Another Anti OLF and Oromo People Military and Political Campaign of TPLF

The TPLF has been working tirelessly to destroy the Oromo liberation Front and the struggle of the Oromo people for freedom and justice. The TPLF had this evil wish even before it assumed state power. In the past nine years, the TPLF made several overt and covert campaigns to destroy the OLF and its army. The most extensive and continuous military offensive was carried out in 1996 and 1997 which lasted for two years. By the end of the operation, in which more than four divisions were employed, the TPLF thought it had got rid of the OLF and its fighting force, once and for all. However, the OLF and its army which have popular mass support, proved to be a front that cannot be eliminated. Contrary to this hard fact and world wide accepted truth, the TPLF, once again, has drawn a similar plan. This plan was drawn on the Executive Committee meeting of the TPLF which was held in mid November 2000 in Makale town.

The TPLF Executive Committee, in this emergency meeting, discussed in detail on the development of OLF’s activities and the general political unrest brewing up in Oromia. The meeting again reaffirmed that the OLF and the Oromo people are the real threats to their power. The meeting was concluded by drawing two courses of actions to be taken. These are:

• To conduct a coordinated and sustained ground and air military offensive to eliminate the OLF and its fighting force.
• To undertake massive resettlement program and herding of OLF sympathizers into concentration camps.

The implementation process of these two plans have already started.

The military offensive is planned to be swift and extensive and all means are to be employed to destroy OLF militarily. All areas where OLF fighters are suspected to be operating are going to be bombed and shelled by TPLF artillery and fighter planes. This military offensive is planned to be concluded by the end of January 2001.

The TPLF Executive Committee members have also drawn an alternative plan in case this military offensive does not hit its intended target. The alternative plan is to take measures that "isolate" and "discredit" the OLF and pacify the Oromo people. According to the plan, TPLF is going to be magnanimous and release most of the Oromo prisoners and use them as appeasement. The high tax rates that Oromo peasants and merchants are paying will be reduced. Inducement program of increased pay and better jobs will be given to Oromo intellectuals to win their support and sympathy. Parallel with this plan, actions will be taken by TPLF cadres and officials posed as the OLF fighters to blackmail and isolate the OLF from the Oromo people.

To implement the resettlement program and concentration camps, a committee of ten members has been formed. This committee is headed by Taye Takle Haimanot ( Kuma Demaksa), the Oromo speaking Tigrean. This committee started its duty on November 21, 2000. Divided into two groups of five persons each, the committee has been dispatched into two directions. One group is sent to eastern and southern Oromia to make research in 44 sub districts of Hararge, Bale, Borana, Arsi, northern and eastern lowlands of Shawa. The other group is to make similar research in Wallagga, Ilu Abba Bor and western Shawa. The main task of this committee is to identify places for resettlement and villages that are to be rounded up and put into concentration camps. Both the resettlement and concentration camps programs are to be carried out with the pretext of managing famine and drought and to be financed by governments and international agencies. The committee is to finish its preliminary research in 45 days and each committee member is paid an allowance of 3,600 Birr. In addition the committee is to collect intelligence on OLF military and organizational operations.

From these facts, it is evident that the TPLF is making another futile and desperate attempt to destroy the OLF and deter the Oromo people from its national liberation struggle. One more time, the TPLF is attempting to assemble Oromo peasants into fenced concentration camps and Wayane guards at all gates to monitor their movement. The primary objective of these concentration camps is to separate the Oromo people from the OLF. Putting itself in the foot steps of its predecessor, the Dergue, the TPLF is planning to resettle considerable number of Tigreans and Amharas in Oromia with international assistance. This is an imitation of the Israeli Kibbutz which the Israeli government used to counter Palestinian struggle.

This malicious plan of the TPLF must be exposed and combated. Therefore, we call upon the Oromo peasants, workers, students, teachers and others to be aware of this mischievous plan of TPLF and do every thing possible to resist and foil it. Again, we want to appeal to all governments and international organizations to critically review their relations with the TPLF; in particular the development and humanitarian assistance given to the regime. We want you to know that your humanitarian and development assistance granted for the peoples in Ethiopia is being misused by TPLF regime. We are certain that, like all past attempts, this round of futile and desperate attempt to destroy the OLF and the Oromo people’s struggle will be foiled by our struggle and at the end of the day, victory will be certainly ours.

Victory to the Oromo People!!