The Union of Oromo Students in Europe (UOSE-UK Branch) or TBOA UK successfully delivered its annual conference in London on April 12, 2014
The theme of the conference was maximising awareness about the current alarming situation in Oromia, and empowering the young generation to lead and finalize the century old struggle. The speakers include Jaal Galaasaa, Jaal Xahaa, Obbo Denebo and Obbo Gamachu. The morning session started with Oromo custom, after elders’ blessing, and the afternoon session opening was with remembering Oromo heroes and heroines who sacrificed their precious lives for freedom and equality.
Obbo Gamachu enlightened the participants with Gadaa values – focusing on how to unify Oromos from different walks of life based on this value. Obbo Denebo’s presentation focused on leadership structure of the Gadaa system and challenged the participants if the current leaders of Oromo are living up to the standard of this value.
Both Jaal Galaasaa and Jaal Xahaa made detailed analyses as well as moving and sensational speeches on their respective topics. Both of them sincerely highlighted the very memorable month of remembering Oromo heroes and heroines, of which many of them had been their comrades. They underlined how to honour them and live to the value they had sacrificed for. They also educated the participants about TBOA and other Oromo students’ contribution for the Oromo struggle so far, and the massive responsibility currently expected from the student union.
Jaal Xahaa focused on the current situation of TPLF, i.e. its structure, strength and weakness, the current situation of opposition parties in the country and what we can learn from events in the past. Particularly, he advised on what Oromo’s should do to ascertain our people’s right of self-determination by managing our minor differences and focusing on the bigger picture – which is our common interest. He recommended working on values we have in common, minimize our differences and tolerate each other, then discuss on issues to resolve it peacefully.
Jaal Galaasaa shared his life experience on the Oromo struggle in the past, current and the way forward. The emphasis was what lessons learned so far and what we can benefit from this experience. He underlined that we should transform our resource, energy and all key capabilities we have into organizational and institutional power. He demanded all to understand that, unless we strengthen our military and other institutional capacity that protects our fair share interest, there is no short cut to freedom. He advised to unify our massive and potential power which requires discussion within us, regardless of our minor differences.
In general the meeting was very constructive – in which all participants fully engaged from beginning to the end. Finally, participants made financial contributions to support our people’s struggle and concluded the meeting successfully.
No comments:
Post a Comment