The Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) Political Program The Preamble The Oromo people is one of the populous ethnic groups in the horn of Africa that have settled at the center of current Ethiopia in all directions, on top of occupying the vast edge of land. Not only is huge land mass but also the abundance of different natural resources put the Oromo people on the forefront of those people living in the born. However, in comparison to its huge land mass and population size which is large than any ethnic group that constitutes Ethiopia, the Oromo people played minimal political role for centuries unlike some nations and like many nations and nationalities. Ever since its incorporation into today’s Ethiopia in the end or 19th century by force, the Oromo people have been evicted from their own land, condemned to live under the harshest and the cruelest feudal political system, denied the right to develop its own language and practice its own culture. That is the fact of history why the feudal political system that has mercilessly put the harshest yoke of oppression on the shoulder of many ethnic groups in Ethiopia including Oromo for centuries, in 1950s faced an all- encompassing opposition. Viewing the national repression during that time as unacceptable, some Oromo elite attempted to oppose the system by forming MECHA TULEMA self help organization. Later the Organization was banned by the regime. However, the Oromo movement which led by General Wako Gutu has tried to mobilize the Oromo people to struggle against the oppressor. The Oromo political organizations that have formed in the wake of revolution in 1960s and The Ethiopian People Liberation Font (EPLF) are the seeds of this freedom and equality movements. The causative reason for the 1966s’ revolution that has spread all over the country bases its root in the quest for respect of rights of nations and nationalities of Ethiopia including the Oromo. The ultimate benefit that Oromo and other southern peoples have achieved so far is the answers to the quest of land- “land to the tiller”. Nevertheless, this achievement has had a very short life span. The repressive administration of the Dergue, the military dictatorship, once again tightened the yoke of oppression on Oromo people and it once again condemned to be illiterate and to live under an abject poverty. When the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), predominantly led by the Tigrian peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), took over the capital in 1983 E.C marking the downfall of the repressive system of the Dergue, some hopped that the group was committed to Democracy and rule of law. But, the vast majority of people soon began suspecting the group as not ready to bring real democratic change and alleviate multi-dimensioned problems of Ethiopian people apart from propaganda. The ideologically Marxist EPRDF has no history and culture of tolerance for strong opposition. Though it claims the existence of multi-party system in the country, in reality, the country is under the stiffen grip of one party. And as the result, EPRDF is tirelessly working to ruthlessly decimate any strong opposition that struggles for political power in Ethiopia. During elections, EPRDF mobilizes public resource as it wishes to outwit opposition parties and impoverish them so that they could not make any meaningful competition. Ever since EPRDF came to power in reality competitive, inclusive, credible, free and fair elections have never been practiced. As a result, the opposition parties could not achieve any meaningful result in elections. Lack of resources has on its part hindered even the strong opposition parties from mobilizing the public around their program. Movement from place to place has been very difficult due to tight security intimidation and lack of resource. As a result, the pledge of multiparty system that EPRDF made to both Ethiopian people as well as international partners remained unattainable. The Ethiopian people fought many wars since the battle of Adwa. They have experienced different hardships together. As a result of this and other facts, the sense of nationalism has been instilled deep into the heart of the people of Ethiopia. Therefore, living together as one people under federal system of government is what the time demands from Ethiopians. This system enables each region to have its own political, cultural and social autonomy while sharing the sovereignty of the nation with the federal government. No nation or nationality in the country accepts the interventions into the affairs of regions that EPRDF officials are currently practicing. We believe that each nation and nationality in the country including Oromo would be pleased if real multi-party democracy with a federal system of administration based on ethnic identity is put into practice. We also believe that the genuine and sustainable unity can be achieved only through free will of nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. This can be achieved only if regions are fairly represented and assumed political power in federal government. It is only then that they consider this country as their own and protect its sovereignty with the drop their blood. The Oromo people, like all other people in Ethiopia, have been denied of its political, democratic and human rights for centuries. Even today, these rights are not yet respected. Even though the current political system is said to be federalism, one can easily notice that there is no equitable representation of regions into federal government and interventions into the affairs of regions are rampant. In general terms, the Oromo people have never gotten a fair share of political power, equitable and just share of national wealth and social progress which is compatible with the number of its people. If federalism led by democratic governance and rule of law fails to deliver material prosperity, political, cultural and social equality; there could be a rapid return to the disenchantment that logically lead, to the reestablishment of dictatorship. This is what bothers us much when we think of the current ongoing of Ethiopian federalism. To get our people out of these stalemates and take a proper step ahead, the unity of genuine Oromo political organizations by putting their differences aside and working together for the benefit of the people is of paramount importance. There is no way out for the Oromo political organizations, if they have to advance the struggle of the people, except forming a meaningful unity. Now, therefore, we would like to present the following political program for our people by coming together under single political organization called Oromo Federalist Congress to struggle in a peaceful and lawful manner for the respect of the human, political and democratic rights of our people; to struggle for the respect of our peoples’ economic and social rights; to struggle to bring about a genuine democratic system in this country. The Program 1. Objectives 1.1. To have the right to self determination of Oromo people respected. 1.2. To struggle to have genuine democratic and multi-party system realized in the country. 1.3. To realize a genuine ethnic/identity based federalism in the country. 1.4. To have the human and democratic rights of the people respected. 1.5. To struggle to realize political, social and economic rights of the people. 1.6. To Struggle to enable Afan Oromo to be the working language of the federal government alongside with Amharic. 1.7. To struggle to enable land to be the private property of the people. 2. Structure and Formation of Government 2.1. The system of government shall be parliamentary; however it can be changed by referendum if it is believed there is a better system. 2.2. OFC shall be registered as a national party. 3. The Political Program 3.1. OFC shall struggle to enable a genuine ethnic/identity based federalism to be the sole government system in Ethiopia. 3.2. OFC shall have the right to self determination of Oromo people respected. 3.3. OFC shall struggle to realize a genuine democratic and multi-party system in the country. 3.4. OFC struggles to enable Afan Oromo to be the working language of Federal government alongside with Amharic. 3.5. OFC believes that the rights of minority groups living in the regions of other nations shall be respected. 4. Economic Program 4.1. OFC shall put into practice a free market economy. 4.2. Land should be a private property of the citizens. The usage shall be decided by the law. 4.3. OFC shall enable the transition to industry using modern agricultural modus operandi. 4.4. Both the federal and the regional governments shall exert unreserved effort to enable our people to be self sufficient in food stuff. Government shall give all the necessary support to the farmers. 4.5. Citizens’ right to work in the field of their aspiration shall be respected. 4.6. Investments, whether by foreign or domestic investors, shall be encouraged. However, precedence shall be given to domestic investor. 4.7. Aid organizations, be it governmental or non-governmental, be it international or domestic, their contribution to the development of the nation shall be encouraged. OFC shall create conducive environment in which they operate. 4.8. OFC shall apply an economic strategy that can combat in flatiron or deflation. 4.9 OFC shall pay the necessary attention to the pastorals. It shall enable citizens to benefit form livestock products by creating conducive environment for the rearing of animals and rising the production of livestock yield. 5. Social Program 5.1. OFC shall enable the history and custom of Oromo people to be researched. 5.2. Schools shall be constructed everywhere to eradicate illiteracy and have a productive citizens. Special attention shall be paid to quality of education. 5.3. OFC shall work hard to reduce unemployment. Citizens shall get job in the government offices without discrimination based on their capacity and competition only. 5.4. Health centers: hospitals, clinics and health stations shall be constructed everywhere and render quality service. Particular attention shall be given to protection of HIV/AIDS and other transmitted diseases. OFC shall make all the necessary control to prevent the drug trafficking. 5.5. OFC shall make necessary precaution to prevent natural calamities and man-made disasters. It shall provide the necessary support to victims if it occurs. 5.6. Sport fields and recreation centers shall be made available for youth throughout Oromiya region to produce mentally and physically fit citizens. OFC shall grant the necessary support to the sports men. 5.7. Special attention shall be given to protection and preservation of Natural resource and environment. The work of Environmental development and protection shall be executed extensively. 5.8. Every attempt shall be made to boost the tourism industry and raise the more income from it. 5.9. OFC shall implement a family planning to control the increasing population in proportion the economic development. 5.10. Freedom of religion shall be respected. Religions shall be free from any government interference and influence. All religions shall be considered equal. 5.11 OFC works towards achieving gender equality. Women shall be treated equal in work and every other aspect. 6. Relationships with other Parties 6.1. All the necessary cooperation shall be made with political parties as well as civil societies to enable the struggle of our people to achieve its goal. 6.2. A very close relationship shall be established with nations who have suffered similar oppression. 6.3. Coalitions, fronts or alliances shall be made with national political forces that recognize Oromo’s civil rights, democratic equality among nations and nationalities and struggle genuinely for its realization. 7. Defense and Police Forces 7.1. The country shall have a defense force whose number shall be determined by the parliament/House of People’s Representatives. Its recruitment shall take into account proportional representation of each nation or nationality, level of education and professional competency. 7.2. Though the major duty of the defense forces is to guard national boundary; it can participate in development activities when necessary. 7.3. It shall not intervene in regional affairs unless invited by the regional governments. 7.4. The defense force shall be free from any political impartiality. It shall not side to any political party. 7.5. Regions shall establish their own police force. The force shall remain politically impartial. 8. Foreign Relation Policy 8.1. Our country shall have a good relationship with neighboring countries as well as international community. This relationship shall consider national interest and the struggle the Oromo people carry out for equality. 8.2. International covenants/ agreements ratified by Ethiopia shall be respected. 9. Amendment Procedure This political program shall be amended by 2/3 majority vote of the general assembly of the party. 10. Effective Date of the Program This political program shall be effective as soon as ratified by the signature of the chairmen’s of both parties as of July 22,2004 E.C. Finfinne Oromo Federalist Congress July 2012
Posted on: Thu, 27 Feb 2014 18:55:48 +0000
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