The world as a whole is changing on a yearly, monthly, daily and even what seems like an hourly basis as the effects of widespread economic and social processes reach every corner of the globe. The Oromo condition and that of the Horn of Africa is changing at the same rate, in some ways more rapid than the rest of the world because the differences between the old and new are so great. One of the issues raised at the Oromiya Liberation Council's (OLC) constitutional convention in Toronto in July, 1999 was how might the Oromo utilize their old and new resources and their old and new skills of survival to create their means of existence as a nation in the 21st century?. The OLC's answer to this profound question came in its Program, issued this month. The program calls for and then presents mechanisms for building the institutions necessary for the Oromo to attain an independent, self-determined existence as a nation in all areas of public life.
The OLC is formed and its program was being issued at a time when the Oromo struggle for independence approaches a crossroads. There are various roads that the Oromo may choose to determine their future. The OLC has chosen to pursue the road to independence and seeks to work with any Oromo group or individual that desires to pursue independence for Oomiyaa. We realize that the road we have taken; Bilisummaa will be a difficult one to follow; one turn to the left or to the right will take us in a different direction or will cause us to lose our direction. A left turn will take us to the kind of federation route led by the OPDO. A right turn will lead to the unionist camp led by the Oromo National Congress (ONC). There are Oromo in both of these camps who claim that they desire the self-determination of the Oromo people. But when all is said and done, both of these routes will lead toward the continued subjugation of the Oromo people and for the advantage of the oppressors. It is also clear that people who are traveling those routes will meet with disaster just as the people before them have met disaster by trying to find shortcuts to Oromo freedom.
Most Oromo agree that the Oromo struggle is to regain what it lost economically, politically, and socially during the long years of conquest and colonization by the Ethiopians. They also agree that the Oromo should utilize what they have and what they have achieved to restore national self-respect. Most Oromo want to see the Oromo people decide upon their own affairs. Most Oromo want to participate in a democracy where all Oromo citizens are protected by the law of the land. The decision that faces all Oromo who want to take part in the struggle to achieve these conditions is how to get there, how to accomplish these goals. The OLC is composed of organizations and individuals who want to accomplish the targets of forming a democratic Oromiyaa where the institutions of government and administration are of Oromo design and the law of the land is law that is shaped by Oromo notions of democracy.
The Oromo people as a nation have no part in Ethiopia and are not seeking a role in Ethiopian affairs yesterday, today or tomorrow. As a consequence, the suggestion of some people that Oromo self-determination can be accomplished by instituting one man, one vote within Ethiopia while Ethiopia is still structured the present way, is an illusion. Since there is no reasonable program for getting to that point, the suggestion is even an ill use of the idea of voting. To argue for federation or confederation before liberation is to put the carriage before the horse. It is, in reality a cowardly suggestion designed to satisfy the Ethiopian camp and obscure the struggle of the Oromo people for self determination and freedom.
A federal arrangement requires the process of organizing a government where power is distributed between constituent equal units and the balance is maintained by a central authority created by all. This arrangement cannot be formed until the units are equal first and then voluntarily come together and play a role in protecting that balance and forming that central authority. A true confederation is an association of nations for a common objective. It can be an alliance of different nations, but it requires that they deal with each other with respect for their equality. Therefore, the Oromo cannot speak of federation or confederation until they have achieved the kind of guarantees that protect their equality within the arrangement. The OLC believes that Oromiyaa must be independent first, before any discussion of federation makes sense. Our position is that one cannot talk about alliance of equals before the units in the alliance are equals. Whether it is called alliance, coalition, confederation, federation, league, or union within Ethiopia, it is not Oromo business at the moment.
The Oromo cannot put their fate into the hands of groups (Ethiopians) that do not share the desire for Oromo freedom. Such groups have historically undermined Oromo objectives. In the past our people have trusted and allied with those who did not share Oromo objectives and we failed. For example, in 1974-1977, the Oromo were led by MEISON, where many Oromo thought that one man, one vote, would work. It failed. In 1991 the OLF, IFLO, UOPLF, etc, worked for federation and failed. Why did they fail? They failed because the Oromo had not formed their own institutions and means for protecting its stated positions and could not take these to the negotiating table. A federation or confederation cannot work if the participants are not self-determining nations. This is an unavoidable prerequisite.
Learning from the past, the Oromo must build upon what they have in order to be a self-determining and viable nation in the 21st century. We should stop blaming each other for the past, and instead understand the past in order to avoid the mistakes that prevented us from attaining our freedom up to this point. We should reach out and connect with one another in order to begin to build on what we have. Let us now leave aside the proposals that call for us to be a part of Ethiopia or to take a major role in Ethiopian affairs. How long should we have to take assignment from the enemy? Let those who subscribe to freedom come together for the future rather than hammer each other over the past. Let us begin carrying out the task of self determination in unison.
In order to take up the challenge of working together for the liberation of Oromiya, the Executive Committee of the OLC drafted its program over the past year and issued on this year's convention. The Program is put forward as a mechanism for accomplishing the tasks before us. We invite all Oromo who are for independence, and even those who are skeptical, to help translate the Oromo desire for freedom into action so that it becomes a reality. Again, we would like to meet all Oromo forces for liberation, wherever they want to meet, in order to create an understanding and to carry forward the task of our struggle. Let us call off this nonsense of who is better and come together. The OLC is ready and willing to meet with all Oromo organizations who are not yet part of the OLC and talk about what is best for our people and our nation.
The enemy of the Oromo people are trying to scare us, but they do not realize that the current condition is in fact conducive for the Oromo struggle. That is the case, only if we are united in purpose and action.
The OLC program is issued as a means for us to act as a nation and as a viable unit in the 21st century global village. Let us continue that process.
Oromiyaa Shall be Free!