Is Prime Minister AAA Going to Realize Oromo’s ÀAÀ?
By Fayyis Oromia*
Now, there is no option for the Oromo other than acting in unison to keep the hitherto victory and strive to fulfill the rest. Anti-Oromo forces are doing every thing under the sun to get rid of Dr. Abiy and with that to destroy every thing Oromo. Dr. Abiy, who betrayed the Oromo cause in order to appease Habesha elites, has no other choice than coming back to his constituency – the Oromo. Genuine Oromo nationalists, who used to criticize, oppose and fight Dr. Abiy, also have no other choice than welcoming the Prime Minister and persuade him to do bidding of the Oromo. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali (AAA) needs to focus on promoting Oromo’s Àdà, Afàn and Àngo (ÀAÀ). No more hesitation and procrastination. He has to consolidate the Àngo (power), promote the Afàn (language) to primary status replacing Amarigna and to further develop as well as modernize the Àdà (culture) including Gadà democracy. If he commits himself to take this step of serving Oromo’s ÀAÀ, he surely will be remembered as one of the best Oromo leaders in history, It is up to him to get such position in Oromo history or to be remembered as the worst leader, who betrayed Oromo cause just to please Habesha elites.
It was good that the Hybrid regime of Dr. Abiy was trying to appease the Oromo by a well orchastrated celebration of Irréchà in Finfinné and Bishoftü. The attempt to push away the Oromo resistance flag from the celebration is only temporary success of the Hybrids. Surely, the beloved flag shall come back when the genuine Oromo nationalists will be in control. If the Hybrids really want to reconcile with the Oromo, they need to give priority for Afàn Oromo in any thing they do, replacing Amarigna. For instance, they should firstly use it when ever they give public speechs, and of course secondly they can use Amarigna. They should immediately declare that Afàn Oromô is the primary working language of all federal institutions like the palace parlament, cabine, court, military and security. If they take this step, I think the Oromo have no reason to feel yet oppressed by the Hybrids, after getting our freedom from the Habeshas.
The Current trend looks like Dr. Abiy and his prosperitan Oromos are trying to come back to the Oromummà camp, of course disappointing the Amharanet club. Most Amarianists had hope that they can hide behind Ethiopiawinet to manipulate and use Abiy Ahmed just as they did to Mengistu H/Mariam. Abiy has been in their trap in the last several years so that he betrayed Oromo cause and even persecuted genuine Oromo nationalists. Now, it seems that he is coming back to his sense. The release of Jawar and co as well as the ongoing dialogue with the OLF of Daud Ibsa shows his come back. Amharianists sensed this move of Abiy and fehlt betrayed by him. All their media outlets are crying about and because of such Abiy’s move. I hope Abiy shall keep this momentum and make peace in Oromummà camp. The coming together and forging consensus of the three Oromo organizations (OFC, OLF/OLA and OPP) is a big blow to the [ deleted ] Amarianists, who try to trade with brand of Ethiopiawinet. Oromo forces should agree to foster the bigger democratic Ethiopia (de facto Oropia = Oromummà led country) by abondoning the smaller Oromia. By doing this, Oromianists can use the brand Ethiopiawinet by hijacking it from the Amaranet bloc. That was vision of Dr. Haile Fida. Democratic Ethiopia, be it in the form of ethnic federation or geographical federation is de facto Oropia, which is almost double of Oromia.
The definition of Oromummà is simply Oromo identity or Oromonet. Its anti-thesis has been Amaranet. Since 1270, Amaranet grew by destroying Oromummà and Agawnet. This is the key policy of Amara elites till now. Amaranet being camouflaged as Ethiopiawinet had to flourish further at the cost of Agawnet and Oromummà. But now, it seems that the development of Oromummà is frustrating Amara elites. They thought that they can instrumentalize Dr. Abiy to crash Oromummà as they did against Tegarunet. They agitated and propagated a lot to persuade Dr Abiy invade Oromia as he did to Tigrai. Now, as they observed that this can not happen, they started to oppose him and demonistrate against Oromummà. Thanks to the hard work of Oromo republicans, we could divorce Dr. Abiy from Amara elites. Now, it is time for the Oromo republicans to support Dr. Abiy and his Prosperitan group so that the anti-Oromummà Amara elites will have no chance to prevail. Also it is high time to support Agaw people of Gojjam, Lalibella and Gondar to survive and thrive with their original identity of Agawnet, which is highly suppressed by Amaranet.
Amara [ deleted ] elites did their best to separate Dr. Abiy from his own Oromo constituency and to instrumentalize him to beat and break Oromummà. Even though the 2018 change came by huge sacrifice of the Oromo, especially Qeerroo, Dr. Abiy has got overwhelming support from the Amaranet bloc, not from the Oromummà camp. Amara elites manipulated Dr. Abiy and persuaded him to do a crack down on genuine Oromo nationalists and to undermine Oromummà. Dr. Abiy did a lot to satisfy them and thus lost Oromo support. Being aware that Dr. Abiy lost huge Oromo support, they are now trying to get rid of him and to monopolize power in Finfinné palace. Amara elites never get satisfied short of taking back the power they lost in 1991 (to that matter in 1974) and before they be in control of every thing in Ethiopia. If Dr. Abiy want to save himself and nations in Ethiopia from the coming back of assimilationist and oppressive Amara elites, he has to come back to his Oromo constituency and reconcile with genuine Oromo nationalists in the OFC and OLF as well as with people like Lammaa Magarsa and Jawar Mohammed. Then, he can have a stable and strong support base never to be shaked by any force from Amaranet bloc (camouflaged as Ethiopiawinet). He has to decide to serve the Oromummà camp by any means.
It is clear that the main support base for Dr. Abiy were Amara elites. He already lost support of almost all Tegarus and majority of Oromos. It is good that the TPLF hegemonists were defeated. They made the genuine struggle of our Tigrean brothers and sisters futile. They squandered all the opportunities for independence of Tigrai because of their greed and miscalculation. They could have cooperated with the OLF in 1991 to fix the whole problem in that cursed empire. Instead, Meles Zenawi kept the domination of Amaranet and Amarigna at the cost of Oromiffa, thus got support of Amara elites to persecute the OLF. Now, Dr. Abiy is repeating the same mistake. He is maintaining the domination of Amaranet, just to get support of Amara elites in order to beat the TPLF and Oromo republicans (OFC and OLF). The [ deleted ] Amara elites know very well how to approach and use those in power. So, they used Mengistu and Meles; now using Dr. Abiy to undermine the legitimate leadership of Oromiffa and Oromumma in Ethiopia. As long as they can instrumentalize Dr. Abiy to keep the ongoing domination of Amaranet and can hinder the legitimate promotion of Oromiffà/Oromummà to a primary leading position, they support him. When they can develope their own strong force, they will surely get rid of him and all the mild Prosperitan Oromos now revering Amarigna instead of respecting their own Oromiffà. As far as serving Amaranet and neglecting Oromummà is concerned, there is no difference between the hitherto Oromos, who had power in Finfinné palace (Menelik, H-Silasie, Mengistu and Abiy).
Otherwise, was Getachew Reda a prophet and right, when he said ” Amara and Oromo are Isat ina Chid”? Are Woyane cadres successful in their campaign of keeping Amara and Oromo elites in conflict? I had a little bit hope that the Oromara project may last long. Unfortunately, it didn’t. There is no question that the Oromo are already free from subjugation by Amara elites and hegemony of Tegaru elites. The Oromo struggle is now between the prosperitan OPP regime and the republican OLF forces. The administration of Dr. Abiy is so hesitant not to take radical measures in implementing the interest of their own people, the Oromo. Imagine if the republican Oromos like those in the OLF has power in Caffee Araaraa palace! Afàn Oromo would have been federal working language over night. Parts of Oromia given away by Meles Zenawi such as Finfinné would have been included in Oromia without any hesitation. Now, the question of Finfinné to be part of Oromia is only the matter of time, not if. No other nation, except Amara elites, is against this Oromo move of integrating Finfinné in to Oromia. With this opposition against Oromo’s interest, Amara elites are doing very grave mistake in their political life. They will pay it very expensive. Thanks to thier foolish move, Tigrai elites are approaching the Oromo just to isolate the Amara. Tigreans are playing their politics smarter than Amara elites. To weaken the Amaras, only playing the Agaw card is enough. Reviving and promoting Agaw nationalism is the very good neutralizing anti-dote against the ongoing aggressive and assimilative Amara nationalism.
It is clear that the main promoter of Article 39 in Ethiopian constitution is TPLF. The TPLF just did put the article in the constitution as a guarantee for an option to push for independence of Tigrai in case it loses power in Finfinné palace (Caffé Aràrà). It was not planned to secure the God given right of other nations for this would be practically hindered as long as the TPLF stayed in power. A very good example is the revision of the decision made by Somali regional parliament for self-determination in 1995, which caused the main conflict between ONLF and TPLF. Ogadenis were denied the right to self-determination, which is theoretically guaranteed as constitutional right. Since then, ONLF had to fight for the same self-determination, which it could have achieved in peaceful way. This shows why the article had no value for oppressed nations other than Tegarus. I once heard very interesting interview given by Abadula Gamada in “political civility” forum. He described and elaborated the reason why TPLF’s Article 39 is good at the moment as follows: “if you close door to a group of people in certain house and tell them to be united and live together, surely they will break door and windows to get out of the house. But if you open the door and tell them to be united, surely they will live together per free will.” So, we can see how article 39 was the best deception tool, which has been wickedly designed against Oromo liberation movement for the intention of the Article, according to him, was not liberation of oppressed nations, but keeping them together under TPLF’s subjugation by using political manipulation. He also said that the article was good to take action of separation when certain “Naftegna” organization “siqebx ke tayee ina ke asega.”
This seems to be also the step taken as the best scare tactics against Amara elites. Is it not interesting to hear this specially for Amara elites and Oromo elites, who couldn’t come together in order to find common ground and to fight together the common enemy, which was the worst fascist and looter the empire ever had? According to this elaboration of Abadula, simply put, TPLF’s article 39 was to scare the Amara and to decieve the Oromo as well as Tegaru’s hidden agenda to be implemented when the TPLF elites accumulate enough wealth to allow Tigrai split from Ethiopia voluntarily or in a situation they would be compelled to leave Finfinne palace by force.
On the other hand, Article 39 is accused specially by unitarist Amara forces because of its alleged “intention” to dismember Ethiopia. Ok, that can be, and that is why most pro unity forces reject it and even some Oromos support this opposition move against the article. But, the other question to be raised is, what is the intention of unitarist forces (mainly Amara elites) when they oppose this article of the TPLF? What about the intrigue from their side? Surprisingly, Amara parties, which do accuse the TPLF for this intention of dismembering Ethiopia have got their own “article 39″, which they want to use specifically to dismantle Oromia. Their Article is stated in their respective party programmes as follows: “establishing a federal system based on historical and cultural ties, language and geographic characteristics, administrative suitability and potential for development. It opposes administrative divisions based on ethnicity and language.” With this article, their intention is primarily to dismantle the biggest state in the country – Oromia, and then to build mini Oromo federal states like Borana, Arsi, Hararge, Wellega….etc. This attitude of all unitarist parties is one of the main obstacles for formation of a durable alliance between Amara bloc and Oromo camp. Surprisingly, there is no single Amara party which accepts and respects “ethnic” federation and/or self-determination, except the one in the EPRDF, i.e APP. That is why, the opposition against fascist TPLF is basically divided in to two blocs:
– bloc of Ethnofederalists, which include parties, which want to have as minimum compromise solution for current problem of the empire: autonomous national areas of each nation in Ethiopia in a form of Oromia, Ogaden, Tigrai, Amhara…etc
– bloc of Ethiofederalists (promoters of geography-based federalism), all being Amara parties and they want to forge federal Ethiopia based only on geographical suitability. With that, they target specially Oromia, which they want to divide in to pieces!
Interestingly, neither TPLF’s nor unitarist’s Article 39 can hinder the Oromo from achieving Oromia’s independence within Ethiopian/African union, which is the best compromise solution for all oppressed nations in Ethiopia as well in the continent. But, unfortunately, the article of unitarists was an obstacle for the formation of a necessary tactical and strategical alliance between Amara elites and Oromo elites against the fascist TPLF. Even if the unitarists give up their “article 39″, yet the Oromo in general, and the OLF in particular, need to build necessary trust to make an alliance with Habesha groups for the goodhearted Oromo have already been repeatedly betrayed (at least three times) in the not far dated political history of Ethiopia:
– in 1977 as Genenral Teferi Benti was executed by KGB and Habesha forces, all “socialist” Habeshas, who used to make alliance with the Oromo in Me’ison and Ici’at started to mock against “Galla” and started to act against self-determination of nations on which they used to agree. That was the reason for most Oromo in Me’ison and Ici’at to leave “legal” struggle and join the OLF.
– in 1992 the TPLF betrayed OLF which joined the coalition transitional government to honestly build a democratic and united Ethiopia in which Oromos’ right is respected. But the TPLF pushed the OLF out of the coalition and crashed its army with the help of EPLF, CIA and other Western governments, so that the OLF had no choice except to leave the “legal” status and opt for armed struggle.
– in 2007 Amara’s CUD and EPPF which made an alliance AFD betrayed the OLF as the TPLF started to persecute Oromo nationals in Somalia during the invasion and then they declared not to stay being part of the alliance they made with OLF.
The alliance formed in the form of Medrek in 2009 was also tested well. Even though Oromo parties have given in and given up to make a compromise on the God-given right of Oromo nation to self-determination, it was again Amara party, UDJ aka Andinet, who betrayed the goodhearted Oromos and gave up the alliance in the forum. OFC should have been very careful in Medrek it forged with Habesha groups not to give up cause of the Oromo. It should insist either to have consensus on the goal to forge independent Oromia within Ethiopian union or they need to agree on opting for referendum and allow the Oromo public decide on the issue: self-rule within a union vs self-rule without a union! Furthermore, some Amhara parties were trying to implement the same procedure of forging alliance again with liberation fronts. I always advocated this idea of making alliance with such parties.
It seems that Oromos in Medrek have given up the notion of Oromia’s self-determination and gave in to the wish of Habeshas to have unconditional Ethiopian unity. That is part of the hitherto history of Oromos, always intrigued and cheated by Abyssinians. But now let’s look forward by learning from the past, never to be disadvantaged again, and not looking backward just for the sake of only resentment. We should never give in or give up, but we need to push forwards till Habeshas swallow the bitter pill of accepting Oromo’s right to self-determination. To be effective, we wished for the Oromo, Ogaden, Afar, Gambella, Benishangul, Sidama and other oppressed nations’ forces to forge PAFD and remain in the alliance to neutralize the domination effort of Habeshas.
Once I read in Awude amharic newsletter, in which UDJ explicitly said that it was vehemently against “ethnic federalism.” How on earth could this party then made an alliance with OFC, Arena…etc? The question to be raised was: is it UDJ or the others which should give in? It seems others have given in to the wish of UDJ to keep the empire unconditionally with euphemism of unity and sovereignty. Of course, the alliance did not last long for the Oromo never give up till we achieve our self-determination. This made the alliance very shaky. All Amara parties were persistent not to give up their “article 39″ which they formulated for dismantling Oromia. Then why on earth do they cry about article 39 of “ethnic” federalists? Anyways, TPLF was really very lucky to have this chance of playing Ethiofederalist Amaras against Ethnofederalist Oromos.
If such conflict between the Amara and Oromo elites continue, it is possible that the TPLF can survive for the coming many years! Ethiofederalism is not the will of most Oromo nationals and others at the moment, except being that of Amara elites, who do continuously advocate for it, because they know the advantage they get based on the fact that Amarigna is still the only working language of the federation. Just let’s stop and think otherwise: suppose Afaan Oromo is the only working language of the federation instead of Amarigna. Who will then favour Ethiofederation? It will be the Oromo, not the Amhara! What I wanted to tell here is that every nation favours what is to its advantage. Now, Ethiofederation is more advantageous for the Amara, because it favours Amaranization. We, the Oromo, now favour ethnofederation for it serves our interest (protects us from Amaranization). If Amaras do agree to accept Afàn Oromô instead of Amarinya as the only federal working language, the Oromo will be best advocates of ethiofederation. I am not talking here about making both Afàn Oromô and Amarigna working languages of the federation as AG7 and co. try to make us believe. With this maneuver, the Amara want that Amarigna be working language of all regions including Oromia, the privilege which they do not have now. I am telling that, let’s limit Amarigna to only Amara region and make Afàn Oromô the only working language of Ethiopian federation. I am sure the Amara will be then supporters of ethnofederalism, while the Oromo will be best advocates for ethiofederation.
That means one way of persuading Amara elites and parties to respect national area of the Oromo is by challenging them with this idea of exchanging roles of the two languages. If they want to apply their “article 39″ and if Oromia has to be dismantled, then as a precondition, Afàn Oromo should be the only working language of the federation, Amarigna being demoted to local language of Amara region. If so, the Oromo definitely will not cry because of the possible dismantling of Oromia and separating Finfinné from Oromia, rather we will sing about a united and sovereign Ethiopia (Oropia) with only Afàn Oromo as federal working language. Such Afàn Oromo speaking Ethiopia can be home of all nations and nationalities with Finfinné being separated from Oromia, even with further disintegrating Oromia. By the way, future democratic Ethiopia with Afàn Oromo as primary working language will be de facto Oropia and the Oromo will not die for Ethnofederalism, surely the Amaras will start to struggle for their own autonomous Amara region. Otherwise, to be sure that Oromia will not be dismantled, I just do suggest that all Amara parties, which have their “article 39″ and which intend to dismantle Oromia should not be allowed to operate in Oromia. A law must be fostered by Caffé Oromia to make such parties illegal in Oromia. In general, Amara elites now being the only opponents of Finfinné as part of Oromia will cost them a lot. The political struggle will be between all other nations (including the Oromo and Tegaru) against Amaras. Does this serve the long time interest of Amara nation? May Wàqa open their eyes!
Galatôma!
Read more:https://orompia.wordpress.com/2019/03/1 ... le-oromia/