By Ewnetu Ashenafi

Our indifference towards Ethiopia Somalis in Ogaden who suffer from the barbaric acts of genocide perpetrated by the TPLF regime is likely to have a long-term impact on freedom, democracy and Ethiopia’s unity

It is a sad and regrettable fact that Eritrean independence is the result of lack of freedom and democracy in Ethiopia. Are we repeating the same historical mistakes in the Ogaden? One of the historical mistakes that led to the secession of Eritrea from Ethiopia is the lack of statesmanship and political maturity of the then Ethiopian leaders. It seems that we have not yet taken the lessons of the past. What is currently unfolding in the Somali region of Ethiopia is indicative of this fact.

What is currently happening to Ethiopia Somali’s in the Ogaden is totally catastrophic. It is really shocking when one imagines living in Somali region at this time. People are being killed, houses are being burned, women and girls are being raped, young people are routed, kidnapped and killed and the list goes on and on. Oh my God! It is really shocking! The people of Ogaden are paying a high price alone due to the divisive political arrangements of the incumbent regime in Ethiopia.

The issue has now made headlines in the New York Times thanks to the brave work of its journalists. Thank God, the hidden dark work of the Woyanne forces has now come out into the open. It has also entered into the minds of some concerned U.S. officials such as Senator Patrick Leahy. Shouldn’t we be even more concerned about it as Ethiopians?

TPLF is using a combination of war and starvation strategies to force the Somali people to abandon supporting ONLF fighters. TPLF is causing immense damage to the people of Somali region as well as to the unity of Ethiopia in general.

What is even disconcerting is our indifference to the cause of the impoverished Somali people in Ethiopia. Our indifference is due to the wrong perception we have towards the just cause of the people of Ogaden resulting in poor response that do not go beyond mere lip service so far. If our indifference continues, the current crises will escalate to form the basis of another war of independence that is difficult to reverse in its advanced stages. This reminds me of an Ethiopian joke. A hyena came to a group of donkeys lying and sleeping in the dark night. As the hyena starts eating one of them, the victim whispers to others: you guys be quiet, the hyena starts eating me from my legs, not knowing that the hyena would not rest until he sees each one of them devoured one at a time.

The enemy we face is an angry hyena that will pursue each one of us one at a time. The divide and rule tactic is working closely with the divide and hit tactic. TPLF will not rest until it finishes its job of making Ethiopia the then Soviet Union. Meles Zenawi is the Gorbachev of Ethiopia. His Revolutionary democracy is the perestroika that is on its way to complete its job if a regime change does not happen in the short term.

The TPLF would like us to believe that the Ogaden problem is an issue of secession and as such it should be condemned and fought. Surprisingly, many Ethiopians who even oppose the current tyranny fell into this trap. The best way to avoid session is to tackle it at its root. Think of what happened to Eritrea because of the same old war policy of Mengistu Haile-Mariam. The TPLF policy is in fact aimed at fueling the conflict and exacerbating the struggle for session. What is being done has happened and will definitely happen in Oromia, Amhara, the Southern Region, Gambella and other regions of the country. Woyanne is an evil force and anti-Ethiopian in its nature. Its control of governmental powers in Ethiopia makes it even more dangerous not only to Ethiopia but also to east Africa in general.

What we need is a proactive approach to counter the divisive propaganda and action of the Meles regime. We should stand alongside the peace loving people of Ogaden, as they are Ethiopians as we are. We need to identify with them and cry for them before the international community to get attention and support. We need to coordinate our struggle with them for freedom and democracy.

We need to change our perception towards the Somali region of Ethiopia. Let us see the cause of freedom and democracy behind their secessionist movement. Let us not grossly condemn them like we did to Eritrea. The problem in the Ogaden region is part of a larger problem in Ethiopia. It is the lack of democracy and rule of law in Ethiopia.

Let us make it clear to the people of Somali region of Ethiopia and to the international community that what is being perpetrated in Ogaden is the work of TPLF regime. It does not represent the wishes of the Ethiopian people who sees the people of Ogaden as Ethiopian equally subjugated to tyrannical rule in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Somalis urgently need our help in this critical moment. The barbaric acts of TPLF in Ogaden should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. As such, condemning, not supporting, the terrorist acts of TPLF in Ogaden is standing up for human rights, democracy and Ethiopia’s unity.