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Legality question concerning the name OLF

January 3, 2012 at 8:09 pm · Gadaa.com

By Ibsaa Guutama*

OLF, as the name indicates, is an organization founded to struggle for the liberation of Oromiyaa. Its political objective is the realization of the right to national self-determination up to and including the formation of the independent republic Oromiyaa. Now, it is four decades since its creation was officially declared. With great sacrifices, significant achievements had been recorded through the years. Most of the founders are dead though few are said to have survived to this day from the colonial onslaught. The survivors, it is hoped, can be available in matters concerning the nature of its formation, if documents fail to explain.

This writer has retired, but as one that has sacrificed the prime part of his life, cannot keep silent when what he believes as mistaken moves occur. It is unfortunate that the name OLF is claimed by three factions. These three had tried to reunite with the aim of healing and strengthening OLF. But, they failed once, and are not showing hope for some more time, at least to recognize each other’s present outlook. The mind that is ready to create understanding with aliens should not nauseate when it comes to own compatriots.

Each faction claims that it is more genuine and has the cause of the people closer to heart. The evidence for each claim is found in the original OLF constitution, political program, different documents and bylaws, etc. Those will take care of any legal proceedings. As an organization whose objective is to liberate Oromiyaa, the factions could be judged only by the Oromo people. So whatever conflict, that they have, cannot and should not be taken to alien courts. OLF is a rebel organization in the empire of Ethiopia; it does not need registration by any office, except the hearts and minds of Oromo patriots and the Oromo people. To apply for a patent outside Oromiyaa would only end up in harassing each other for no national gain.

It is unfortunate to hear factions led by Daawud Ibsaa and Dhugaasaa Bakakkoo had already started exchanging words on the issue. OLF is presented for the patent office by Dawuud group as “Promoting the interest of the Oromo people in Ethiopia and elsewhere and to bring the political repression and the gross human rights violations taking place in Ethiopia to the attention of governments and the international community at large.” Category of registration is “Advertising, Business & Retail Services.” These could enter all the factions to unending controversy that could cost each unnecessary time and a fortune in legal fees. That the use of the same name, OLF, by all had some problems is undeniable. But, let us assume that all love their organization. Therefore, there should have been a way for all to use it with “qualifier” or giving up for one that qualifies depending on relevant evidences. The solution requires a long process which demands patience and tolerance. To raise this issue at such hard time OLF finds itself is crazy. Trying to go further to realize it would be madness.

OLF is a domestic organization; applying foreign patent rights on nationals amounts to converting it to a Diaspora organization. This will be adding support to all those internal and external adversaries that are trying hard to make it irrelevant to the cause it was founded for. Material gain because of that cannot outweigh the political bankruptcy it could entail. That is why I am appealing to leaders of all factions to desist this from taking any further action before inter-faction conflict is resolved further. The aim of all Oromo activists should rather be how to operate from inside their country. That will solve the name question, and all other issues that are crippling Oromiyaa’s vanguard liberation front. The fight on name in foreign land would only categorize all as losers covering up their abandoning the real national struggle. Be it as it may, keep the claim on ownership of intellectual property for other time, time when all or one of you are headquartered in Oromiyaa. For the sake of our people and the national struggle, do not once again take each other to alien courts. Beware; there will be no winners, but losers in this exercise.

Victory to the Oromo People

* Ibsaa Guutama | Gubirmans.com
December 2011

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9 Comments

  1. odaa said,

    January 3, 2012 @ 9:05 pm

    KAI OROMO JAARRAA 21FFaa keessaa garbummaan jiraachuu mannaan dua kilaashi woyyaane nu wayya kai maaloo

  2. boona said,

    January 3, 2012 @ 9:58 pm

    Thank you Obo Ibsaa,

    I would like to take the phrase used to file a complaint for a patent: “Advertising, Business & Retail Services.” Unfortanately in the last 20 years or so the OLF leadership had reduced such a grand organization into a business-like organization without much poltical or military activity. Its failure has attracted frustration on the part of supporters and humiliation by its distrators. What is now happening should have been expected a long time ago. Many elders have tried their best to reconcile the factions in the interest of the oromo people. The leaders chose their own interest than the interest of the Oromo people and we are seeing the result of ego-driven stubborness that is tearing up our organization. Your plea should be taken seriously if there is any ear. We all must push them to desist from further agravation of the situation we are in.

  3. qero said,

    January 4, 2012 @ 1:10 am

    thank you so much obbo Ibsa,

    This type thing has no benefit for the oromo people, and the oromo people does not have ear to listen this waste of time and resource. In a time the oromo people begging for help to rescue him from the brutality going on in oromia arguing on this type of issue it raises a big question on all organizations. The oromo people has no ear to this, what the oromo people wants to hear at this time is ” yaa ummaata oromo jabadhu siif genyee, magallaa kana genyee, namaa jedhun barebadaa” this is the intention of the oromo people weather in diaspora or in oromia. So the best thing for all organizations is to focus on the oromo people call. Discuss how to support the oromo people, the oromo people already leading the struggle.

    Thanks,

    Support the people!!! the true leader!!!

    qero

  4. Qannoo said,

    January 4, 2012 @ 4:32 am

    SHAME UPON US!!!!!!!!!!!

    After 120 years of slavery stiil we are unconsious!!!!!!!!!!!!!Shame upon us!!!!!!!!!!!!.Shame upon you Oromo!!!!!!!!!You are enslaved by minority TIGRIANS.Shame upon you!!!!!!!!This is stupidity.We need to weak up from our deep sleep.Time has gone.Do you like to die in slavery.It is very Shame.Do you leave your Chldrens in slavery?This is also very shame.We don’t need disintigration.We need unity.If we unity we wiil suceed.We should push these vissionless leaders to come together under one umberela.If they don’t agree it is the concern of every Oromo to decide its fate.bye.

  5. biyyaa said,

    January 4, 2012 @ 8:18 am

    I agree with most of what obbo ibsa said except for some corrections that I would like to suggest. In legal system of this country and many others the person suing is the plaintiff and the person against whom the suit is brought is the defendant. There is no such a thing as taking each other to courts as it is mentioned here. There is Planitiff and defendant (defendant and defender) there are no two plantiffs to take each other to court at the same time . This kind of mistake has made in the past by many others when OLF-shanee (plantiff) took OLF-TA (defendant) to the court and needs to be corrected.

  6. Galangalee said,

    January 4, 2012 @ 8:58 am

    This is good because anybody would not play with OLF name as the Kamal Galchu is doing now. Yoo kana ta`e kara-deemtun hundi maqaa ABOn hin xabatuus hinxibaruus.

  7. Dhagaa Daalattii said,

    January 4, 2012 @ 12:25 pm

    Dear Obbo Ibsa and Oromos,

    Thank you. I hope common sense will prevail. Taking fellow Oromos to court for struggling for freedom is an evil crime. Let God almighty give his wisdom to all!

    I am confident that people will reflect twice before they take the matter further.

    Let us respect our martyrs by remaining true to our Oromoness.

    Dhaga Daalatti

  8. Dr.Waqjiraa Gudataa said,

    January 4, 2012 @ 2:25 pm

    Galatooma our respected and heartily loved one by your nation, Obbo IBSAA ,
    Your Voice is always our hope, a national guidance and a hero who makes a pride of his nation for being not only the father of our movement, but also so much importantly the father of the Qubee generation who never ever compromise on our destiny. As we Oromos proud of you, you too proud of yourself when today you have millions of Oromo daughters and sons who proud of as their hero historical father. My children BILISEE and ABISHEE told me, I am only their bilogical father whereas our hero Obbo IBSAA is their historical father which is a true sentiment from every corner of Oromia to around the glob among the Oromo nation based on your guidance, take the latest Oromo Australians and DC Oromo community moves.
    Yes our struggle for our freedom from its inceptions onwards to the present is confronting the untold uphill obstacles ever seen in the history of liberation movements among few friends and many enemies achieved its fundamental targets as a pave to our core targets. Your messages both in afaan Oromo and English reache too deeply in every Oromo minds and hearts more than the Franco TUD’MA’s messages , the father of Croatia. Today the sense of Oromuma became our body language where OLF is our national symbol and hence nobody has the right to use it as a trading logo. It is only who leads the Oromo nation to Free Oromia. The serve tu Ahmaras / Ahmara servant like OLF-C/J/ has no chance at any cost.
    HI Kaayyoo Or Fayyis Oromia,
    Please for the respect of the Oromo nation, if you are partially an Oromo stop your endless missleading the vision of our movement.It is up to you ,if you ready to die for the empire, but not by the name of Oromia as you pretend for the cause of the Oromo nation. For sure Oromia has millions of true Oromo who never compromise for its destiny contrary to you. You are the one who scares about the inevitable Oromia. Your dream for Oromian Ethiopia is a dream!

  9. Barii said,

    January 10, 2012 @ 10:59 am

    Best qoute of 2011 “QC is frozen in time, thawing it will completely disintegrate its particles. So I would say ignore them, they don’t deserve to be mentioned.”