ONLF leader: Our political program is Ogaden people must decide, whether they want Regional Autonomy or Self-Determination!

ONLF leader: Our political program is Ogaden people must decide, whether they want Regional Autonomy or Self-Determination!

13 September 2013

Translated By Mohamed Faarah- Editor Of Ogadentoday Press.

(Ogadentoday Press)- A London based Somali Programe called, Illays TV through the YouTube, has aired an interview of Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) Leader Admiral Mohamed Omar Osman On Thursday.

The leader has spoken the latest situation in Ogaden stating that there were clashes between ONLF and Ethiopia troops in Ogaden, he widely praised ONLF fighters, and said.

“They are braves, they are heroes”

Meanwhile he was speaking the human right abuses in Ogaden, he said, Ethiopian Troops commits widely the right abuses in Ogaden, “The colony (Ethiopian Government), harasses, arrests, rapes and kills the civilians in Ogaden region, ONLF chairman states. 


Speaking on ONLF central committee assembly held on last month, the leader said,

“The main objectives of the assembly was to evaluate and reassess the organizational and struggle level of ONLF, politically and the militarily. We also plan the long and the short term of the struggle, we debate on the issues, we also plan our foreign policy. We look into deeply the different issues, how the last plans are carried out and how the future will be planned.

The leader said in the interview. We share the experiences, and we also analyses the matters in different angles, we study the constitution and rule of the organization and build the institutions of the organization based on our rules and values. The meeting was a big one; we are committed to listen the criticism and make them into correct path.

The meeting is not only evaluated and discussed the ONLF issue but also evaluated and discussed the way of the colony is doing, his plans, and his strategy, the geopolitical of the region, how the neighbor countries cooperate with colony (Ethiopia)

The meeting was an international, many people gathered, including, the leaders of army, the deputies of the countries, who are among the members of central committee.

An interesting question was asked, why now ONLF added new members to central committee, are you now preparing to take a peace deal with Ethiopia?

“Laughing, Osman replied, the members who have been added to central committee were cadres, what happen is some central committee may died or retire , some may be they cannot perfume their duties, we are in the struggle same may died in the struggle, so since the institution of central committee is machine, we must prepare replacement. The replacement is not mean we are taking a peace-agreement, but it is about that central committee institution must perfume its duties fully”

Speaking about, the expected negotiations between, ONLF and Ethiopia, the chairman stated that he has no any official statement from Ethiopia but, Kenyan delegation and International organizations that are interesting to end Ogaden cause politically has asked them to come on the table of negotiation again since last one installed, and we accepted.

The chairman was asked the most important question that many people interested to know.

“ONLF was fighting over 30 years and still the colony(Government) controls the main cities, what alternative solution do you have to the people?

As usually, the freedom takes long time, the people of Ogaden are brave, and decided to gain their independence, they took the gun, there is no frame-time for independence and the people of Ogaden will not stop until they get independence, the leader replied.

Again the Ileys Reporter asked a question, if the government of Ethiopia says, we will give the full regional autonomy to Ogaden. Will ONLF accept and abandon the self-determination?

“The Front (ONLF) never ever said, we want self-determination or regional autonomy but we said, let our people be asked their will, let referendum vote come into process, it is up to them whether they choice self-determination, regional autonomy and be part of Ethiopia” our political program is, people of Ogaden should decide their will. Let our people get a referendum and vote their will.

The leader was asked if they get any support from several countries, including Arab and western countries,

There are many countries that know the situation of Ogaden on the historical perspective and know that our struggle is right one, there are some who may support us technically, while others may support us financially, there are some who may not support us because their diplomatic relationship with Ethiopia, said the Chairman.

We won the war from Ethiopian government, said ONLF leader in the interview.

I have a solid proof that we won the war, I tell you the proof, Ethiopia says, we are 80 million, we have strongest military in Africa, we were never colonized, and we (ONLF) are fighting for more then 20 years against them, we defeated them, finally, they organized a Liyu Police among our people, who are called in Ogaden “ Hawaarin” a local expression term, literally meaning “never live longer ” it indicates, "a curse" local civilian people in Ogaden uses the term to Liyu Police.

Ethiopian National Defense forces moved their largest number in Ogaden and finally realized that they cannot win from us, they cannot win the aspiration of the people in Ogaden. Finally they mobilized and formed the Paramilitary Police, “ Liyu Police” they will never win also. Our heads are up and we shall continue the struggle until the solution comes.

In Somali section of Ogadentoday Press, many watches the Interview and commented, comments were carrying the message of encouragement and support of the Leader"s speech.



Ogadentoday Press.