Former ONLF militray officers defected from Ethiopia.

13 April 2013

(Ogadentoday Press)- Former ONLF officers have defected from Ethiopian troops in Ogaden region, a diplomatic source confirmed to Ogadentoday Press.

The officers were caught in fighting between ONLF and Ethiopian Troops in mid of 2011 after ONLF has crossed Somali borders to Ogaden.
The officers have been detained in Ogaden for a year and later were forced to be a part of Somali regional administrations Paramilitary militia known locally “ Liyu Police,” especially police “financed by the Ethiopian defense ministry.
They have been 36, 3 high profile former ONLF fighters, and 6 juniors from the Liyu Police, and the rest are Liyu Polices who were mistreated by their commanders after refusal of civilians killings in Ogaden, they arrived ONLF central military and rejoined their former brothers, said the report received by Ogadentoday Press.
Mahamed Qari, a senior leading figure of them, the report said.
ONLF is the most affective nationalist rebel group in Ethiopia and seeking the self-determination of Ogaden Region in eastern Ethiopia. They have waged a war against Ethiopian troops in Ogaden since 1994.

ONLF and Ethiopian Peace Talks Reach Deadlock in October last year in Kenya, a peace plan mediated by the Kenyan Government and International bodies, hope are still remains a live to restart peace plans.
The Ogaden region is believed to be rich in oil.
Right groups accuse Ethiopian government and local militia of Somali Regional state Liyu Police committing human right abuses but denies.
The Ogaden region is barred from the International media and aid organizations.
Somali Regional state (Ogaden Region) administration has set up first local FM Radio in Ogaden Region Qorahey Zone, Kebridahar on Thursday, a source confirmed to Ogadentoday Press.
The radio has aired last week local news, ranging from regional administration activates, health, education, sport and cultural songs.

Critics say that the Radio is to gear up propaganda against the ONLF a nationalist rebel group fighting for self determination of Ogaden Region in Ethiopia.

Ogadentoday Press