It appears not for long. If at all the latest election serves as a litmus test, the true nature of the regime of Meles Zenawi has been clearly revealed to the world community. The world has seen not democratic but rather dictatorial and fascistic nature of the regime. Nothing is therefore more telling to the world about this regime than the fiasco during and in the aftermath of the election. As a result, one would hope that the international community, more so the western governments and international financial institutions, would objectively evaluate the reality on the ground and take a measurable stance against this repressive regime sooner than later. To do otherwise and continue supporting this regime would be a recipe for further escalation of crisis in Ethiopia; and it would amount to irresponsible action that is morally reprehensible.

In the Oromo case, free political expression is nothing less than the realization of the Oromo people's aspiration for freedom. The Oromo people have nothing to win but all to lose whether the EPRDF is re-instated or CUD is empowered.

What is currently unfolding in the political landscape of the Ethiopian empire is the beginning of the collapse of the TPLF hegemony and the re-emergence of the Amhara elite under the semblance of opposition forces. These forces, most notably the CUD and UEDF are in opposition to the ruling regime only in as much as they regain the state power they lost to the TPLF-led EPRDF. With regard to the fundamental political problems overwhelming the empire, neither the incumbent nor the oppositions are there to contribute to any meaningful solution.

The whole exercise has evidently become a political interplay between the Abyssinian factions – the Tigre and the Amhara elites - challenging each other on who has to rule over the majority of the peoples in the empire state.

The CUD, a party of mainly the Amhara ethnic group, that has a primary agenda of unitary state with Amhara-centered political power, has openly declared that it would terminate even the existing seemingly federal structure, allow the sale of Oromoland, and reject the right of self-determination. It is determined and prepared to reverse even the limited gains the Oromo liberation Struggle has scored through years of heavy sacrifice, that somehow survived the TPLF's repression.

Such an eventuality would obviously exacerbate the hitherto dire situation of the Oromo people if unattended to with the necessary seriousness. CUD is an additional serious threat and formidable challenge to the Oromo struggle and the very survival of Oromo nationhood.

It is also important to note that the CUD and UEDF have categorically rejected the ruling of the International Boundary Commission, and unmistakably made it clear to redraw the boundary and expand the territory of the Ethiopian empire to that of pre 1991. The emergence of such parties to political power would undoubtedly deteriorate the already precarious situation in the empire and the Horn of Africa at large.

Considering the overall changing situation and quantifying the shift in the balance of forces in the political equation, the Oromo organizations have to take stock of the whole circumstances on the ground, jointly design and go about it without delay.

It is very important that all Oromo organizations reach each other across organizational divides, including those organizations outside the liberation camp, to work together on a common ground to maintain the gains achieved so far and promote the liberation struggle exploring and employing all possible means.

With the eminent danger hovering over Oromiyaa, if its not acted upon with the necessary magnitude and intensity immediately, the consequence will be a grave danger that denies space for anything Oromo. Failing to recognize, prioritize and act upon this urgent task would make Oromo political organizations not up to the test of time.

This is a crucial moment in our history, when all Oromo nationals are obliged to set our petty differences aside and pull our human and material resources together to salvage our people and rescue Oromiyaa.

The Oromiyaa Liberation Council (OLC) is committed to pursuing this course of action and calls upon all Oromo forces to follow suit. We believe that our combined effort - unity of purpose - is needed more than ever before. Therefore, there is an earnest need for the mobilization and maximum participation of the broad Oromo mass. Consequently, it is imperative and high time that we fully understand what ULFO means to the Oromiyaa Liberation Struggle, uphold its objectives, upgrade its capacity, and make it fully and successfully operational. ULFO is the appropriate response to the CUD, the EPRDF and the like.