Unitarists’ “Article 39″ to Dismantle Oromia (By Fayyis Oromia)

Unitarists’ “Article 39″ to Dismantle Oromia

Fayyis Oromia

Simply put, Weyane’s Article 39 is ye Amhara masferariya (scare tactics) and ye Oromo mataleya (deception tool) as well as ye Tegaru dibiq-tesfa (hidden agenda).

It is clear that the main promoter of Article 39 in the current Ethiopian Constitution is Weyane. The TPLF regime just did put the Article in a Constitution as a guarantee for an option to push for the independence of Tigrai in case it loses power in Finfinne palace. It was not planned to secure the right of other nations for this would be practically hindered as long as Weyane stayed in power. A very good example is the revision of the decision made by Somali Regional Parliament for self-determination in 1995, which caused the main conflict between ONLF and Weyane. Ogadenis were denied the right to self-determination, which is theoretically guaranteed as a constitutional right. Since then, the ONLF has to fight for the same self-determination, which it could have achieved in a peaceful way. This shows why the Article has no value for other oppressed nations other than for Tegarus.

I once heard a very interesting interview given by Abadula Gamada in Weyane’s “political civility” forum. He described and elaborated the reason why Weyane’s Article 39 is good at the moment as follows: “if you close a door to a group of people in a certain house and tell them to be united and live together, surely they will break a door and windows to get out of the house. But if you open the door and tell them to be united, surely they will live together.” So, we can see how the Article is the best mataleya (deception tool), which has been wickedly designed against the Oromo liberation movement for the intention of the Article, according to him, was not the liberation of oppressed nations, but keeping them together under Weyane’s subjugation by using political manipulation. He also said that the Article was good to take action of separation when certain “Nefxenya” organization like Kinijit “siqebx ketayee ina kasega.” This seems to be also the step taken as the best masferareya (scare tactics) against Amhara elites. Is it not interesting to hear specially for our “fool” Amhara elites and Oromo elites, who still couldn’t come together in order to find a common ground and to fight together the common enemy, which is the worst fascist and looter the empire ever had? According to this elaboration of Abadula, simply put, Weyane’s Article 39 is ye Amhara masferariya and ye Oromo mataleya as well as ye Tegaru dibiq-tesfa (hidden agenda) to be implemented in a case the Weyane ruling elites accumulated enough wealth to allow Tigrai split from Ethiopia voluntarily or in a situation they would be compelled to leave Finfinne palace by force.

On the other hand, the Article is accused specially by Unitarist Amhara forces because of its alleged “intention” to dismember Ethiopia. Ok, that can be, and that is why most pro unity forces reject it and even some Oromos support this opposition move against the Article. But the other question to be raised is, what is the intention of the Unitarist forces (mainly Amharas) when they oppose this Article of Weyane? What about the intrigue from their side? Surprisingly, Amhara parties like AEUP, EDP, EDUM, EPPF, EPRP, G7M and UDJ, which do accuse Weyane for this intention of dismembering Ethiopia have got their own “Article 39″, which they want to use specifically to dismantle Oromia. Their Article is stated in their respective party programmes as follows: “establishing a federal system based on historical and cultural ties, language and geographic characteristics, administrative suitability and potential for development. It opposes administrative divisions based on ethnicity and language.” With this Article, their intention is primarily to dismantle the biggest state in the empire aka Oromia and then to build mini Oromo federal states like Borana, Arsi, Hararge, Wellega….etc. This attitude of all Unitarist parties is one of the main obstacles for the formation of a durable alliance between Amhara forces and Oromo fronts. Surprisingly, there is no single Amhara party which accepts and respects “ethnic” federation and/or self-determination, except the puppet of Weyane, ANDM. That is why, the opposition against fascist Weyane is now basically divided in to two blocs:

- bloc of the language-based federalists, which include parties like ATSD, OFDM, OPC, SDFC, SEDC, OLF, ONLF and SLF, which want to have as the minimum compromise solution for the current problem of the empire: the autonomous national areas of each nation in Ethiopia in a form of Oromia, Ogaden Tigrai, Amhara…etc

- bloc of the geography-based federalists, all being Amhara parties as listed above and they want to forge a federal Ethiopia based only on geographical suitability. With that they target specially Oromia, which they want to divide in to pieces!

Fortunately, neither Weyane’s nor Unitarist’s Article 39 can hinder Oromos from struggling and achieving Oromian independence within Ethiopian/African union, which is the best compromise solution for all oppressed nations in the empire as well in the continent. But unfortunately, the Article of the Unitarists is an obstacle for the formation of a necessary tactical and strategical alliance between Amhara elites and Oromo elites against sewu-bella fascist regime. Even if the Unitarists give up their “Article 39″, yet Oromos, in general, and OLF, in particular, need to build a necessary trust to make an alliance with Abesha groups for the goodhearted Oromos have already been repeatedly betrayed (at least three times) in the not far dated political history of that empire:

- in 1977 as Genenral Teferi Benti was executed by KGB and Abesha forces, all “socialist” Abeshas who used to make alliance with Oromos in Me’ison and Ici’at started to mock against “Ga*lla” and started to act against self-determination of nations on which they used to agree. That was the reason for most Oromos in Me’ison and Ici’at to leave the “legal” struggle and join OLF.

- in 1992 Weyane betrayed OLF which joined the coalition transitional government to honestly build a democratic and united Ethiopia in which Oromos’ right is respected. But Weyane pushed OLF out of the coalition and crashed its army with the help of EPLF, CIA and other western nations, so that OLF has no choice except to leave the “legal” status and opt for armed struggle.

- in 2007 Amhara’s CUD and EPPF which made an alliance AFD betrayed OLF as Weyane started to persecute Oromos in Somalia during the invasion and later they declared not to stay being part of the alliance they made with OLF.

The new alliance now formed in the form of MEDREK in 2009 is yet to be tested. Even though Oromo parties have given in and given up to make a compromise on the God-given right of Oromo nation to self-determination, mark my words it will be again Abyssinians who will betray the goodhearted Oromos and give up the alliance in this forum! OFDM and OPC should have been very careful in the MEDREK they forged with Abesha groups not to give up the cause of Oromos. They should insist either to have a consensus on the goal to forge independent Oromia within Ethiopian union or they needed to agree on going for a referendum and allow the Oromo public decide on the issue: independence within a union Vs independence without a union! Furthermore, some Amhara parties in diaspora like G-7 now are trying to implement the same procedure of forging alliance again with liberation fronts like OLF and ONLF.. I always advocated the idea that leave alone OLF making alliance with such parties, OFDM and OPC should have been very carefull.

Now it seems Oromos in MEDREK have given up the notion of Oromian self-determination and give in to the wish of Abeshas to have unconditional Ethiopian unity. Ok that is part of the hitherto history of Oromos, always intrigued and cheated by Abyssinians. But now let’s look forward by learning from the past, never to be disadvantaged again, and not looking backward just for the sake of only resentment! We should never give in or give up, but we need to push forwards till Abeshas swallow the bitter pill of accepting Oromo’s right to self-determination. To be effective, I wish that Oromo, Ogaden, Afar, Gambella, Benishangul, Sidama and other oppressed nations’ forces forge and remain in an alliance to neutralize the domination effort of Abeshas.

Once I read in Awude amharic newsletter, in which UDJ explicitly said that it was vehemently against “ethnic federalism.” How on earth could this party then make an alliance with OFDM, OPC, Arena…etc? The question to be raised was: is it UDJ or the others which should give in? Now it seems others have given in to the wish of UDJ to keep the empire unconditionally with euphemism of unity and sovereignty. But surely, this alliance will not last long for Oromos will never give up till we achieve our self-determination. This makes the alliance very shaky. All Amhara parties are persistent not to give up their “Article 39″ which they formulated for dismantling Oromia. Then why on earth do they cry about Article 39 of “ethnic” federalists? Anyways, Weyane is really very lucky to have this chance of playing geography-based federalist Amharas against language-based federalist Others.

Let’s not dream, unless Unitarists give up their "article 39", Weyane will rule Ethiopia for the coming one century! Geography-based federalism is not the will of Oromo nation and others, except being that of Amhara elites, who do continuously advocate for it, because they know the advantage they get based on the fact that Amharic being the working language of the federation. Just let’s stop and think otherwise: suppose Afaan Oromo is the only working language of the federation instead of Amharinya. Who will then favour geography-based federation? It will be Oromos, not Amharas! What I wanted to tell here is that every nation favours what is to its advantage. Now geography-based federation is more advantageous for Amharas, because it favours Amharanization. We being Oromo now favour language-based federation for it serves our interest (protects us from Amharanization). If Amharas do agree to accept Afaan Oromo instead of Amharinya as a federal language, Oromos will be the best advocates of the geography-based federation. I am not talking here about making both Afaan Oromo and Amharinya as working languages of the federation as UDJ and co. try to make us believe. With this maneuver Amharas want that Amharinya be the working language of all regions including Oromia, the privilege which they do not have now! I am telling that, let’s limit Amharinya to only Amhara region and make Afaan Oromo the only NATIONAL language of Ethiopia. I am sure Amharas will be then the supporter of language-based federalism, while Oromos will be the best advocates for geography-based federation!

That means one way of persuading Amhara parties to respect the national area of Oromos is by challenging them with this idea of exchanging the role of the two languages. If they want to apply their “Article 39″ and if Oromia has to be dismantled, then as a precondition, Afaan Oromo should be the only working language of the federation, Amharinya being demoted to local language. If so, we Oromos definitely will not cry because of the possible dismantling of Oromia, rather we will sing about a united and sovereign Ethiopia with only Afaan Oromo as a federal language. Otherwise, last but not least, to be sure that Oromia will not be dismantled, I just do suggest that all Amhara parties, which have their “Article 39″ and which intend to dismantle Oromia should not be allowed to run in any sort of election in Oromia. A law must be fostered by Caffee Oromia to make such parties illegal in Oromia.