A response to Jigre’s column: ONLF must reform!
By Hibaq Dualeh
hibaqd@live. com

6, Dec 2008

An article titled “Jigre’s column: ONLF must reform!” was e-mailed to me by a friend who was profoundly impressed by the author’s standpoint, and by his ability to express his thoughts and ideas fluently. Although the article was well written from a grammatical standpoint, I was neither impressed nor moved by the content of the article.

The author starts out by asking gratuitous questions that are without foundation and substance. Two interrelated questions that caught my eye were “For how long will they have to wish for a powerful traction from somewhere, someday, to move the coveted self determination ideal forward” and “Will they be exculpated of any responsibility for the horror of famine and death that has befallen on our people, if they continue to march on with the overbearing sense of waiting that something (most likely an exogenous intervention) will happen and will turn around the fate of the struggle? It is crucial to notate that the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has done everything in their power to unshackle the chains of occupation and oppression in the Ogaden region. These men and women are not only engaged in a military war against the unconstitutional government of Ethiopia , but also a political one. Decolonization is a painful and difficult process that requires more than using force and weapons to defend and emancipate a country. The Ogaden war between Somalia and Ethiopia is a great example as to why a political war is just as decisive as a military one. In 1977 Mohamed Siad Barre invaded the Ogaden region with 70,000 troops, 40 fighter planes, 250 tanks 600artillery, and 350 armored fighting vehicles. By 1980 the region was under the control of the WSLF-SNA, and although we were victorious, it was short lived. Even with a conventional military control, we were defeated because we lacked a balance of power from a political angle. Recognition by the United Nations is another example of why military aggression is just one piece and not the entire puzzle. The Ogaden region, once it becomes a sovereign state, needs to be a member state of the United Nation. Without recognition, God forbid, we’ll end up like Somaliland . Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991. It has all the characteristics and attributes of a sovereign and independent state with one exception; recognition. Somaliland remains to be unrecognized by countries in the world community, and international organizations within those communities. As a result of their unrecognized status, Somaliland has no official contacts with other nations, thus limiting their political progression and economic development. Our aspiration for Ogadenia is to be like Kosovo. Kosovo has been recognized as a sovereign state by 53 U.N member states, including the United States, United Kingdom and France (3 out of 5 countries with veto powers). In addition, member states of NATO, EU, WEU and OECD have also recognized Kosovo as an independent state. The ONLF is establishing prominent relationships, connecting with influential countries, and declaring our independence to the world both on and off the battlefield. The exclusive right to control a government, a country and its people requires more than a successful military machine; it requires the use of tactics and strategy to gain and establish a powerful relationship with influential countries, and organizations within the international community. The fate of Ogadenia rests on the ONLF, and its success will not be measured by how well they fight to make it sovereign, but also how well they fight to keep it sovereign. Their interaction with other countries and organizations today will ensure their success against outside influences tomorrow!

The author is in a state of confusion, hence why he believes the ONLF is waiting for “an exogenous intervention that will turn around the fate of the struggle” when the ONLF is in fact strategizing on a course of action that will lead us to our victory beyond the battleground. You can’t have a house with just a roof, the same way you can’t have sovereignty with only military conquest. The fate of our region is contingent on more than one pillar, and how we establish these pillars will determine our success in either thriving like Kosovo or failing like Somaliland ! It is also essential to stress that the ONLF is NOT wishing for a “powerful traction from somewhere, someday, to move the coveted self-determination ideal forward” as the author would like us to believe, they ARE moving the coveted self-determination ideal forward with outstanding advancement that put many military strategies and tactics to shame! It doesn’t take a genius to acknowledge the accomplishments attained by the ONLF with their prevailing policies and proceedings. I honestly believe the author is ill-equipped with the fundamental knowledge and wisdom required to write about the ONLF or their objectives. His thoughts and ideas are the consequence of bias and prejudice information that arose from limited research and sources. Individuals who are informed on the platform of the ONLF and politics in general, would have been too ashamed to ask the questions that were asked by the author. An individual who goes out of his way to incorporate words like “exogenous” should know better than to ask mind-numbing questions like “Will they be exculpated of any responsibility for the horror of famine and death that has befallen on our people?” The author has proven his knowledge of the English language, but when will he prove his knowledge of politics and the guiding principles of common sense? The ONLF is not responsible for these crimes, and they will not be held liable for them. I’m interested in knowing when we stopped blaming the perpetrators of these crimes, and started blaming the only individuals in the region (and the world) who sought to do something about these crimes? The stupidity of that particular question almost deterred me from responding to the article. When it comes to the problems in the region, the author holds a doctorate in listing them, but when it comes to listing beneficial solutions as a means of overcoming these problems, the author proves to be limited. These limitations are confirmed by a few more inane and idiotic questions like “why is ONLF unable to weigh up the danger and get on devising mitigating strategies?” And “Why is it difficult for the organization to mutate into a different entity than that the enemy would like it to be?” The ONLF is the only body making a difference in the region, and since the author is in opposition to their policy and tactics, why doesn’t he devise different methods and means to liberate our people? What is standing in his way? It’s obvious the author thinks he can do a better job than the ONLF, so why doesn’t he? Why did he insist on writing this article, when he should have spent his time writing a policy devoted to the liberation of our region? I have decided that the author is all talk and no action! He needs to start contributing to the cause; sitting behind a screen criticizing those who have is not good enough! His lack of contribution lost him the credibility to speak of the region and on behalf of the population in the region, not to mention the integrity to question the ONLF and their policies!

“Why not end the disheartening abnegation of the common Somali name?” is the last question the author asks and it is the one question that shines light on the article as a whole. The people and their unfortunate circumstance is not the issue, nor the reason that inspired the author to publish a hollow article. The name of the region is the principle reason the author chose to bore us with these opinions and ideas. The ONLF is not the heart of the argument, as was once perceived, but what the O in the name represents. The term Ogaden has been depicted as a malignant tumor in the minuscule minds of men and women who continue to elevate its significance above the heartbreaking condition in our oppression torn region. As always, I’m fighting the urge to throw up!

The author uses unification as grounds to defend his opinion on account of changing the name of the region from Ogadenia to “something more unifying”. For some strange reason, I was under the impression that oppression was a better reason for unification than what a region outside our control was dubbed. What could I have been thinking? How silly of me! Lets entertain this idea for a minute and articulate changing the name from Ogadenia to little Somalia . Is it lawful? Geographically renaming a state that is outside your control is as effective as renaming a child who doesn’t belong to you. As of today, Ogadenia is under the control of Ethiopia , and renaming it is out of the question. The name was given to the region by colonial powers, and it is because of colonial powers that forbid us from changing it. Since we’re exploring possibilities, let’s argue that Meles Zenawi was kind enough to allow the ONLF--who happen to be at war with him--to change the name of a region that is undergoing genocide; what will change? Will we miraculously become independent? Will those who stood on the sideline under the guise of exclusion immediately join us to defend the struggle and forward the liberation movement? What guarantee do we have that changing the name will result in a unification that should have been formed under the banner of ending oppression? The population as a whole is suffering from the same tyranny and enduring the same problems despite their tribe, gender and age. So if unification was implausible under the umbrella of liberation and freedom for ALL, why is it plausible under the umbrella of altering the name? The author is welcome to argue that the regime is targeting a single tribe, the ONLF was created for the sole purpose of that tribe, and the other tribes who live there are unaffected by the campaign of cruelty and oppression that is unleashed in the region. Changing the name in order to inspire other groups to join the single-tribal cause would then make sense; doing so would actually make his argument practical, not to mention credible. However, this is not the case. Other groups in the region are suffering as much as the Ogaden tribe and the name is not the cause of this oppression; the right to exist in a region controlled by a tyrant is. The more we stop seeing the name as some kind of a magic pill that will result in a astonishing victory, the more we’ll be able to unite under one cause and free our region from a demented dictator in Addis Ababa. I wonder which is more important to the author and his ilk, the oppression or the name. Ultimately, the author’s judgment to change the name of the region for the purpose of unity makes him naive and his argument impractical.

The author dedicates an entire paragraph to tribalism. He makes an issue out of the fact that the ONLF is predominantly supported by the Ogaden tribe and how this tribe is the backbone of the organization. It is true that the majority of the population in the region is Ogaden (hence the name). It is also true that the ONLF is predominantly Ogaden, and so are their supporters. What does this have to do with anything? This is as ridiculous as commenting on the predominant race in the U.S population and the government as a means to discredit the Bush administration. He concludes the paragraph with “denial of the facts is no way to go about it.” Go about what? What is there to go about? The ONLF welcomes individuals who are interested in making a difference in the region, despite their tribe, gender or age! One indication that an individual is intellectually deficient is when he starts using inadequate premise to defend a hopeless conclusion. What a waste of time!

During the revolutionary war, Americans were divided into different ethnic groups but chose to unite to fight a revolutionary war despite these differences. They won their war, not because George Washington begged or bribed them, but because their desire to become independent overpowered their desire to sit back and wait for an official invitation. If our civilians do not wish to join forces with the ONLF to end an undignified subjection, then that is their problem. I refuse to entertain the idea of bribing these individuals to make a difference in their OWN lives! The last time I checked, God did not give the ONLF a direct order to come to the rescue of the Somali population in the region. These men and women CHOSE to transform the region and to dramatically change the situation for the betterment of their people! Their representation should not be mistaken for an attempt to dissolve the people of their responsibilities; each man is responsible for himself and his family! If individuals in the region refuse to contribute to the cause, then whatever fate befalls them is their own doing.

The ONLF is doing their part, when will the author and those like him join the fight? When will the unjustified criticism end and the resourcefulness begin? I am sick and tired of hearing condescending demands from raving idiots whose only contribution to the region is to deplete Meles Zenawi of war crimes. Their obsession with the name given to the region is sickening and their assertion for speaking on behalf of the people in the region is insulting. The people in the Ogaden want individuals who comprehend their struggle to speak for them, not individuals who pretend to understand their struggle as a method of attack against the ONLF. The author is using the people in the region as an excuse to show aggression towards the ONLF, not because of their policies, but because of the intimidation the name that was given to the region presents. He and others like him harbor the mistaken belief that the ONLF is responsible for giving birth to a name that was given to the region more than a hundred years before the ONLF came into existence. The ONLF derives its name from the region. The O represents the region and its inhabitants; it does not represent the Ogaden tribe! The sooner these individuals act in accordance with the governing laws of logic and reason, the better! I want to judge these individuals as rational and sensible beings, and until they give me a reason to, I can’t afford to see them as anything more than the product of failed education!

By Hibaq Dualeh
hibaqd@live. com