We, the undersigned, representatives of Oromo civic, religious, academic, community and media organizations, hereby in unison convey our heartfelt condolences to those who have lost family members. We also send our unflinching support and message of solidarity to you, our people, who are valiantly resisting the repression by the Ethiopian government.
The Oromo nation has suffered over 120 years of indignity under successive Ethiopian regimes, but the cruelty and viciousness you have been subject to by the EPRDF/TPLF regime in the last few weeks surpasses anything that we have witnessed in recent memory.
We understand that today you are living under a significant amount of fear and duress as a result of the military occupation of your towns and villages. The outrage we feel at the brutality the TPLF Agazi force has unleashed in Oromia is unmeasurable. We are heartbroken by the number of school age children the Ethiopian security forces have killed. We are repulsed and outraged by the news of women raped. We reject the Ethiopian government’s characterization of your movement as an act of terrorism. Who is the terrorist here? Are they the unarmed school children demonstrating peacefully or those who are armed and killing them? Let the truth speak for itself. In spite of all the violence, repression and systemic abuse that has made you prisoners in your own land, you have persevered and heroically continued the struggle under the most difficult of conditions. And to the Oromo youth, your discipline, tenacity, love of liberty, courage and defiance in the face of an adversity, has made us all proud. You are a source of inspiration and strength for all peoples in Ethiopia and beyond. Generations of Oromos will remain indebted to you for your contributions, and history will remember your sacrifice.
The Oromo nation has reached a critical stage in its struggle. At this point, there is no turning back. We have no choice, but to march to the very end. We cannot allow the sacrifices made to be in vain. The consequences of stopping short of ultimate victory will be disastrous. Therefore, we want to encourage you to remain resolute and courageous as you sustain the struggle. Through its various agents of violence, this government has declared war on the Oromo people. And a government that declares war on the very people it seeks to rule has no moral authority or legitimacy to remain as such. Thus, the struggle to liberate our people from this repressive regime should continue undeterred.
At this critical juncture in our history, as we send you this message of solidarity, we pray for the safety and wellbeing of our people and recommit ourselves to stand with you and support the struggle with everything at our disposal. As the free Oromo spirit can no longer bear the yoke of bondage and indignity, there is no doubt in our minds that sooner or later justice will prevail over evil and our people will be victorious. We are confident that the great Oromo nation shall once again be free!
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