In a long but interesting interview with Ageina of the Ethiopian Satellite TV, (http://ethiomedia.com/andnen/2923.html) first Chair of OLF, Dimma Negewo tells his and his party’s experience with TPLF/EPRDF. I found Dimma to be different from what he was twenty years ago. Then he was absolutely anti-Amhara and he demonstrated that in the programs he allowed to run in Radio Ethiopia Afanoromigna (excuse me, I think that is what they call the language of the Oromo) as Minister of Information in the TGE. The program was full of distasteful insults incriminating the Amhara Emperors for unifying Ethiopia and some Oromo leaders like Ras Gobena considered to have cooperated in the process. I remember that was a boundless ear-deafening propaganda.
Today I found Dimma, a unionist perfectly fitting the call for one and united Ethiopia. Imagine to hear from Dimma; a one time leader of secessionist OLF, telling us in a clearly toned Amharic (better than my own) and with distrust his concern for the prevailing backwardness of Ethiopia because of the bedlam caused by disagreement of its politicians. I was surprised to hear him speak in eloquent Amharic because these guys though they speak Amharic fluently as in Gondere’ they still reserve speaking in Amharic. Otherwise who would speak Amharic better than Aba Biya? Some even consider speaking Amaregna as a shame or as a Gobnist).
But this time Dimma was different. He even calls for the OLF to consider revising its program of secession. He says that time is changing. Now secession is outdated in the case of Ethiopia because the new generation has come with accommodative conditions recognizing rights of ethnic-nations. I am stunned! Is it a position change or diplomacy? Watch the video for yourself and share with us what you think it is. Here is the link. http://ethiomedia.com/andnen/2923.html (Attn. Pls. note that the video takes quiet a long time.)
