In the past, a nation that spoke Amharic, had religion different from us, waves a flag with green, yellow and red colors, different from our black, red and white, started from the north invaded and colonized Oromiyaa. It abolished everything related to Oromo culture. Is there anyone that knows why the crooked are created contrary to natural and human laws? Is it possible to awaken in time and straighten it before it becomes counter progress and peace? Agadaa and hofaa (juicy and non-juicy canes) are alike.; many can differentiate them by biting. The wise can distinguish them by the leaves. Because the Oromo always think positively ours were able to slip through our fingers, not we are lacking wisdom. We left them to assess them thinking they will reach nowhere but they deceived us. That reminds Oromo past. There were Oromo that joined them and served them as rank and file. These were, baptized, taught Amharic, took pledge of allegiance to the emperor and the flag and contributed to breaking the Oromo, betraying Oromo tradition. However, at the end they were dishonorably purged. Because of those crooked nationals we lost our freedom. Later their types are the cause for its dragging. The nafxanyaa system built similar administrative structure with different laws such as for land tenure system for mother country and the colonies.
The Amaaraa king evicted the Oromo and built his military camp and his own palace in Finfinnee. He did that wherever he arrived. That is why there are more nafxanyaa remnants in present day towns. They had gnawed own country leaving it barren, so they will stay here as long as they have power. In the past, a nation that spoke Amharic, had religion different from us, waves a flag with green, yellow and red colors, different from our black, red and white, started from the north invaded and colonized Oromiyaa. To tame their kins it selected clan elders and appointed them as Balabbaat (chiefs). These Balabbaat started imitating the Amaaraa in all aspects of their lives. The practices which were condemned under Gadaa they started having servants and slaves. But relatively they were not as harsh to them as their occupiers. Majority of them started becoming loyal to nafxanyaa system not to their people. There were Oromo that favored them and became rank and file in their army. Those were baptized, learned Amharic, they took oath to be loyal to the emperor and the flag. They then betrayed the Oromo and began contributing to breaking them. Those we were to assess them with patience they started to assess us. However, they ended up being rejected and humiliated while they were alive, giving the enemy our secrets.
From Finfinnee he deployed his warlords in different directions to capture as much land as possible. He allowed them to do with them as they liked and raise their own army. He ruled that afaan Oromo is not spoken in public and taught in schools. He forbade Gada culture, tradition, religion and laws from being practiced in public. It controlled Oromo land and labor. Men were made to cut fodder for domestic animals and wives to grind grain without payment. There was nothing Oromo could do from own will. Nothing forbids the nafxanyaa from selling them if he wanted so. Because it wants manpower it did not forbid them from breeding. Is there slavery more than this? In general, it denied Oromo freedom, independence and property by controlling their lives. They are in the same situation even today. To claim it is an Oromo era, because riffraff speaking afaan Oromo are leading alien system is distorting Oromo cause. The system has no system of power transfer in peace. The powerful wins. Even today, divided into groups, they are fighting to assert superiority over each other. As for their old colonies, they took for granted that they would pay tribute to the winner among them. Oromo for them are aliens. Questions they struggle for are also different. They can agree only if they accept Oromoo country is Oromo’s and their country their own. That means, dismantling the present system enable African peoples under the empire to realize the right to self-determination without any outside pressure. That also means with their own free will they decide how they want to live in the future. Peace and reconciliation cannot be achieved without freedom.
The enemy was able to break the Oromo and torment them because it got firearms and help from powers overseas. When all had similar weapons and when Oromo were in unison to defend their common interest, no alien dared them. That led to colonialism and made the issue international. The solution should also be sought on an international level. The war is not between Oromo and Oromo, but between Oromoo and Oromo that are under the command of alien system. It is a mistake to take it as between Oromo and Oromo. To solve it could also lead to mistaken measures. Because Oromo lived under one culture and Safuu they had cooperation, harmony, and alliance among them. Now there are those that joined the enemy and adopted different outlooks and those that sold the interest of their people to others. They can be observed when trying to use scared Oromo culture and tradition for alien interest. Simulating Oromummaa the few are seen advancing enemy interest. Rather than participating in what they consider a struggle that does not “have an end”, they chose to hide behind aliens and live according to their dictates. They could not see the struggle that provided many achievements and pulled them out of contempt and humiliation. Regionalism, which many overcame during this struggle, there are few that remained with it physically and mentally. With the struggle Oromo and people that fall with them waged for over a hundred years the appearance of empire’s administration is changed. But that change the galtuu took as ultimate freedom. For freedom to be achieved, the Oromo must conduct a referendum to assure the right of nations to national self-determination is realized. If that is not done defeating the enemy by force and declaring own freedom. Negotiating with multi-national groups comes only after that.
During Tafarii period, regional administration was centralized ending its being under warlords and its nafxanyaa group. But nafxanyaa individuals being landlords did not stop until phenomenon known as “Ethiopian Revolution” of 1974. After that it was proclaimed that land belongs to the government and the people. That government was not Oromo government. Consequent colonial governments evicted the people and started to sell land to foreign investors and whoever have the money. The blood that flowed demanding “Land for the tiller” started to fill pockets of officials with gold. The saying, “running away from poop we encountered diarrhea”, is proper for this. Rulers of the empire, even if not Amaaraa started to speak Amharic and think like Amaaraa. What they implemented was also policy that Amaaraa fathers laid down. Therefore, until the structure of the empire is dismantled, because those at the top spoke afaan Oromoo the government cannot be said Oromo government. The colonized also cannot get the freedom they envied before they broke the colonial yoke. This could happen only when all concerned could come around the negotiation table or through the gun. All the politicking like across the border clashes, destabilizing the federation, waging war with federated states, creating dissentions between peoples, groups and individuals and raising warmongering issues lies and deceits are all to distract from internal peoples’ legitimate grievances. PP is surviving on such politicking. No politicking would distract the Oromo from their national interest of freedom and independence. Some international issues raised by the ruling class of different countries and PP may affect their future regional interest. But nothing could have priority over the struggle for liberation of Oromiyaa.
It was believed that the federal constitution would bring solution peacefully. But it being a make believe it is not implemented so far. To expect something positive from the law declared by one of the founders of the empire is naivety. Still power at the center meddles in federated states internal affairs and tries to give guidance like the time of the emperor. Even presidents of the states are appointed from the center. All rulers that came after the emperor do not want the character of colonialism to be changed. All are dictators. It is not in the nature of founders of the empire to accept democratic principles of federalism. It requires taking the gable from their hand and enforcing it. For equality, freedom, and justice they have their own criteria and do not abide by democratic constitution and the laws. For those in power, an autocratic system is their culture. Not only that, but the administrative culture has also become so decadent, corrupt and lawless. It may be corrected only through uprooting revolution and selfless revolutionaries. Aged Oromo elites are already contaminated by alien thoughts and practices and Gadaa culture is not appreciated by them because they act strangers for it. The hope is on Qubee generation not contaminated by Fidal culture. The colonial system must be erased and replaced by Gadaa to save the next generation from worshiping aliens, backwardness, corruption, deceit, and lawlessness. To save the next generation from backwardness, corruption, lies and lawlessness, the colonial system must be erased from Oromiyaa and replaced by modernized Gadaa.
When Oromo neighbors intend to invade Oromiyaa they first recruit persons from among Oromo nationals. That tilts the scale to their advantage. That was what happened to occupy Oromiyaa before a century. Befriending persons like Gobana Daaccee and recruiting from recent captives they were able to divide and defeat the Oromo. Since then, to control the Oromo or to invade other nationalities they used Oromo mercenaries for fighting and for espionage. “What did the axe do to us, it is the crooked in us that hurt us, said the tree” To stop this it will be essential to straighten or eliminate the crooked in us. For this there are those organized and paying sacrifices for independence of their nation. On both sides are productive youths. Oromo are not spared from reactionary wars waged by colonizer from different directions. That means there are Oromo persons who always take part in them. That is why we say, the enemy had never won without Oromo minions in reactionary wars waged against liberation of Oromiyaa and the surrounding peoples. People are taking Oromo as force of reaction. Before colonization people knew Oromo for taking abuses as Safuu and for loving equality, justice and bilisummaa. Losing that system and Safuu made people to mistrust each other and not knowing difference between freedom and lack of it. An Oromo individual which was free in deeds and thought when assigned to protect own country’s interest it was believing in assignment and oneself. Now those opportunists who are not free in thought are seen when choosing servitude and have no confidence in themselves. They are not ashamed when they stand in enemy camp and stick their tongues towards their kins. They are under the spell of something that makes them lick what they spat.
What can we do that Oromo do not contribute to forces of reaction? It is difficult to change when they are addicted to being underlings. Therefore, to make the last call to them and if they refuse adding them to the enemy is a must. Those that joined the enemy because of unemployment, it may be necessary to suggest a way out. Those that joined it because of ignorance may require teaching them and claiming them back. If people know the problem they can search for a solution. Otherwise, how long can it be tolerated for Oromo name to be smeared with being force of reaction and being galtuu and with treachery. If one did not initially have no intention and if their kaayyoo was well grounded, can simply taking a quarrel with a comrade to justify running to enemy camp? If they cannot change the situation, is enemy camp the only place to retreat? What if from the start they were planted by the enemy? The Amaaraa says, “Thorn with thorn”. That means you take out pricking thorn with another thorn. They and those that follow them are guided by this saying. They break the Oromo with other Oromo. The naive thinks they love him and when they trip a beat, he says, “Let me be broken for you”. Saying “Let you be broken as you break my people” never comes to him even in dreams. It reminds the saying, “The steer licks the palm of one going to slay it.
Oromo youth have taken a challenge; until they uproot enemy administration from their country they will not return home. Oromo Qeerroo and Qeerrantii had been passing this challenge for over a hundred years. They have come year to year being more awakened, more organized, more armed and more sharpened than ever. But they are not working in vacuum. They are moving in mine field of the enemy. Unless they are more advanced than them in intelligence infiltrators could destroy them. The standing tactics of the enemy is “divide and hit them”. Division based on region, clan, party, comradeship, they select their weak joints and hit scattering them. To accomplish this, they would pay many sacrifices, tremendous resources, and unimaginable skills. They break the Oromo with the resources they embezzled from Oromiyaa and the brain and labor of Oromo galtuu. Until it is possible to snatch own resources from the enemy, trying to take one’s share in the plunder is advisable. To reach that level, airtight organization, conscious scouts, and selfless leadership are required. To work, day and night to break its enemy demands raising political consciousness of the people. It is necessary to raise the level of awareness, never kneeling to the enemy, and never submitting but challenging it.
Returning them to pride, self-reliance, and their previous independence is a must. The future of Oromiyaa is in the hands of youth that had made mountains and valleys of Oromiyaa their home and are making the enemy shudder. The others, because they speak afaan Oromo it does not mean they are concerned about Oromoo interest, but rather to save the enemy most of them are toddling under alien government. Most of them are after their bellies and personal shelter. These days those that brought pride for the Oromo and pulled it out of humiliation are they youth that are that are out with the name OLF OLA. Whatever defect they may tell us, do we have any other to claim except our armed youth? Let alone for their father land they are dud bullets good for nothing even for those that gave them refuge.
The youths without dropping the initial kaayyoo that their elders spread continued making it clearer and stronger. Like the trailblazer they did not submit to alien pressure, clinging to their independence they are waging the struggle of self-reliance. They have so far come purging those overwhelmed by their own belly and emotions from among them. Let us hope they will go forward strengthening freedom and rule of law and watering down “regionalism” and erasing reactionism. On the stage in which Oromo society find itself we cannot say why regionalism occurs. To hold it in a manner that it does not harm kaayyoo could bring harmony. And this can be overcome by advancing political consciousness. Not on the differences giving guidance stressing on outlooks might help. Leaving this line could deny us the freedom and sovereignty we paid numberless for them. Their organization is no different from other organizations in the world. It is possible that they encounter insurmountable problems that could scatter them. Such a phenomenon could be overcome by leadership that is determined, committed and not wavering. If one wavers implementing the kaayyoo one will come out amounting to foretelling own destruction.
Until the cause for which one went out from one’s home did not get solution, one may be destroyed but the cause will wait until one that implements it comes forward. However, independence, freedom and sovereignty are going to be delayed though reachable. Therefore, it requires leadership that is knowledgeable, determined and unwavering. Because we were occupied, we started to struggle, but some crooked in us are becoming obstacles for us enticed by the enemy. Oromo death is multiplying. Oromo nationals that sided with the enemy and those that stood for liberation of their country are being decimated equally. To smear the name of Oromo patriots the enemy faking them killing, kidnaping, robbery, and crimes like arson etc. are growing. There is no assurance for people to go out for farming or go out and safe return. Oromo deaths is multiplying. As a result, mourning in Oromo homes are permanent. Oromo having nowhere to flee and living in terror is increasing daily. Some suggest as solution, for Oromo liberation fighters to live their people in slavery and disarm. The others say, Oromo must stand in unison for freedom and stop working for the enemy, pressurizing it to come to negotiation table. Unless some Oromo take the side of the enemy it can never defeat the Oromo or any other people. Quitting the struggle is unthinkable. The enemy is determined to reduce the Oromo to its own size. This also must be considered as part of our struggle and a solution must be found for. Oromo have not to become underlings of aliens. Even if we are burned inside for death of our siblings, because without our country there is no living with honor its interests come first. Oromo that come as part of the invading force cannot be differentiated from the enemy. They will be annihilated with it. An Oromo person must clearly indicate if one is with one’s own nation or with the rulers of Ethiopian empire. Until Oromo realize the right of self-determination the struggle shall never stop. Oromiyaan haa jiraattu!
Honor and glory for the fallen heroines and heroes; liberty, equality, and freedom for the living and nagaa and araaraa for the Ayyaanaa of our fore parents!
Ibsaa Guutama
September 2024