What is it that the Oromo people demand?
Our demand is to live in equality. In the history of unified Ethiopia, our rights have never been respected since the time of Emperor Menelik or his successors. We demand equal rights. Some say that Oromo people have not been oppressed. Rather, the question of equal rights is pushed by Oromo intellectuals who want power, according to them. What is your response? I believe the question of equality is raised by all sectors of the Oromo people, be they intellectuals or peasants. We raise the issue because our parents had been telling us about the problem. The intellectuals dare to speak about it openly. But the question of equality is raised by everyone, not just the intellectuals. How much of the demand of Oromos has been addressed? Their demands were being addressed since 1974. The “land to the tiller” decree was a step in the right direction in addressing the problem. Since then, the law ensuring equality among nationalities is further addressing the issue. You can’t give solution to t
