IRONm@N wrote:
well as I understand it, his message is that of unity and peace, he is saying lets become united as Somali Ethiopians, not Ogaden, absame, isaaq, mareexan. hawiye ethiopians. he is also saying lets have peace with ethiopian government, we have been fighting for a hundred years and it didn't take us anywhere. so, although he may be corrupt, if a bad person comes with a good message you listen and take it.
Ogadens in particular and Somalis in general have been fighting with Ethiopians for the last 100yrs, from Ahmed guray, to Sayid Mohamed to Mohamed Said Barre 77, to ONLF and beyond, and look what they get in return? maltnurition, starvation, death, droughts, no education, no developement, no economy etc. Mele Zenawi is going to go tomorrow, and when there is democracy, or elections, who ever is educated or controls the economy will control the country.
so do you want us to continue doing the same thing in 2011?, there was no time Somalia was more powerful then 1977 and if they couldn't win that time with force, I doubt these ONLF rebels or Shabaab could do it now, so lets stop this mayhem, and sign peace agreement with conditions such as greater autonomy and inclusion in politics. Somali Ethiopians should come as one Somalis (West Somali region) and rise into the economic and political ladder of Ethiopia and then you will have more control over the country, Somalis will flourish and have business owners and politicians like those in Kenya. If Somali Kenyas could integrate with Bantu Christians, why not with Ethiopians who are half Muslims?
you could gain more with being peaceful and climbing the social ladder of education, politics and economy, which Somalis are good at, then through the point of the gun.
No point in arguing to a nation whose so idiotic. They are still living in the conditions of the medieval age because their minds cannot catch up with the 21st century. Its quite sad that we have in Ethiopia a segment of the population that doesn't care about development, infrastructure, education, peace and stability. All they care about is to cause havoc and destruction. Today ZOne 5 of Ethiopia is amongst the most developing and excellent regions in Ethiopia in terms of development. Most of the major towns in Jijiga province has 24 hours electricity, even the villages! Development has arrived with our beloved leader Mudane Meles Zenawi who cares not about ethnicity but about the nation first. These people dont understand that Ethiopia is no longer the military Abyssinian Christian vessel in a sea of Muslims anymore. Things have changed but slow minds dont comprehend quickly and only to their detriment as you have witnessed the vast majority of the inhabitants of Zone 5 have proved that they love their nation and are willing to die for it. If these people wanted they could be the future leaders of Ethiopia, thats what the constitution has made clear. Ethiopia is for ALL Ethiopians regardless of ethnicity.
My advice to the ONLF brothers and sisters:
We have turned a new century, a new beginning, a new age. You are part and parcel of this nation, this nation needs you and you need it. Do not be stubborn and reckless fools as history has shown they are always come last, but rather be smart and decisive. Be like the Jews who were persecuted in Egypt, they never protested, cried or acted irrationally and then they became the leaders of those who persecuted them. Amazing! You can be leaders in Ethiopia, dont be foolish and stop this nonsense.