en-us http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people Comments from What’s Next for the Oromo People? | Horn of Africa | News http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601157407Dear Dhugaasa, I thank you for commenting on my scribble on this thread. I have read what you wrote very carefully and I would like to try to answer your questions and give you my feedback below. 1.You wrote “Leenco understands his political program is unlikely to be accepted by the Abyssinians. “ Even though I have not conducted an IQ test on him, I gather he is a very intelligent man and I would agree with you he knows his program will be rejected by the Abyssinians faster than a wink of the eye. We can therefore conclude his new and improved political program (I am comparing to the old and outdated OLF program) will not gain Oromos any support from the Abyssinian groups. In other words we can agree that Obbo Leenco’s program will exclude roughly 30% of the people in Ethiopia. I am sure Obbo Leenco has been saying Oromo movement is marginalized for more than two decades and I don’t see the how that marginalization is ameliorated by his program when leaving out such a large chunk of the peoples in Ethiopia. 2.You then added “the acceptance or rejection of Leenco’s program by the Abyssinians does not matter. They will accept it later for lack of a better choice.” I don’t think I can bet on that. There has been no indication so far that this is likely to happen. Not a single Abyssinian group has yet accepted Oromia’s independent existence even as an independent region within Ethiopia, and hence, I consider it naiveté of the highest proportion to assume they will automatically start doing so subsequent to the publication of WMO’s political program. 3.Your stated “What matters is the opinion of Oromos and “minority” non-Abyssinian groups.” Now we are talking. If you are telling me Oromo public opinion has been part of WMO’s political calculation to begin with, I assume you would agree with me they should have followed the Oromo way of doing Oromo affairs. Here I am referring to the well-known Oromo tradition of ilaaf-ilaamee. WMO has not taken this tradition into consideration. Its leaders discussed amongst themselves, concluded OLF program was outdated and need to be changed, adopted Obbo Leenco’s vision, and called meetings in American and European cities to announce it in the name of Maree. No Oromo will take such an undemocratic process as ilaaf ilaamee because it is better described as awaaj we all are familiar with. If they had chosen to follow the Oromo tradition of ilaaf-ilaamee they would have sat down with the leaders of the various Oromo political groups, put every option on the table and try to hammer an agreement and establish a broad Oromo consensus. Such a call was made from multiple corners before WMO was announced but WMO leaders rejected it outright. I see this as an epitome of un-Oromo decision making process. Another point I would like to add here has to do about those “minority” groups you mentioned. Are they like toys you can drag anywhere you want to take them? Would it not have been better if you make them part of the decision making process? 4.You wrote Obbo Leenco did not abandon the right of self-determination. I cannot disagree more. Of course Obbo Leenco, being a smart person that he is, did not come out and say “Folks, I disagree with the right of self-determination” as only a fool would do that but he has done so no matter from whatever angle you choose to view what he has been saying on numerous media. I am sure you have heard him say “If we interpret the right of self-determination to mean….then his conclusion of the right of citizenship follows.” How did you understand such statement you heard from Obbo Leenco? My friend, the right of self-determination is an internationally recognized political concept enshrined in UN charters and are not open to interpretation or reinterpretation at your pleasure. Therefore Obbo Leenco’s re-interpretation of the right of self-determination is nothing but its negation. More could be written about this but I will stop here for now. I hope I have answered your questions I deemed important but feel free to let me know if I have not. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:37:53 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601157407 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601027492But to tell you the truth I was disappointed when you said, ”But on the other hand, I resent deeply that they decided to subordinate such an admirable activism to political nihilism. I see no reason why they had to renounce and change a cause and a political program tens thousands sacrificed their lives for if the intention indeed is Oromo empowerment.” I don’t see where there is political nihilism. I don’t think you can say this if you truly understand what the Mari group believe in. You reached this conclusion without showing us how you arrived at it. That is not reasoning. This is unlike you. Please show me why exactly you said this. You also have this strange idea about political program. Let alone political program, even the Bible at least the interpretation had changed over time. Political programs are words of god. If they become hindrance to our struggle, of course they should be changed. You make the sacrifice of the martyrs by becoming flexible and attaining your goal of empowering the Oromo people, not by simply paying homage to existing program that is taking you nowhere. Rest assured that the people in Mare are committed Oromos who have the interest of the Oromo at heart, and they are for the empowerment of the Oromo. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:43:36 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601027492 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601027074Let me again indicate to you that Leenco is not begging citizenship from the Ethiopian state, he is simply stating that he is going to fundamentally transform the Ethiopian state from empire state to true democracy where all the people will become true citizens. And he says that this could happen only when the Oromo get hold of the reign or power and implement his ideas. This is not begging, this is a revolutionary idea. True citizenship cannot occur where there is still an empire state. Therefore, the primary objective is transforming Ethiopia from empire state to democracy. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:42:58 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601027074 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601026488The second point you raised is this: It would be naive to think tens of thousands of Oromos sacrificed their lives fighting for an unconditional right to self-determination under the OLF led by Leenco Lata himself, only to back track along the way and rally behind the same Leenco to beg citizenship from the Ethiopian state they have been fighting against. Who said that Leenco had abandoned the right to self-determination? Multiple times he has stated that he is for Self-determination. I think what led you to this conclusion is the mistaken idea you have about self-determination. You equate self-determination with secession, and because Leenco now believes that the Oromo issues could be resolved within Ethiopia, you conclude he does not believe in self-determination. That is wrong. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:41:50 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601026488 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601021523 Don’t forget that this is a better alternative because it’s better than secession for them. But again you should count more on your people and other minorities and not whether the Abyssinians will accept it or not. I just do not accept the defeatist idea that because the Abyssinians will not accept it we should not do this or that. We are not expecting things they do for us, but what we do for ourselves and for the whole people in Ethiopia. We have to get out of the beggar’s mind set. We are not begging them to implement it for us, but we will do it ourselves one way or another. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:32:33 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601021523 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601020851When he talks about citizenship Leenco is more philosophical than what the formal categorization implies. He simply means that self-determination had not occurred or that people are not free to live their lives and create their governments the way they want to. In a round way he is also implying that Ethiopia is still an empire state. First, what matters is not whether the Abyssinian elite accept it or not. What matters is if the Oromo and the other minority groups accept it or not. I don’t think he has any expectation that all Abyssinians will come tomorrow running to embrace his ideas. Once the Oromo and other ethnic groups accept this idea, then they do not have any choice but to embrace it, first slowly and then some of them wholeheartedly when they realize what it means. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:31:16 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601020851 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601019929¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬Dear Abdi, here you said this, “First and foremost, his political notion of subjects vs citizens is unlikely to be accepted by the major stakeholders in Ethiopia. The Abyssinian groups (the Amhara and Tigre) have no doubt that every group in the country is a citizen already, and therefore Leenco's political manifesto is a non-starter for them.” I don’t think Leenco misses that according to the formal document all the peoples in Ethiopia are citizens, and he also understands what the Amhara Tigre group think. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:29:32 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601019929 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601014168Leencho has a credibility deficit and he will have to give a much clearer picture of what his visions are and how he thinks those visions can be realized. Kamal's group has even a bigger problem of standing on its own. Sooner or later it will have to choose whether it stands for Oromos or the empire keepers of G-7. The groups they are working with are not exactly what they claim to be. They are all anti Oromo groups. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:18:51 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment601014168 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600970345Friends , oromos and to all enemies of oromos ! I want to draw your attention that ODF is making an outstanding progress and producing many fans in a 6 months time. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:05:44 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600970345 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600955467Friends , oromos and to all enemies of oromos ! I want to draw your attention that ODF is making an outstanding progress and producing many fans in a 6 months time. Forwarding alternave ideas and projects and plans for oromos. Be with it and change the way TPLF is doing at home. Oromo shall win !!!!! Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:39:02 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600955467 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600758355Dear Abdi' It is your birth right to air your view. Ethiopian politics is not as simple as you said. If at all there is a peaceful way that Oromo can have its freedom why On Earth do you think those Oromo political Organization operating peacefully in Ethiopia today havn't get us there? It is a not a region which none of Habeshas need to see or hear about oromia without being pushed by subistaintial arm struggle or force. yes, our geographic location is not condusive and our struggle needs many more which we all need to ask ourselves in turn than pointing our fingers to others or medling in this regard, history has shown us, there is no way out or subistitue for the arm struggle when it comes to Habesha/Oromo relations. Finally, please if you think you have a better vision, carry on but no need to mess around saying this group has more members than that or so on. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:39:13 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600758355 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600740969Those who were in vission now in illussion,those who were in illussion now in vission.It is total mess.every one is in confussion, in confussion leave alone to solve nation wide problems it si impossible to solve personal or group problems.Anarchism that reigns OLF after 1992 still spreading like wilde fire in distructing the core oromian national interest.The rivilary between educated oromo and naturally gifted elders gave birth to the new emerging oromo nationalists and matured and crafted habeshan oriented elites.The oromians asperation for our indipendence depends on our unity of purpose and action. T he Habeshans trapped our movement interanally and exteranlly.willingly or unwillingily the oromian poletical eltes contributting in trapping their own national movement .It is quiet clear that there were no ideological difrences between oromian nationalists still I believe that. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:08:21 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600740969 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600358272political stand is principled and not looking for survival. It is not the work of "shermutxaa" that you shift with high bidders. The ocillators are the scam of the Oromoo struggle. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:12:57 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600358272 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600354728Obbo Qaasiim Abbaa Naashaa haasawa inni godhe keessaa waan tokko tokkon gaafachuu barbaada: 1) Namni waliin qabsaa’u eenyu? Diina kamin keessaa filadha jedhurratti yaada qulqulluu qabaachuu qaba Oromoon. Warra inni waliin hojjechaa jirra jedhu kana keessaa kan biraa yoo hafe Ginbot 7 diina Oromoo illee yoo ta’uu baate, xinnaatee yoo xinnaate isaan kunis farra QBO ti. Maarree, yaadni isaa “diina kamin keessaa filadha...” kan jedhu akkamitti laalama? Akkamitti yaada qulqulluus ta’uu danda’a? 2) ...Keeyyanni (Article) 39 hin hojjetu jedha. Waan inni ibsuu barbaade ifa miti. Dhaamsi isaa waan fedhes yaa ta’u garuu haasawa isaa keessa dogoggora dubbiitu jira. Wanti inni jechuu barbaade “hin hojjetu” dha moo “hin hojjenne” dhaa? “Hin hojjetu” kan jedhu yoo ta’e, akka Habashooni jedhanitti, “hin hojjetu ka’uu qaba” jechuu fakkaata. “Hin hojjenne” jechuu barbaade yoo ta’e, dhugaa ta’uu danda’a. Maaliif yoo jedhame waraqaa irra kaayyame malee hojii irra hin oolle jechuu waan ta’uufi. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:05:00 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600354728 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600352558My dear brother Dhugabar, I'm sorry to disappoint you but I have to tell you I don't consider myself a "cool" guy, whatever being cool may mean to you. I am just one "garraamii" Oromo speaking my mind without considering what others may say about me. Do you know that some people call us "Oromo gowwaa dha",” Oromo raatuu dha" whenever we expressed ourselves without thinking what those same people wish we say? Those are exactly the adjectives that best describe me because I don't care a tiny bit about what others think of what comes out of my mind. I hope you will understand my point, my dear. Since you have already concluded I am a Gumii Shanee supporter, another fact that may be disappointing to you is that I am no fan of any particular Oromo group. Therefore, if you have to box me into one particular group, I would plead to you to open a new category for me based on what I am about to tell you: I support every Oromo group whenever they do what I believe they need to do, and I criticize each and every one of them whenever I believe they have erred. In other words none of the groups has all my support or criticism at all times. Thus, I consider myself an "equal opportunity supporter and critique" of all Oromo groups. Have you heard of such a category of Oromos before? If you have not, just one such group for me alone and rest assured that I will be fine being there by myself. I must also tell you that you reminded me of Donald Trump when you said “I do hope to fire all of them one day and preside over all Oromo LFs” but I don’t want to see you becoming a replica of that man because he comes across as a buffoon, which I am certain you are not. So please, go ahead, fire them all, and preside over all of us LFites and take us to our cherished land of freedom. In conclusion, allow me to tell you a little more about how I view the various Oromo groups. I believe all of them are relevant to Oromo freedom movement. In OLF-Shanee and OLF-QC I see unflinching and unwavering belief that our victory is certain no matter how long it may take. That is why they are unwilling to compromise on Oromo right to self-determination that may be consummated in the establishment of an independent state of Oromia. I view this as an unadulterated Oromo quality of perseverance and I cherish it. On the other hand, I resent that these two groups move forward at snail’s pace in matters crucial to the freedom and well-being of our nation. I also resent that they are not reaching out looking for fresh and new ideas. In the former Jijjiramaa group and the new ODF. I like their activism. They are holding meetings everywhere and they are talking to people and I like that. But on the other hand, I resent deeply that they decided to subordinate such an admirable activism to political nihilism. I see no reason why they had to renounce and change a cause and a political program tens thousands sacrificed their lives for if the intention indeed is Oromo empowerment. I strongly suspect there is an outside pressure bearing hard on them to negate the OLF program but I resent that they have been subdued by such an external pressure. That is very much un-Oromo in my opinion. I believe we Oromo people have too many divisive “leaders” but what need now is a single Oromo coalition builder. I hope you, Obbo Dhugabar, can be that Oromo coalition builder if only you can abandon that Trumponian urge in you to fire everyone. So long my brother Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:01:00 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600352558 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600205706Abdi, I like you man! I wish all "Gumii Shamee" fans are cool like you. Anyhow to answer your questions. 1) I do know the ins and outs of OLFites. Who doesn't? These idiots don't know how to manage their information. That's how they always get infiltrated by TPLF thugs. 2) I am not old enough to be a leader of all those mini-clubs. But I do hope to fire all of them one day and preside over all Oromo LFs. Besides, I am an independent candidate and I can always switch sides/form political alliances based on the political currents of the time (so long as it doesn't compromise the interest of my people). Politics is like the NBA free agency. You can always ask to be traded based on who's on scoring and winning streak. The old OLF way of you are either with us or against us is just that: too old. What we need now is smart politicians who can play the game like those NBA cats. Much like at the NBA, take Lebron James for example, delivering results is what people believe in. So far, in the Oromo camp, what is lacking is results/scores/outcomes. Finally, in order for you to be able to sniff-test and determine who is who; you are going to have to join the elite club. Yup, that of ODF! In the meantime, I consider that ODF's comparative advantage over ShG's cliques. And QC's desperate attempt to stay relevant. We will see if press releases can liberate Oromia. I would say, it is time to get serious. You seem smart. You can figure out what our beloved country demands of all of us. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:36:43 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600205706 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600193834Dhugabar, You are smart to find out numbers don't lie and I have to agree with you. But let you something. Did you know or can you understand numbers do not have independent life outside the human mind they reside in and can be manipulated with. I don't think you have ever thought about this. It is that human mind that has unlimited power and desire to lie and the statement you wrote above is a good proof of that. It is clear from what you wrote that you know the ins and outs of all OLF factions and the ODF. That means you were a leader of OLF-Shanee, OLF-Jijjiiramaa, :OLF-QC at one point or another and you are now a leader of the ODF. There is no other way you could know how many members and/or supporters these groups have. Tell me then, why it is you think people will believe what you are saying now given that you are one thing and everything at the same time. Finally, you mentioned something about what the smell of anti-Leenco cliques is like. I did not know ODF has invented such a sniff-test already but I would like to find out how it works. Where do you apply the test to, to the armpit or those cliques or to their iuncovered behinds? Just curious, you know, bro. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:14:24 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600193834 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600161007Abdi, Your points would have made more sense had ODF lacked a support base among Oromos. Truth of the matter is, six months before it's due to be launched, ODF had more members than the three OLF's combined. Numbers don't lie, bro. The bottom line is this: while I appreciate your argument about subjects vs. citizens, you started smelling like the helpless anti-Lencho cliques when you mentioned lack of support from Oromo nationalists. And if you listened to any of Lencho's speeches so far, you would know that Lencho actually want to build on the accomplishments achieved under OLF. next time get the facts straight and stay with the issues. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:12:12 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600161007 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600146983I have heard Obbo Leenco stating that the fundamental objective of his ODF is to seize political power in Ethiopia and grant those he considers subjects to citizens of Ethiopia. He has repeated the same declaration at the OACC meeting according to Opride. Leaving the key question as to how his group will take power aside, the cornerstone of is political program has some serious problems. First and foremost, his political notion of subjects vs citizens is unlikely to be accepted by the major stakeholders in Ethiopia. The Abyssinian groups (the Amhara and Tigre) have no doubt that every group in the country is a citizen already, and therefore Leenco's political manifesto is a non-starter for them. Equally importantly, Leenco's political program is unlikely to get significant support from Oromo nationalists. It would be naive to think tens of thousands of Oromos sacrificed their lives fighting for an unconditional right to self-determination under the OLF led by Leenco Lata himself, only to back track along the way and rally behind the same Leenco to beg citizenship from the Ethiopian state they have been fighting against. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:46:03 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600146983 http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600131576Jijjiram's presentation : Very confusing. I do not think they know what they are doing. Sorry about that. ODF's: Presentation was very clear. But, regarding citizenship, Are we going to be a citizen of an Empire? Are we going to ask our rights being colonized? Who are we going to ask those rights? We are being colonized and Ethiopia is formed in the process,becoming an Empire. So, it is still confusing. I think these all issues they discuss can be answered in the political agenda of OLF proper. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:17:46 +0000http://www.opride.com/oromsis/news/horn-of-africa/3649-what-s-next-for-the-oromo-people#IDComment600131576