Statement of the Oromo Liberation Front Regarding the War that the Ethiopian Government Has declared on the Oromo People

December 17, 2015 Oromia

(Oromo Liberation Front) — The illegitimate TPLF/EDRDF led Ethiopian regime, who has been jailing, killing and torturing the Oromo people over the last 25 years, has renewed a second round of war on the Oromo people on December 15, 2015 and has empowered its military force on the Oromo people and Oromia for the purpose of suppressing the protest of the people which is being conducted in Oromia peacefully. Although this war of declaration is not new, there is no doubt that it will result in massacre of peaceful

civilians.

This futile attempt of this regime, which has been suppressing and exploiting all the peoples of Ethiopia after coming to power through force of arms in order to silence all peaceful resistance against its repressive rule will not produce any solution other than facilitating its demise. Therefore the Oromo Liberation (OLF) would like to reiterate that the current TPLF led Ethiopian government and the international community who are silently watching will be ultimately responsible for any massacre that is to be perpetrated on the Oromo people.

The Oromo peoples have no choice other defending themselves from the renewed war declared on them by the regime and abort the war of aggression using all possible means. It is the inalienable right of the Oromo peoples to defend themselves. Therefore the OLF would like to make the following calls in order to defend this war of aggression.

1. To all Oromo nationals who have received military training and currently living with the people:
   Organize yourself in your local village and defend your people from this genocidal renewed war declared on them.
2. To all Oromo nationals who are armed with military weapon:
   This war of aggression declared on the Oromo people is also a war declared on you. Therefore you should save your people from massacre using the weapon you possess. Do not give your weapon to the regime and disarm yourself. You should side with your people during such difficult times. We urge you to give your weapon to fighters of freedom around you who have military training.
3. To all Oromo nationals in the Diaspora
   The response of the repressive regime to the legitimate question of our people at home has been bullets. Your people at home, including school children, are sacrificing their lives in the mass protests. Stand with us and your people who are struggling to get away with a century of oppression by all means you can. Support those on the frontlines with your money and resources.
4. To all nations and nationalities Living in Oromia:
   It is easy to imagine that the enemy will use various sabotages in order to silence the popular movement. The regime wishes to extend its rule by making you its allies against the Oromo people by disseminating false propaganda. You should understand that the realization of the right of the Oromo people does not violate the rights of any nationality in Oromia. Therefore, we call up on you to participate in the struggle and get rid of the suppression and exploitation that we all faced together over the last 25 years. You should side with your oppressed brethren by saying “we should not be fooled any more by the enemy”.
5. To all sons and daughters of nations and nationalities serving in the military, police and special forces of the regime:
   The objective of the struggle of the Oromo people is to realize the alienable right of the Oromo over their forefathers land and is not intended to harm anyone. Therefore, do not see the Oromo people as your enemy being deceived by a false propaganda of the re-gime. The OLF will call upon you to stop arresting, beating and killing the Oromo peo-ple. We would like to reiterate that the time will come when you will be individually responsible for the killings you are committing today.
6. To the International Community:
   It is well known that the current TPLF-led government is a repressive regime which is contrary to the wish of the peoples of the country; it has demonstrated by the actions it is taking from time to time that it does not respect the democratic right of the people and it has been an obstacle to the freedom of nations and nationalities. The evidence for this is the cruel and brutal action of enmity on peoples of Ethiopia in general and the Oromo people in particular. Today, the situation has been worsened and has grown to a level of genocide. In order to save themselves, it will be mandatory that the Oromo peoples de-fend themselves from a genocidal war declared on them. If the current situation in Ethio-pia is not resolved quickly, it will lead to human catastrophe and massacre such as the one the world has seen in Rwanda. Therefore, it is the responsibility and obligation of all who believe in peace and democracy to prevent such heinous massacre. We would like to reiterate that prevention of such crime is particularly the responsibility of the United Nations.

In conclusion, the OLF asks the international community to exert the necessary and meaningful pressure on the TPLF-led terrorist Ethiopian regime to stop its act of vio-lence on the Oromo and respect the right of the people to peacefully express their griev-ances and present their questions. If not, the international community will bear historical responsibly for the massacre that will follow by the TPLF regime.

Victory to the Oromo People!

Oromo Liberation Front
December 16, 2015