Hangaasuu Bilisummaa Journal Volume 1 - ULFO

incessant simmering that is
debilitating the struggle. The spill
over effect of the crisis within the
organization is now ripping apart
the tokkummaa of the Diaspora
Oromo communities, and it could
potentially impact on people at
home.
Tokkummaa Oromo is the most
vital treasure we can’t afford to
squander. It is our last defense
shield against the enemy that is
ever more determined to
obliterate the Oromo from the
face of the earth. Problems
emanating from mismanagement
of our internal politics should not
be allowed to creep into
tokkummaa Oromo and water it
down. Tokkummaa Oromo that we
all so much cherish must be kept
intact at any cost. Let our cultural
treasure be fully utilized
exquisitely to help mend and
sustain tokkummaa. Let us not at
the expense of tokkummaa haggle
for petty political gains. We have
to fight external intruders and
internal chameleons who use
region and religion as currencies
to ascend to political power and
in the process trample upon the
tokkummaa of our people.
2. Tokkummaa of
Liberation Forces
The growing number of Oromo
political organizations or forces is
also a matter of serious concern
for the Oromo public. In essence,
it is not so much the sheer
statistics of the liberation forces
that is bothersome, but what they
actually do contrary to what they
proclaim is one that does not sit
The Essence of Tokkummaa Defiled VOLUME 1 SPRING 2010
well with the Oromo people. The
aspiration of our people is to see
not fragmented but unified forces
with a common purpose.
It is not unusual to see multiple
political organizations catering to
diverse political interests
emerging from within a fairly
populace nation like the Oromo.
Proliferation of political
organizations is a sign of political
activism and mature democracy.
As long as actions of such
organizations complement one
another and effect substantial
transformation in all facets of life
in a given society, the number
factor is inconsequential. It is,
however, counterproductive
when political organizations litter
a political landscape and go at
logger-head with each other to
the detriment of the society they
claim to serve.
This latter situation better
describes the prevailing situation
in the Oromo political arena.
Prior to the birth of the OLF in
the early 1970s, let alone many,
not a single front or political
organization of national stature
existed in Oromiyaa. Few
political entities did emerge, raise
the grievance of the Oromo
people, and spark the Oromo
movement at different corners of
Oromiyaa. It is the movement led
by such entities that eventually
culminated in the formation of
the OLF. Hence, for all practical
purposes, one could say the OLF
was the sole political voice of the
Oromo nation at the time. By late
1970s, however, this situation had
completely changed. Crisis in the
OLF resulted in fragmentation.
What unfolded then continued in
several fold to the extent that
today numerous fronts claim to
struggle for the same cause – for
liberation – but in pathetically
unsynchronized fashion.
The cause of the initial crisis
within the OLF could be several.
On the surface, it could be
attributed to organizational and
leadership inexperience. As a
newly formed front, the issue of
lack of experience in both
organization and leadership areas
is a plausible cause. For a young
organization, it could be
challenging to manage a setback
and remain on course. However,
what contributed the most to the
first faction is the difference in
ideological inclination amongst
the earlier members of the OLF
leadership coupled with the
parochial card they later used to
ascend to power.
In subsequent years, up until
presently, beside the OLF
factions, we have witnessed a
growing number of other Oromo
political forces. The root cause for
further division within the OLF
could be ascribed to its failure to
manage the perception about its
lack of inclusiveness, reach and
involve Oromos across all divides
(region, religion, sex, age, etc.),
accommodate dissenting political
views, and uphold a consistent
ideological line. Other Oromo
liberation fronts came into being
in reaction to the OLF ineptness
to handle its internal
organizational challenges,
mobilize the Oromo nation from
corner to corner, rally and lead
the mass around the core
Hangaasuu Bilisummaa 6