Underestimating, misunderstanding, and mishandling the power of nationalism:
By Jawar Siraj Mohammed, 19 October 2009–Although this debate began because Professor Messay claimed the ideology of self determination is to be blamed for OLF’s lack of success in the past two decades, he has not shown any evidence to back up his assertion. He has not provided us with a single case where the “right” ideology resulted in success and “bad” ideology led to the failure of insurgency, nor does he explain how exactly advocating for the right to self determination weakened the OLF. Even though I have shown cases where organizations advocating similar ideology produced different results, he refuses to accept that organizational efficiency is primarily a result of strategy and committed leadership. Instead his two articles focused on pointing out the deficiency of self determination as an ideology and he seems to be attempting to drag me into this ideological debate. I refused to engage in such a debate because my article which he reacted to took no side on the ongoing ideological debate. I concluded that ideology was not among the major factors that hindered the organization’s performance.Reading through Professor Messay’s two essays I have come to realize that the various points he discussed arise from his distaste for “ethnic politics” in general and for the OLF in particular. I believe it is unhelpful to assess organizational performance based on our ideological preferences as doing so would take away our objectivity. Failure or success of an organization should be evaluated based its stated objectives not based on what the analyst thinks is a right objective. In my views it is this lack of objectivity that leads many individuals and groups to underestimates, misunderstand and mishandle nationalist movements. In this essay I would like to briefly discuss this issue.
Underestimating Nationalism: OLF’s Ideology, Success beyond Expectation or Bankruptcy?
I challenge Professor Messay’s repeated declaration that OLF’s ideology is bankrupt. I think such assumption is quite far from reality. Assuming that the ideology he is referring to is the “nationalist agenda”, neither me nor the professor would have been interested in debating this issue had Oromo nationalism not been the most powerful political mobilizing force that is likely to determine the future of the Ethiopian state. Had the OLF ideology failed, there would not exist a land known as Oromia in country where once it was shame to identify yourself as an Oromo. Had this ideology bankrupted, some 20 million children would not be studying in Afan Oromo, in a place where it was a taboo and sign of backwardness to speak this language.
It’s my understanding that a political ideology is said to be bankrupted when it fails to attract supporters. Yet when we look at OLF’s “nationalist agenda”, it enjoys incredible level of support across all sectors of the Oromo people despite the very poor performance of the organization. In fact, one can rightly argue that OLF’s biggest accomplishment since its inception is artfully articulating and developing Oromo nationalism. The evidence for this is the fact that, although they differ on ways and means of achieving the goal, all Oromo political forces share a unanimous rejection and determination to fight cultural domination, political repression, social alienation and economic exploitation. That is why Oromo nationalists remain the number one threat to the current regime for the last two decades and as a result they make up over 95% of political prisoners. This fact will continue to be the case as long as identity based injustice remains the rule of the game.
Hence, unless one kids himself/herself for the sake of the argument, OLF’s ideology has been a success beyond expectation. What led to success of this ideology is clear, it is incredible level of cultural, economic and social repressions by successive tyrants that backfired and broadened alienation of the Oromo and strengthened the spreading of nationalism.
Anyone interested in making practical influence on Ethiopian politics knows that it has long become impossible either to maintain or change the status quo without taking this force into consideration. That is why forces who oppose the demands of Oromo nationalism, both the ruling party and opposition groups, continue to make gradual concession to soften the nationalist position and win their alliances. Cornered with ever increasing uprising, the regime has been instituting reforms such as increasing local autonomy in Oromia and allowing expansion of Afaan Oromo both in academia and in the media. It is to be remembered that hundreds of students were killed in the last decade for these demands to be met. On the other side, opposition groups who in 2005 used the excuse of “no ethnic politics” either to ignore the issue or rally against the gains of the Oromo movement, now have made a U-turn by embracing the reality as it is shown with their swift acceptance of Afaan Oromo as a national language. Remembering that few years back, some of those individuals organized a rally in Washington DC opposing the extension of time for Afaan Oromo on the VOA, their current move is an encouraging step that should be embraced by Oromo nationalists.
I challenge people to take off their vale of fear for the rising tide of Oromo and acknowledge the many positive contribution this movement had brought for Ethiopians as a whole. Its the awakening of the giant that forced successive regime to remove state sponsored cultural and linguistic genocidal policy against the South. Without the awakening of the giant, oppressed minorities of the South would still be called “bariya” , “Shanqilla”, “Walamo” and so on by the state media who degrades them while relying on their wealth for financing.
When we speak of Oromo nationalism and its demands, the ‘self-mutilation’ the Professor wants to discuss also has to be analyzed historically. The Oromo are only demographic majority but has always been political and social minority. Just 35 years ago a majority of “Ethiopians” never acknowledged that a people called the “Oromo” lived in the greater part of Ethiopia, and that it constitutes of humans with certain dignifies and inalienable rights. Thanks to the Oromo nationalists and the Ethiopian student movement, and as well as the sacrifices made by the Left, now the “Gimatam Galla” is accepted as a dignified “Oromo”. There are still remnants of the old, including the Woyane security, who push for an anti-Oromo stand-up comedy in Finfine, but their days are closing. Now, in the third millennia, after notable achievements by the struggle, if Ethiopians demand that Oromo nationalists move to the center and take leadership of democratizing and strengthening unity of the country, that is an understandable quest. But this demand for ‘taking the leadership’ will not echo as genuine, if one purports to demean and destroy Oromo nationalism which brought the movement to the respected position it finds itself now. Oromo nationalist will heed the call for “move to the center” if and only if that ‘call’ is supported by empathy and understanding the sacrifices they made up to this point. Otherwise it sounds like an “Arada”call that lacks genuinety.
That is also why Professor Messay’s call for unity while accusing me of an Amhara hater, without any evidence whatsoever, is a wrong approach. In the typical paternalistic fashion of elites of the dominant culture, he advises me saying “what keeps you in chains is the diatribe against Amhara, Abyssinians and the correlated discourse on the Ethiopian colonization of the Oromo.” Since the Professor is willing to sacrifice facts and along the way his honor, to defend his own ‘ideology’, he seems to have been forced to misrepresent me, while I am alive. I have no diatribe against the Amhara, nor a hang-up on a colonial theory, these are just mind creations of the Professor to appear as the ultimate defender of Ethiopia’s unity. One thing I want to say, however is that, Ethiopia is an unfinished project. All of us have a role in its final shape. But for this to happen the minimum code of conduct is to listen to each other, to feel each other’s pain, and to represent the facts as they are without misrepresenting them. The tactics and machinations which foiled the Ethiopian Student Movement and all the political movements that came in its wake are outmoded and tested by our joint failure to advance mutual understanding. We should try a new way, a new beginning.
Misunderstanding Sources of Nationalism: Elite Manipulation or Manifestation of Grievances?
Highly dismissive of the real cause of nationalism – which is identity based injustice – Professor Messay repetitively accuses “ethnic” elites for manipulating their people. Speaking of Oromo nationalism he asserts that “… what Jawar presents as a fact is not yet a fact; it is an elitist manipulation that uses past mistreatment to justify partition.” What I do not understand is how about the state backed, institutionalized and often violent “counter manipulation” orchestrated by those who oppose these “ethnic” elites? Wasn’t the entire field of academia and state institution exclusively controlled by the “unity or death” group for most part of the 20th century? Has the professor ever thought why a bunch of young college kids were able to convert peasant grievance into nationalism fueled revolutionary force and topple the guys with the “right” idea and the finest army? Why did “ethnic” movements outlive class struggle? It is too easy to dismiss nationalism as “elite manipulation” but we know that such approach has not helped in the past forty years. What those who advocate “unity-at-all-cost” fail to understand are that their violent, disrespectful and often chauvinistic approach to quell ethnic discontent helps fuel nationalism rather than defuse it.
I argued that, it’s not some abstract ideological aspiration that gave birth to ethnic based rebellion, but rather it was identity based political repression, economic exploitation and cultural subjugation. Thus, Eritreans, Tigreans, Oromos and others supported their perspective liberation front’s not because their elites were so effective in making the peasants study Stalin’s work, but because the people were yearning for an end to repression by any means necessary.
It’s this misunderstanding of the source of nationalism which leads the professor to give too much credit to Stalin on the raise of nationalism. For instance he says “According to the Stalinist vision, the liberation of the ethnic group has precedence over the consideration of unity with other groups.” I am not a student of Stalin, but I never came across any research that puts Stalin as a good friend of nationalists. On the contrary, Stalin is well known for persecuting his own “Georgian” nationalists, because he ardently believed that the class solidarity of the workers takes precedence over the nationalist interest of the bourgeoisie. As an old student of Stalin, how could the Professor miss this fact? When fact and logic are thrown out the window, it seems there is no turning back but misrepresenting others is also acceptable because it serves a ‘higher purpose’ that of ‘maintaining unity at all costs’. But when trust is sacrificed to win, we will make ourselves the second Meles Zenawi of a different brand.
In connection to this, another issue which the professor keeps bringing up, but fails to substantiate with evidence, is the correlation between leftist ideology, nationalism, secessionism and armed armed struggle. He asserts that leftist ideology is responsible for growth of “ethnic” nationalism, secessionist demand, and armed struggle. This theoretical argument could have been persuasive four decades ago when the debate was based on assumptions, but now all those assumptions and theories have been tested and we have the benefit seeing real case studies that have made constructing imagined theories unnecessary. The world has been full of secessionist movements that do not advocate Leninist politics. There have leftist movements who are not secessionist. There are several secessionist struggles that are not armed. Here are some of the examples that debunk the said correlation.
- The Tibetan movement is a secessionist one but it is neither Leninist nor armed, the same is true for Quebecois secessionist movement in Canada.
- The Farc in Columbia is a leftist armed group but it is not secessionist, the same is true for the Moist in Nepal
- The BJP in India is an ultra-right wing Hindu nationalist movement which is neither armed nor leftist.
- Far left movements have taken power in several Latin American countries without armed struggle.
- At home front, EDU was a feudal party engaged in armed struggle opposing socialism, while EPRP was a leftist armed movement but it was not “ethnic” nationalist.
Many more such cases can be listed. Therefore the reality is that movements, be it secessionists or those who want to reform an existing state, pick up guns when they think that all other venues and means of advancing their cause are no longer on the table or they avoid armed struggle when they do not see comparative strategic advantage in violent uprising. Hence, Professor Messay is making a very wild conclusion.
The issue of armed struggle leading to subordination has not been the rule as well. The Zimbabweans and South African were trained by Ethiopia, but never made them Ethiopia’s satellite. The EPLF was assisted by the West, but it never succumbed to their interest. Maoist China was assisted by Stalin’s Soviet Union, but it didn’t lead to China’s subordination as well. Hence Professor Messay’s argument that getting assistance from foreigners during the armed struggle will necessarily lead to subordination is not supported by life and experience. It’s worth noting here that my criticism of OLF’s relation with Eritrea is based on the nature of the relationship whereby there is neither strategic benefit due to distance from the battlefront, and nor has been tangible financial and logistical support. Worse, being in Eritrea, the leadership insulated itself from pressure and also became a hostage that cannot make independent strategic and institutional decisions.
Mishandling Nationalism: Redress or Repress Grievance
Nationalism is like boiling water, the pot is the repressive system, the heat is repression and grievance is its steam. The solution to such problem depends at what stage the movement is or how hot the pot is. At early stage, for instance, you defuse the tension by reducing the heat so you can prevent stream formation. If you miss the first stage and steam has formed, then you must use combination of strategies which might include reducing the heat, adding cold water and loosening the cover. If it passes that stage, you have no control over the situation as either the pot will explode or the cover could be blown off.
Unfortunately, those who oppose nationalism often increase the pressure instead of systematically defusing such tension. At every stage they increase the heat by stepping up crack down which helps spreading resentment and galvanizing the oppressed. This often happens because of the gross underestimation of the potential force of grievance. By the time rulers realize their backers the real nature of the problem, they are no longer in the position to influence the outcome.
For instance so much resource and sacrifice was paid to keep Eritrea as part of Ethiopia but the effort was fruitless. Every attempt to crush the movement backfired, strengthening the rebels and further radicalizing their determination. To defuse the Eritrean nationalism and maintain the integrity of the country, Mengistu Hailemariam and his “Abiyotawi Ethiopia or Death” supporters could have negotiated for “Federation”, well before the political will for such consideration became null. And such an outcome wouldn’t have become considered a ‘defeat’ as the Professor suggested. It would have been a win-win situation. In fact, in 1981 EPLF had made the proposal for such negotiation, but was not accepted by the Dergue because it was believed EPLF was initiating a “referendum” talk because it was weakened militarily. The Professor should have learnt from his own experience from the Dergue years, that ‘politics is the art of compromise’ and not a place to shine with high sounding slogans.
The Way A Head
One might dislike the OLF or another might wish that Oromo nationalism never came to surface. These are good wishes given we add that the repressive systems that gave birth to the movement should have never existed at the first place. Now we have to deal with reality. Oromo nationalism is a reality and we better come to terms with it and develop a strategy so that it can be channeled towards the common good. I believe that Oromo nationalism, properly understood, effectively organized and led by committed and visionary leadership, could be the greatest force, in cooperation with other movements, that can uplift the country and the wider region from the never ending crisis.
Towards this I propose that opponents and proponents of the movement understand the situation for what it is: Oromo Nationalism is borne out of identity-based injustice by successive regimes that culturally subjugated and ridiculed the Oromo reducing them to subhuman condition on their own land. It’s also a manifestation of grievance from economic marginalization of these people by forces who exploit their resources. Thus, opponents of this movement should understand that such social dynamics cannot fade away under repression or by condescending slogans such as extremism, tribalism or cover up of historical injustice. If those Ethiopians who genuinely lose their sleep over the balkanization of their country love it earnestly and wish for a better future, they must embrace reality and work towards bringing democratic, fair and integrated country. In short a justice based on fairness. Oromo nationalists should also know that the objective of the movement is not to “defeat” the oppressor, but to uplift our people. As such we need to overcome our bitterness that was caused by fresh scars of a century long dehumanization. As Paulo Freire nicely put it “the great humanistic and historical task of the oppressed is to liberate themselves and their oppressors as well”. It is not enough to blame others for all the wrongs and expect difference; we must take leadership to bring about mutual understanding. I hope to say more on this in my upcoming essays.
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Jawar Siraj Mohammed can be reached at jawarmd@gmail.com
October 19th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
I am sure Tigre or Amhara elits who deeply hate Oromo will have a very good response to this article. Oromos may wish to live with them but these groups donot really want to even call the name Oromo— they still call you Galla.
Jawar spent your time think on how to build your people and your country.
Look at the history page of Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at http://www.mfa.gov.et/Facts_About_Ethiopia/Facts.php. It tells you you and your people are colonies and TPLF militray outpost. This time Amharas are also not spared.
Oromos need to make important decision of getting organised—every where and in any way possible.
October 19th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
What an outstanding and matured article! Dear Jawar ,I am extremely proud of you . You have spoken the hearts and minds of all the Oromo people in this beautiful essay. Please ,keep on writing as you are my hero after all . ያ ሴይጣናም ፕ/ር ደግሞ ምን እንደሚጽፍ እናያለን :: መቼም ከኮሚኒስት ጭንቅላት ቁም ነገር መጠበቅ የዋህነት ነው ::
October 19th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
This two rv PHD people always fighting each other on empty field can they Join G7 and do some real work
October 20th, 2009 at 12:26 am
Did you receive read “JOHN Z BAPTIST” letter of article yet ? ha! haa!! you do not know what you are missing and talking about, find it and read it, for sure it will alter your entire political standing and the way you see Ethiopia history and Ethiopias politics. By the way do you know who ‘John Z Baptist’ ? he is faceless unknown and he does not wanted to be known, he just wanted to impose his …………in your mind. The Ethiopian government already declared full blown propaganda war to silence him and they attacked his family members, but he is becoming bald and more active the more they try to blackmail him.
What is the Ethiopian government trying to hide and fear ?
October 20th, 2009 at 1:21 am
wow, i have to say this is one of the best discussion on oromo nationalism vis a vis ethiopian nationalism. thank you jawar
God bless Ethiopia and we should be proud that we have intellegent and pro-peace Oromo-Ethiopians like this writer
God bless all ethiopians
October 20th, 2009 at 2:03 am
The core of the political crises is ethnic federalim and Seccessionism, manifested in the existing loyalist opposition parties with ethnic agenda, and liberation movements in terms of OLF and OLF, which are at each others throat over boundries. Both factions and the loyalist opposition parties, now forming a coalition with Medrek are based on ethnic agenda or platorm along the same line as TPLF/eprdf/regime, the grantor of ethnic federalism and seccessionist right. You gentlemen are putting too much emphasis on the liberation movements of OLF sponsored by EPLF/Eritrea. They fall under the the negative forces of disintegration, as opposed to the positive forces of integration of AEUP, EPRP, etc, steadfast in a peaceful and/or armed struggle for Unity, Territorial Integrity and Sovereignty of Ethiopia and freedom of all Ethiopians from the multi-layer hierchical political model of TPLF/eprdf, while you gentlemen split hair over the status of OLF after 18-30 years of armed struggle to dissociate from its own sel/organic entity Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is a mosaic of linguistic and ethnic cultures for thousands of years, so is the United states, where in diversity they believe ther is strength. What is lacking in Ethiopia a democratic government with national agenda, where every ethnic group may develop its own linguistic and ethnic culture, and delop the country along ecological zones, not ethnic zones/federated states.
If one uses the analogy of looking down on a forest with different species population from a low flying airplane, one can appreciate the mosaic characterstic of species populations, each having its own nich in its habitat. The same can be said of the eighty ethnic groups, where at least the major ones constitute aleast three of or four ethnic grous, with the exception of the major cities which are cosmopolitan. While the development of linguistic and ethnic cultures is feasible the division of land by language is not feasible and is an artificial, ill defined boundaries, that already lead to conflicts for grazing resources and water, and among the bigger ones for borders. What we need to strive over to maintain a linuistic/literary and ethnic traditions/cultures with freedom of the individual to freely move and settle anywhere in Ethiopia with out fear of being ostracized, to elect a government that governs by the consent of individuals.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:07 am
Jowhar,
You nailed it.. let the good professor deal with it now. I am sure he will regret his below-standard second article in particular. That one was where he exposed himself too much in my opinion. Don’t hope too much, though, that the Amhara elites would remove the veil covering their eyes from seeing this matter objectively.
The great hope is that there is a huge segment of mixed race Ethiopians and modern youth who have already started living outside of the black box in which old folks such as Messay are suffocating themselves. My hero Dr Berhanu is one champion of this modern political movement in Ethiopia. We Oromos would thank him and look forward to work with him for the betterment of our future.
October 20th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Mr./Ms. observer,
Where can i get the information material you are talking about ? could you give us a hint what the article contain ?
October 20th, 2009 at 7:39 am
M./Ms. observer,
;Where can i get the information material you are talking about ? could you give us a hint what the article contain ?
October 20th, 2009 at 8:15 am
The person calling himself Jawar Siraj Mohammed does not seem to have understood Professor Mesay Kebede`s points.
The professor referred to the obsolete Marxist ideology of secession through self-determination. He is advising the Oromo elites to come out of their cocoon of irrelevant ideology and `think big`. In other words, he is advising them to get progressive and adopt political ideas and values which are compatible with the modern world of globalization. The TPLF is using the so called ethnic regions for its own aim of divide and rule. Not to enhance and respect the rights of citizens at all levels. Had the OLF`s version of Oromo nationalism been so attractive and rallying as ato Jawar claims, then OLF could have liberated Oromia and been in power. The legitimate demands and grievances of the Oromos and other groups in Ethiopia should not be encapsulated with nationalism and pursued as national colonial questions. Groups such as the OLF who are presenting oppression as a national issue have this failure or unwillingness to reveiew their positions and programs. As Jawar has stated the OLF has not liberated any piece of land. The reason is the lack of appeal of Oromo nationalism to moblilize the vast majority of the Oromos to achieve any of the goals of the OLF. The most important lesson to be learned from this, is that the common objective of struggling to democratize our common home Ethiopia is the best alternative.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:16 am
PLease stop everybody hating each other, You are doing for Weyane, When you are feeling your racial background.
Please stop writing, Talking & writing Oromo, Amhara….. JUst think about EThiopia & Ethiopian, Who are suffering in the weyane Fascism, Stalinism.
Please focus on our Unity!
Be carefull, everyone, There are plenty of weyane-Tigray members sounding, writing articles as any of our Nation-Names to do hating each other & staying on power.
I thought, as an Educated person never thinkig using His/Her racial background feeling in complex to divide the Nation.
An intelectual person always thinkig postive for peace & prosperity.
The New Ethiopian generation never & ever listening about, Oromo,
Amhara, Guragie…. The majority of Ethiopian are focus on proceeding to destroy the Racist Weyane, Stalinists Dedebit Internal-Communist ideology and their Terrorist Rules & Regulations.
LONG LIVE ETHIOPIA!!!
October 20th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Aha,
Your AAPO (Oh no AEPO) is also an ethnic organization modeled on the promise of safeguarding the interest of the Amhara people. Unfortunately, their agenda goes contrary to all others who are doing the same for their own ethnic groups. It is important to remember every day that the Amharas do not want “Killil” or the introduction of another national language, because it diminishes their domination. There is no other poltics in this. At the end what happens to Oromia is in the hands of the Oromo people and they should not ask, cojole or lobby for that right to be recognized by the dominant culture. It will not happen. You have cause and justice on your side and advance that cause by relying on your own people.
October 20th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Mr Jawar accuse Dr Messay of being biased. But his way of arguing is quite emotional and subjective too. I don’t think Dr Messay has crticised the right to develop ones culture, use ones language, and other group rights. He was only against the secessionist agenda.
Mr Jawar gives too much of undeserved credit to OLF or the Oromo movement by claiming that all the current political changes we see in Ethiopia are brought about by the movement. Imagine TPLF was a force against ethnic politics then rethink how much could OLF have accomplished in its objective. It is a fact that the contribution of OLF or the Oromo nationalist movement in the overthrow of the Derg government is minimal. The Derg regime collapsed following the global change in world politcs, the increasing apathy of the Ethiopian population towards the war, and the decay of the system as a a government that all together contributed to the success of TPLF and EPLF. We know that OLF as a force was co-opted by TPLF at the 11th hour as a mere tactical move. We also know that TPLF is efficiently exploiting the nationalist demands of ethnic groups for its own divide-and-rule strategy. I would say that the changes made by the TPLF-led government and the persistent propaganda and political manipulation have strengthened the Nationalist sentiments of the Oromo and other ethnic groups. But it is true that TPLF is no more genuinely interested in the rights of nations and nationalities than the Fascist Italian invaders who had preached the same ethnic rights 60 years ago. However, these rights will always stand as basic and important regardless of who brought them to the light.
Unless Mr Jawar is an old timer his statement that ” the South would still be called “bariya” , “Shanqilla”, “Walamo” and so on by the state media who degrades them while relying on their wealth for financing” is an exaggeration. I even doubt if this has been so during the emperial time. We should give some credit to the Derg regime and the student movement for the abolition of the feudal system that has brought many fundamental changes in Ethiopian politics.
October 20th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Jawar still does not get it or does not want to admit it. May be the other professor needs to write a book and help this man to understand what it takes to be a true messenger to the Oromo people and all Ethiopians at large. OLF has been good for the following two reasons:
1. It has been helping several ethiopians to secure asylum
cases in the globe.
2. It has been working sun up and sun down to make sure that hundreds and thousands of Oromos spend thier lives in TPLF prison cells.
October 20th, 2009 at 10:28 am
I look at it this way, ‘pot’ as cooking pot where we cook our tasteful food for the whole family. But, one of the family’s members insists and forces to cook his tasty pig meat that previously sicken the rest of the family. If the pig eater still insists and forces the family to eat his pig meat from the same pot, then we have to make our own pot and cook our separate meal. The rest of the family can’t afford to be sick anymore. If our family member (pig eater) still insists, we have to move to separate house. The pig eater appetite is a problem and we have no problem with ‘Pot’!!!!
October 20th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
“Had the OLF ideology failed, writes Jawar, there would not exist a land known Oromia in a country where once it was shame to identify yourself as an Oromo. Had this ideology bankrupted, some 20 million children would not be stuyding in Afan Oromo, in a place where it was a taboo and sign of backwardness to speak this language.” If the ideology is successful as Jawar admits why is some Oromos, whom Jawar seems to have been among, persist on fighting the exisiting Ethiopian government. In fact, Jawar writes as if he was one of the cadres of EPDRF in citing the achivement the Oromos had had. Yes, we had a land known Oromia, and our 20 million children learn in their language, but Oromos still, I believe Jawar believes, are the oppressed ethnic group in Ethiopia, until of course, the Oromos who are the majority decide the fate of the nation, being in the political summit and push to the throat of the rest of Ethiopians as the majority wished to dictate. Could Jawar really believe if OPDO, which was created by TPLF, was not used as an appendage by TPLF such accomplishments he had mentioned would have been materialized? I doubt he does. By the way, we have now the southern nations, which no one has heard of about in the name they are called now before EPDRF came to power, leave alone of them having an ideology to promote the interest of the Southern nations. As for speaking in Oromo language being considered a sign of backwardness, Jawar must have known something that I do not know. I was born and grew up in Addis, where people of every ethnic group lives. While I admit Amharic to be the dominant language there, I am certain of saying people of every ethnic group speak their mother tongue, and none, I believe unlike Jawar, is ashamed of speaking in his mother tongue.
October 20th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Azeb! Those of you who support the divide and rule policy of TPLF/eprdf, use Amhara ethnic group as scape goat, in same manner TPLF and EPLF used Amhara ethnic group as an oppressor. Focus you attention to remove the the multi-layer, hierachical political model which is subjugating the Oromo and the Amhara ethnic groups which are a threat to it. The Oromo national front for its determination to seccession and eventual self-determination, as declared in ethnic and the right to seccession in the last 18 years. The Amharas consider themselves as Ethiopians first and Amhara second, they were opposed to the previous regimes and the ordinary Amharic speaking as there is no Amhara ethnic group have nothing to do with the ruling class, a conglomerates of ethnic groups. You have nothing left to blame on Amahara ethnic group from my commentary, if at all it it is engaged in a peaceful struggle against the negative forces of disintegration or to Ethiopia from disintegration not to be seccede from itself as does the Oromo liberation front in the pretext of having been an oppressed ethnic group by Ethiopia as a colonizer.
October 20th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
From GETACHEW REDA www.Ethiopiansemay.blogspot.com
Dear readers (Exclude my respect “dear” word to the OLF Toys. They are waste, they are distorted mobs, , unoccupied internet vagabonds, full of sick and disabled mind who are suffering self inflicted inferiority complex with at most shame they feel proud being a pathological liars, who betrayed their Oromo people and live in the Western world with comfort!!!!).
I am here to response not to the child mind that is still in a fantasy world writing from school library & living far, far, far place from Ethiopia living in the U.S. talking about Oromo people where we surely know he is not serious what he writes when he is arguing with his teacher Professor Messay kebede. Professor is a kind man who is willing to teach this boy living with fantasy and distorted mind about the corrupt ideology of the Criminal Mob calling itself “OLF” for 40 years (killing and burning elders, blind, mothers with their baby, school children with fire) hiding itself in Asmara, Minnesota and Europe sending their children to school far from Ethiopia. I am not responding to those punks but to the readers. Because, OLF punks knew me that I already knew from their heart and mind, that they are lying to themselves by declining and refusing to go to the Ethiopian forests to fight or liberate what they preach here in the internet. So, they are simply a waste releasing their fantasy fever and depression. But, thanks god they are running in every Ethiopian store to buy injera to feed their big belly that scared to fight in the jungle. They are still in love with injera regardless they said they are not Ethiopians and want to go back to the PROPER OROMO FOOD (?)- Even though their leader from Minnesota suggested not to eat Injera – because Injera is Abyssinians’ food.
We already discussed about this many times. Fascist thinks, because majority German and Italians made to say a slogan created from Fascists and Nazis, they assume the majority are with them. Read the German Hitler history, the entire German was hypnotized by the Nazi slogan and Hitler oratorical skills, with all the cruelty and mass killings of the Jewish people, the “people” supported his mass killings and the roasting of human body in Oven. Is there more ignorance than this? No! Here this baby mind is writing how OLF change the name Galla to Oromo” and calls it victory. What is that mean? Nothing. He is simply fooling his baby mind, and his self inflicted inferiority that Negede Gobeze and his likes brain washed him to call himself Oromo not Galla. What we also know is the Galla is the original name as it was Oromo as well. You can call yourself Oromo, that is fine, but do not interpreted the proper name of the Oromo people “Galla” as an insult. Never was an insult, no one can show us Galla means “insult”. Having said this, we are calling you the way Negede Gobeze and his likes want you to be called. We have no problem calling you your wishes, but don’t fool yourself Galla was an insult. We can discuss about it as you want.
Let me teach this “baby mind/vegetative mind” what Galla means and who was Galla and who was Oromo written by a full flagged Oromo Ethiopian scholar.
The historical context of the term “Gala”
I will be proud of the following points about the great Oromo people, as all Ethiopians should be:
As I explained earlier, the historical context of the term “Gala” originally didn’t have any negative connotation. On the contrary, it was a designation of honor denoting wisdom, knowledge and philosophy. It meant wise, knowledgeable and philosopher. Why? Because, as I indicated in my note, the people who were called by that name were such. Words, like Seb’a-Segel, Gelan, Negele, Megal, etc emanate from it. I will only take Seb’a-Segel and Megal. “Seb” is a Geez word for “men” or “human”. “Segel”, besides being number, is indicative of “wisdom”. When the Bible says the “Seb’a-Segel” went to Bethlehem following a star to present gifts to Jesus, it is referring to the Oromo and other Ethiopian wise men who presented gifts to Jesus.The Gospel of Mathew calls them “Wise Men from the East”. These were 12 Ethiopian kings from the Ethiopian Empire. They were all the children of Ethiop even though they were representing different tribes including the Amara, Oromo, Afar, Hamassien and even Somali. (I will give the details if anyone asks me to do so.) Since the issue is Oromo, I will deal only with it for now. Now the man representing the Oromo (and at that time he was also representing the Galla, as this word didn’t have then any negative connotation whatsoever), was King Megal, the King of Maji, (Westerners call the “Wise Men From The East”, “The Maji” for this reason), Derdina and Armen (not to be confused with Armenia). These were all Ethiopian regions. King Megal was great not only because he was among the wise men who knew about the birth of the Savior of The World being as far as Ethiopia, when His own (The Savior’s) people, the Israelites themselves, knew nothing about His birth, but also because he had sailed from Ethiopia to Portugal and Spain together with the Medebay tribe (a name the Oromo were known by before they were called “Oromo” and “Gala” priests, philosophers and prophets, and administered Portugal and Spain. This is a historical fact which occurred more than 2000 years ago. We shouldn’t, therefore, be surprised, if the word Portugal means, “Port Gala”, meaning the port of Gala, since the Gala had anchored their ships at that port and developed it further. When I visited Spain many years ago, I entered a city called “Tolossa”. Unaware of the earlier presence of the Oromo in Spain and Portugal then, I joked to my girlfriend who was driving with me saying, “Wow! I didn’t know I am such a famous writer after whose name a city exists! The Spanish have already dedicated to me a city.” Considering that Portugal and Spain had later on colonized Africa, I would be lying if I say that I don’t feel proud that my people, who are also the people of all the members of this Forum, had ventured to go that far.
The following will also address the concern of both Dr. Tadele and Ato Fraol Darara. You said that no Oromo would call himself “Galla”, it is only the Ahara and Tigre who call them so. You are wrong on that account as well. His Excellency Ato Yilma Deressa, a full-fledged Oromo from Wellega, wrote a book entitled, Ye Galloch Tarik. He was just telling a chapter of their amazing history. He wouldn’t have used the word “Gala”, if he was negative about it.
Furthermore, not everyone used to be called Oromo. Those who were called Oromo predominantly were those from Wellega, Inaria, a part of Gojam, Jima, Genete, Arerti, etc. Those from Borena, Shewa Robit, Sidamo, Kereyu, Denkel, Tiltal, Raya and Kobo were identified as “Gala”. If you called people from these regions during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, they would get angry at you. They often asserted proudly saying, “I am Galla, descendant of philosophers, prophets and wise men. Don’t call me Oromo!” That was then. However, when the Revolution of the Derg broke out, they were told, you are no more “Gala”. You are Oromo. Never call yourself “Gala” again. Ato Haile Fida, a key member of the Me’sone Party, a man from Welega, whose mother was an Amara and other Oromo Mei’son members, made sure that the word Galla went out of existence. Mainly they pressured the Derg to decree a law nullifying this word. Subsequently EPRDF reinforced it.
Why were Ato Haile Fida and his group against this word. We all know why. Some arrogant, ignorant and rude non-Oromo chauvinistic people had abused the good meaning of the word to connote curse. Therefore, instead of reeducating those rude and crude individuals and punishing them severely if they used the word “Galla” as a curse, our “far-sighted” politicians abolished altogether this wonderful historical word which reflected and implied the wisdom of the children of Deshet the prophet, the father of both the Amara and the Oromo. The word in and of itself was not bad. It was only those who badmouthed with it who were bad.
The above is a historical explanation of the origin and fate of the word “Gala”. We should not make it a taboo, that shouldn’t be mentioned, just because some ignorant and arrogant people abused it. However, if anyone prefers to be called “Oromo” to “Gala”, the right of this person should be respected. You can’t call a person by a name if he/she doesn’t want to be called, for this is tantamount to violating the inalienable right of that person. As Jesus said, “You shall seek the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”
Thank you for your attention.
descendant of prophets Ethiop and Deshet, the fathers of Oromo, Amara and millions of Ethiopians
October 20th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
What is this reference to John the baptist, is he now become an Oromo?
October 20th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Response to “Borsamo harqa” ኦሮሞዎችን ስለፖለቲካ ለመምከር አንተ ማን ነህ ? ሂድና እነዚያን “የነገስታት ዘር” ዘመዶችህን ምከራቸው :: ባንተ አይነቱ ደደብ የኦሮሞ ስም መጠራቱ ያሳዝናል :: መለስ ካደረጋቸው መልካም ነገሮች ውስጥ ልቤን የሚያረካው ነገር ቢኖር አንተንና መሰሎችህን አማሮች “ዝም ” ማሰኘቱ ነው :: ዛሬ ደግሞ ለሌሎቻችንም ቀናችን ደርሶልናልና ባንተና በደደቦቹ (መሃይሞቹ) አማሮች ማንነታችን አይጠቆርም :: አፍህን ዘግተህ “በርገርህን” ብትጠብስ ይሻለሃል::
October 20th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
The writer has written a wonderful article. With the exception of a few exaggeration such as 95% of the political prisoners are Oromos, he makes sense in his argument.
Berta,
Chombe
October 20th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Jewar my hero keep it up brother, you are pulling the rug from under the chauvinist elite who thinks he is better than the rest of the people. Not only that, he want to prescribe solution for oppressed nationalities concerns in Ethiopia. I only say thank you
October 20th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Ms. Azeb,
We Ethiopians already got the most painful lesson ever for the last 70+ years, when we allowed that the last three Amhara Dominated governments runing our country, we Ethiopians gained nothing from these useless braindead retarde amhara dominated governments but WAR,STRAVATION,POVERITY and Tribalism.
It does not matter what kind of government or principles of politics we apply, it may take decades if not centuries to correct and fix these amharas governments mess.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:00 am
Come on people! Don’t fight whereas the solution is in your hands. Declare linguistic and cultural equality. There will be no OLF.
Look around you in Africa. Kenya, Tanzanaia, South Africa, Nigeria, Gana, Cameron, Zaire. Nowhere in africa is an Amara-like ethnic dictatorship. It’s only in Ethiopia where one ethnic group weilded so much power and oppressed all others. Snatched their lands and displaced them, enslaved the peope, settled among them, suppressed denigraded their languages and cultures, and planted its own selfishly on top of all. Ask me how on earth a primitive and superstious tribe who don’t even know how to build a brick house achieved all thee power. The answer is by signing contracts to the enslaving and colonizing Europe to oppress and sell Africans south of Ifat.
So, stop playing victim if you’re an Amara, because you’re not.
October 21st, 2009 at 6:08 am
anga,
you are completly drugist ubnormal person, playing game in writing racial conflict among the people.
you are nonesense living in diffrent world, disturbing Ethiopian.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:44 am
Mr.Melelik,
Regarding the ‘John the Baptist’ story, The ethio government already try to discredite the article by writing in his name by adding misleading information in it, the story is not about oromos, but the entire tragedy of ethiopias politics and blackmailing mass genocidal crime that occured under the umbrela of nationalism and ideology. It is true , the article may provoke new ……, but that is an assumption which the government is using to silence it. Regardless, the story already out in uk among Ethiopian communities, people were told there to hide it and not to distribute it or talk the story with others in fear of…, will the story hit north America`s ethiopian communities in washington Dc, LA,Toronto- i do not know the answer but i am sure some one will from some where may fax or mail the story, God may help us!
BY the way,i did not read the story but i hread the topics covered, who ever this guy/lady is he/she is……….., i some times wonder if the story was written by hidden foreign agent, if that is the case then what is the motive, why now ?
October 21st, 2009 at 11:26 am
I really enjoyed the civil discourse between Jawar and Professor Mesay. This is really what is needed. I can not wait to read Professor Mesay’s counter argument. Ethiopia is ruled by a minoroty ethnocnetric group. I am one of those people who always crtisized the OLF agenda and for thinking too small. Session is often a minority demand. OLF did not think outside the box. In our recent past, with the exception of the few Ethiopians in every corner sufferd during Haileselassie, Mengistu and now. Nothing has changed. Ofcourse, the TPLF members and Tigreans benefited a great deal in the last 18 years. While other regions lack basic infrustrctuer, education, health care and food distribution, Tigrai excelled in every standard. 99.5% of the military leadership is from Tigray, the PM, FM and other key positions are held by tigreans. Embassies acorss the globe is controlled by Tigreans, scholarships are given to tigreans, and yet these are a minority mafia group who are ruling the country today.
Professor Mesay put it so elequently why OLF should think big. I have always heard that OROMO being a majority, but always pushed an inferrior and minorty agend. Let us undo the mistakes happened in the past and look forward a bigger and better Ethiopia.
Down with Ethnocentric politics. Individual right before group right!!
October 21st, 2009 at 12:28 pm
This discussion on ethnic and seccessionist politics draws more audience than any other issues, indicating its core value in Ethiopian politics. It has the at most and basic value /attention of saving Ethiopia from disintegration and by achieving freedom for the silent majority of Ethiopians from the multi-layer, hierarchical political model of TPLF/eprdf.
Having achieved achieved unity, Territorial Integrity and Sovereignity of Ethiopia through a peacefull struggle and /or armed struggle from within Ethiopia, a party with national agenda will be put into power by free individuals.
That being the basic agenda, solociting the current regime for political space, to roll back/restrain from its human right violations, or unravel the political and economic strangle hold by TPLF and TPLF affiliated enterprizes or mitigate the drought conditions and /or corruptions and mal adminstration is a matter of judicial proceedings in the future rather than a matter of solicitation, short of peacefull struggle to achieve the national goals.
That being the crucial issue the arguments presented by liberation movements, specially OLF, focusing the negotiation and the blame on the Amahara ethnic group for past abuses by previous regimes and its stand for unity, Teritorial Integrity, Sovereignty of Ethiopians and freedom of its people, along with all other ethnic groups, further diminshes the value to the stand of OLF, vis a vis the argument presented by Anga. Can you forward your argument for a moment to TPLF/eprdf. Amhara ethnic group is not playing victim, standing up for a lofty goals along with all ethnic groups for the Unity, Territorial Integrity, and Sovereignty of Ethiopia and the freedom of its people from the current regime. All the vicimizations and attrocities inflicted on the Amhara and other ethnic groups is matter for future judicial processes.’ national or internat courts.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Addendum to the paragraph before the last paragraph: to roll back ethnic dictatorship for democracy, ..
October 21st, 2009 at 1:08 pm
We can stop our crap of talking (lamenting) about buzz words like democracy, individual freedom, justice, equality, human right, peace, good governance, rule of law, development…bla bla bla!! The actual difference the Empire’s politcal elites do have is on the following only three issues:
- type of unity (unconditional unity Vs conditional union)
- type of federation (kilil-federation Vs gizat-federation, be it qiny-gizat of Minilik or xeqilai-gizat of H/Silassie)
- type of method to be used for the decision on the above two (force Vs consensus Vs referendum)!!
Accordingly:
*Conservative Amharas like AEUP say unconditional unity with gizat-federation per force.
*Liberal Amharas like UDJ try unconditional unity with gizat-federation per polity’s consensus.
*Weyane Tegarus in TPLF want unconditional unity with fake kilil-federation per force.
*Medrek tries unconditional unity with true kilil-federation per polity’s consensus aka per predetermination.
*AFD will try conditional union (based on free will) with true kilil-federation per public’s referendum aka per self-determination!!
As far as the above three very important criteria are concerned, UDJ is not yet true part of Medrek! Both are on the same page regarding the type of unity and the type of method, but they do differ in the type of federation. So it is right to classify UDJ separately as done above!!
Then the question to be answered is, which one is the legitimate regarding the interest of the public at large? I think firstly AFD’s as an optiomal solution and secondly Medrek’s as a compromise solution!!
So if AFD’s optimal position is hard to swallow for Abeshas at a moment, Medrek is the best compromise they can live with and for Oromos of course Medrek’s position is the minimum we can accept!! Let’s now live with it!! Amhara’s wish of Ethiopian unity and Amharinya as federal language as well as Oromo’s desire of Oromian autonomy and Afaan Oromo as federal language are accepted and respected! Nice compromise solution!!!
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October 21st, 2009 at 1:35 pm
aha!
Old habit dies hard!!!!
Come on board the train is moving while you are still daydreaming!!!
Ethiopia …Ethiopia…Ethiopia.. How long you allow people like Aha trading in your name?They don’t love you. They use your name to steal and loot from your other children and to cover up their hiden sickness of Amaharizing your children.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:38 am
Many thanks Mr. Jawar, I always enjoyed your article. Very balanced and thoughtful, but if I were you I’ll just live the Amara Debteras alone. Let them sing ‘imiye’ minlik and ‘imiye ethipia’ all day long. The reality on the ground speak otherwise, anyways. So, let them think what every they want about oromos and dream bringing back the amara domination under the ‘ye ethipia andinet’ slogn. Don’t wast your time brother, but keep writing your beautful article on other non-habesha webs. Keep up the good work. Thanks again.
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:44 am
Here again poison Getachew reda displaying his rooted ignorance,
Answer the questions!!
Wolf covered in sheep skins, Getachew Reda, 80 to 90 percent of your comments are not only repetitive and also useless, but, because of its dysfunctional and often negative nature, much of it is also harmful. Observe your mind and you find this to be true. Such kind of compulsive thinking is actually an addictive. What characterize an addiction? Quite simply this: you no longer feel that you have the choice to stop it. You may get a sense of pleasure, pleasure that invariably may turn into pain. But look closely, your comments in general are designed to keep the pain going for yourself and others, wanting to cause more pain to others is insanity. Reda, you continued to justify your verbal hostility. What are you defending? An illusory identity-possessions, money, success, power, and recognition so that you can feel better about yourself, or to fill your bottomless life marked by many holes. Don’t you find this frightening? At least, know this, when death approaches, it is going to strip away all of your insanity. To alert you, you have allowed yourself to be taken over by psychological and pathological racism like your friend Messay Kebede. Ask yourself: Is there a joy, ease, humanity, love, and tolerance of different ideas, understanding, honesty, togetherness of Ethiopiawenet in your bickering and silliness? You are carrying unspoken resentment towards people. Have a good look inside and drop the negativity your mind has created? It has no purpose whatsoever except to strengthen a false sense of you. The negative you are harboring may spread more easily than a physical disease. You are polluting the social fabric of humanity by insulting nation and nationalities, culture and religion. Unlike you, God permitted individuals to make free choice. Who are you to say Orthodox is better than protestant for Ethiopia? Christianity is better than Muslim for Ethiopia? Educate me here! Who are the Ethiopians? Are they some sort of aliens came from outside of Africa? Ethiopians are ancient Cushitic people such as Nubian, Somalis, Afar, Sidama, Oromo, Amahra and so on.. In 21st century, why do you want to continue to repeat limitless and shameless lies of your forefathers?
Getachew Reda, You are extreme religious fanatic who call upon government of Tigre to exterminate mete (Protestant religion). Your new name is debteraw bin laden Reda.
WHAT A SICK MIND!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE SILLY!!!!!!
Let me ask you the following thick questions, whom are you working for? Why are you flaming the fire that is already in flame? What role did you play destroying Kinjit? What role did you play sending Weizerit Birtukan TO PRISON?
Don’t stare at the computer! Answer my question, goatty!!! Blackmailing is the ways of life for you and your kinds. Your divisiveness equals as the mark on your friend’s forehead.
Power over others is weakness disguised as strength. True power is capturing the hearts and minds of humanity with love!
Who said the following?
* “I am asking you as a Tigrayan from Tigray”
* “Kinijit! But can we talk this between you and I and promise me not to tell Berhanu Negga? Wow! His speech made me feel the Katrina of the new Orion and made me feel wear a raincoat in the hot California summer climate”
*” Engineer Hailu or Dr.Taye do not deserve such slanderous “
* “Weizerit Birtukan… easy prey.. Poor young lady needs to get herself out from them ASAP. Otherwise, man! You know how it goes!”
*” Birhanu need to shut his mouth from disrespecting those who paid dear sacrifice and struggle.” Question!? Who are they….woyanes?
A wolf covered in sheep skins!!!
“Unbelievable but true, Humans are a dangerously insane and very sick species.” Only, you (Getachew Reda) can prove that!!!!!
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:54 am
Getachew Reda,
Getachew Reda, your furious concentrationary impulse of narcisstic behavior of self-expanded ego, mindlessness, spineless toxic, made you frightened, insecure, confusion-monger, absurd, and very bitter person. It is shamefully and ludicrously degrading. Have a good look inside you, if you still have one.
Getachew Reda,
We want an Official apology for insulting our Oromo nation from you before things get dirty!!!!
Who said this…
“hope of Officials will read it and do something before election 2010 comes and is rectified if true. I for one do not want another Kinjit to run on the back of a disgruntled people In Tigray and destroy what has been achieved so far”
“Especially, those who have paid everything they had for the sake of the Tigrian struggle are the most neglected in Tigrai…I thought those who paid so much would be benefitted first so they can be balanced with the rest of Ethiopia.”
You/TPLF are the enemy of Ethiopia not OLF!!!!
wolf covered in sheep skin!!!
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:07 am
AFDist! Yes you are ድስት አፍ! አንተ ዘረኛ ትንሽ ጭንቅላት:: መላው የኦሮሞ ተወላጅ አንዲት ኢትዮጵያ አንድ ህዝብ እያለ ነው:: የሚሰማህ የለም:: ዝም ብለህ ቁም ነገር የሌለውን ነገር ትለቀልቃለህ:: አንተ አስቴርና ሌሎች የወያኔና ሻቢያ ወኪሎች መሆናችሁን በሚገባ አውቀናል:: አወናባጅ እባቦች::
እኛ የኦሮሞ ተወላጆች ምን ጊዜም ” ኢትዮጵያ ወይም ሞት ብለናል:: ለዘለአለም:: ትፈነዳላችሁ እንጂ በኦሮሞ ተወላጆች ስም የምትቀባዥሩት ሁሉ አንድነትን ለማናጋት የተጠነሰሰና በሙሶሊኒ ሶልዳቶዎች ወረራ የተሰራውንና ኢትዮጵያውያንን በብሔረሰብና በካርታ በመለያየት የተፈጠረውን ይዛችሁ የምትጓዙ ማፈሪያዎች ናችሁ:: ማንም ኢትዮጵያዊ እንደዚህ ሰይጣናዊ አይነት ነገር አያስብም:: የተገነጠሉት ሁሉ ከምንም ጊዘ በላይ በስደት ዓለም ውስጥ እየዋለሉና የቀሩትንም በሙሉ ለማሰደድ እየጣሩ ነው::
Aster! አንቺ ተፈነጃለሽ እንጂ እልፍ አእላፍ ጊዜ ኢትዮጵያ እንዳልን እንሞታለን: እንኮራባታለን::
እርግጠኛ ነኝ ከሻቢያ ነሽ: ያውም በስደት ላይ:: ኢሳይያስ ሳይቀር ለስደት እየተዘጋጀ ነው:: ምንም ስለሌለ::
ወያኔም በህዝባዊ ማዕበል ተጠራርጎ ሊወገድ ቀኑን በማያውቀው መንገድ ዋጋውን ሊያገኝ ነውና: እናንተ የኢትዮጵያውያን አንድነት ጠላቶች በሰራችሁት ኃጢያታችሁ የኢትዮጵያውያን አምላክ ቅጣታችሁን ይከፍላችኋል::
ኢትዮጵያ እጆቿን ወደፈጣሪዋ ትዘረጋለች መዝ: 67-31 ወሰማኒያ አሃዱ መጽሃፈ ቅዱስ::
ኢትዮጵያ ለዘለዓለም ትኑር!!!
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:15 am
Olana biyya do you know the meaning of debtera ? i think not galla is (ingeda ) the name given to you as your forefathers crossing ethiopian border in the 16th century by debteras (old civilized rich cultured debteras) by the way i am debtera and very proud to be one ,but to be called by galla seems to be an insult shows you are a failed in your minnesota politics with too much exaggeration and fabrication any way you will learn a lot from debteras when we freed our mother land from woyanne which is an occupier mercinerys Tegray is core for ethiopian civilization.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:02 am
Dear Oromos,
Please do not respond to this mad dog called Getachew. He is lonely, has nobody to talk to, no family no friends and looking for attention. Do not give him any attentions please. He is a useless person good for nothing.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:24 am
Is this guy called Getachew a twisted Debtera??? His story telling regarding oromo history is hilarious.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Aster! what train are you talking about ? is the the train of the negative forces of disintegration or the train of the positive forces of integration? If it is the latter I am in it, if it is the former, I am not going to join you, enjoy your ride until you come to edge of a clif, with those politicians with ethnic agenda, TPLF/eprdf and the liberation movements that are leading the show towards disintegration of Ethiopia, instead of being engaged in a peaceful and/or armed struggle from within Ethiopia, and yet pleading for political space allotted to them and democratic reform to be improved by the current regime as expecting a adove from the egg of a snake. Tell me who is dreaming and who is guided by conviction with national goals and strategies to achive those goals. Think for a moment in inductive logic and come to your senses who has a better solution to political and economic crises of Ethiopia and serves the interest the silent majority of Ethiopians.
Furthermore Getchew Reda’s historical perspectives is a lesson for the two authors, (in which you have a chance a one line comment about my views), who base their analysis from the stalin era of communist doctrine. They have no idea how the fabric of Amhara and the Oromo/Galla is intetwind. Thank Getachw for that background information.
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:41 pm
yihun
what is the history of oromo if debtera getachew cant write it correct, why dont you do that at least ? if you are one of those cry babys from minnesota with a complete lies and fabrications and very much blinded to learn the reality on the ground be it getachew reda tries to put historical facts which is seen by minnisota oromos like backward
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Helen which oromo nation? there is no an oromo nation in a way you wish to be there is only a small oromo society in minnisota and the larger ethiopian oromos in their motherland Ethiopia your threat to getachew reda seems to be a joke he is a researcher of historical facts if some one has to apologise for the reallity rather than hiding or own fabricated or twisted like the previous comment from our oromo brother around minnesota who is suppose to ask for apology? dont get me wrong i have oromo blood and very proud to tell you that i am an Ethiopian through and through.
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Aster
we love our mother ethiopia whole heartedly we love our king Emye Minilik we love our king yohannes we love our king Theodros and we love jimma aba jifar we love negus Tona we love Abdissa Aga and above all these great personalities we love our motherland Ethiopia which is the home of Oromo Ethiopians and will sacrifies our lives if needed to keep her safe.
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Olana
It is right Imye Minilik.
Minilik teweldo bayanesa Gasha
Giberu Enkulal Neber yihen gize Abesha
Bametaw wechefo bametaw ersas
Talyan temelese habesha endayders
Long Live Emperror Minilik……you and your likes are barking at the worng tree. Go fight with TPLF….if you have the courage ..Leave the Amhara alone. We are your saviour not your enemy.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Mr. Light House,
If you did not read the story, then how come you have the details ? why not post the story via net ?
What are you afraid of, this is free country.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:01 am
First of all i believe all contradictions among the people in that country Ethiopia based on ethnic identity has not com out of the seden. It is due you to repression that people experienced under all governments witch is dominated by semetic Amharas and today’s tigrayans this is a simple fact. The wore in Eritrea and tigray didn’t happen without reason. I don’t understand habasha eltis still in minilik mentality. I believe my Oromo people is under repression so we need to bee free in all mines
If Ethiopians i min amharas and tigress accept the right of self determination of an Oromo we will not have a problem otherwise we are going to face a disaster in the whole region of that world.
Oromo we need to strength our struggle in supporting outer freedom fighter.
Ales we get sronger the habeshas can never consider Oromo as human binge! Or understand what we are talking about! Every Oromo stand by Oromo !
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Thank you Olana. While they have ethnic right to the exclusion of individual rights of ethiopians, they have not mustered the strength and support from the Ethiopians in their effort to tackle TPLF/eprdf under the sposorship of EPLF/Eritrea, the two sides of the same coin with TPLF?eprdf, a country now under santion for arming terrorists. Go ahead fight your new coloniser, who teasing you with ethnic and seccessionist right. If you gain your ethnic and seccessionist upto self-determination from the current regime, the type of unity you are talking about will be determined by public referendum or by refrendum on the constitution that will be drated, you have nothing to put the blame the Amahara ethnic group, prevalent in all parties as a stumbling block to advancing the form of unity you are advocating as in civil union as opposed to the traditional marriage. The positive forces of integration do not look Ethiopia in neither analogy, I belive, they view Ethiopia as an orgnic entity, where the main ethnic groups are the the stem and roots, and the second tier ethnic groups as big branches and leaves. How one aspires to to seccede from its own with oppression perptrated by the past regimes in the past and specially putting the blame on the Amhara Ethnic group, when they have to be standing for class struggle on behalf of all Ethiopians against the ruling ethnic dictatorship/ the multi-layer, hierarchical political model of TPLF/eprdf with divide and rule policy with ill defined ethnic boundries, where individuals are not allowed to consider Ethiopia is for all Ethiopians with one flag, one language and one country of nevertheless federated states, perhaps similar to the United States.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:10 am
Getachew Reda ‘dureyee’ bad mouth, the most hated man of all the time with no substance but dureyee mouth tries in to fit into community of human being. You may put smile on these who have no integrity and values - want to use, to destroy Oromo by any means they can. But, for some, your verbal hostility is a show of your extreme deep-rooted ignorance.
What is this? ‘Waste’ ‘distorted mobs’ ‘internet vagabonds’ ‘full of sick and disabled mind’ ‘suffering self inflicted inferiority complex’ pathological lairs’…
As if you’re not sitting behind your computer to write your garbage on internet? As if lying is not coded into your DNA that ‘you’ inherited from your forefathers. As if your mind is normal when you spit garbage out of your mouth? As if you are not sick when you insult nation and nationalities of what you call “Mama Ethiopia”? As if your mind is not disabled when you have no substance to offer “Mama Ethiopia”? As if you are not inflicted or suffering from inferiority complex when you have some sort insecurity that you want impose your views in order to validate yourself, projecting your inferiority onto others so that you may feel better about yourself? The word pathological lair deserves ‘you’!!!
Bring it on ‘you’ domma ras!!!
Even if you hate them or disagree with their ideas, ideas can only be challenged by better ideas, for better purpose (cause) to serve humanity. Garbage is found in garbage place-that is you.
Someone may wonder where your luck of self respect and luck of respect for your fellow human being comes from!!
I don’t see any distinction between ‘you’ and a child grows up without parental guidance on street (used to call Qucheraa seffer). May be your mama who raised you up was a quchuraa, the practice well known among Ethiopian from where you come. Most of your types (people) come to Addis Ababa looking for that kind of job. What amazes me, you claim that you’re traveled around countries where you suppose to acquire vast wisdom to share it for advancement of Ethiopian Nation, but how come such wise son of qucheraa turns to his MAMA’S job? The answer is clear now “Old habit die hard”
I am sorry for my words but you deserve it.
You even have a gut to insult the Oromo’s who fed you their meat, milk, honey, teff, and name it. Can you post online your ‘types’ pictures many years previously when they first come to Oromia? Or just imagine 1991. That is why your people were/are killing Oromo, because they refused to let you steal and loot their resources. That is why you hate Oromo, because they refused to accept your garbage made up history and culture.
Was ‘Adama teff’ growing on those stone mountains where you come from? Or, Adama teff come down as Manna - your Solomonic fare tail, ONLY for your types? You write your garbage history as it fits your interest- to feed your self-ego and to boost your inferiority complex that you want to project on others.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Aite Getachew Reda,
instead of farting, shitting and vomiting on OLF, answer the following question. Where is your position regarding the spectrum of the opposition in the empire? You have the choice to be in one of the following five:
- pro AEUP and co (unconditional unity by any means)
- pro UDJ and co (unconditional unity per consensus)
- pro Medrek and co (union of autonomous nations per consensus)
- pro AFD and co (conditional union per referendum)
- pro ULFO and co (unconditional independence by any means)
If you want to understand, what I mean by DFP, click here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15625
Otherwise enjoy the following to know more about the spectrum of the opposition groups listed above:
“Rejection of Self-Determination is MEDREK’s Weak Point
MEDREK (The Forum for Democracy and Dialogue – FDD) is not bad compromise alliance for the involved political organizations representing most of the nations in the empire. It can be a good alternative to replace the Weyane regime. The only weak point, where the Weyane can capitalize on, is Medrek’s stand on the right of nations to self-determination. Ironically, Medrek has in the introductory part of its Mini-Political-Program (click here to get the Amharic version – Ethiomedia.com) that it strives to accept and respect all human rights, which are part and parcel of the UN Charter and have been ratified by the government of Ethiopia. But, why did it exclude this important right of nations?
It was always clear that all Abesha politicians, who do want to act as popes of democracy, keep silent when it comes to the right of nations to self-determination, which is part of the democracy they all talk about. Is there any half-baked democracy? Their version of democracy includes everything, which helps them to keep the empire intact, but not self-determination of nations and peoples.
Oromo Federalist Parties in Medrek Lost the Middle Position
So, if Medrek claims to accept and respect international law, which is ratified by Ethiopia and why, in this case of the right to self-determination, which has even been acknowledged by the Weyane regime, has Medrek opted to the rejection? Can this really bring the heartily support from the oppressed nations, such as Oromo and others, for Medrek? Maybe just the hatred against Weyane might persuade the people to vote for Medrek, but is that a long lasting support to its political programme?
Actually, self-determination is the middle position for both forces of unconditional unity and fronts of unconditional independence. It simply suggests: let the concerned public decide in referendum, instead of imposing the two extreme positions (’unconditional unity’ and ‘unconditional independence’) on the peoples. I think here Oromo freedom fighters have already done their homework in the last ten years by abandoning their far left position of demanding ‘unconditional independence’ and opting for the self-determination, whereas Amhara democratic forces still pray their far right mantra of ‘unconditional unity’.
In Medrek it should have been the Amhara democratic forces, such as UDJ, which should have moved from their far right position to the middle position of accepting a ‘union based on self-determination’. Paradoxically, it is the federalist Oromo parties that have abandoned the middle position that they should have insisted on, and now, they have moved to the far right position of Amharas. Is this good compromise? From Oromo point of view, it is just equal to a surrender, not an optimal compromise. In my last article, I just said Medrek was the hitherto good compromise solution, but not optimal. The optimal compromise solution is that which brings both sides of far positions (far right ‘unconditional unity’, and far left ‘unconditional independence’) to the middle position aka self-determination.
If we look at the politics of the empire very exactly, the main conflict areas are not on the issues, such as democracy, individual freedom, justice, equality, human right, peace, good governance, rule of law, development. The actual difference the Empire’s political elites do have is only on the following three issues:
- type of unity (’unconditional unity’ Vs ‘conditional union’)
- type of federation (kilil-federation Vs xeqilaigizat-federation)
- type of method to be used for the decision on the above two (force Vs consensus Vs referendum)!
Accordingly:
- the ruling party, Weyane/TPLF wants ‘unconditional unity’ with fake kilil-federation by force.
- the opposition parties can be devided in to the following five areas:
*Conservative Amharas like AEUP say ‘unconditional unity’ with xeqilaigizat-federation by all means.
*Liberal Amharas like UDJ try ‘unconditional unity’ with xeqilaigizat-federation per polity’s consensus.
*Medrek tries ‘unconditional union’ with true kilil-federation per polity’s consensus aka per predetermination.
*AFD will try ‘conditional union’ (union based on free will) with true kilil-federation per public’s referendum aka per self-determination.
*ULFO member organizations want to achieve ‘unconditional independence’ of Oromia by all means.
As far as the above three very important criteria are concerned, UDJ is not yet true part of Medrek! Both of them are on the same page regarding the type of unity and the type of method, but they do differ in the type of federation. So, it is right to classify UDJ separately as done above. Then, the question to be answered is: which one is the legitimate regarding the interest of the public at large? I think firstly AFD’s position as an optimal compromise solution, and secondly, Medrek’s as an unfair compromise solution!
If AFD’s optimal position is hard to swallow for Abeshas at the moment, Medrek is the good compromise they can live with and for Oromos, of course, Medrek’s position is the minimum we can accept. Let’s now live with it temporarily since Amhara’s wish of ‘Ethiopian unity’ and Amharinya as the federal language as well as Oromo’s desire of Oromian autonomy and Afaan Oromo as the federal language are accepted and respected. It is actually good for uniting most of the opposition groups at home to forge an alliance against Weyane. For Oromo parties, it can be a good tactical move, but not a lasting strategical solution for the complex problem of the empire. The main political conflict at home seems now to be consolidating into a struggle between kilil-federalists and xeqilaigizat-federalists; it is good news to hear/read that both federalists in the opposition have started to work together like in Medrek against the fascist Weyane. So, Medrek is a good start for coming together of the opposition, but for the optimal solution to be realized the lasting common denominator of the opposition must be self-determination of nations. Otherwise, it will be seen in the near future that Weyane will start to capitalize on this weak point of Medrek and will try to rally oppressed nations, including Oromo, behind its puppet organizations like OPDO!”
October 24th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
ይህ ሰው ሰራሽ ረሃብ በተለይ ያሁኑ ከበፊቶቹ ትምህርት ያላገኘንበት :ያሁኑ የመለስ ጌስታፖ መንግስት ልመናን ትልቅ የገንዘብ መሰብሰቢያ ድርጅት (ENTERPRISE) በማድረጉ ነው ::
የአለም ባንክ ገንዘብ የወያኔን አባላት ትላልቅ የህንጻ አከራይ ባለቤቶች ከማድረጉ ሌላ በስተቀር, ለኢትዮጵያ ገበሬ ሲባል የተደረገ አንዳችም የችግር መልስ አለመደረጉ ይሕውና ዓሁን አይን ያፈጠጠ ልመና ላይ ገባን : ቢቢሲ በቀጥታ ተጠያቂ ለማድረግ የሞከረው ይህንኑ አገራችንን የፖለቲካ ማሳቂያ ያደረጋትን (gestapo)መንግስት ነው ::
አርቲፊሻይል የሆነውን የወያኔን ሻጥር ካወቅንበት ቆየት ብንልም , አሁን የመጣብን ብሄራዊ አደጋ ደግሞ የግድ አንድ ዲያስፖራ አቀፍ ማአክላዊ, በኮንግሬስ የተደገፈና ሙሉ ትብብር ያልተነፈገው ዓስቸኻይ የእርዳታ አገናኝ ኮሚሽን ያስፈልገናል::
ለምሳሌ:-1) 2 ሃይኒከን በቀን ከጠጣን,ዓንድ ጠጥተን የአንዱን ዋጋ ለዚህ ዕርዳታ ኮሚሽን ብናውል..
2) 3 በቀን ከመብላት 2ቴ በልተን አንዱን ለዕርዳታችን ብናውል
3) ብላክ ሌብል ዊስኪ ልማድ ያለብን የመጠጥ ዓርበኞች ለጊዜው ታግሰን የኢኮኖሚ ውስኪ ብንል…
4) ዓንዱ ገንዘብ አስገኚ ዘዴ ደግሞ በየኮሚኒታችን በማንፈልገው የግል ኅብት ላይ የሽያጭ ዘመቻ…(yard sale) ማካሄድን የመሳሰሉት ይሆናሉ ማለት ነው
5) ብዙዎቻችን ካቅማችን በላይ በመኖር ያላቅማችን ልብስና ሸቀጥ ሸማች ሱሰኞች መሆናችንን አትክዱኝም
ስለዚህ እስራኤልን በዕግርዋ ያቆማት አምላክ ለዕኛም እጆቹን የማይዘረጋበት ምንም ምክንያት አይኖርም; የዕስራእኤል ልጆች ተፈላልገው (ያውም ዓለ ኢንተርኔት) ገንዘባቸውንና ዕውቀታቸውን አሰባስበው እንዲህ ኅያል ለመሆን ያበቃቸው አንድነትና በዕምነታቸው ጽኑ በመሆናቸው ነው …እኛስ ምን እንጠብቃለን?
October 26th, 2009 at 9:02 am
እናንተ ዝም ብልህ አውሩ እንጅ አትስረም መለስ ጎበዝ 20 እድሚው ልህዝብ ሰታገል ኖውጂ እይውራም
እንደ መልስ ኢትዮ-ሊይግን ፍስም አይግንም መልስ ጎበዝ ለዝአላም ይንርለን
October 26th, 2009 at 9:20 am
አገር ቢት ደርሰ ተመልስኩ በውንት አጅግ ልውት አላው ድያስቦራ መስቱ ይታፍታ ደርግ ይንብሩ በጃ ያዋርሉ መላስ
ኢትይ- አስደጋት እኒ 23 ይድሚ ደስ አላይን ባግር ኮራሁ
October 26th, 2009 at 9:25 am
ስለዚህ እስራኤልን በዕግርዋ ያቆማት አምላክ ለዕኛም እጆቹን የማይዘረጋበት ምንም ምክንያት አይኖርም; የዕስራእኤል ልጆች ተፈላልገው (ያውም ዓለ ኢንተርኔት) ገንዘባቸውንና ዕውቀታቸውን አሰባስበው እንዲህ ኅያል ለመሆን ያበቃቸው አንድነትና በዕምነታቸው ጽኑ በመሆናቸው ነው …እኛስ ምን እንጠብቃለን
ምጅምርያ መንግስት አምላክ ይስትህ አከበር ያል ጊታ ማነም አገር ላሳደር አይለም