Press Release

March 18, 2012

Ethiopian Army controlled Special police massacre civilian in Ogaden

The so-called Liyu Police in Ogaden has burned the villages of Galka-boodo-libaah, Dhoobo Guduud, Raqda and Adaada, killing many villagers and destroying property in Gashamo district of Degahbur region in Ogaden in March 16, 2012. This same group conducted such a massacre in Gunagado and Garbo districts last month. Such action has been a common occurrence for the last three years.

The Liyu police is a bandit paramilitary force trained, armed and funded by the Ethiopian government through aid provided by the international community to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government formed this depraved militia in order to supplant Ethiopian army pogrom in Ogaden and disown Ethiopian Army genocide in Ogaden.

ONLF strongly condemns this vile and cowardly act and calls upon the international community, specifically the UN, to take immediate action investigating the continuous atrocities committed by the Ethiopian Army and its paramilitary forces and sanctioned by the Ethiopian regime in Addis Ababa.

ONLF calls upon the people in Ogaden to avoid falling into petty tribal sentiments intended to divide and rule the Somali people in Ogaden and divert attention from the colonial rule of Ethiopia.

Ogaden National Liberation Front