The OLF has repeatedly made its position clear on the issue of negotiation and renunciation of violence. The OLF is ready to engage the EPRDF regime in dialogue without any precondition at the presence of third party. It was with this firm belief and commitment that the OLF accepted seven attempts made by different accredited groups to bring the Ethiopian regime and OLF to round table dialogue. All these attempts failed due to the intransigency of the EPRDF regime. The Carter Center, Norwegian Institute of Human Rights and Norwegian Church Aid, the Lutheran World Federation, Ambassador Winklemann are living testimonies. The EPRDF is not ready and willing to enter into dialogue with the OLF. However the OLF has shown magnanimity, to resolve the conflict between Oromo people and the Ethiopian state.

Renunciation of violence is one of the preconditions of the EPRDF regime to frustrate any attempt to bring together the OLF and the regime. OLF had repeatedly made its stand on the issue of armed struggle clear. Armed struggle is not the first choice of OLF or Oromo people. Oromo people raised arms when all doors to peacefully resolve its political demands were closed. The OLF is forced to raise arms to conduct just war. The OLF has no especial love for war or violence. Violence is imposed upon the Oromo people. The Oromo people is engaged in armed struggle in self-defense only. The OLF and Oromo people have legitimate right to raise arms against oppressive and tyrant regime.

Today while TPLF armed forces are terrorizing and intimidating the Oromo people, today while TPLF armed forces are killing and maiming innocent Oromo civilians for no crime, today while the TPLF armed forces are firing live ammunitions at Oromo demonstrators, today while almost all Oromo villages are being guarded by armed forces of TPLF, today while thousands of Oromos are languishing in the prisons of TPLF regime, today while Oromo students are being tortured and dismissed from universities and colleges, today while Oromo civil servants are being expelled from jobs, there is no other alternative but to consolidate and strengthen the armed resistance.

We want to remind the EPRDF regime that using slanderous and contemptuous languages like 'hand over its arms and surrender its army' cannot bring the desired goal. It is only the defeated and vanquished party that surrenders its army. Such approaches by the TPLF regime will only exacerbate the worse situation instead of bringing peace and stability. If the Ethiopian regime is really committed to bring peace stability and democracy to the country, it should stop this arrogance and chauvinism and get down to meaningful dialogue and negotiation. We believe this is the only healthy and civilized way forward. Short of that the choice will be continuation of the conflict for which the EPRDF regime will be totally responsible.

Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)
Information Department!