Sunday, August 3, 2008

Ogaden – A Time for Fight

OGADEN- A TIME TO FIGHT

Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis

At a critical moment for the History of Ogaden, the Fourth Plenary
Session of the Central Committee of the Ogaden National Liberation
Front (ONLF), held from 22 July to 30 July 2008, was an excellent
opportunity for reassessment and re-launch of the national struggle
for Ogaden's liberation.

The recently published Human Rights Watch Report on Ogaden consists in
a valuable document that deserves to be politically exploited – in the
most systematic way – as a main tool for the further propagation of
Ogaden's plight and the Ogadeni Somali people's right to Independence,
Freedom, and Self-determination.

It is therefore only promising for the terrorized, tyrannized and
massacred people of Ogaden to come to know the ONLF Resolutions
announced in the aftermath of the event; the points therein stressed
reveal very well that the ONLF leadership, rightfully,
representatively, and authoritatively expressing the desire of every
Ogadeni living in the isolated, impoverished region of starving
heroes, has understood correctly that a combination of military and
political efforts and endeavors will guarantee the final victory.

Result of astute observation and resolute conclusion, the ONLF
Resolutions statement clearly denounces the Abyssinian tyrant Zenawi
regime's evildoings in Ogaden, their ominous plans for neighbouring
countries, and the inner weaknesses that can bring Zenawi's end very
fast.

This is the reason the ONLF leadership must act, and must act fast.

Various groups of political power, European administrations, several
Oil giants, the State Department, the Chinese leadership and other
regional powers of the Indian Ocean region are currently involved one
way or another in Ogaden.

While deploying greater commitment at the military level (to both
defend the unarmed and starving local population and prevent the
exploitation of Ogaden's natural resources from the cooperation of the
Abyssinian tyrannical regime with various multinational
conglomerates), the ONLF should become even more energetic at the
political level.

The case of the Ogaden Genocide must be denounced in every capital
city in the world; contacts must therefore be undertaken with various
governments allover the world.

Without taking past policies as irreversible, as we are living in a
fast changing world, the ONLF leadership must contact Russia, Turkey,
Iran, India, Pakistan, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Japan and even China in order to propagate the Cause of Ogaden and the
troubles of the Ogadeni Nation.

Repentant Russians – Can they See Ogaden as their Way for an African Comeback?

It is only obvious, with our 30-year experience since the Ogaden War,
that both the Russians and the Ogadenis were the losers of the
catastrophic pro-Abyssinian policy of the Brezhnev Soviet
administration.

It's not only the Ogadenis who due to the utterly immoral and
ominously myopic choice of the Soviet foreign policy have been
constrained to emigration, poverty, starvation, discrimination,
oppression and genocide.

The Russians themselves proved to be the world's most spectacular
losers in Africa and the Warm seas.

Where are all the gains of the 70s?

Gone with the wind!

Russians have been left totally out of the new Scramble for Africa;
European colonial powers (France and England), America, China and even
India have demonstrated a stronger presence, a greater ability to
penetrate, cooperate, and promote their interests.

Everything is a matter of perception, and in politics every policy is
momentary, provisional, impermanent, and therefore reversible.

Ogaden – Geo-Strategic Key to Control over the Entire Eastern Africa

Many view the pacification and reunification of Somalia as the first
step for Ogaden's liberation from the terrorist Abyssinian rule that
was undeservedly imposed on them by the departing British colonials'
agreement with the lewd butcher, the analphabetic pseudo-king Haile
Selassie.

They may be right; but their vision is not the only existing! There is
an antilogous pole to this approach.

Ogaden's liberation will trigger the pacification of Somalia, the
dissolution of the heinous, execrable and inhuman colonial relic of
Abyssinia (fallaciously re-baptized 'Ethiopia'), and the calm in the
borders between Eritrea and the (then expected to rise) Tigray
Republic of Abyssinia.

With Ogaden pacified, free and independent, the Somali South's
warlords will have little chance to survive, and the recently signed
Djibouti Agreement will be successfully implemented without the TFG
president having again a chance to jeopardize Somalia's chances for
progress. The two factions of ARS, the Somali Diaspora, the Shabab
fighters, and a part of Somali patriotic representatives from the TFG
will guarantee peace in the Somali South.

In view of Ogaden's liberation and the Somali South's pacification,
the unrecognized autonomous administration of Puntland will be
automatically dissolved. As consequence, the patriotic forces in the
Somali North will revolt against the treacherous, tyrannical regime of
the secessionist 'Somaliland' puppets of Abyssinia, and helped by
Ogadenis and other Somalis, will exterminate the thugs and the
gangsters of the disreputable tyrant Rayale, the most disreputable
Somali renegade and high traitor of all times.

Free Ogaden, reunified Somalia, and peaceful Eritrea will trigger the
decomposition of Abyssinia, with the secession of the Afars, the
establishment of the Oromia Republic with capital at Finfinne
(currently and illegally called Addis Ababa), and the formation of the
confederation of the Kushitic Nations that will be an umbrella for the
independent African nations of the Sidamas, the Kaffas, the Kambaatas,
the Shekachos, the Wolayitas, the Anuak and the Nuer.

The nation that will help Ogaden in its path for independence will
certainly gain control over 5 million km2 of Eastern African territory
where the Anglo-French colonials are reviled, the Americans loathed,
the local regimes rejected, and China starts being perceived as an
immoral and heartless enemy of tyrannized nations.

ONLF can say this to attentive Russian ears.

The aforementioned is a brief sketch of a potentially convincing
argumentation that could be presented to the great losers (thus far)
of the 21st century African Scramble of Energy and Freedom, the
Russians. One should expand on the subject similarly, while presenting
the Cause of Ogaden to other administrations.

In the same way must be contacted European administrations that have
expressed a time honored diplomatic tradition of Concern for Human
Rights; the same concerns parts of the American Establishment, Italy
and the Vatican.

Ogaden can become the land where Islam and Christianity will meet due
to an explicit Concern for Humanity commonly expressed by the
Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Vatican.

The world of global business must be equally contacted and sought
after, in the struggle for Independence, Freedom, and Human Integrity
in Ogaden. Oil giants must come to terms with the inoperability of the
policy plan to cooperate with tyrannies. Instead of losing lives of
employees, infrastructure, money and time in perilous investments that
can rightfully become the target of a liberation army, they would
better defend their interests by subsidizing the cause of an
endangered and long tyrannized nation, and by contributing to its
liberation.

Certainly, cooperation at the local level with the other tyrannized
nations of Abyssinia, with struggling Somali brethren and several
administrations in the Horn of Africa region must be undertaken and
pursued. It will however be complementary. This must be clear.

After all, it is a matter of planning and determination; ONLF has no
other option than to offer Ogaden its first free, independent,
national government, president, constitution. All Ogadenis' eyes turn
to them; all their wishes will propel ONLF to the international scene.
The time is now!

I republish the ONLF Resolutions statement integrally, as it
represents a critical document for the times ahead.

Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)

4th General Meeting of The Central Committee (22nd to 30 July 2008)

Resolutions

http://www.onlf.org/generalmeeting.html

http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.php?sid=7130&tirsan=3

The fourth plenary session of the Central Committee of the Ogaden
National Liberation Front (ONLF) was held from 22 July to 30 July
2008.

The meeting's agenda focused on several issues of significance to the
struggle of the Somali people of Ogaden [in southeastern Ethiopia] and
explored a variety of strategies to overcome the challenges faced by
the front.

The session analysed, at length, the situation in the Horn of Africa,
global political realities, particularly the current situation in
Ogaden. The session reviewed the progress made in advancing the
struggle since the last Central Committee session. It was agreed that
the movement made significant progress towards its goals during the
period under review, with operational objectives being implemented as
expected.

The Central Committee welcomed the progress made during the period in
the military, political and social arena. The session also noted the
steadfastness, sacrifice and courage of the people of Ogaden despite
the inhumane blockade and continuing war crimes perpetrated by the
army of Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF [dominant party in the
ruling coalition])-led Ethiopian regime.

The session also appraised the strategic and operational capability of
the Ogaden National Liberation Army (ONLA) and highly commended the
numerous victories of the ONLA despite overwhelming odds. Furthermore,
the session praised the people in the Diaspora for their steadfastness
in support of the struggle in raising the awareness of the
international community regarding the atrocities perpetrated by the
regime in Ethiopia.

The session took stock of the weakness of the TPLF regime militarily,
politically and economically and noting that the regime stands only
due to external support, particularly from donor countries.

It was also highlighted that there are now signs that the TPLF
regime's policy of expansionism and suppression of the will of the
peoples of the Horn of Africa is beginning to unravel. The TPLF regime
has also failed in its invasion of Somalia and suppression of the
various peoples under its tyrannical rule. Furthermore, its unjust
sinister designs on its neighbouring countries are destabilizing the
Horn of Africa.

After extensive discussions and analysis, the fourth ordinary session
of the Central Committee reached significant conclusions and finalized
a comprehensive strategic plan of action aimed at advancing the
struggle in the military, political and organizational arena, with an
eye towards promoting cooperation and coordination among other
struggling peoples in the Horn of Africa. As such, the following was
resolved:

1. To strengthen and build upon the successes in mobilizing the
population both inside and outside of Ogaden;

2. To strengthen the unity and solidarity of the people in Ogaden in
order to counter the programmes and initiatives of the enemy;

3. To strengthen and promote the cooperation and coordination of the
forces of the oppressed peoples of the Horn of Africa against the
tyrannical regime of [Prime Minister] Meles Zenawi;

4. To boost diplomatic and informational efforts of the national
liberation struggle.

The fourth ordinary session of the Central Committee also condemned:

1. The continuing war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated
by the TPLF regime against the Somali people of Ogaden, including
extrajudicial killings, torture, rape and forced displacement;

2. The atrocities against the brotherly people of Somalia committed on
a daily basis by the TPLF regime, and it's sinister policy aimed at
preventing the re-establishment of a legitimate Somali state;

3. The policy of the TPLF regime characterized by territorial
expansion and hostile action towards its neighbours;

4. All acts of state sponsored terrorism planned and executed by the
TPLF regime.

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