Oromo Democratic Front leaders arrived in Addis Ababa

Five leaders of the ethnic-based opposition group, Oromo Democratic Forum (ODF), which is based in exile, arrived in Ethiopia yesterday, reported state media.

Chairman of the organization Lencho Letta, vice chairman, Dima Negao, Lencho Bati and Beyan Asoba were received at Bole International Airport by Abadula Gemeda, security adviser to the prime minister,and Ahmed Shede, government communications minister.

Leaders of the organization told government news outlets upon arrival at Bole international airport that the political situation and activity in Ethiopia influenced their decision to travel to “homeland.”

Lenco Letta, who is also among the pioneers of ethnic Oromo political movement more than forty years ago, is cited as saying that armed struggle does not lead to democracy and called on political movements who resorted to armed struggle to opt for peaceful struggle in view of what he said is “change” that is happening in Ethiopia.

Last year the party joined became a member of Ethiopian National Movement when it was founded in the United States.

Although the government seems to take the planned “talk” with the party as an achievement, political analysts in the country or abroad do not seem to give weight to it as ODF is not considered that relevant.

Others claim that chairman of ODF, Lencho Letta, is a criminal responsible for the massacre of ethnic Amharas in Bedeno and Arbagugu some twenty-five years ago and believe that he should rather be held accountable for it.



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