Of duuba yoo laalan; Looking back

by Ibsaa Guutama | Gubirmans.com   Karaa giixirsaa qabsoon Oromoo keessa darbee as gahe yoo of duuba deebinee ilaalle hammam akka yeroon barrisu hubachu dandeenya. Hundi saa lafjala ija firaa fi hamaajaajii irra dhoffamee tolfame. Akeeki ture dhaabaa garbummaa, qaanii fi gadgalumaa jalaa nama baasu ijaaruu ture.

by Ibsaa Guutama | Gubirmans.com Looking back to the tortuous road Oromo liberation came through one can understand how time flies. All started underground hidden from friends and enemies sight. The objective was to form an organization to fend off servitude, humiliation and degradation.

Qabsaawoti yaada saanii kan facaasan barruu harkaan qophaawee fi ergaa afaaniin ture. Yaa’a sana keeessa akkastuu alkoolii fi “stencil”tt dhimma bahaniiru. Maxxansituun komputara seenaa dhihooti. Rabsi harkaa harkatt dabarsuun gaggeeffame. Si’anaa qunnamtiif faaksii, maxxansituu haada malee, makiinaa akkaasaa fi interneetiin,haala shaffisummaa, dammaqsaa fi facaasaa jijjiiraniiru. Qooqoti “blogging, twiter, face book fi cell phone” jedhaman qabsaawota dursoott abjuunuunuu itt hin mullanne. Akka sanatt dhaaba adda Bilisummaa Oromoo jedhamu uumanii sagantaa malbulchaan kaayyoo saa lafa kaa’an. Achirraa cunqursaa ofirraa faccisuun eegalame. Raagota turani; hamma yoonaa sararaa saanii masakaa yoo dabeettii keessa deebitu hin taane kan soba buusisuu aggame hin jiru. Bakka amma jirru ga’uuf walgahoti akkamitt gaggeeffamaa akka turan, meeqatu nageenya, qaama fi lubbuu saanii akka itt baasanii fi meeqa akka jiraan keessaa harca’an se’ata dubbisaaf haa dhiifnu.Meeshaan olitt kaafne hundi yeroo sanaaf ammayyaa turani. Guddinni shaffisaan teknolojii meeshharkaa durii dhimma hin baafnee tolcheenii jiraa. Akkawoon barreessaa kanaa kan 60moota keessa duutee waa’ee telefoonaa dhageesse ta’a malee dhimma itt hin baane. Hardha garuu jireenyi saanii waatattaa, kan isaa durii hoduun dhagahan hawwisiisuun haa ta’u malee, abaabileen see bosona biyya see keessatt “cell phone”tt dhimma bahaa jiru. Kanaaf ajjeessoo dullachi guddina teeknolojiitt dhimma bahuuf haa ta’uu jireenya ummataa wayyaatt jijjiiruuf sammuu dargaggoo shaffisaa tahe qooda fudhachiisuun dirqii ta’a. Sun dullachoota irraa karoora ceesisaa gaafata. Kan gadamojjeffaman irraa kan Baallii fudhatan kara deemaa Badhaatuu fi Badhaasaa hunda utuu hin ta’in jallewwan saanii qabsoo, dambooboo, dhaaba dubbiin laaltuuti. Oromiyaa walaba keessatt heerri kan tiffamu guutummaa sabaan ture. Gadaa haaraan seerota foyyessuu yk jijjiiru nin danda’a ture malee sirna sana gochuu isa dandeessise miti. Ammas yoo ta’e miseensi hooggansaa kamuu akka eegduu amanamoon isaan qofa ta’ett of ilaaluu hin qabani. Mana saanii qulqulleessanii yeroo murtaawaa Baallii itt dabarsan labsuu qabu. Akka ummati bara baraan waan jiratuuf eegduu kaayyoo ofii tahe fudhachuu dha.Sochiin bilisummaa Oromoo kan ABO fi kanneen isa irra habaqalaman dabalatu gaafii yeroof deebii kennuu hanqataa jira. Hedduun akka kaasaatt taasisa baayyeett qubaa qabu. Humnnooti alaa hedduun akka dantaa Oromiyaa keessaa qaban ni mullata. Kanaaf dhiibbaa hamaan isaan tolchan guddaa ta’a. Garuu sun akka kaasaa muummichaatt dhihaachuu hin danda’u. Dhibdeen qabeenyaa, muuxannoo fi walqayyabannoo akka durii kaasaa dha jedhamuu hin danda’anii. Sadarkaa dhaabaatt dhibee kootammi keessaa ka’a. Mana ofii qulqulleessuu fi qaawaa hunda duuchachuu dadhabuun qilleensii hamaan galee faaleera. Sun erga ta’ee kaayyoo eenyu akka deggeru, farri kaayyoo isa kam akka ta’e fi eenyu keettoo diinaa ta’uu baruun rakkisaa dha. Gara ummataatiin muxannoon colonaawu qabanaawaa waan isa tolcheef ofbaruuf hedduutu hafa. Kanaaf kan inni dhaabota saa haa ta’uu cunqursaa irratt komee hedduu kan hin darabnne. Dhaaboti malbulchaa yeroo ummanni rakkina keessa jiru biraa dhibuun hamma yoonaa obsaan irra darbame. Fayyisaan biraa dhufinnaa jedhanii eeguu manna naannatti argamanii akka inni miixatee rakkina keessaa of baasu gargaaruun dirqama saanii ture. Fakmishoon Tafarii bara Waraana Lammaffaa amma hin hojjetu.Hogganooti dhaaba jallatamaa fi guddaa akkasii uggootaa fi gaaga’am hin sodaannee ta’uu qabu. Akeekatt cichuu malee nammi maal jedhaan qollifachuun dadhabina. Akkaakuu sana silaa tuuta gaggeesan irra adda kan isaan tolchu. Heerri bu’uuraa Adda Bilisummaa Oromo walabummaa Oromiyaati. Yoo sun dhoofsisatt dhihaate ABO utuu hin ta’in waan biraa ta’a. Sun qabattee irraa dheessan ta’uu hin qabu. Namooti ajjeefamaa, hidhamaa, biyaa ari’amaa, baqatanii bakka akeekkatan hanqataa fi maqaa ABOn guraaramaa jiru. Hoogganooti ulfina qaban sirritt hoogganuu yk dadhabne jedhanii bu’uu dha. Hanga dhaabichi du’utt yk moggeeffamutt duubatt harkifachuun cubbuu dha. Murtiin dhiheenya Oromoo miseensota dhaabota mootummaa koloneeffataa waliin hojjetan afurtamaa olitt kenname, Oromoon maalii waliin akka haasa’aa jiru agarsiisaa. Fedha ummati walabummaaf qabu hawwaa fi hankaaksi kamuu haquu hin danda’uu. Kadhaa haa ta’u harka kennachuun gonka garaa diinaa hin laaffisuu. Kanneen duchiisaa bahanii, eegee suuqqataa deebi’an irraa homtuu hin eegamu. Dorsisa ABUT hoomishamanii tuulaman irraa daangessaan (“yirgaan” ) isaan oolchu waan hin jirreef duubbeen saanii isaan yaacessaa jiraata.Diinoti keessaa fi alaa ABO mancaasuu ni yaalu ta’a; garuu yoo qabsaawota laashessuu hin taane kaayyoon dandeetii saaniiraa fagaatee jira. Surrii fi onnee aba tokkoota Oromoo irratt goodamee hafa. Hanqina dandeettii qabaachuun, daddaaquu, dudhama dhabuu fi beekaa waa dhiisuu dhibuun gufannaa yerooti. Hoogganootii amma jiran “Waamicha Lubbuu keenya Oolchaa” ummataaf deebii kennuu dha baannaan wayitt hin gallee tahu. ABO, dhaabi Oromoo guddichi miseensota saa addatt ayyaana sabichaa ta’ee jiraa. Dhaaboti Oromoo dhugaa walabummaaf dhaabbatan gara tokkummaati duufuu agarsiisaa jiru. Barreessaan kun moor saa “Prison of Conscience” keessatt qabattee kana irratt ilaalcha Oromoo hubate xiinxaluu yaalee ture (fuula 358-360). Oromoon walitt mufatus, waljibbus wiirtuu irraa hin kaanne qaba. Bilisummaa sabicha irra fagaatee hin deemu. Kan hojiin farraa ta’e illee afaaniin hamaa baasuu ni rakkata. Kanaaf caalatt wal hubachuun dansaa. Murnooti ABO irra citan unkaan malee qabeen sagantaa sochii bilisummaa bu’uuraa gad hin dhiifnee. Kanaaf walitt dacha’uun akkuma. Hogganooti dubbiin laaltu harkifachuu irra bahanii walsimachuutu qabsoo qajeelcha. Yoo hundi keessaanlaalummaa fi garaa qulqulluun walitt deeman sochii bilisummaa f walabummaaf injifannoo dha. Yeroo amma yoo dhaabichi lubbuuf wuxxifataa jiru kana murnooti yk abba tokkooti kamiin saaniiyyuu caalaatt babbaqasuu yaalan yoo jiraatan ergamtoota badii, diinni wakkalatett lakkaawamu. Gochi saanii maqaama saanii malee ABO kan hubame caalaa hubuu hin danda’u. Hardha sochii hawaasomaa keessatt rogi haaraan gara Oromoo Badiin mullataa jira. Rakko jirutt qabaa qabaan itt siqaa jiru. Kanaaf sochooti “Afaan, Bu’uursa Madda Walaabuu, Oromo First” jedhaman fakkeenya ta’u. Hawaasa Oromoo keessa hanqinooti jiran dhaabota ciccimoo uumuun irra haanamuu ni dandahama. Dhaaboti hawaasomaa amma uumamanii fi fulduratts tolfamuu dandahan ayyaanni Oromummaa gilgila ta’eee turuu dhugoomsuun yeroo hunda of ifsaa fi dhagahamaa akka jiratu mirkaneessu. Garuu hoomishi saanii dhimma malbulchaaf nafii guddaa qabaatullee, isaan dhaabota malbulchaa bakka bu’uu hin danda’anii. Garuu cooreen walitt yaatee doloolloo akka gabistu irraanfachuu hin qabnu. Kanaaf dhaaboti malbulchaa sanatt dhimma bahan jiraachuun barbaachisaa dha. Gadjabeessi dhaabota haaraa, kaamessumaa, shaffisummaa fi ogeessuman, akaakuu dhaabota malbulchaa, diinagdee fi hawaasomaan akkeeffamuu qabani. Sichi mesharkooti dullachii fi haxaaruumman dhimma hin baasanii. Sadarkaa beekumsi Ilmaan namaa gahe kanatt san irra deebi’anii dhimma itt bahuu yaaluun of ajjeesuu dha. Namoota ilaalchaan gargar ta’ani irra amanamummaa argachuuf dargaggoon amma sochii hawaasomaatt bobba’an hojii saanii haaraa keessatt fedha dhaaba malbulchaa kamiiyyuu calaqisuu irra of eeguu qabu. Dhaaba malbulchaa filatanitt seenuun keessaan dhiibba irratt gochuu yaaluun mirga saaniiti. Sana malee, alaan baqasanii itt seenuuf “fiinoo Joshuwa” isaan barbaachisaa. Yaadi jajjabduu sammuu keessaa qaban muuxannoo qabsichaan walitti qabamee madaalamuu qaba. Qabsichi akkamiti jalqabe fi jabinnii fi laafinni saa mal akka ture qorachuu qabu. Tuqaa sana irra ka’aniitu dargaggoon waa’ee dhaala saanii haasawuu kan danda’an. Dhaalli sirna qabeessi yaa’a wal qayyababannoo murna lamaa, isa bahuu fi isa galuu irratt hundaawaa. Kan biraa aangoo humnaan qabachuu dha. Nammi tokko yoo “ Yeroon kun keenyaa, karaa gaddhiisaa” jedhu akka dogoggoraan hin hubatamne waa’ee yaa’a isa kamii akka baanu ifaa gochuu qaba. Humnaan angoo heerawaa butuu yaaluun dhaabicha kaayyoo saa waliin balleessuutt fudhatama. ABOn ayyaana sabichaa ta’ee jira; eenyy uu isaa fi kaayyoo inni ittiin deemu mancaasuu hin danda’u. Diinni beekaa sana dhiisee miseensa ta’anii dhiisanii ilmaan Oromoo bar tokko ayyaana sana bulfachuu danda’innuu jedhu hunda balleessaa jira. Darggaggoon warraaqoo ta’an ala dhaabbatanii gadooduu mannaa dhaabotatt seenanii keessaan jajjabeessuu wayyaa. Yeroo furtuu kanaa kan barbaachisu waggaa dhalootaa utuu hin ta’in onnee waarraaqsaatii. Tumsi “Biiraan Beddellee” jajjabeessaa qacceefixaa utubuu saa balaaleffachuuf dhiheenya tolfame meeshaan qunnamtii ammayyaa hagam dhimma baasaa akka ta’e hubachiisa. Naannaa yaada tokkoott, yeroo gabaabduu keessatt namoota ilaalcha walfakkaataa qaban shaffisaan walitt fiduun salphaa akka ta’e mullise. Sun dhaabota malbulchaa naannaa ofii fi sun sochii bilisummaa Oromoo irratt dhiibbaa maalii akka fidu hubachuu dadhabaniif barnoota ta’uu qabaa. Karaa rakkisaa keessa darbanii dhufan yeroon hagam akka barrisu fi ijaajjee akka isaan hin eegne, mildhuu xinnoon itt agarsiisuu dandeetti turtee. Sochichii akka durii lafjala qofa mitii akka hedduu hin dhoffane iji nama si’anaa ija Waaq ta’aa jira; meeshaan quunnamtii fi raabsaa akka kurnan shan darbanii duubatt hafaas miti. Yeroon kun yeroo ummata manii saa fedhutt hoogganuun, hankaaksituu fi luuxxee galtuu itt qaanesuun danda’amu. Ulfinaa fi surraan gootota kufaniif; walabummaa, walqixxummaa fi bilisummaan kan hafaniif; nagaa fi araarri Ayyaana abboolii fi ayyoliif haa tahu! Ibsaa Guutama Amajjii 2014

Activists used to disseminate their idea with hand written fliers and oral messages. With change of time they used alcohol duplicators, and stencils. Computer printers are a recent history. Distributions were done by human errands. Now fax mills, wireless printers, copy machines and the use of internet as a vehicle of communication had changed efficiency and effectiveness of agitation and broadcasting. The words blogging, twitter, face book, cell phones were beyond imagination of the pioneers of Oromo struggle. In that way they formed an organization they named Oromo Liberation Front and set a goal for it in a political program. Then the process of fending off oppression commenced. They were farsighted; no one has aimed at disproving their visionary guidelines except for the pusillanimous revisionists. Let us live to imagination of readers how meetings were conducted, how many paid their well being, parts of their bodies and their lives for the cause and how may dropped out to reach where Oromo revolution stands today?All the tools used mentioned above were advanced for their times. Technology is developing too fast making old tools obsolete. The grandmother of this writer who died in the 60s only heard about telephone and never used it. Now her great grand children in the jungles of her county use cell phones, though their material life still makes them envy of the old life they heard of.Therefore it is imperative for the old warriors to involve the quick minds of the youth to catch up with technological development as well as to change people’s life for the better. That requires from the oldies a plan to phase out. It is not any passer by Badhaatuu or Badhaasaa that take over from the retiring but disciplined comrade members in struggle of a concerned organization. In independent Oromiya the basic Gadaa principles were defended by the whole nation. Each new Gadaa may change or amend the laws but not the system that enabled that. Now too no member or members of a leadership should think that they are the only trusted custodians. There should be time limit to put their house in order and transfer authority to legitimate others. Accept that the people are guardians of the Kaayyoo.Oromo liberation movement which includes OLF and all that sprouted from it is failing to respond to demands of the time. Many point to several factors as a cause. It is obvious that many external forces have interest in Oromiyaa. For that reason the negative pressure those can exert would be tremendous. But that cannot be presented as the main cause. Lack of material wealth, experience and consensus are also no more problems as they were long ago. On organization level the main cause is internal. The failure to keep ones house clean and sealing all pores that let in polluted air is to blame. Ones that happens it would be difficult to know who is upholding the kaayyoo, who is anti kaayyoo and who is an enemy agent. On peoples level colonial experience has made it docile and much is left to get full consciousness. That is why it is not complaining much about its organizations and the oppressor. Absence of political organization from its side during trying times is still overlooked by the people with patience. As a rule they have the responsibility and duty to be present by its side and help it pull out on its own bootstraps rather than waiting for another savior. Tafarii’s WWII model can serve no more.Leaders of such a huge and beloved movement have to be daring and risk taking. They have to stick to principles not what others would say. That quality is supposed to make them different from the mass they lead. The basic constitutional element of the OLF is independence of Oromiyaa. If that is compromised it will no more be OLF but something else. That should not be an issue to shy off from. People are killed, imprisoned, banished, flee and fail to reach their destination and tortured because of OLF. Leaders have to lead properly or declare their inability to go further and resign. It will be sinful to drug ones feet until the movement for liberation is dead or marginalized. The recent verdict on more than 40 members of Oromo organizations working with the colonial government is enough indication of what an Oromo has to deal with. No wish or sabotage can erase the aspiration of the people for independence and neither beseeching nor surrendering can soften the heart of the enemy. Not much is expected from those that walked out with defiance and came back with tails between the legs. Their own past will haunt them for there is no statute of limitations for manufactured blackmails TPLF has is store. Internal or external enemies may try to destroy the OLF perhaps they could make activists ineffective but as far as the kaayyoo is concerned it is out of their reach. It will remain engraved in the hearts and brains of Oromo individuals. Incompetence, wavering and lack of commitment and magnanimity are temporary glitches. If the present leaders fail to respond to the nations SOS call they only make themselves good for nothing. OLF the great Oromo political institution has become sprit of the nation separate from individual members. Genuine Oromo political organizations that uphold the Kaayyoo are showing inclination towards unity and understanding. This writer has tried to analyze what he observed on Oromo outlook in his book, “Prison of Conscience” (page 358-360). The Oromo have a core from which they do not stay far off even if they are mad at or detest each other. They do not go away from the idea of liberation of the nation. Even when fooled or forced by personal troubles and external pressure, deep down they will never get peace of mind by ignoring aspirations of their nation. For this reason it would be better to know each other more. Factions that had seceded from OLF if not in form, in content they did not abandon the basic program of the liberation movement. For this reason to converge at a point is in order. All have seen that Oromo people show no sympathy for brothers at each other’s throat. Those leaders that the issue concerns have to get out and welcome each other rather than dragging their feet. If all come together with transparent move and in good faith that will be a victory for the freedom movement. At such a moment, when the organization is kicking for survival, any group or individual that tries to create schism in any one of them would be considered messenger of doom, working for the enemy. And let it be known that they could hurt OLF no more than it is already hurt except their own names. Today new trends in social movement among Oromoo Badii (Oromo dispersed abroad) are observed. They are approaching problems in piecemeal. The movements called” Afaan”, “Madda Walaabuu Media Foundation”, “Oromo First” are examples of these. There are shortcomings in Oromo society that could be overcome by establishing viable institutions. Social institutions now formed and all others in the making are insuring that the spirit of Oromummaa is being kept active, ever expressing itself and ever being listened to. But they do not replace political organizations, though their product will be of great political value. Therefore there should be political organizations to utilize them. The new institutions emphasis on professionalism, efficiency and skill is a quality to be emulated by political economic and social organization. Old tools and sinister manipulations are no more effective. That could bring a natural death for those that try to reuse them at such advanced stage of human knowledge. The young people involved in social movements should try not to reflect their party affiliation in their new movement if they have to be trusted by all irrespective of outlook. It is their individual right to join any organization of their choice and influence it from inside. Otherwise they need “Joshua’s trumpet” to crack it from outside. Any fantastic idea they have in mind needs to be tested against experience of the struggle. They have to ask themselves how the struggle begun and what were its strength and weaknesses? It is from that point that the youth can claim its right of succession. Systematic succession is a process that depends on understanding of two groups, the outgoing and the incoming. The other is snatching power by force. One has to be careful not to be misunderstood of which process one is talking when declaring “This is our time, leave way!!” Trying to snatch constitutional power by force tantamount to trying to destroy the institution with its ideals. OLF has turned a spirit of the nation; no soul can destroy it and the kaayyoo for which it stands. The enemy knows that instead it is trying to destroy any Oromo capable to provide leadership to that spirit whether one is a member of OLF or not. All revolutionary youth should join organizations and struggle to revitalize them from inside instead of lamenting from the outside. At this crucial period it not age that has priority but revolutionary sprit to liberate oneself and the nation. The recent rally against “Beddellee Beer” sponsoring promoter of genocide shows how effective modern means of communication could be. It is easy to bring together people of similar outlook in a short time around an idea. That should be a lesson to Oromo political organizations that fail to feel their surroundings and their implication for the future of Oromo liberation movement. A simple glance back to the tortuous road they came through could have shown them that time flies and cannot stand to wait for them. The movement is now not as clandestine as it used to be for the eye of a modern man is becoming Waaqaa’s eye that much cannot be hidden and the tools and distribution system no more archaic as it used to be over five decades ago. This is the perfect time to lead the people to its desired goal and shame infiltrators and saboteurs. Honor and glory for the fallen heroines and heroes; liberty equality and freedom for the living and nagaa and araaraa for the Ayyaanaa of our fore parents! Ibsaa Guutama January 2014