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Posted By: Jaleta and group Posted On: Nov 21, 2003 Views: 797	Ethiopiawinet We read the usual OLF manifesto entitled "Hate and bigotry in the name of "Ethiopiawinet": a perfect recipe to undo Ethiopia" on Ethiomedia web site today, 21 November 03. It smells a formal manifesto from the OLF itslef but submitted under a fake name. Wherever it comes from, the manifesto clearly puts forward what the OLF needs. A review of Ethiopian and Oromo history, the the emergence of OLF and the "struggle" of the Oromo people, the "unsubstanciatied" story of the atrocities committed by the OLF, the "crisis" of the Ethiopian state, etc. is simply to give the manifesto a semblance of cogency. The whole OLF rhetoric in this manifesto and others boils down to one issue: the "right to self-determination". OLF was nowhere when we discussed the political and legal concept of the right to self-determination and its practice the world over. In those discussions, it was sufficiently showen that the right to self-determination has not gone beyond colonial questions at any moment in history be it in the 18th, 19th or 20th century. The Americans had used it to liberate themselves from the British colonialism. Latin American countries had used it to liberate themselves from Spanish and Portugise colonialism. The Middle East, Asian and African countries had used it to liberate themselves from colonialism. Other than these situations, self-determination had not been used to separate fron an existing state. The Eritrean situation abberation that cannot be called a process of self-determination to the name. From time to time, OLF tries to make references to the UN Charter and other instruments that directly or in passing deal with self-determination. It is a fact that none of these instruments encourage or recognise separation from an existing state and create ones own. Furthermore there is no supporting practice in which self-determination was realised from an existing state. This is not because the principle is unknowen by political organizations anywhere in the world. There are several organisations that cry for self-determination under all circumstances as the OLF does, but none of them had succeeded. Their defeat is both political and military. Leaving aside the bankruptcy of the politics of self-determination, we will say a few words about the military failure of separatist organizations. In Europe, democratic countries like UK, France and Spain know separatist organisations against whome they are still fighting. If self-determination was a right as the OLF argues, democracy in UK, France and Spain would have created new states. In Africa, the Congo and Nigeria had dealt with separatism. With the support of the international community which condemened separatism in both countries, they won their unity. Countries like China are bringing back what they lost to colonialism let alone allow others to go. The idea here is not to say separation is impossible. As had been done in the case of Eritrea, it can be done under the force of arms. TPLF/EPRDF made it possible to happen. These organisations are still determined to repeat it elsewhere in the country. What else is needed as a proof other than writing it in the country's constitution? In light of their background, it will not be a surprise that any region from Ethiopia leave tomorrow. The country's prime minister was heard calling Ethiopian Somalis to leave if they wish citing the constitution. However, if separatism repeats itself in Ethiopia, it is not because it is politically correct. Neadless to say, asserting unity and standing for it is not wrong. The USA federalism was created after a civil war between federalists (unionists) and confederalists (separatists) whaich costed hundreds of thousands of lives. As stated above, the UK, France, and Spain had fought and are still fighting against separatism. Others in Europe, Asia and Africa are doing the same. None of these states were condemned for affirming their sovereignity and territorial integrity by using both persuation and force. In fact, that is what the international community wants and encourages. It detests states that fail to discharge their national and international obligation towards stability and intergation rather than disintegration. If Ethiopia the Ethiopian government fails to discharge its national and international obligation and let one or another region to go, the international community will not care about that. That is what happened in the case of Eritrea. It will simply proceed to deal with it as an international person and accord it what is due to a state. Simply put, the whatever the government does in this matter is very critical. It can wipe out the State ofEthiopia from the map of the world or preserve it. That is what governments are meant to do be it in the UK, France or Spain. If time allows, we will try to post detailed opinion on OLF manefesto. At least we will write more on self-determination.
Posted By: ABCD Posted On: Nov 22, 2003 Views: 791	RE: Ethiopiawinet Come up with something new. All repition, bores.
Posted By: Gemedaa Posted On: Nov 22, 2003 Views: 786	OLF, myth and reality of hate politics Thank you Mr. Jaaletaa for your learned insights on the OLF and its endless talk on the right to self-determination. I have also read OLF's a.k.a. Kaayyoo Ummataa's manifesto entitled "Hate and bigotry in the name of "Ethiopiawinet": a perfect recipe to undo Ethiopia". I am not outraged by what OLF wrote because I have read almost all their papers and heard their speeches for decades. In fact, the title the OLF chose for the manifesto rightly describes what it practices against non-Oromo Ethiopians: hate and bigotry. 1. OLF, its hate propaganda and its aim to undo Ethiopia. For years now, OLF has adopted all the hate and bigotry propaganda similar to that of the EPLF. It begins with presenting non-Oromo Ethiopians as devils with whom life can have no meaning. To substantiate this, it refers to its version of history, politics, culture and society. OLF taught hate through its radio, secret papers and thousands of underground cells operating in the country. The whole idea of the so called Oromummaa is to deepen hate which may one day grow to anger and lust for revenge. (For details, see October 15, 2003, Resolution of the Third Meeting of Council of Leaders of United Liberation Forces of Oromia (ULFO) - OLF web site). As we know it, OLF has no knowledge and skill to channel this anger and lust to revenge to useful conclusions. Because it is unable to conduct war with the government, it is safe to say that it is looking for a civil war to break out between Oromos and other Ethiopians. Hate propaganda is intended to touch the soft spot of humanity namely its emotion. This is particularly so if ethnic differences are involved. In such hate situations, rationality disappears. Hitler's and Mussoloni's declared policy for war was hate to certain peoples and ethnic groups. Under hate propaganda, Germans and Italians lost rationality and lined up to fight other peoples. In recent "history", Hutus committed genocide in Ruwanda against ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus due to hate propaganda. Serbes committed genocide against ethnics Croats, Bosnians and others as a result of hate propaganda. The way OLF indoctrinates Oromos to hate Ethiopia and everything Ethiopian can lead to genocide against certain ethnic groups and moderate Oromos. As indicated above, with OLF's military skirmish being successfully checked by the government and OLF itself admitting that armed "struggle" is not feasible, the only amunition in its hand is to deepen Oromummaa - the hate and bigotry. A learned guess should put it that OLF looks for a civil war. OLF's recent manifesto posted at Ethiomedia yesterday, 21 november is no differnet from the usual hate propaganda it uses to agitate for civil war. OLF knows that undoing Ethiopia will not be an easy task this time around. The case of Eritrea will not be repeated in Oromia because of both national and international factors. Ethiopians have learned that self-determination conceived by the OLF and some organisations in Ethiopia is wrong. Ethiopians have learned that self-determination has not brought freedom and it will not be different in Ethiopia. They have also learned that a State is not an institution from which a certain people can leave or join it as it wishes. It is a much larger institution of international significance involving regional and global interets. 2. OLF's recognition of its hate politics In the OLF's manifesto mentioned above, the following is it is explicitly stated. The quote directly applies to the OLF itself. "Having disagreements would have been acceptable if the political culture is such that political groups compete to win the hearts and minds of the populace to their vision rather than being at each other’s throat when in opposition and at the people’s throat when in power. The mode of dialogue thus far is violence (eliminating ones enemy), baseless accusations (trashing ones opponent), and misrepresenting facts (painting those with whom we differ as monsters). Ignorance along with a short-sighted view of selfish interests and a culture that looks down on win-win alternatives lie at the heart of why the search for a common ground has thus far been elusive. If this trend continues, as the situation indicates, the search for peace, stability and development not only in Ethiopia but also in the Horn will remain a pipe dream." OLF's intention in the quoted paragraph was to present the practices of the Ethiopian government. No doubt that the government does those things. But, how about the OLF itself? OLF has no political culture of accepting plurality of opinion and competition. 1991 and 1992 were years where it wanted to be the only Oromo political organisation in Ethiopia calling bad names Oromos with different opinion from its. It was unwilling to accept a political fact, present its political ideas and compete with others. It has killed and died in an attempt to impose its wish on others. It is undemocratic organisation both internally and in relation with other organisations. Recently, it condemned United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) which appeared to be a viable opposition to TPLF/EPRDF. This is the EPLF syndrome the OLF shows even when it is way, way far from power. OLF's life is violence. It had killed and still kills civilians by planting mines in hotels, transport facilities and entertainment places. Its link to terrorist organisations such as Bin Laden's Al Qeida has been prven by international researchers. Even if it has now recognised that liberating Oromia through arms is impossible, it has not renounced violence. It uses it to make its presence felt among few rural Oromos by roaming in remote corners of the country. OLF does not report its military "victories" on its web site as before to evade security follow-up. It simply talks about it on its Eritrea based radio and secret news papers. With Eritrea's help, it may one day initiate full scale war and invade villages to conduct its habitual ethnic clensing. As TPLF/EPRDF, OLF is an expert in fabricating baseless accusations, trashing opponents and misrepresenting facts. As stated above, it opposes every political organisation in Ethiopia from TPLF/EPRDF to ODPO, from AAPO to EUDF, etc. etc. It opposes the TPLF government that wrote the right to self-determination in its constititution, an objective towards which the OLF is allegedly working. OLF writes and talks volumes - most of which are sheer lies - about people whom it percieves as enemies of the Oromo. It write and re-writes history and politics the way it feels it serves its objectives. Until now, these lies have not taken it to anywhere. Time will tell what it will reap from these lies. The above quote from OLF's manifesto is a confession of its unaccesptable practices. If Ethiopians including Oroms become angry with the absence or a deminished growth of democracy and respect of human rights in the country, they should primarily blame OLF. Because of its arrogant political behaviour and interest to emerge an all winner, it withdrew from peaceful struggle and ended up in exile from where it releases its poisionous hate propaganda. In doing that, it failed to contribute its part to the development of democracy and the respect of human rights in the country. OLF may say these are not my objectives. But, what great objectives exist other than democracy and human rights. At the moment of its exile, OLF didn't know the right to self-determination is simply a myth than a reality in the real world. In conclusion, to stand against OLF and bring it to its senses should be the duty of every Ethiopian. Not only because OLF destorts our history, culture, economic and social life, but also because it breeds hate that may result in war. We should show that the OLF type blind nationalism is against the growth of democracy and human rights.
Posted By: Abdella Daaro Leboo Posted On: Nov 24, 2003 Views: 774	OLF, the Horn of Africa and democracy I differ from the above writer in the sense that OLF's warnings should not be dismissed as usual talks. I will quote the following lines from the the same OLF manifesto entitled "Hate and bigotry in the name of "Ethiopiawinet": a perfect recipe to undo Ethiopia" to substantiate my concerns. "If this trend continues, as the situation indicates, the search for peace, stability and development not only in Ethiopia but also in the Horn will remain a pipe dream. One could deny these problems, continue to belittle the demands of nations for self-determination as “ethnic politics”, continue to give a deaf ear to the yearning of millions for a decent life and a blind eye to the suffering of millions." I identified two important issues from this paragraph. One, OLF's perceived threat not only to Ethiopia but to the Horn of Africa. Second, the ever recurring obsession of OLF, i.e. the right to self-determination. I will try to take each issue and briefly give my opinion. A. OLF, Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa It is not for the first time that we read OLF's imaginary threat to the Horn of Africa. The threat is usually dubiously introduced in OLF's threat to Ethiopia, it is not clear how the OLF can externalise what it failed in Ethiopia to the Sudan, Kenya, D'jibouti, Somalia and Eritrea. Thanks to its comraderie it has with international terrorist organisations operating in Somali, it may launch some attacks against Ethiopia. Again, thanks to Eritrea it may attack Ethiopia from the North (Ohhhhhuuuuu!!!!)or somewhere from the west. Due to loose security in Kenya where OLF effectively operates, it may attack Ethiopia from there also. But, in all cases the target of attack is Ethiopia. Then, the situation begs questions: why and how OLF wants to put the Horn at the centre of its separatist agenda? Its hope is to attract some shoddy polititians that want a quick fix in to some political horn problems. Despite long standing OLF call to the international community to take it seriously because it is holds the magic solution to Horn problems, its cry had gone unheeded. OLF has failed to cheat the international community on this issue. The way we see developments in the sub-region, it can't get buyers of its insane idea. The only area it can work to get some ear as a saver of the Horn is to use its invisible weapon of mass destruction (WMD). OLF's WMD is its accumilated arsenal of hate writings in books, journals, web sites, etc. short papers and flyers circulating from hand to hand among its thousands of cells and the general Oromo public. Its main weapon is, however, its radio stations. The writings and speeches and the so called "NEWS" are all hate typical of radio stations in the Great Lakes Region. Openings of the radio emissions, the music and the interview are all aimed at augmenting hate. With the objective of pacifying opinion of descent among the Oromo and opposition by other ethnic groups, it has other subtle mechanisms ranging from social ostracism to murders. The concern of Ethiopians including Oromos in Ethiopia should be possible civil war. As Gemedaa stressed above, it cannot be ruled out. Just curious: OLF today, 24 November issued a statement on its web site calling every Oromo to fight against the removal of Oromia government offices from Addis Abeba to Adaamma. In light of OLF's hate propagand and repeated acts of terrorism in the capital, it is a reasonable security measue to order them to move to Adaamma. I feel that the concern of the Ethiopian government is not the regional government but the fact the people cannot get service they need with their government far away. Furthermore, in light of OLF hate propaganda, who will keep silent when a civil war is in the making? The coming few days will show whether the Oromia government will listen to the Ethiopian government or to the OLF. It will also show if Addis Abeba, a growing international and regional city where innocent citizens thrieve to meet ends, has two parallel governments. B. OLF's obsession to self-determination The problem in Ethiopia is that all of us are politicians. This may be because we are poor and the government appears as an issue every time we sit to eat or drink. But, we don't discuss serious issues because of several limitation for the most of which we are not responsible. One problem is ignorance. I am not an educated person myself but try to dig to the root of issues. Now, for example, in Ethiopia, a considerable number of people are convinced that self-determination is a sacerd right against which no one must stand. For several years, I have not read or heard someone questioning what self-determination is all about. It is a forgone argument. Of all thousads of useless conferences, workshops, meetings etc. going on in the country, the issue of self-determination soes not figure in any of them. It is moot issue. But, what's wrong with asking what self-determination is, where it had been practiced and why? I had tried several times without success to discuss the issue with Ethiopian intellectuals who were shocked by the fact that I raisd the question to them. Not only at this personal levels, but even at a government level the issue seems to be dead and buried. My plea is for some of you who have higher education and competence to do research, please tell us the truth. Why is a Southerner, a Tigrean, an Amara or a Gurage ashamed to talk about self-determination. I have three simple gusses. One is they don't want to be known as against the principle simply because it is the politics of the day. This attitude has killed Ethiopia since the sixties and led to Eritrea's separation. Second, some opposition organsations like EPDU are silent on the issue because they plan to bring back Assab via Afar referendum. This aspiration has kept them not only silent on the issue, but were unable to question OLF's stand. I feel that this is a sticky issue for them even if OLF calls them neo-Nefftteegnnaas. Third, some Ethiopian intellectuals particularly those in the country who can cast light on the issue are die-hard opportunists. They sing with a government in power and go with it to the dust bin of history. Those who wrote and talked in favour of Eritrean separation are now regretting it, but it is too late. As I said above, due to limitation of knowledge, time and space I will not discuss self-determination. But, I very well know that self-determination will be defeated in democracy than in other forms of politcal arrangements. Some two weeks ago, I read an article in French at Alliance Ethio-Francaise which dealt with the isse of Quebec separatism in Canada. The article says, the militance of separatist (souverainist) organisations in Quebec is astronomical. Separatist organisations terrorised Montreal in the 1970s but was quickly put to rest by the regional police and the federal army. Despite their close to a century of existence, thanks to democracy in Canada, whatever they were saying was challenged both legally and politically in writings and speeches. After a separatist oranisation became a government in Quebec in a democratic election, it organised a referendum. The referendum took place in 1995 in which the separatists lost to federalists. The important aspect of the article is the role of the federal government during the referendum. It was unable to stop the referendum because of legal reasons, but was prepared to intervene with its soldiers if the referendum was in favour of separation. This was to happen in democratic canada even if separatism is still vibrant in Quebec. The suggestion here is not to provoke any reaction by the Ethiopian government. The antidote to the ills of separatism is in Ethiopia is democracy as was in Quebec. The fact of the matter is, however, OLF confuses government and state. Governments should change if they are bad, but the state should not. A state is not an entity of choice such as to stay in it or leave it. It had never been in history since the emergence of modern state and that has not changed even today. There is no political blunder in saying that the Ethiopian state must exist. The antidote to the ills of separatism in Ethiopia is democracy as was the case in Quebec. We shouldn't allow those opposing free movement of political ideas and debate to take us hostage. It is not in the interest of the Ethiopian government to use "premptive strike" on democracy in the country. That was witnessed in confrontation with teachers, journalists and others. The risk of separatism in Ethiopia is not OLF, it is the failure of deepening democracy.
Posted By: Chalii J. Posted On: Nov 29, 2003 Views: 760	OLF and all that. In the same manifesto OLF released on November 21, 2003 under the title "Hate and bigotry in the name of "Ethiopiawinet": a perfect recipe to undo Ethiopia", it tried to "categorize" Ethiopians into three on the basis of the "charges" levelled against it. First, the "categories" are no categories. They are introduced simply to give the manifesto a semblance of intellectual piece. Second, they are repetions of the long standing OLF perceptions and lies about Oromos in Ethiopia. We feel that there is no need to make a comment on the "categories". Rather we will put forward some general points on the issue of OLF's role in the aggravation of the Oromo and Ethiopian problems. (a) OLF's role in the aggravation of Oromo problems We have not heard a saying that OLF created the Oromo problems. The problems had existed for decades if not a century, but became aggravated by the OLF since its emergence. All along its existence, OLF advocated in its writings and speeches about the Oromo being different from other Ethiopians, about their being once in history the most democratic, civilised, cultured, better educated, endowed with natural resources, etc. and that history, civilisation and culture has been and still is being destroyed by other Ethiopians. OLF suggests that the only solution is to separate from Ethiopia and gain what it lost. To achieve separatism, what OLF does it to make Oromos hate Ethiopians and Ethiopia. For this it carries out the worst and crudest type of hate propaganda with racist overtones under its major project called - Oromummaa. Not only does this hate propaganda disuaded some Oromos from participating in politics going on in the country, but also adversely affected the development of democracy in the country. In the meantime, it encouraged violence of all forms. The truth is, however, there is nothing wrong with accusing OLF of its hate propaganda that can put Oromos and other Ethiopians at a risk of a civil war. (b) OLF and its perceived struggle against Ethiopian governments OLF tries to give an impression that some Ethiopians charge it because it was waging struggle. My genuine observation is that Ethiopians charge OLF for its hate propaganda, for its distortion of history, endless deception and lies, terrorism, separatism, arrogance, etc. and not because it struggels against Ethiopian governments. Overwhelming majority of Ethiopians have struggled against Dergue and the existing government. Despite its claims, OLF made no struggle during Dergue. Under that rule, OLF was an enfant which it still is today. It used Dergue's resources to expand rapidly only to disperse into the thin air at one coup. Under the TPLF, OLF tried to take Oromia and go West, South and East with the help of EPLF. That never happened because TPLF gave it a coup. After the coup, OLF fled Ethiopia to dump its hate propaganda on Oromos and other Ethiopians. Even that has not paid OLF any dividends. (c) OLF as an agent of destruction Close observation proves that OLF is a political disaster. Its forty years of existence has contributed nothing to Oromos or Ethiopians. In light of its continued hate propaganda, civil war can be a possible scenario in Ethiopia. The question is if civil war breaks out in the country, would the Oromo people benefit out of it? Impossible. They would rather go to deeper and complicated problems related to poverty, illetracy, diseases, etc. from which they will not extract themselves in several decades. The situation is that OLF can never win separatism through war. Likewise, it can never win separatism through peaceful struggle since it has rejected it. The only choice it has is to expand its hate propaganda and one day call for insurrection which may end up in civil war. The problem is OLF does not know that the Oromo people cannot win such a war. Any war can, in fact, take them centuries behind. (d) OLF's political weavering on major issues OLF is a politically weak organisation. It has no clear stand on major issues in the country. One funny example is the following. Recently some Oromos started arguing that self-determination had not applied other than colonial context and sine the Oromo issue is not a colonial issue, self-determination is innapplicable as a means to solve the Oromo proble. In saying this, those guys brought the whole argument of OLF for the right to self-determination under criticism. Seeing what frustration the argument raised, OLF today 29 November impliedly said that the Oromo issue is a colonial one. (See the OLF statement entitled "Oromo appeal, from Oromia" on OLF web site). What a swift turn in this politically mediocre organisation? The fact that it weavers between colonialism and domination by X or Y ethnic group amply proves its bankruptcy. OLF cannot stand the test of serious political analysis whatsoever. P.S. If OLF thinks what had been said and are being said on this other webs comes from the Ethiopian government, it is mistaken. The writings are produced by individuals belonging to a group interested in Ethiopian politics. The group includes prominent Oromos who are determined to see that Oromos avert civil war, disasters of separatism, poverty and diseases. We feel that OLF should not get comfort from the assumption that the government is concerned about it.
Posted By: Gemedaa Posted On: Nov 30, 2003 Views: 756	RE: Ethiopiawinet As some of the opinions above suggested, the OLF manifesto entitled "Hate and bigotry in the name of "Ethiopiawinet": a perfect recipe to undo Ethiopia" carries nothing new that OLF had not been saying for years. That makes it irrelevant to go through the manifesto point by point. Below, we will pick OLF's perceived crisis of the Ethiopian state and reflect on it. OLF recently discovered that one the mysterious step to solve the Oromo problem is to "understand" it. It thinks that Ethiopians are dumb and deaf to see what is going on before their eyes. Making a passing remark that this is one example of OLF's arrogance, we will proceed to generally indicate how Ethiopians understand the situation related to Oromos. Ethiopians know that there exist an ethnic group called Oromo in Ethiopia (also somewhere else), that Oromos had been part of Ethiopia for centuries, that they suffered injustice under successive governments like any other Ethiopian ethnic groups, that they oppossed to these oppressions like any other Ethiopians without much sucess. Oromos are still, like any other Ethiopians, struggling against oppression and they will be free from opression, like any other Ethiopians, one day. Contrary to these facts characterising history, politics, culture and social life in Ethiopia, we are being told by the OLF that Oromos are different in everything from other Ethiopians and can do things their way. How can Ethiopians agree to this except "understand" it as nonsense? This is precisely the point that separates OLF from others. In addition to prescribing understanding to the Oromo problem, OLF raised central questions such as "What is it that the Oromo want? Why do Oromos resist wearing the “Ethiopian Identity”? Why do they want to revive and resurrect their own distinct identity?" It did not answer any of these question in a satisfactory manner. The answer to these questions are simple. First, in no time has the Oromo spoken what it wants. The Oromo are no exception in this matter. That was and still is the case everywhere. Put simply, a small number of elites emerge under the cover of promoting people's interest, tell the people whatever is appealing to the elites, involve the people in somekind of insurrection so that the elites can take politcal office. Nobody for sure knows where the situation can lead to, but in most cases it has led to a disaster. Second, in no time had the Oromo rejected their Ethiopianness. We live with them and see them everyday. Despite OLF's deafening hate propaganda, Oromos have not reacted they way OLF wanted it. The issue is not as simple as the OLF thinks. Third, there is no doubt that Oromos want to revive and resurrect their identity> Again, always living in Ethiopia with open eyes and mind, we testify that there is no hinderance to reviving Oromo identity. OLF's blaming the Ethiopian government on this issue is childish. Closely related concept to the issue of OLF's obsession of the right to self determination is the state. In the manifesto, it tried to lecture us about this unique entity. It talked about the old theory of the "greater good" and the danger it generates in case it turns oppressive. One of the major theoretical flaw emanates from this assertion. OLF as somebody said above confuses the STATE with GOVERNMENT. The state both in the Ethiopian and other contexts is a compsition of the people (the different ethnic groups together), the territory (regardless of internal administrative regions) the government (oppressive or otherwise). Among others, these are the elements that establish the existence of a state. Now, is it the other Ethiopians and the area where Oromos are found that OLF doesn't like? Aren't the governments that are oppressive of the rights of Oromos that OLF? Even if it is OLF's hidden desire, we don't think OLF will officially say that Oromos have problem living with other Ethiopians. If it is the fact that Oromos inhabit in a state called Ethiopia is OLF's problem, there is nothing much it can do. We hope it will not tell them to go to another state (where other Oromos live). What is finally left from the elements of the state is the government which every people have inherent right to put in or remove from office. Oromos have like any other Ethiopians must have the right to elect and be elected. And any struggle short of violence to realise these rights is legitimate. This is essentially the struggle for democracy as opposed to separation. It can easily be deducted from the above that separatism has excessive elements of hate to other people with whom one had lived and hate to the state with whom one is udentified. Whatever a degree hate may reach, it cannot be allowed to bring down a state. A struggle placed against the state in a form of separatism is wrong. Close observation of issues of separatism indicate that problems are governments than people or geographic location. Creating a political space to new elites in a state that separated itself from an existing state had never solved questions that people cherish most. What people need is a better life (economic, politcal, etc.) wherever they may be. There is no guarantee that separatism will bring better life to people. In fact, in almost all cases, it had proved the contrary. So, why waste resources (such as human resources, time, material,etc) to separate people from one another than work to improve their lives? Why keep on insisting particularly when the cost of separatism outweighs its benifits? We feel that arrogance and die-hardism are the menace to the interests of millions of peoples. OLF asks : "the benefit of “unity” is preached about at length for years. Did it change minds?" As indicated above, unity of a state is something OLF cannot dismiss. It is an international reality that it must come to grips with. No state can be dissolved simply because a particular group of people wanted it. What do you think is happening in Somalia? Somalia has no government but it is still considered a state under international law because absence of a government in Somalia is temprary. The UN, EU, AU and individual states consider Somalia as a state. Puntland separated itself from Somalia with all elements of a state but has no single recognition to this day, not even by Ethiopia. OLF is blind to see this reality. As someone said above the Eritrean case is an aberration to separatism because it is done with the support of a government in Ethiopia. Even today, the Eritrean status is questionable under international law. Unity of the state need not be preached. There is no need of changing or not changing minds. It is a fact whose existence one should accept and deal with rather than waste resources to weaken or destroy it. Again, as someone said above, the state is an institution where one cannot get in or go out as one wishes. OLF lacks a grasp of the institution of the state and how inter- and -intra state relations function and its international significance. OLF does not know that the international community can reduce to rubbles the state it may create even with the consent any government in power in Ethiopia. It has done it before. For this OLF can read the history of Rhodesia, Manchuria, Cyprus, and the Abntu arrangements (Orange Free State) in South Africa. All of these efforts to establish independent states have failed because of the involvement of the international community. There is no reason why this cannot happen for separatism in future ethiopia. In closing, we will simply relate OLF's flawed understanding of the institution of the state in general and in Ethiopia in particular that made its decades of "struggle" fruitless. Related to its flawed conception of the state is the issue of self-determination. We feel that unless OLF reviews its stand on these core issues and redirect its efforts towards achieving democracy in Ethiopia, its dream of improving the lives of Oromos will become a dead dream.

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