Mereja.Forum

[OPFist]

As evidenced by the historical existence of Oromia for several thousand years in the past, our main goal today should be to unite and bind together the Oromian society and cultures, where there are no conflicts of ethnicities. Every citizen should feel at home in Oromia, where “belonging” to Oromia is determined by a common culture and shared values that tie us all as statewide citizens of Oromia. Hostile forces from within and outside the country have been trying to break it, and yet, Oromia has survived. This bondage needs to be supported, strengthened and protected

[OPFist]

Education plays a huge role in this. The available choice of educational programs, the variety of curricula, is, without doubt, a major achievement.  At the same time, this variety should be based on sanctified values, as well as a basic knowledge and understanding of the world around us and the trends of globalization. The civic goal of the education system is to provide each citizen with the necessary amount of cultural knowledge, upon which the foundations of national self-identity as an Oromian is clearly based. Primarily, the current education programs should emphasize important subjects such as the Oromian main languages, the Oromian literature and the Oromian history – taught within the context of the global wealth of all ethnic traditions and cultures.

[OPFist]

State policy with regard to culture must provide appropriate guidelines to the media such as television, social media, cinema, the Internet and mass culture in general, which shape public consciousness and set rules and patterns of youth activities. Overall, the government has a right, and a duty, to focus its efforts and resources toward resolving the social and public challenges it has identified. Shaping the mindset of the youth generation that binds the nation together is one of these challenges.

[OPFist]

Schools should play a persuasive cultural reform at every level from school teaching to historical documentation, with the main aim to shape an understanding of the Oromian history in which councils from each ethnic group can be seen to have a place. They must see where they belong in that process and see themselves as heirs to the modern outlook on Oromian history – tragic and controversial as it may be, but still it is the histor

[OPFist]

The parliamentary discussion to come up with a national policy strategically focusing on the youth group based on civic patriotism is highly appreciable. Involving the youth oin a voluntary military service would let them know their country better. There is no need for anyone among the youth to forget their respective religion or ethnicity. But they should identify themselves primarily as Oromian citizens and take pride in that. No one has the right to put their ethnic or religious interests above the nationally legislated laws of Oromia. Yet, simultaneously, the Oromian national laws must take into account the specific characteristics of different ethnic and religious groups within the bounds of Oromia.

[OPFist]

At the end of the day, one of the strategic parameters that should be measured for Oromia’s eternal peace and prosperity is to abolish Article 39 of the national constitution. This article is an exclusionary act that restricts the free movement of citizens and provision of facilities by imposing ethnic boundaries on regions. To overcome the ethnic-led challenges we have faced so far, Oromians collectively need determination, strength and perseverance. As one people, we must work together to heal the damage that has already been done to various communities. And to eliminate racially poisoned violence and suffering, we must opt to strengthen our citizenship bondage.

[OPFist]

The government’s systemic problems frequently surface in the form of interethnic tensions. Currently, when considering ethnic conflict in Oromia, there is a direct link between unsettled socioeconomic resources’ problems, an unjust law enforcement system, and governmentally entangled officials and corruption. If we look at the history of recent interethnic overindulgences within and among regions, like, Tigray, Amhara, Afar, Oromo, and Southern nations, trigger points that can easily arouse ethnic skirmishes are practically everywhere. In each case one can witness a sharp response to human rights abuses, injustice, irresponsibility and inaction on the part of the local government officials. Likewise, swallowed by ethnic arrogances and pride, there is huge lack of faith in every citizens’ equality before the law and in the inevitability of punishment for criminals. More and more, the Oromian public is convinced that most government officials are ethnic-led and heavily corrupt and that there is no legal defender of the truth.

[OPFist]

When people start complaining that their civic rights as Oromian citizens are being trespassed upon, this means that the government agencies are failing in their direct duties and obligations. That means the government appointees are not ready to defend the lives, the rights or the security of the civic society. The government should be ready to consider each case involving any ethnic issue on its own merit, with the facts clarified and the mutual grievances settled. Where there are no sufficient facts, the investigation process should be made public because the lack of information can breed rumors that can only make things worse. The government should be protective of inhabitants with different cultural and historical traditions. Ethnic quarrel with aggressive, provocative, disrespectful, behaviors should meet with a legitimate response on the part of the government authorities.  As government representatives, they cannot behave as indifferent of the feud. They should be liable for breaches of the legislated rules.

[OPFist]

It is also necessary to strengthen the judicial system and establishing effective law enforcement agencies in Oromia that operate uniformly. Without this systemic reform there can be no objectivity in resolving inter-community disputes as both safe and fair. Incompetent, corrupt courts and police centers will always cause a backlash and antagonize the society’s views towards the state machinery. This also leads to the flourishing of gang culture in cities and towns and the shadow economy among the black marketers themselves.

[OPFist]

Looking back at what OLF has been affecting in rural communities thus far, the central government must not allow isolated ethnic communities to emerge in which criminal codes prevail over the law. This would be a violation of the rights of the local inhabitants themselves – both by the crime bosses and by the corrupt local authorities. Ethnicity-related crimes grow and flourish within widespread corruption. Under the law, criminal groups tied to ethnicities or clans are no different from any other criminal groups. Ethnicity-led crime is not just a rule-of-law matter; crucially, it has a national security aspect as well. That means the ongoing ethnic feud problems throughout Oromia must thus be tackled in a timely manner.

[OPFist]

As Oromians, people have lived together for many centuries bonded as victorious in the most terrible civil wars defending the national integrity. As such, Oromians of all walks of life will continue to exist side by side. To those who want and try to divide Oromia ethnically, what can be said is – obviously, this can happen in your dreams.