Congratulations!!!

First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Founding Fathers of WAFIDO for their courage and vision. The establishment of this movement comes at a critical moment in our history of national struggle for freedom. It comes on the heels of many unpleasant events such as the targeted expulsion of Oromoo Students from Finfinnee University, the dissolution of a 40-year-old Machaa Tulammaa Association and the unlawful beatings and imprisonment of our young people for protesting the decision to move our capital city from the Orommoo heartland of Finfinnee to Adammaa.

Do not get me wrong, I have no quarrel with the development of Adammaa, the question is who made the decision to relocate our administrative offices out of Finfinnee?
It also comes at a time when our youth are denied access to public education beyond 10th grade. It reminds me of the apartheid era South Africa, where one group received preferential treatment over others in so far as higher education is concerned. What we have here is black on black apartheid, which does not draw the much-needed attention as the former white on black apartheid. The irony of it, however is the major powers who made so much noise to end that system in South Africa are the same ones nurturing it in East Africa at this moment.

Democratizing Ethiopia while it is under the dictatorship of a ruthless and barbaric minority ethnic group is unthinkable. Nevertheless, your daring efforts under these circumstances and possible risk of harm and death to the leaders, organizers and supporters is commendable. Freedom doesn't come easy.

We have an unfinished business on our hands (i.e.) freeing our people from a century old serfdom to enable them to control their lives as well as their resources. The Party platforms that you outlined are worthy of support. Thank you for your leadership and for making the sacrifice. <br>

1. Ethiopian Democracy: "Rhetoric Meets Reality"
Visitors returning from Ethiopia told me that the Ethiopian Media urges its audiences everyday to register and vote for regional as well as federal parliamentary seats on May 15, 2005. It sounds impressive. At the same time, there are reports of harassment, kidnappings, beatings and assassinations of opposition candidates by government agents. There are also reports of voter intimidation and mass arrests and imprisonment of the youth to deny and dilute opposition party gains at the polls. Such incidents are getting out of control and had forced opposition party officials to call a joint press conference on April 27, in the presence of foreign diplomats to expose the deceit and double-dealings of the Ethiopian government.

2. Dismissing Witnesses to Commit Fraud:

As early as April 2005 the Ethiopian government expelled poll observers from three U.S. based organizations prompting Senator John McCain and former Secretary of State the Hon. Madelein Albright to write a letter of protest to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia criticizing his claim for open and democratic election process. They jointly stated that 'the expulsion of election observers will only raise doubts and questions about the credibility and transparency of these elections"<br><br>
In addition, a report came out on April 11, 2005 that Ethiopia imposed new rules effectively barring 3000 local observers from monitoring the forthcoming elections. The latest target is the press. The new law requires any reporter to secure permission from the National Election Board, whose neutrality is questionable, and get it endorsed by the Ministry of Information: a bureaucratic quagmire that may not be accomplished in the few days left leading up to the elections.
So when you put these ever changing rules and strategies together, the motive of this government is clear; "get it anyway you can."

3. Wanted: Moral Clarity from the West

The western world, especially the USA, which propelled the minority regime that currently rules Ethiopia into power 14 years ago, is perceived as an advocate of, among other things, individual rights, civil liberties, personal freedom, corruption free, all inclusive, transparent and accountable form of government. Ethiopia has none of the above and yet enjoys financial, diplomatic and military support from the West. People around the world are yearning for freedom and democracy. The Oromoos of Ethiopia are no exception. Just as the Shiites majority of Iraq suffered under Saddam's Sunni Minority, Oromoos in Ethiopia are facing genocide in the hands of a minority ethnic group. They would not have done it without the generous support of the "Western World".

Western moral values and or principles are not uniformly applied or enforced. We hear more emphasis of their morality in one part of the world than the other. What is conspicuously missing in the American Press right now is the fact that Ethiopia is holding elections on May 15, 2005. Contrary to what it has done elsewhere to spread "FREEDOM", America is not in the forefront in pushing for fairness in the electoral process in Ethiopia. I hope the US administration, which promised to spread freedom around the world during its 2nd term in office remembers the 60’000 or so Oromoo political prisoners in Ethiopia and scores more who get killed every now and then just for being an Orommoo. Oh God, deliver us from naivety, hypocrisy and double standard. Amen.

Gummaa Abbaa Biyaa
Boston, MA