SomaliNet Forums

Jun 2, 2010 (QOL) A claim made by Ethiopian Prime Minister, Melez Zenawi at his most
recent press conference that his regime will "soon sign an agreement" with the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has no basis in reality and is intended to mislead the international community in general and foreign oil firms in particular. The ONLF wishes to make clear that we have not been, and currently are not, in discussions with this regime. The ONLF has maintained a principled position that any negotiations with this regime can only take place under the auspices of the international community in a neutral venue with a third neutral party mediator. This regime has consistently refused neutral third party mediation under the auspices of the international community. Melez Zenawi clearly seeks to create the impression that he is on the verge of reaching a political settlement to the Ogaden conflict in a bid to convince oil companies that Ogaden is no longer a war zone and divert attention from Ethiopia's recent so-called "'election" results confirming that dissent will not be tolerated by this regime, even if it is through the ballot box.

O.N.L.F Forces In Control of Hilala Oil Field.


30 May 2010

Special forces of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) yesterday liberated and are now in control of the Hilala oil field in Eastern Ogaden. Troops of the regime abandoned the field after being surrounded by our forces and determining their chances for survival were slim. Those troops were given safe passage out of Hilala fields as they had indicated they did not want to fight and willingly shared valuable intelligence. As such, there were no casualties in the operation on either side.

Former HIlala area residents who had been forced to relocate by the Ethiopian regime were seen slowly returning to the area with their livestock today.

As we have indicated on several occasions. Ogaden is a war zone and the scene of war crimes and crimes against humanity against our people. Oil companies seeking to invest in Ogaden at this time are therefore engaged in gross corporate irresponsibility at the very least and most likely complicit in war crimes as areas are being cleared and people relocated by force, and sometimes arrested or
killed if they resist, in their name by the Ethiopian regime. For those Oil companies who recognize that it is not appropriate to invest in Ogaden at this time and cease operations, such a decision will be noted by the Ogaden people once their political aims are achieved.

In that context, the ONLF wishes to welcome, if true, reports that Petronas has decided to cease operations in Ogaden. If this is the case, Petronas has chosen wisely and this decision will not be
forgotten.

The ONLF maintains a policy that we will not allow this regime to continue to relocate our people by force, destroy our environment and exploit our natural mineral wealth only to use the proceeds to fund war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed against ourpeople. As such, we wish to reaffirm again that we will not allow Oil exploration in Ogaden by this regime at this time.

Melez multi-billion dollar deal squashed by the young men with dreadlocks and AK-47s slung over their shoulders