa bushooftee lolli hanga lubbuu deggertoota saanii baasuu fi barcuma argatan dhabsiisu gahe ture. Sanaan hogganoota hunda hidhaatt naquuf Mallas sababa argate. Mala uumeen jaarsoli inni ramade gidduu seenanii akka inni barbaadutt kan itt dabame aagii tufsiifachuun hidhaa yaa’e. Ergasii murnooti Amaaraan deggeraman fagooti ittfaman.

Kennati sun utuu qajeelaan xumurame ta’e kan moo’ate angoo empaayeraa irratt seerawummaa argata ture. Dorgommeen ture koloneeffatoo fi galtuu malee ummatoota humnaan qabaman kan laalu hin turre. Kennatichi finnaa empayeraa irratt Wayyaaneen seerawummaa akka hin arganne tolche. Kanaaf roorroon ilmoo nama irra gahu wagga waggaan dabalaa kan dhufe. Kennati itt haanee ganna shan duuba dhufes sana hin jijjiire, caalaattu empayericha keessatt demookrasiin abjuu ta’ee akka hafu mirkaneesse. Sababa kanaaf Wayyaaneen jajjabeessa angoota alaatt irkachuu malee deggersa qeyee argachuu hin dandeenye.

Mallas booddana, kan dhaaba saa caalaa, aangoo dhuunfaa saa cimfachuu irratt xiyyeeffate ture. Kanaaf jaallewwan saa gaafa xiiqii moggeessutt ka’e. Abba tokkoota dardara ta’an isa malee ABUT waliin hariiroo hin qabne ofitt naannessuu eegale. Sanaan karoora “bakka buusii” (matakaakaat plan) jedhu baase dhaaboti ADWUI jala jiranis sana akka hordofan godhe. Sun boojuu dhaabota ADWUI keessa jiran amanamummaa ABUT qaban karaarra maqsuuf gargaareen. Mallasaan ABUTn akkasitt laashessee hirree cimaan ADWUI sherersuutt ka’e. Imaammata baafateen nama Haayila Maaram Dassaaleny jedhamu Kibbaa fiddee itt haanaa saa godhe. Mallas akka tasaa du’e. Reeffisaa biyya faranjii dhufuu malee akki du’a saa, dhukkuba saa fi waldhaansa saa hin himamin hafe. Sun warra turee fi haaraa afaan bansiise.

Kanneen inni walitt qabe isa malee bulchuu danda’uu saanii ofitt hin amanne. Kanaaf bakka walgahan hundatt “hogganni keenya guddichi” (qiliwweeee Baha Fagoo) karoora nuu baaseen bulla jedhanii samanu. Yoo nyaatatt dhihaatan illee ekeraa saatiin nuu eebbisi jechuun kan hafu hin fakkaatu. Walgahii dhiheenya ABUT tolfate irratt angafooti dhiigaa fi dafqa saaniin olhantummaa Tigrawayi gaddhaaban imaammata bakkabuusiin gaggeeffaman. Kanaaf aangoon ABUT empaayerittii irratt dhuunfaan qabaataa ture gaaffii jala kan gale fakkaata. Sun olhaantummaa Tigraway hangam akka hubu bulee mullata.

Haa tahu malee hamma yoonaa fuulli hogganummaa badiisa gahee ilmaan Tigray turan. Sii’achi garuu akka karoora Mallasitt kanneen Tigraway hin taane of dura qabanii ofii duubatt deebi’uu kan murteeffatan fakkaata. Caasaa haraan isaan malee kan biraa gowwoomsuu hin dana’u. Hanga empayerri jirutt hariiroon Itiyoophiyaa fi kolonoota gidduu hin jijjiiramu. Mirga hiree ofii ofiin murteeffanaa sabootaa hojiirra olchuu qofatu sana jijjiira malee funaansa abbaa hirrootaa fi boojuu miti. Irra dibaan amma tolfame seerawummaa empayeraa fi haa tahu ADWUIf hammattiima Mallas jalati kennellee hin kennu. Garuu irra dibichi ‘armaataatt’ yoo geeddarame dubbiin adda ta’uu dandeessi ta’a.

Mallasaan abbaa hirree hin nakkaramne ta’uuf karaa tottolchee ture. Barcummi inni midhaasse eenyyufuu kan ta’u hin fakkaatu. Ammaaf ADWUIn akka gannoota digdamaan duraa, miseensota ABUTii amanamoo ta’aniin kan guutame miti. Sammu garboome kan qaban yoo hin taane, shororkeessaa fi sodaa jalqabaa sana keessa kan turan garri caaluu “matakaakaatiin” irratt tolfamee jira. Kanaaf maxxannooti angoo keessatt haa ta’u qabeenya irratt ugganii qooda saanii gaafachuun kan carraa argatan fakkaata. Sana akki itti furatan naannaa malbulchaa empayerittii qofa utuu hin ta’in kan Gaanfa Afrikaas tuquu dandaha. Dhaaboti miseensa ADWUI arfan raatessaa nama yk goolaa tokkoo jalatt fedhaa saanii bilisa malee hafuu hin danda’ani. Yeroon kan isaan ajaju seexaa fi dantaa saanii qofamoo, kan dhibantaa tokkoos akka dabalatu murteefatan gahee jira. Akka ofii fedhanitt miiltoo ta’uu yk ijoollee qeyee tahanii hafuu dha.

Amaarri bara Dargii kaasee jaarmaa sabheddu fakkeessaaf Itiyoophiyaa jedhaman isaan mataa itti ta’an afarsaa turan. Wayyaanee jalatt haalli Amaarummaan ijaaramuu dirqisiisee “Mallaa Amaaraa” kan jedhamu uummatani. Garuu ulaagaa Amaarummaa waan hanqateef odoo hin turin doome. Haa ta’u malee bulee Amaarummaan itt roorrifamuun it dhagahamaa dhufee, maqaa saaniin sabheddummaan kan ijaaraman akka irra ittisuus fedhaa saanii eegsisuus hindandeenye kan fudhatan fakkaata. Kanaaf dhaaba Amaarri qofaan dhimma saa ittiin hordofu “Moresh” (maqaa nama hamaa jala jiru ittiin waaman) jedhamu ijaarrataa jiru. Muuxannoo Tigraway jalatt argataniin rakkina ummattooti biraa abbaa hirroota halagaa jalatt qabaataa turan bulee ni qayyabatu ta’a. Rakkinni kan naannessee ilaaluuf gamnummaa fi ballinaan waa hubachuu ni gargaara. Akka ummata tokkooti mirga ofii eegsifachuuf yaalu taanaan, kan ollootaa saanis akkasumati kan ilaalan yoo ta’e qayyabannoo argachuu ni dandahu ta’a. Dhaaboti Habashaa sabhedduu jedhamanis hanga Amaarii isaan hin amannett tarsimoo hanga yoonaa abbaa hirrummaa qofaaf tolu keessa deebi’anii yaaduu haalli ni dirqisiisa ta’a.

ABOn tokkicha. Afur shan jedhanii kan qoosuu fedhan jiru. Muki udaanii/cuqun bubbuka jedhaniif hin urgaawuu. Jarri kaan “ABO Ciqun” jedhamuu irra hin taranii. Kaayyoon ABO isa dhugaa Republika Oromiyaa dhaabee iggiti itt gochuu dha. Republiki Oromiyaan dhaabbatu biyya hundi walqixxummaa, bilisummaa, obbolummaa fi demokratummaan keessa jiratu biyya seerri olhantummaa keessatt qabu taha. Sii achi, Oromiyaa keessatt fanfanamuu yk itt rorrifamuun sanyii, amantee, saalaa, gosa yk sabummaa irratt hundaawe hin jiratu. Sun hundi kan dhugoomuu dandahu jaarmaa cimaa fedhaa hunda dura kaayyoo buusuuni. Jaarmaa cimaan waan jedhuu fi tolchuun ummata Oromiyaa fi miseensota saaf dhuga himaa fi amanamaa kan tahu. Tibbi qabsoo tibba mootummaa miti. Walabummaa Oromiyaatt gufuu kan ta’u hundi akka diinni ilaalamutt ilaalamuun waan hin olle.

Keessi ofii qaawwaa ta’uu baannan karaa hamtuun itt seentu hin jiratu. Kanaaf kan mana ofii qulqulleessanii qaawwaa hunda duuchuun durfannoo qabatuuf. Nageenya dhaabaa eeguun waan jireenyaa fi dua’aati. Waan halleefuu shaffisummaa murtii fi dudhammi daddaaqina hin qabne miira warraaqaa tahuun beekamuu qaba. Daagummaa, harkifatummaa fi haa bultu dubbiin addunyaa shaffisa ifa caaluun xuruuraa jiru keessatt akka bakka hin qabaanne beekuu dha. Ummati hamaa fi tolaa keessa jiru si’aawinaan hubachuu qaba. Akka ofbaree bitaa fi mirga saa dammaqee hubatu gochuun qooda warraaqaati. Ummata dammaqe qofatu mirga ofii beekee gaafachuu danda’a. Yoo danda’ame humnooti bilisummaa Oromiyaa hundi gamtaan bobba’uun kan biyyi hawwuf fedhamaadhas. Haa ta’u malee luuxxee galtuun tokko karaa itt cufe kan biraa keessaan akka hulluuqxee hin makamne hundinuu dura mana saanii qulqulleeffachuu qabu.

Koloneeffatoon gufatanii bitintiraa jiruu. Akka bakkatt hin deebine gochuu dha.. Kun yeroo hundi bahee anjaa qeyee fi sabgidduun kennutt dhimma bahuu qabu. ABO karaa irra ceesisanii fulduratt deemee akka didhaa hin bahanne duula guddaatu alaa manaa marsee dibbee itt dhahaa jira. Sun ta’ees wayyabi Oromoo danqaraa hunda irra qaarsisuuf harka itt hiixataa jiru. Kan sabicha jireenya abojjootaafii jiruun gahan kanneen walabummaa saaf dhaabbatan qofa. ABOn kallacha qabsoo bilisummaa fi ofiin bulummaa saanii akka ta’e tolchanii beeku. Kanaaf waci hundi kan qilleensa waliin darbu. Sabichi qabsoon saa dhaawataa ta’uu akka danda’u beeka. Sun dhafqaa fi dhiiga ilmaan saa guddaa gaafachuu danda’a. Hojiin hoggansaa kaayyoo fulduratt dhiibuu qofa utuu hin ta’in baasii saas yarsuu dha. Kanaaf cabaaluqa duubatt harkiftuuf gurra qeensuutt yeroo baduu hin qabui. Isaan kan bobba’an fedhaa ofiif jedhanii mirga sabummaa Oromoo irratt dhoofsisuufi.

Kanaaf xaxaa fedhaa ummataa irratt tolfamaa jiru hankaaksuuf sabboona hundi hiriiruu qaba. Qondaaloti ABO amma jiran ittiin maruu fi tiratuummaa qabachuu danda’u. Garuu kan dudhamaa fi garaa guutuun kaayyoo tissuutt bobba’uu saanii cicachuuf safuu gubbaa gad ilaalchisu qabu hin jiru. Ciqilaanii, gargaaraanii, gorsaanii, bor guyyaa biraati. Qabsoo bilisummaa fi guddinaatt iggiti tolchuuf bor ummatichi hogganoota jajjaboo haaraa ni baafata. Sun sana ta’ees ABOn hardha dhaabaa Oromoon qabu hunda caalaa isa jabaa dha. Qabsoo keessatt duubati deebi’uu fi fulduratt utaaluun, laafuu fi jaabaachuun waan jiru. ABOn hardha haala jabaatee fulduratt utaaluu dandeessisu keessa jira. Homtuu duubatt deebisuu hin danda’u. Injifannoon battala saa Oromiyaa keessatt deeffate yeroon gaarrenii fi sululoota Oromiyaa keessa naanna’ee dhangaa dhahu fagoo hin ta’u.

Haalli subgidduu qabsoo bilisummaa Oromoof mijjaawaa dha. Kaayyoo duubatt deebisanii wanti dhoofsisaniif hin jiru. Anjaa jiru qayyabatanii gam gochuun qooda qabsaawota Oromooti. Hacuuccaa fi balaan Oromiyaatt bu’aa jiru waan callisanii bira taran miti. Kan seexaa qabu iyya ummata Oromoo kan bilisummaa dhowwataman, kan guyyuu beela’aa oolanii bulan, dhukkuba ilmoon nama beeku hundaan qabamanii kanneen waldhaansa hin arganne fi kan gadooda saanii addunyaan dhaggeeffachuu hanqatee fi guyyuu akka baalaa innaa darbu hundaa harca’a jiran tuffatee darbuu hin danda’u. Oromoon Oromiyaa hogganamuu qabu. Yeros qofa kan qabsoon saanii xiyyeeffannoo argatu. Yoo Waaq jedhe, boqonnaan kolonummaa cufamee Demokratik Republik Oromiyaa iftuun dhalachuuf karaa irra jirtii. Oromiyaa bilisi haa jiraattu!

Ulfinaa fi surraan dabaankufootaaf; walabummaa, walqixxummaa fi bilisummaan kan hafaniif; nagaa fi araarri Ayyaana abboolii fi ayyoliif haa tahu!

* Ibsaa Guutama miseensa dhaloota saganta ABO isa jalqabaa baasan keessaa tokkoo.

Source: Gubirmans Publishing

“No compromise, no turning back on the kaayyoo is necessary … The chapter on colonialism is closing, and a vibrant Democratic Republic Oromiyaa is on the way to be brought forth.” – Ibsaa Guutama

By Ibsaa Guutama* | March 2013

Tigrawayi were junior partners in the Ethiopian political system. Except for few glitches, the Amaaraa had the upper hand since the fall of Zaagu’ee dynasty. That was disrupted when Kaasaa Maraca, the leader of Tigray, came to power and anointed himself as Yohannis IV, King of Kings of Ethiopia. To reach there, this king of Tigray had severed so many heads of Amaara and others. He subjugated them forcing them on their knees such that they would never raise their heads again. The king of Shawaa, Minilik, and the king of Goojjam, Adaal, accepted his suzerainty unconditionally. It was with green light from him that they started the campaign to colonize countries to their south. The Habashaa Empire is the result of those campaigns. Yohannis was slain during the Matammaa campaign (1889) by the Sudanese. After that, Minilik came forward as the alpha bull in the Habashaa kraal. He retaliated against the Tigrawayi and sent them to slumber for a century. They returned in 1991 with vengeance to be the last of the colonizers and witness when what they had helped do was undone.

After Minilik, four rulers came to power under the leadership of Amaara subduing all opposition by sheer force. They all ruled with threat and terror. From among them, it was Tafarii Makonnin who ruled for a long period (1916-1974), including the five years of Italian occupation. A junta called theDarg replaced him. The Darg, like all its predecessors, ruled with terror. Oromo andHabashaa youth rebelled and took to the mountains under separate organizations. From theHabashaa, Tigrawayi were allied with Eritrea as neighbors should do. The Darg poured fire on all with red terror and weapons of mass destruction. Rebels under Amaara leadership, “EPRP,” were crushed between the Darg and Tigreans as not to pause any threat to them anymore. Those taken as captives from among them were organized into surrogates who later became “Amaara National Democratic Movement.” The Tigrawayi monopolized the empire through them and their likes.

Added to the grudge for humiliation after the fall of Yohannis, the anger Tigrawayi had on the Dargnegatively affected the Amaara after theWayyaanee victory. They dismantled and scattered the army Amaaraa built for a hundred years. They expelled Amaaraa individuals from key positions in the administration and replaced them by Tigrawayi. They recognized the right of nations to self-determination and agreed that they use their language for work and education. That was the right Amaara elites have not recognized to this day. The Tigrawayi accepted the independence of Eritrea against Amaaraa aspirations. They created an “Amaaraa” organization – a reference they did not accept then. Traditionally, followers of the vanquished used to be integrated into the new formation, but not this time.

Tigray’s campaign was led by a strong organization called TPLF. Its leaders were those hardened by the struggle that demanded immense sacrifice. Of all of them, their leader, Mallas Zeenaawi, was a cleverer, active and canning opportunist. TPLF was heavily armed and stronger than any force in the post-Darg Empire. After a month of their arrival, they convened organizations that fought against the Darg, the Diaspora organizations that were not opposed to them, and individuals whom they encouraged to get organized at that very moment, to a “Conference for Peace and Stability.” The Conference ended after approving “The Charter,” and by it, the “Transitional Government” was formed. Prior to that, they started governing as the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). That was a collection of organizations formed with prisoners of war from different nationalities. Later, they proclaimed a constitution for administration of the empire that could safeguard rights of peoples and individuals – ending the transitional period.

TPLF’s chasing out the dictator and agreeing on a charter for governance with organizations from different nations; building the EPRDF with organizations of different nations from war captives as equals; having stronger fire power than the others; having powerful supporters from across the sea; and being accepted as the national army by participants of the Conference had given them temporary legitimacy to rule the empire. Next, they allowed opposition parties and registered them to compete for political power. They then scheduled for an open popular election. In preparation for that, parties of Habashaa groups, that had fallen from grace, formed an organization called the “Coalition of Unity and Democracy (CUD).”

The CUD ran for election of 2005 and scared theWayyaanee by amassing major ballots. But, defective tactics resulted in several deaths of CUD supporters and loss of seats won. With that, Mallas got the excuse to put all of their leaders behind bars. By tactics he devised, elders, whom he organized for the purpose, intervened. The elders cajoled the prisoners and made them to apologize. That was achieved in the manner he wanted, and they were released. Since then, groups supported by the Amaaraa were kept at bay.

Had that election been fairly concluded, the winner could have got the legitimacy to rule the empire. The competition for power was only the concern of the colonizers and their apologists, not the forcefully occupied peoples. That election failed to legitimize the Wayyaanee to lead the HabashaaEmpire. That was why human rights abuses increased from year to year. The next election did not also make matters different – rather they proved that democracy would remain a dream in that empire. For this reason, TPLF administration lacked domestic support and had to depend on foreign encouragements.

In later days, Mallas started to focus on strengthening his individual power rather than that of his organization. For this reason, he started to marginalize those who were his comrades in arms. He surrounded himself with younger individuals who did not have loyalty to the TPLF, but himself. For that, he laid down the replacement plan(mattakaakaat) and told EPRDF member organizations to follow suit. That helped him to keep out of way EPRDF leaders who were captives and loyal to the TPLF. Mallas started to spin EPRDF with strong arms after paralyzing the TPLF. Based on his policy, he brought a person called Hailemariam Dasaliny from the South and made him his deputy. Mallas died unexpectedly. Except for the coming home of his corpse, his death, illness and treatment were left untold. That left veterans and the new dumbfounded.

Those whom he had gathered around him did not believe that they could govern without him. For this reason, they swore that they would be guided by the policy laid down for them by their “great leader” (an echo from the Far East). It does not even seem they could eat their meals without praying for blessing from his Ghost. On the recent meeting of the TPLF, leaders, who established the supremacy of Tigrawayi by their sweat and blood, were sent off in accordance with the “mattakaakaat” policy. For this reason, it seems that the power monopoly of the TPLF over the empire is nearing to be challenged. How much that affects the supremacy of Tigray is going to be seen in the course of days.

So far the faces of all atrocities committed were of the children of Tigray. But, henceforth, it seems they have decided to remain behind and push non-Tigreans to the forefront. The new formation fools nobody except themselves. As far as the empire remains in tact, the relation of Ethiopia with its colonies cannot change. It will be only implementing the right of nations to national self-determination that can make the difference; not collections of dictators and captives. The present whitewashed power will not give legitimacy – be it for the empire or for TPLF – even to the small extent it had done under Mallas. But, if the whitewash turns concrete, matters may differ.

Mallas had facilitated the way to become the uncontested dictator pushing aside his organization. The throne he constructed does not seem to fit any other. This time, EPRDF is not filled with members loyal to the TPLF like twenty years ago. Except for those suffering from slave mentality, others, who followed them meekly for fear and terror in the initial stage, are no more there thanks to the “mattakaakaat” policy. For that reason, there is a possibility for surrogates to dare and ask for a share in power and wealth of the empire. The way they are going to resolve that issue could affect not only the political relations in the empire, but also that of the Horn. The four EPRDF member organizations can no more remain under the spell of one man or party without their free will. The time has come for them to decide whether it is only their conscience and interest, or that of a partner that can dictate them. They will either remain part of the imperial household or rivals with their own terms for partnership.

Starting from the Darg era, Amaara elites have been fanning multinational organizations based on the pretension of being Ethiopian, but led by them. Under the Wayyaanee, they were forced by circumstances to form an organization called the “Mallas Amaaraa.” But, it was short-lived because it failed to satisfy the Amaara standard. However, it seems they are starting to feel persecuted for being Amaara, and that no organization under the multinational name has been able to protect their national interest. As a result, they had decided to build one that could take care of Amaaraa interests, and named it “Moresh” (calling one in danger). With the experience they acquired under Tigrawayi, they may be able to realize the problems others had been facing under alien dictators. Difficulties help the reasonable to see things widely and wisely. If they are trying to safeguard their interest as a people and respect for those of others in the same manner, they may be more understood. Unless the Amaara trust them,Habashaa organizations that call themselves multinational may be forced to rethink the good for dictatorship strategies they had been following so far.

There is only one OLF. There are those who want to mock at it being four or five. Titan arum will not change its scent because one says it is incense. Those others will not also escape being called OLF the “titan arum.” True OLF’s principal objective is to establish the independent Republic Oromiyaa and guarantee its well being. The independent Republic Oromiyaa shall be a country – where all will enjoy liberty, equality, fraternity, freedom to form association, and where the rule of law reigns supreme. There, there will be no discrimination or persecution based on race, creed, gender, tribe or nationality. All that will be realized only with a strong organization that puts the kaayyoo ahead of any other interests. A strong organization is expected to be true and honest to the people of Oromiyaa and its members – in its actions and utterances. The time of struggle is not the time of governance. Anyone who stands on the way should be dealt with like the enemy is dealt with.

If an organization is not loose from inside, there will be no way that evil could creep in. For this reason, cleansing one’s house and sealing all holes have priority. Guarding well-being of an organization is a matter of life and death. For all purposes, decisiveness and unwavering commitment to the cause are indispensable characters of a revolutionary. It must be realized that in a world where things move at the speed of light, leg-drugging and procrastination have no place. People should not be left in darkness from knowing what is going around in the world. It is the responsibility of revolutionaries to work for people’s awareness. They are only conscious people who know their rights and can demand for them. The wish of the people is for liberation forces to stand together, and that would have been the ideal one. However, all have to cleanse their homes so that infiltrators, whom one kept away, should not get a chance of getting in by using the other.

The colonizers have stumbled and are staggering. They should not be allowed to regain their balance. This is the time when all have to rally to take advantage of local and international situations. To derail OLF from moving forward and face the challenges, many internal and external campaigns are being conducted. That being so, the great majority of Oromo are stretching their hands to take it across all obstacles. It is only those who stand for its independence who could take the nation to a life of their dreams. The OLF they know is the vanguard of their struggle for freedom and independence. For this reason, all cacophony against it is to pass with the weather. The nation also understands that its struggle could be protracted. That may demand huge sweat and blood of their gallant daughters and sons. The work of the leadership is not only advancing the cause, but also minimizing the cost. Therefore, no time should be wasted listening to gibberish of reactionary elements. They are out there to compromise Oromo national rights for self interest.

For this reason, all nationalists have to rally and thwart any machination against national interests. The present OLF officeholders may be disoriented and sluggish. But, nobody has the moral high ground to question their commitment and devotion to the cause. Nudge them; help them; advice them; tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow, the nation will have new strong leaders to assure continuity of the struggle for liberation and development. That be as it may, still OLF is the strongest organization the Oromo have. In a struggle, there is always advancing and retreating; getting strong and getting weak. Today, OLF is in advancing in a strong state. No one can turn it backwards. The time it reestablishes its headquarters in Oromiyaa and roar in all mountains and valleys will not be far off.

The international atmosphere is conducive for the Oromo national liberation struggle. No compromise, no turning back on the kaayyoo is necessary. It is up to Oromo activists to understand and grab it. Repressions and calamities that are befalling Oromiyaa are not something to be passed with silence. Anyone with conscience can never ignore the plight of people who are denied liberty, who every day go hungry, who suffer from diseases so far known to humans and get no treatment, and whose voice of agony the world has failed to listen to, and are dropping like autumn leaves every passing hour. The Oromo must be led from Oromiyaa. It is only then that their struggle gets attention. The chapter on colonialism is closing, and a vibrant Democratic Republic Oromiyaa is on the way to be brought forth – Waaqaa willing. Viva free Oromiyaa!

Honor and glory for the fallen heroines and heroes; liberty equality and freedom for the living and nagaa and araaraa for the Ayyaanaa of our fore parents!

* Ibsaa Guutama is a member of the generation that drew the first Political program of the OLF.

Source: Gubirmans Publishing

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