First and foremost, we would like to congratulate the (OLF) leadership and members who had been suffering in various detention centers of Prosperity Party (PP) prisons for the past four years for their release and for joining their families. We believe the action taken today by the PP regime is a result of both direct and indirect pressure exerted by the ongoing Oromo national liberation movement. This short presser elucidates the meaning of the political decision taken by the PP and additional reasons at play forcing its hands.
- The decision should not be mistaken for a grant of freedom. Even though the political detainees are no longer physically held, they remain at the mercy of a brutal regime that can rearrest, detain movement, or otherwise render the meaning of freedom irrelevant. It bears reminding that opposition Oromo Federalist Congress leaders who have been freed from the regime’s detention centers were not able to continue a normal life in the country much less continue political work, and Battee Urgeessaa was brutally assassinated by the regime after “being released” from prison.
- This leadership was arrested merely for having different political views and ideologies. They have not committed any crime even by the standard of the regime`s courts. For the crimes committed against them and continue to be committed against thousands still languishing in various detention centers across the country, the regime bears sole responsibility and will be held accountable.
- Four years ago, before they were illegally detained, the OLF and OFC, and generally the Oromo political community in opposition were a political force to be reckoned with.
Today, the regime has closed all OLF and OFC offices, dashing the hopes for a peaceful political struggle. The cohesion that existed among OLF leadership has been broken, and the organization is left hopeless and in disarray. The decision to “release” prisoners is a political decision taken merely after the regime made sure that no opposition political party was capable of posing any political threat to the regime. - The regime’s military and its security forces are getting weaker. By taking this decision the regime is signaling to the Oromo for yet another military and political support, to use the youth as cannon fodders in its ensuing misadventures. It’s a continuation of “we want peace with the OLA” propaganda.
- Finally, to those hastening to churn out praises to the regime, including the regime`s cadres, normalizing the diabolical practice of regime praise instead of much-need accountability, remember you send to the regime: “you have every right to imprison me again for no reason; when you release me, I’ll sing your praises.”
Real freedom can only be achieved when dictators are replaced by institutions by those who are putting their lives on the line daily for freedom and justice in Oromia.
OLF-OLA higher command
September 5, 2024