OGADEN NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT (ONLF) 

STATEMENT ON THE SO-CALLED ETHIOPIAN ELECTIONS

January 16, 2005
 
The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) in a statement issued on December 20th 2004, stated that "it and the Somalis of Ogaden will not participate in the so-called Ethiopian elections scheduled for 2005".

The wisdom of our decision was reaffirmed on Thursday January 13th 2005 when the deputy head of the Ethiopian National Election Board (Tesfaye Mengesha) announced that the so-called elections in Ogaden would be held several months after the nationwide poll.
 
This announcement came as no surprise to the people of Ogaden who have been denied the right to
self-determination by successive Ethiopian regimes. It is clear that the TPLF/EPRDF intends to hold so-called elections in Ogaden after international observers have left the country so that they can continue their policy of military occupation and denial or basic human rights while presenting themselves as democrats to the international community.
 
The fact that Ogaden was singled out should be a clear sign to the international community that Ethiopia has something to hide there.
 
The ONLF wishes to restate our view that we and the Somalis of Ogaden will not participate in the now delayed so-called elections. They are of no consequence to us since the TPLF/EPRDF regime is unwilling to let our people determine their own destiny unhindered.


Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)
Foreign Affairs Department

Information Bureau
Infobureau@onlf.org
 

 

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