We have only two weeks before the election and it has been impossible for OFC to campaign for the upcoming election. To report some of it:
Our members and leaders have been to 40 Oromia Weredas in East and West Hararghe, Arsi, Bale and Borana Zones. And were only able to hold only six public meetings and the election administration is totally taken over by the local cadres. In some areas they deny open space for meetings; deny our campaigners hotel rooms; flatten tires of our cars, smashed the windows of our cars, have beaten our campaigners, etc. In Muyale town the Somali region police have beaten up Oromos gathered to meet while the Oromia police was watching the drama. In Yabello town they snatched our video camera.
In short, EPRDF does not want us to operate and is making things impossible. We all know the election code of conduct EPRDF has been talking about. It is obvious it is not respected by the ruling party, so much for the talked about code of conduct, it has been already killed by the ruling party.