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Press
Release By Aaddee Almaz Mako
August 11, 2001
PRESS
RELEASE
In
1995, when the new Ethiopian Federal Constitution came
into effect, I was elected to the Federal Council and
in its first meeting the Federal Council elected me
to become the speaker of the House of Federation in
Ethiopia – the post I have held to this day.
During
this period, I have observed both as a speaker of the
House of Federation and as a central committee member
of the EPRDF the initial hope and expectation that I
had when I joined the OPDO to advance the cause of the
Oromo people was diminished. Instead of resolving the
Oromo question through democratic means, the EPRDF government
has brought about untold miseries and sufferings on
the Oromo people. Any proud Oromo that has not sold
its soul to the TPLF is categorized as OLF sympathizer
and targeted for persecution. OPDO is being prevented
from becoming an autonomous organization representing
Oromo national interest in the government and reduced
to a rubber stamp for TPLF rule over Oromia. As a result
thousands of innocent Oromos have disappeared, perished
in detention centers from torture and many more forced
to flee the country. Today, even that facade resemblance
of independence that OPDO had is gone, and is replaced
with direct rule form Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s
office.
It
should be clear to every Oromo that there is neither
democracy nor federalism in Ethiopia. The lip service
to democracy is done only to impress western donor countries.
Federalism is propagated only to hoodwink Oromos and
other nations and nationalities. In reality, today Oromia
has lost her autonomous status and has become an appendage
of Tigrai. Oromo resources are mobilized and looted
to develop Tigrai, while Oromos who oppose this are
branded as narrow nationalists and persecuted. The ruling
party is categorically rejected by the entire Oromo
nation and survives only on the backs of its repressive
security forces. Although the regime issues statements
to the contrary, the OPDO and the Oromo people have
rejected Meles Zenawi’s prescription of Revolutionary
Democracy. That is why the Ethiopian regime in public
and through its state-controlled mass media had declared
narrow nationalism to be the number one enemy. "Narrow
nationalism" is a code term used by the government
to persecute any conscious Oromo who speaks on behalf
of Oromos and refuses to accept dictatorship and oppression
by TPLF.
In
the last couple of years, I remained in my post hoping
that somehow change would come and I could contribute
my part to represent my nation’s interest in the parliament.
My few endeavors to bring change were met not only with
resistance, but also put me in a black list as a sympathizer
of the OLF. Because I cannot in clear conscience represent
Oromia in the Federal Council and remain the speaker
of the house of federation, because my continuos existence
in my post will only give the false impression that
the Oromos are represented in the government, I have
decided to vacate my position as a Speaker of the House
of Federation and seek political asylum in the United
States. I have also decided to continue my struggle
for the just cause of the Oromo people by joining OLF.
[Signed]
Almaz Mako
August 11, 2001
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