The Asmara Group vs. TA-OLF Court Case: Ibsaa Guutama weighs in

In an interesitng article he wrote in July 2007 and posted HERE, Ibsaa Guutamaa weighs in on the The Asmara Group vs. TA-OLF court case and many other issues currently under debate in Oromo circles.

One of the founders of the OLF, Ibsaa Guutamaa is widely recognized for the leadership he provided to the team that produced millions of school text books in Qubee Afaan Oromoo in 1991-92 while he was Minister of Education and the OLF was a partner in Transitional Government of Ethiopia.

Ibsaa’s article begins with a brief introduction of how the Oromo failed under Abyssinia colonization. Then, it quickly moves to posing the often asked question “what do Oromo[s] want?”which he claims “arise from the mixed message and lack of clarity” of some so-called leaders who carry “two cards one for their freedom craving people another for donors who have interest in the status quo.” The “two cards”, writes Ibsaa Guutama, are the search for solution of the Oromo question within a democratized Ethiopia or in a free and independent state of Oromiyaa.

Of carriers of the first “card,” Ibsaa goes no to say:

"There are Oromo groups that would like to remain within Ethiopia whether others like it or not. They only pray to be tolerated by the Ethiopians. Among these are those with nostalgia for the emperors and the Darg’s era. Others are those promised benefits like land and positions if they join the regime. Still others are those who fraudulently joined the movement with a mission of wrecking it and burying the thought of independence ones and for all. Still others are the confused nationalists who had fallen victims to alien machination.

All together they are not OLF but its zombie. They lack the soul and flesh of Oromoness. Hence cannot represent the OLF in any dealing. Above all no group that doesn’t show credibility and consistency of principle can represent its nation. There are those that remained with the kaayyoo and still have more claim of legitimacy than any one. As long as such credible groups exist and the desire for freedom is engraved on the[ir] minds, even of a small group, OLF can never phase out before the liberation of the Fatherland."

Of the pending court case filed by The Asmara Group vs. TA-OLF, Ibsaa writes:

"Many have abandoned Oromoo tradition of safuu. According to [Oromo Safuu] no Oromo shall expose other Oromo to alien scrutiny for individual or group benefit. But a case where compatriots were exposed to freely extract from them some fifty thousand dollars was observed. In the case against compatriots the OLF was presented as an economic firm. Members were presented as donors. The good will and the trust OLF accumulated over years as a result of the sacrifices comrades made was presented as an effort of the plaintiff group. This exercise by a group has cost both sides a substantial amount of money which could have been used for the struggle against the enemies of the nation. For the group OLF that upholds OLF programs as amended in 1998 are the principal enemy. So no wander if they prefer Ethiopia’s democratization over Oromiyaa’s independence."

"Alien courts will not stand witness for our being OLF. OLF was born and registered in the minds and hearts of all Oromo and its rightful members, signed and sealed by those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. That is the evidence we carry with us all the time..."

Source: Gubrimans Publishing

NOTE: This blogger calls on other heavy weights of our struggle to follow Ibsaa's example and weigh in on this court case to inform the public.