The making of a second Darfur in Ogaden

The morally bankrupt Ethiopian regime has in all sense and purposes decided to carryout operations that can be described as nothing less than a planned ethnic cleansing and genocide in Ogaden. In most of all the major Ogaden cities and towns, reports of mass detentions of civilians have been commonplace in the past month. Sensing failure to shake the Ogaden citizenry's conviction with mass civilian detentions, the Addis autocracy has since resorted to carpet-bombing campaigns against civilian targets throughout Ogaden. Forced mass civilian evictions with the mistaken belief that such evictions from towns and hamlets will reduce the mounting Ethiopian military battle losses and casualties has taken place in places such Qamuuda, Lehelow, and Jalelo. Access in and out of entire cities and towns were and are still blocked. This has put entire populations on fast track to mass starvation. The meager food supplies in cities and towns such as Wabiyar, Fooljeex, and Gaba Gabo were destroyed to expedite mass civilian famishment. The latest, reported Ethiopian military brutality against the defenseless Ogaden citizenry is the severe torture, and the extra judicial killings of children whose mutilated bodies are then put on display in city and town centers. In Qabri Dahar, several children were reported killed in this manner two days ago. The children's lifeless and mutilated bodies were brought to the city center as if to warn civilians that the same fate awaits them. What is taking place in Ogaden fits to the letter both the moral and legal definition of genocide. It is what took place in Rwanda thirteen years ago under the silent gaze of the world community. It is what is reported to have taken place in Darfur. Ogaden is another Rwanda and a second Darfur in the making. The world community should NOT fail to yet again put the brakes to another African tragedy such as Ogaden. The Ogaden civilians who are carpet-bombed, detained on mass, mass starved to death, and whose children have been mutilated and put on display by the Ethiopian military under the leadership of the Addis autocracy need the moral and military support of the world community. Another Rwanda and Darfur is not what we need to see so let us help the defenseless Ogaden civilians now and not a minute LATER. We, the Ogaden Editorial Board, ask the world community to come to the aid of the defenseless Ogaden civilians under the mercy of an Ethiopian dictator propped by foreign powers with selfish agendas. Let the world community know that history will not be kind to those who failed humanity in Rwanda, Darfur, and are on the brink of failing Ogaden. editorial@ogaden.com Ogaden Online Editorial June 25, 2007

OLF Statement on VOA's Unfounded and Fabricated News

It was surprising and utterly confusing for the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) to hear to be part of a coalition formed by Somalia's oppositions in "Asmara "; which Voice of America (VOA) broadcasted on June 8, 2007. According to the VOA, Somalia's oppositions held a meeting in Asmara and formed a coalition that the OLF not only attended but also became part of the so-called coalition. This is totally incredible for the OLF to hear such news being broadcasted by an accredited media like the VOA. The radio station should have and could have verified the authenticity of the news from the OLF before it went on air. We consider this as a misuse of the media to disseminate disinformation to confuse the general public based on unverified piece of news.The Oromo Liberation Front is an organization that is struggling in Ethiopia for the rights to self-determination of the Oromo people. OLF has clearly stated political program and well-defined internal and external policies. Also the OLF has made its stance clear on the politics of Somalia in particular and other neighboring countries in general. OLF does not meddle in the internal affairs of neighboring countries. This makes the news broadcasted by VOA totally out the sphere of OLF politics and makes it fabricated and unfounded.Hence, the OLF categorically denies having any knowledge of the said Somalia's opposition meeting and formation of a coalition. OLF seriously asks the VOA to make clarification on this news it broadcasted and take necessary steps to mend this false information broadcasted on this issue. We hope VOA will continue to be accredited media, which has great acceptance and respect from its listeners especially from the Oromo people.Victory to the Oromo PeopleOromo Liberation FrontJune 9, 2007