Statement of Protest Against Zenawi’s Criminal Regime Participation on 47th Conference of Global Security

We, members of the Oromo Communities in Germany and other countries in Europe, appreciate the objective of Munich Security Conference that aims to address the main global security issues through the approach of constantly looking ahead so as to take up future issues at an early stage. However, the participation of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia on the 47th International Global Security Conference has disappointed us. It is doubtful whether you are concerned about peace and security of the Horn of African peoples in the global perspective.

The regime of Meles Zenawi, known as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front or Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front (TPLF/EPRDF), is by any means morally not qualified to deliver a significant role in order to achieve sustainable peace and security in the region of Horn of Africa because his regime is the major part of the problem. The regime’s anti-peace characteristics are demonstrated by systematic gross human rights violations, the 1998-2000 border war with Eritrea, the 2006 war crime in Somalia, environmental degradation, eviction of peasants from their land without compensation, perpetrating aggravation of conflicts in the Horn, and etc. For example, the Oromia Support Group in United Kingdom, a non-political organization to raise awareness of human rights violations in Ethiopia, has
reported four thousand two hundred seventy nine (4,279) extra-judicial killings and 987 disappearances of civilians in Ethiopia from 1994-2010. Also, Meles is now best known for his latest mock election in which his TPLF/EPRDF party won 99.6%. He has not been willing to peacefully transfer political power within
last twenty (20) years.

We believe it is necessary to refrain from sponsoring racist and anti-peace policies of the TPLF regime in order to realize sustainable peace and stability in the Horn of African region if the principle of security for
humanity is applicable for the human beings in that region. Therefore, we appeal respectfully to families of international communities and democratic governments to stop acting against the struggle of the Oromo people in particular, and the oppressed peoples of the Horn of African region. We would like to remind you that objectives of the struggle of the Oromo people are to overcome century-old injustice, to live in freedom, to build peace, to practice democracy, and to achieve stability.

Justice and Peace Shall Prevail!
Oromo participants of peaceful demonstration

5tth of Feburary 2011, Munich, Germany