Dear AllWith sacrifices and commitments of our people, we have scored victories and encountered challenges. The brutality of the regime and our people aspiration to govern ourselves are globally known. Within a short period of time, we demonstrated to the world, in particular to the regional players, how our unity can contribute or influence the horn of Africa and threat for the regime enjoying military and diplomatic support for decades.
To curb the gains we achieved in the last four months, the regime has continued silencing dissent and working on diplomatic gains. The best bet example is recent bilateral agreement between the regime and United Sates government. We have moral responsibility to support our people struggles for freedom in a continuous basis regardless of the support the regime is getting from any country. We believe that bilateral agreements will not succeed or meet desired outcome, in particular for western countries when the regime is facing internal instability.
We cannot be quite when the regime is hunting and killing descents in every corner of Oromia and beyond. As a member of Oromo organizations (political and civics), I believe that we would contribute and achieve more diplomatic and military gains collectively. One of the plausible reasons for the regime enjoying all round support from western countries is absence of political force that can fill power vacuum. Unless we are more organized and act as unison, past achievements could be reversed and our people will possibly see more barbarism and will further be deprived of economic gains. I am echoing national call for unity. You have moral obligation to contribute and convince people rallying behind you for unity.
As you are well aware of, our beloved organization, OLF and its military wings, has gone through numerous challenges. All atrocities we have seen since the regime has come to power are partly attributed to leadership crises we encountered and leaders’ failure to learn from past mistakes. With effort of our people and members of the organization, the numbers of OLF factions has reduced and call for further unity is echoed than ever. We applaud factions’ leaders for their commitments and supporters for stressing their leaders for unity. However, taking into account regime effort to reverse gains and our people aspirations and daily sufferings, further shrinking of factions is necessary and unity would be possible by working together on common grounds and openly discussing differences.
This letter is, therefore, to cordially request you, executive members of your organizations, and your followers to reassess ongoing developments in Oromia and the country at large and respond to the national call for dialogue and unity. We must acknowledge that we are diverse in political ideologies ranging from referendum seekers to greater autonomy within Ethiopian framework. Ideologies of other Oromo political organizations are by and large fall within these ranges. It is not an easy task to reconcile differences in every aspect. However, effort must be made by all groups to narrow differences, listen to each other, respect ideologies of each group, stand and work together on common grounds, and be voice of nations seeking freedom, equality and justice. You, executive committee of your organization and people rallying behind your organization will be notified where open discussion will be held. Community organizations and other civic organizations must play active role.
Victory for nations seeking freedom, equality and justice.
Sincerely
Dereje Bacha, Ph.D
April 2016
In a word, unity means oneness, or togetherness. When there is oneness there is likely to be more strength in opinion, more strength in action, and more strength in character. This is a very simple and obvious fact that, if one person tries his hands on some job, he will manage much less than what a group effort will achieve. This, in all simplicity what unity is all about. Let us peep into different spheres of our existence and we can adjudge the truth of this statement. Let us first discuss the smallest unit of our society the family. If all members of a family go on divergent roads, the very semblance of a family disappears.
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