ADDA BILISUMMAA OROMOO OROMO LIBERATION FRONT

2017NewYearMessagefromOLFChairmanGalasaDilbo

ComradesandCompatriots,

Happynewyeartoyouall! Ihopeyouwillcelebratethestartof2017ingoodspiritwithcomrades,familyandfriends.Asthenewyearisapproaching,itisgoodtolookaheadandthinkaboutwhatthisyearmaybringus.

But,firstaquicklookback.2016wasquiteayearforallofus.Wehavebeenthroughmanychallenges;andthecircumstancesbeingmostunfavourableforournation.Astheyearusheredin,Oromiawasinthemidstofpopularuprisingspearheadedbyourgallantyouth.Astheyearprogressed,ourcountrymenandwomenjoinedthepeacefulresistanceagainsttheTigrayanPeople’sLiberationFront(TPLF)occupyingforcesinmassesineverypartofourcountry.TheresponseoftheTPLFwasbrutalculminatingintheOctober2,2016massacreattheIrrechaacelebrationinBishoftu.

During the year, thousandsof our people havepaid theultimate sacrifice for the freedomof ourcountry; tensof thousandsare languishing inNazi styleconcentrationcampsand thousandsmoresufferingincountlesstorturechambersoftheEthiopianempire.Thus,asweareonthewaytoendthisyear,ourpeopleareinthegripofstateterrorismandOromiaisunderstateofemergency,whichisaeuphemismformilitaryrule.

Notwithstandingthechallengesmentionedabove,ourpeoplehavescoredsignificantvictoriesthathaveadvancedournational struggle toanew levelduring theyear.As the resultof the immensesacrifices paid by our people, our struggle for self-determination has achieved unprecedentedinternationalattention.Isaluteourheroesandheroineswhohadmadethevoicesofournationheard,andexposedthehiddenbrutalityoftheTPLFregime.

InsidetheOLF,wehavealsomadesignificantprogress:wehaverestructuredtheOLFgovernanceandcreatedaroadmaptogettoanindependentandrenewedOLF.Respondingtoastandingdemandofourpeople,wehavestartedthegroundworkforthecreationofgenuineunityamongforcesfortheliberationofOromia.Ofcourse,thereisstillalotofworkahead.Inthecomingyear,wewillredoubleourefforts incoordinatingourresources inordertotransformthestruggletothehighestpossiblelevel.

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In short, the current circumstances are all quite challenging to work in. But nomatter what thecircumstancesare,wewillkeepourpriorityinsight:wewillstrengthenorganisation,useourresourceseffectivelyputtingtheliberationofOromiaattheheartofeverythingwedo.Wewillmoveforwardasdecisivelyandswiftlyaswearestrengtheningthestruggleforfreedomandjustice.Needlesstosaythat our members’ continued dedication and teamwork, and support from our people areindispensableinordertocarryoutwhatwepromise.

Thepastfewyearshavehadasignificantimpactonallofus,andIwouldliketothankyouallforyourmagnificentsupportanddedicationduringthesechallengingtimes.Inparticular,Iamtrulyhumbledbythetremendoustrust,loveandsupportyouhaveshownmesinceIputmyselfforward,onceagain,tobeyourloyalservant,inacceptingthehugeresponsibilityofbeingtheleaderoftheOLF.

Theyearaheadwillbringitsownchallenges,butIamsurebyworkingtogether,keepingfocussedonourpriorities,andbyputtingtheOromostrugglefirstwecanrealisethegoalofemancipatingOromiafroma150years’longcolonialoccupation.Thesewillcertainlycontinuetobemypriorities,andIamconvincedthatIcancountonyoutheOLFmembersandsupporters,andindeedtheentireOromonationtodothesame.

Oromiashallbefree!

Galasa Dilbo GalasaDilboOLFChairman