TPLF declares war on Oromia

By Albasa Dagaga

The incarceration of Bekele Gerba and Dejene Taafaa today, two Oromo political leaders who vowed to use only peaceful resistance against TPLF dictatorship, is a full scale declaration of war on Oromia. This action by TPLF follows the killing of over 80 school age youth and adults in four weeks and the mass arrest estimated in thousands of peaceful demonstrators against TPLF planned Oromia land-grab estimated at over 1 million hectares of land surrounding Finfinnee.  Through this act, TPLF gave us two choices: To live as a slave in Oromia because TPLF now claims to own our land, or to reclaim Oromia using all tactics and strategies at our disposal. It is obviously a terrible choice, but a choice we have to make nevertheless.  The choice is also very clear for us. Like it or not, we have to defend our land that has been the source of our livelihood. Our ancestors have faced such choices throughout generations, and were able to pass the Oromia of today for our generation. Today, we are about 40 million strong, against and enemy a lot smaller in population albeit armed to the teeth, and against an obdurate and internationally well-connected to foreign selfish lackeys. We understand that the 3 thousand or so TPLF members marauding inside Oromia today can be defeated by our people in no time, if not for her OPDO Trojan Horse. We also understand that TPLF will do what her demised “great leader” once said on national TV–that Oromos who claim to be majority now can be reduced to a minority status (my paraphrase). During the past 24 years, that remained their master plan, and the Finfinnee plan was just one sub-master plan to that end. To regain Oromia, we have to fight back with everything at our disposal. We also should invite others who are in similar situations to join us to get rid of this dangerous fascist league determined to control or else destroy that country at all costs. As dangerous and organized Hitler was, he was finally defeated and several nations were liberated including Germany. Unfortunately, Hitler was defeated, after he inflicted huge damage to humanity, because some leaders hesitated to take a stand. The TPLF have spoken clearly, and the message is very clear now even for those who hated another war in that war-weary area. The time to join Oromo war of defense against TPLF is now. If we all don’t act in unison now, we probably will face dilemma as narrated by Marburg (Sermons in Erlangen, Göttingen and Frankfurt, January 1946) that goes as follows:

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out— 
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—
and there was no one left to speak out for me. 

The moral lesson of this story applies among Oromo groups as well as other Ethiopian groups under TPLF dictatorship. I am certain of one thing though, when the war is over, and the final death tally are counted, we will be victorious, and TPLF will decisively be defeated. If we join hands, that victory will come sooner than later and at a much lower cost.

Albasa Dagaga

December 25, 2015 Oromia