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Resolution of the Fourth Meeting of the Council of Leaders of United Liberation Forces of Oromiya (ULFO)
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| Date: |
October 2, 2004 |
| Soure: |
United Liberation Forces of Oromiya (ULFO)
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The Fourth Meeting of the Council of Leaders of the United Liberation Forces of Oromiya was held from September 20–24, 2004. After thorough deliberation on a host of agenda items that included most importantly organizational matters, the state of the Oromo national liberation struggle, the present condition of the people of Oromiya under the colonial rule of the TPLF-led Government of Ethiopia, and the general political situation in the Horn of Africa, the Fourth Meeting was concluded issuing the following resolution.
1. On organizational matters
Fully recognizing the need to have a common platform that appeals to the broader Oromo public and draws increased participation of the People of Oromiya in the national liberation struggle;
Aware of the fact that well formalized and constituted ULFO would have enhanced functional capability;
Understanding the urgency of dealing with a host of organizational issues left unattended because of lack of a constitutional framework;
The Council of Leaders,
- Pursuant to a directive of the Council of Representatives of ULFO, prepared and reviewed a draft political program and constitution of ULFO that will be presented to the upcoming meeting of Council of Representatives for ratification.
- Set up a place and time for the conference of Council of Representatives of ULFO to convene and ratify the program and constitution.
2. On consolidating ULFO and enhancing the Oromo liberation struggle
Assessing the past activities of ULFO as an entity and drawing valuable lessons from weaknesses it experienced;
Evaluating the extent of participation of each member organizations in promoting the unity of purpose of all the liberation forces;
Analysing what the people of Oromiya expect from ULFO and generally gauging the Oromo public perception;
Realizing that the Oromo nation desperately needs one national voice and an organized and effective force that defend the People of Oromiya and their interest against the Wayane-led regime of Ethiopia;
Aware of the fact that consolidation of the efforts of all Oromo liberation forces is well overdue;
Being convinced that the unity of the Oromo liberation forces is the sole means for the achievement of the objectives of the Oromo national liberation struggle;
The Council of leaders,
- Pledged to remove all obstacles deterring the efforts of the Oromo liberation forces to strengthen and develop ULFO.
- Reaffirmed their commitment to facilitate and continue communication between member organizations to promote better understanding and foster healthy working relationship.
- Agreed to act upon any problems that surface between member organizations and provide appropriate and timely solutions.
3. On involving civic Oromo organizations in ULFO
Recognizing the vital role that Oromo community, professional, business associations and other civic organizations can play in the struggle for the liberation of Oromiya;
Realizing the aspiration of such organizations to make their share of contribution to the struggle by having active participation in ULFO;
Cognizant of the fact that one of the main objectives for the establishment of ULFO is to mobilize all sectors of the Oromo society, both in Oromiya and in the Diaspora, and enable them to participate in ULFO activities where they can contribute towards the national liberation;
Having been fully convinced that giving such Oromo organizations a proper place within ULFO and creating a conducive environment and encouraging their full and active participation in the liberation struggle will substantially augment the efforts of the Oromo liberation forces;
The Council of Leaders,
- Agreed to develop a mechanism through which civic Oromo organisations participate in ULFO activities.
- Agreed to commit themselves to reach out to these organizations and engage them in this task.
4. On current political situation in Oromiya
Saddened by the trials and tribulations that the People of Oromiya face on a daily basis in the hands of the fascist TPLF-led Ethiopian regime;
Outraged by unbridled tyranny of the TPLF regime that is stripping of basic human rights, cause havoc and escalating political, economic, and social problems in Oromiya;
- Detaching Finfinnee from Oromiya, an act that contravenes Wayane's own 'constitution,' thereby denying the People of Oromiya the social benefits and economic opportunity that Finfinnee renders;
- The recent barbaric action of the regime that barred many university, college, and high school students from educational opportunity.
- The harassment, torture, and imprisonment of leaders of the Maca and Tulama Association and the closure of the office of this civic organization.
- The politically motivated resettlement program of this regime that has already inflicted massive starvation, disease and death, and that is gearing up to resettle over 2 million Oromos in areas where there is no shelter, food, water – basic public health and necessary infrastructure despite mounting opposition of the international community.
The Council of Leaders,
- condemns the TPLF-led regime of Ethiopia for all the pains and sufferings it inflicts on the Oromo nation.
- warns the TPLF that no action of its regime is left unnoticed and that its regime will be held responsible for all crimes against the People of Oromiya.
5. On the TPLF regime's initiated upcoming referendum on Oromiya territory
Aware of the fact that the TPLF regime has initiated a referendum on carving out parts of the territory of Oromiya - the localities under the so-called referendum include: Borbor, Liban, Moyale, Tula-Saglan and Wachile in Borana; Barbaree, Goro, Haro-Dibbe, Mada-Walaabu, Baqaqsa, and Rayitu in Bale; Babile, Bordodde, Gursum, Jarso, Mullu, and various other places in Hararge;
Fully understanding that the regime is concocting this grand design for the sole purpose of creating conflict between neighbourly and brotherly nations of Oromiya and Somalis who have lived side by side peacefully for generations;
Realizing well that the grand scheme of the regime is to shrink the territory of Oromiya by parcelling out Oromiya to various ethnic groups neighbouring Oromiya and creating socio-economic pressure that in the long run reduce the People of Oromiya to a minority and enable the regime to rule over our country;
The Council of Leaders:
- Condemns this politically motivated so-called referendum of the TPLF regime that is intended to uproot the People of Oromiya from their ancestral places and expose them to gross social and economic crisis.
- Appeals to the brotherly Somali people in the region to understand the referendum issue the Wayane regime is presently fanning is nothing but a mischievous colonial ploy to stir up conflicts between our two nations in order to buy time for its regime; and to refrain from falling in this TPLF trap and closely work with the People of Oromiya to foil the malicious scheme of the regime.
6. Call
The Council of Leaders calls upon,
- The People of Oromiya to rise up against the criminal TPLF regime and defend their inalienable rights and protect the interest of the Oromo nation.
- The People of Oromiya to rally behind, strengthen and promote ULFO to be a national voice that fulfills the aspiration of the Oromo nation to be free.
- All Oromo community, civic, and professional organizations to join hands and contribute to the consolidation of ULFO and play an active role in the efforts for the salvation of the Oromo nation.
- All Oromo nationals serving in the armed forces of the TPLF regime not to cooperate with the fascist enemy that is perpetrating a silent genocidal war on your nation.
- All genuine democratic forces in the Ethiopian empire state to understand the seed of discord and conflict that the TPLF regime is sowing between nations, see the looming danger of instability and crisis, and endeavour to circumvent the potential dangers to the peoples in the empire.
7. Appeal
The Council of Leaders appeals to,
- The United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), and African Union (AU) to take a note of the TPLF-led Ethiopian regime's irresponsible political moves that is further destabilizing the already unstable region of the Horn of Africa; and to use your good offices to pressure the government to respect the rule of law and live up to the expectations of the international community.
- The United State, United Kingdom, and other western European Governments to use your influence on the TPLF/EPRDF regime of Ethiopia and proactively prevent the colossal political and socio-economic crisis that this regime perpetrates against the peoples in the Ethiopian empire.
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) to listen to the concerns of the target population that your programs are intended for, and reassess your positions on and funding plans for the Ethiopian regime that is illegal, totally devoid of democratic virtues and at best irresponsible.
UNITY IS STRENGTH!!!
OROMIYA SHALL BE FREE!!!
Council of Leaders of the United Liberation Forces of Oromiya
September 24, 2004
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:: Gumii Bilisummaa Oromiyaa ::
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