PRESSRELEASE
16thApril2014
The OLF Condemns the Acts of Ethnic Cleansing Perpetrated against the Oromo People by the TPLF-led Regime in Finfinnee (Addis Ababa) We aregravelyconcernedthat theTigray People’sLiberationFront-led(TPLF)regime has, onceagain,intensifiedits policy of cleansingthe Oromopeoplefrom Finfinnee,the capitalcityofOromia,and thesurroundingdistricts.
Theregimefirstcreatedtheso-calledOromiaSpecialZonein2008 and since pursued arelentlesssystematicremovaloftheindigenousOromopeoplefrom theirancestralland in thenameof“landforinvestors”,withthe solepurposeofforcefullyusurpingand controlling Oromoland and resource.
The OromotownsincludingAkaki, Bonsa,Burayu, Chaffe,Chancho, Dukam,Galan, Holata,Mojo, Mulo, Sabata,Sandafa,Sululta, and Walamara,which theregimehas brought underthe administration ofthe “SpecialZone”, arescatteredalong thefour main gatesto and fromthecapitalintherangeof25Kmto50Kmfromthecapitalcity.
The regime has launched its mostrecentatrocity underthe guiseof “Addis Ababa and the SurroundingOromiaIntegratedDevelopmentPlanProject”and annexedthe aforementioned towns from Oromia. Theregimes’ long-term sinister strategic plan is to surgically remove Finfinnee and the surrounding from Oromia and annex it to the neighboringAmhara state and depriveOromiaof its vital economicand politicalcapital whenOromiaeventuallybecomesanindependentcountry.
Having compulsorily and illegallyevicted theOromopeople from areassurrounding theircapitalcity, and now removinga hugelandmassand vitalstrategictownsaway from Oromia,theregime has—asitdid in2004 whenitimprisoned, killedand exiled over350
Oromostudentsfor opposing theeviction of Oromoinstitutions from their capital city—provoked the Oromoyouth to riseup and protest.Now itwillusethisaspretextto dismiss Oromo studentsfromuniversities,imprisonthem,and sendtheminto exileenmasse.
P. O. Box 21762, Washington, DC 20009 USA – Tel: (202)-521-5653 – waajjira@oromoliberationfront.info
The TPLFregime and its collaborators needto understandthat the land takenfrom theOromopeoplewillbereturnedtoitslawfulownerssoonerorlater.
The regimehas beenwagingstateterrorismagainsttheOromo peopleto suppress theirprotestagainstevictionfrom theirhomelandand confiscationoftheirfarmlands.Ithas imprisonedtensof thousandsof themfor theirobjectionto its apartheid-likeeducational policy and for their demandsof political rights and theright of self-determination for the pasttwo decades.Numerousreportsfrom credibleregionaland internationalhumanrights organizationsconfirm that theTPLF considersallsocially and politically consciousOromo nationalsasenemies,and that ittargetsthemassuch.
Therehas beennoregimethat has pushedthe Oromopeopleharderthan the TPLFin theirhistory. Theyare beingpushedtothe limitbythe brutalitiesofthe regimeand haveno alternative but to rise up in unison. Hence,the currentTPLF-led regimeneeds to be reminded that its premeditated humanrights abusesand dehumanizationof theOromo peopleconstitutearecipeforadisastrouscivil war.
The OLF believes the TPLFmust bestopped. The OLF willdo all in its powerto strengthenits struggle against theregime. Wewillalso renewour call to our people to standshouldertoshoulderand strengthenourunitytodefeattheenemyand guaranteethe survivalofournation.
Oromiashallbefree!
Oromo Liberation Front
