Oromo Movement Of Tokkummaa For Bilisummaa!

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Oromo Movement Of Tokkummaa For Bilisummaa

A lot has been said and written about the importance of Tokkummaa Oromo (unity of the Oromo people) in order to achieve our Kaayyoo (goal), which is the Bilisummaa (freedom) of the Oromo people and the Walabummaa (sovereignty) of Oromia. Just for our objective understanding of what we are talking here, let me first put the operational definition of the two important terms (Tokkummaa and Bilisummaa). Tokkummaa is defined as the state of being undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting. It is the smallest whole numeral representation. It has the quality of being united into one. Unity can denote combining of all the parts, elements and individuals into an effective whole. It is applicable to people and objects forming whole notions of any concept. It implies oneness when there is a certain usual division. Bilisummaa (liberation) may refer to either liberty, the condition in which an individual or a collective has the ability to act according to his/her or their own will, such as the liberty of the Oromo people or it may show the freeing of a place from a tyrannic regime, e.g. the liberation of Oromia from Weyane’s tyranny.

According to the hitherto known history of Oromo, it was the Tokkummaa under the democratic Gadaa rule which helped the Oromo people to defend themselves from all possible invasions till the mid-nineteenth century. It was the loss of this Tokkummaa due to the tendency of some Oromo groups in the north, central and west parts of Oromia to accept Monarchy as the way of administration replacing Gadaa. As an example, we can just look at the Yejjuu Oromo dynasty, which even could rule over the Abyssinia from the mid-sixteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century. The brutal move of King Theodros of Abyssinia, being supported by the British empire, was the beginning of Oromo’s loss of power and their territory to Abyssinia. Then, slowly the whole Oromia was occupied by King Minilik of Abyssinia, since then Oromos have been calling for Tokkummaa against the occupation.

Regarding the occupation of Oromia by Abyssinia, we do not have to entertain any illusion. It is the same as Ethiopia’s occupation of Somalia in 2007, against which almost all members of international community were. The only difference is the timing: Oromia was occupied at the time of the colonial Scramble for Africa, the time when the international community was not against such occupation. As far as the difference between the current reactions of Oromos and Somalis against Abyssinian occupation is concerned, let me compare it with the following parable. If we put a frog in a boiling water, it jumps out immediately and saves its life. But, if we put it in a comfortably warm water and boil the water slowly, the frog adapts to the heat so it never jump out, but will die slowly. Similarly, Oromos are adapted to accept Abyssinian occupation of Oromia for the last about 150 years, whereas Somalis, who are not yet adapted to the occupation, just acted to save their country as the frog did in the first instance.

To get rid of the occupation, Oromo’s main instrument is Tokkummaa. Abyssinian ruling elites knew the danger of Tokkummaa Oromo from the very beginning, that is why they divided Oromo area into many regions (qiyn-gizat, xeqilay-gizat and kifle-hager). They used as well as they are still using it for their divide-and-rule tactic. Specially now, Weyane is using this regional identity given to us from the conquerors as a very good opportunity to sow a discord among Oromo, e.g. Wellega Vs Arsi, Shoa Vs Wellega, Hararge Vs Arsi etc. This was what we used to hear in Paltalks and read in forums in the past years of Weyane rule. No wonder that they are nowadays designated as rabid dogs, flies and pigs, who are always busy where ever there is a dirt aka conflict. Weyane dogs found in general the best dirt they used to eat for the last 18 years (conflict between the two BIG nations aka Amharas and Oromos). Additionally they also feed on the specific dirts like a conflict between different Amhara groups like AEUP Vs UDJ as well as an other specific dirt such as a conflict between different Oromo factions like OLF-Shannee Vs OLF-Jijjiirama. If we vigilantly observe them in every forum, we do surprisingly see a lot of them being camouflaged as conservative Amhara to attack Oromo and as nationalist Oromo to demonize Amhara; as moderate UDJ/G7 supporters to insult AEUP or as conservative AEUP members to blame UDJ/G7; as “progressive” OLF-Kemal to attack the “reactionary” OLF-Daud and vice versa; now they are busy as pro Ethiopian unity to attack Medrek/FDD (i.e they do play the game: Medrek Vs Unitarists). Specifically seen, any word, sentence and phrase directed to sow a discord among Oromo groups and said in paltalks as well as written in forums are mostly from our "smart" foes, not always from our naive friends doing it unkowingly. Weyane cadres were, and still are, very busy to do this dividing job.

This continuous effort of our foes to divide the Oromo community and Oromo polity was successful to some extent. For instance, the split of different factions in OLF since 1978 is one of their impact on our liberation movement. As already recorded, all factions, except General Waaqo’s Tokichummaa (UOPLF), are the splits from OLF, so are the rest six rebel organizations aka OLF-Shanee, FIDO, Gumi (now COPLF), AWO (FIO), OLF-QC and OLF-Jijjiirama. This splitting of our vanguard liberation organization into many mini-fronts is the anti-thesis of the needed Tokkummaa for Bilisummaa. Some people try to convince us that the splitting was because of their difference in Kaayyoo. I personally do not think that it is constructive to talk about Kaayyoo ganama or galgalaa. Actually, all Oromo political groups have no difference of Kaayyoo, but difference of strategy aka Karaa. Those that struggle for Oromian autonomy in the Ethiopian context, such as what OFC is now doing, have opted for the mid-goal based on the circumstance they are in. Those that make the rhetoric of self-determination are smart enough to use it in order to persuade international community with the concept it accepted and respected in the international law. Of course, those that tell spade as spade say our Kaayyoo is Bilisummaa Oromo and Walabummaa Oromia. Actually, self-determination is the process of choice of the liberated public to have as an outcome either autonomy or independence per referendum. So, both liberation in the form of Oromian autonomy and liberation to exercise referendum are the two important stops on the way of our liberation journey towards our end-goal aka the liberation in the form of independence.

Fortunately, in contrast to the effort of the Abyssinian domination forces to divide-and-rule Oromo, different Oromo liberation forces used to call and are still calling for Tokkummaa Oromo. What were the efforts done till now in this direction? Let me mention few measures taken up to now. The effort of the Maccaa-Tulema Association by bringing Oromos of all region and religion together; the measure of OLF leadership from different regions and religions to die together as they were attacked by Somalis and were ordered to be divided as Christians and Muslims; the hitherto measures taken by the Oromo community to realize Tokkummaa for Bilisummaa, such as demanding Oromo political organizations to stop ololaa (propaganda) against each other; songs from different Oromo artists to promote Tokkummaa and articles from different Oromo scholars in favor of Tokkummaa; last but not least, of course, the practical steps taken by Oromo individuals in all walks of life to live the life of Tokkummaa against the effort of our enemies to divide the Oromo nation.

Now we started to earn encouraging results from such efforts to promote Tokkummaa. Different Oromo groups started to call for reconciliation and re-unification of the different Oromo political organizations; the two main Oromo political organization operating “legally” at home forged an alliance called the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) even though the Weyane election board still refused to give a necessary certificate to legalize the alliance. Weyane’s effort to hinder the legalization of OFC shows how much fear it has from Tokkummaa Oromo; OLF-elders started again the process of reconciling different OLF factions; all OLF factions started to advocate and support the effort of the elders; the Oromo liberation army (OLA) of southern Oromia took very good step to encourage the reconciliation of the OLF factions; some political groups have already decided to be “melted” into only one Organization under the name of OLF, which is to be ratified on 31/10/2009; and last but not least there is a good view to have such Tokkummaa of all Oromo political organizations fighting for Bilisummaa Oromo and Walabummaa Oromia as an important strategy till all groups can come under only one OLF with one clear Kaayyoo, one leadership and one strong liberation army. These are very encouraging steps and specially the reconciliatory tone of the three OLF factions still running under the name of OLF being free from ololaa in the last few weeks is commendable!

Thanks Waaqayyoo, now we started to see the fruit of our war against Weyane propaganda in the cyber-world, who did a lot to divide the Oromo liberation camp. They used all their resources, energy and time to sow a discord among Oromo based on region, party and religion. They also opted for such divisions as ‘leaders Vs members’, ‘new generation Vs old generation’, ‘elites Vs ordinary’, and so on. Now all their effort is becoming futile, and Oromo is now starting to strengthen Tokkummaa for Bilisummaa, which is the best antidote against the effort of the enemy to divide us and rule further.

I would like to recommend the necessary move to be taken in the future after consolidating the unity of Oromo federalist parties under OFC and Oromo liberation fronts under OLF. We need to organize further the cooperation and coordination of Oromo self-determination forces, which are active in the ruling party (OPDO), the opposition party (OFC) and the rebel front (OLF). Here we need to differentiate OPDO as an institution, which is the mercenary instrument used by Weyane to enslave Oromo people, from individual Oromos in the organization, which can be classified into three: comrades, slaves and criminals. That means there are non-criminal Oromo individuals in it doing their job in their own way, be it they are compelled or convinced. These individuals can be seen as our comrades. Slaves are those who unknowingly serve the enemy against Oromo’s interest just because of their biography being programmed since their childhood to have anti-Oromo mind in Oromo blood. Criminals are both Oromos and non-Oromos in OPDO doing a crime on Oromo people against our liberation movement. The criminal actions of these individuals should be condemned and also need to be registered in history for the generation to come.

To achieve Tokkummaa of Oromo groups, we need to work on it. It can not be real only by singing, talking and writing about it. We all Oromo individuals and groups have to do our part to realize and keep it. What are the necessary works? For instance, stop ololaa on each other; be part of integration or solution, not part of division or problem; contribute our talents, money and time to promote it; be pragmatic and active in Oromo communities, mass organizations and parties; take hid of and watch all what we talk and write to evaluate whether their effect is division of Oromo or Tokkummaa of Oromo, and so on.

Next to Tokkummaa of all Oromo organizations for Bilisummaa, we need a coalition with forces of other oppressed nation to push together for self-determination and we may need an alliance with some Abesha democratic forces, that do believe in freedom, democracy and human rights, including the right of nations to self-determination, be it as a union within Ethiopia or without a union. I think such groups might be in a situation to accept Union of Independent Nations in the region called Ethiopia or the Horn of Africa as an END – Kaayyoo, which can be a very good base for the already planned United States of Africa. Here it should be clear that they work together for both national independence and regional union, like Oromian national independence with Ethiopian/Horn regional union. The only two groups, that are against such a move, are the unitarist Amhara political forces and hegemonist Weyane.

So my recommendation for Oromo individuals and organizations is, let us be wise further and promote our Tokkummaa in our songs, talks and writings as well as let us take hid of Weyane cadres in Paltalks and forums like Bilisummaa.com and Manabuna, who do talk and write as if they are Oromo, but the essence of their message is division and disintegration of Oromo liberation forces. Besides, such “smart” foes, of course, there are many naive Oromos talking, acting and writing like our enemies, knowingly or unknowingly being against Tokkummaa, which we desperately need to achieve for our Bilisummaa. As I tried to show above, it is clear that we lost our Bilisummaa just after losing Tokkummaa. Now, in reverse, we will have it back by forging the necessary Tokkummaa as the best means to arrive at our Kaayyoo aka Bilisummaa Oromo and Walabummaa Oromia based on self-determination. This is the main reason why Weyane cadres are working 24hours and 7 days in a week against our Tokkummaa. For that reason, we also need to work continuously to promote Tokkummaa Oromo for Bilisummaa!

Let Rabbii help us to forge such strong Tokkummaa for Bilisummaa!

Waaqayyoo bless Oromo people and Oromo land (Oromia)!

Galatooma!

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