The OBL said that the genocide that took place in Ogaden should be part of the national consultation

The OBL said that the genocide that took place in Ogaden should be part of the national consultation

 

 

 Monday, April 10, 2014 ― The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) through its chairman, Abdurrahman Mehdi, has requested that the genocide that took place in the Ogaden region of Somalia be part of the national consultation.

 

 

Ato Abdurrahman, during his interview with the BBC, said that the "genocide" which he said has been committed at both the state and the federal level, should be included in the national consultation that is said to be held in Ethiopia soon.

 

"Our people want compensation," said the chairman, stating that "Ethiopia has committed a crime against the Somali people in the name of the country," and that this is supported by evidence. He added that it has been documented by various human rights defenders and the United Nations.

 

 

Abdurahman, who says that the country should respond to this, and that it should be part of the agenda of the national consultation, pointed out that it is not known where hundreds of thousands of people from the Somali region have gone, fifty thousand women have been kidnapped, and there are orphaned children everywhere, starving and destitute.

 

 

He added that this has never been raised in Ethiopia, and that is why we are calling for the discussion.

 

 

In relation to this, mentioning that the Aisha massacre, the Deghabur massacre, the Shlaba massacre, and the Kelaba massacre happened before, we must talk about this because it is ongoing. It is not that the Somali people need money now. But he said we have to put a stop to this. He also explained that this is a question that Ethiopians in the other part of Ethiopia are also raising.  

 

 

The chairman Abdurrahman Mehdi mentioned that although he is willing to participate in the national consultation, he has conditions. He also reminded that the current way is not participatory and the process is in the hands of one party, that is, "prosperity".

 

 

A few weeks ago, the National Consultative Commission, to which 11 commissioners were elected, has been criticized by some opposition parties since its inception.