
By Jimma Times,
The Addis Ababa based Opposition leader Dr. Merera Gudina called Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi’s latest “terror list” a joke and unconstructive for solving the nation’s political problems.
Zenawi’s list has five militant groups: Somalia’s al-Shabab, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the Diaspora based Ginbot 7 and the international radical group al-Qaeda.
Except OLF and Ginbot 7, the other three groups have a history of killing and targeting civilians and unarmed officials.
Dr. Gudina, who is the chairman of the Oromo People’s Congress (OPC), said groups like OLF are fighting for democracy but the Zenawi government has closed all doors for a free and fair election.
“You cannot close doors for the opposition and tag them as terrorists”, warned Gudina.
He says national reconciliation is what is needed in Ethiopia, not finger pointing. Gudina mocked that Zenawi is begging Washington officials to recognize his list.
“I will hunt your terrorists if you hunt my terrorists” is the name of the game Meles Zenawi playing today.
However, according to Dr. Gudina, western governments have ignored Meles Zenawi’s fools game.
Last month, US embassy spokesperson Mrs. Brandt said the Obama administration does not consider OLF to be a terrorist organization.
Meles Zenawi has ruled the country for over 20 years and his government has been accused of using food aid as a weapon of oppression. In the last two national elections, the government allegedly used fertilizer to blackmail farmers into voting for the Meles ruling party.