The Oromo Liberation Front confirms the defection of Mr. Yonatan Dhibisa who is the immidate Minister in charge of Justice and Administrative Affairs in the Regional State of oromia. Mr. Yonatan was one of the founding members of the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organisation (OPDO), a member organisation in the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front(EPRDF), the ruling party in Ethiopia. The Tigrean Officials formed OPDO from Ethiopian POWs in 1990.

Since the Formation of OPDO, Mr. Yonatan served at different capacities in the organisation and rose through the ranks to the leadership. He was until his defection a member of Executive Committee in both the OPDO and EPRDF. Mr. Yonatan was among the four man Ethiopian delegation on its way to attend a conference in Nuakchot, Mauritania and defected in Paris on his way to the meeting venue in on february 20, 2001.

Close source to Mr. Yonatan from his Paris suite, reveals that his departure from the system is as a result of his opposition to the regime in power. He was one of the loyal members of OPDO who served the system faithfully believing it will bring fundamental changes and democracy to the country. However, through time he came to know that the words and deeds of TPLF are completely different things. In particular, he opposed the increased official corruption, gros humanrights violation and the general harassment on the Oromo People and the Peoples in Ethiopia. Because of his awareness of the deception of the regime and conviction to oppose it, he was subjected to harassment and around the clock serveillance. All these culminated in his decision to defect to free himself from the bondage and expose the dictatorial regime.

The OLF and Oromo People appreciate this courageous and bold decision of Mr. Yonatan Dhibisa. The OLF has been calling up on Oromos working for the EPRDF to stop being used by the regime against their people and instead serve them faithfully. we once again renew our call to the remaining OPDO members and other Oromos serving the regime to follow the footstep of Mr. yonatan Dhibisa and stop serving the regime that is waging war of genocide on the oromo People. The time when Oromos working for a regime that harasses, intimidates, arrests and kills their people has to come to an end.