"This incident must not be used as a false spark by the Ethiopian government to further abrogate the rights of the people of Ogaden," says UNPO General Secretary Marino Busdachin.

 

The incident of 9 April 2010 in which a British employee of the oil company Petronas, as well as two Ethiopian guards, were shot was the work of bandits whose goal is to continue the insecurity of the region.  UNPO stands with its member, the Ogaden National Liberation Front, in strongly condemning the killing, saying that it adds to the culture of fear in the area, which is exploited by the Ethiopian government to shroud its egregious human rights record in the Ogaden.

"This is a regretful occurrence underscoring the region's problems. The government of Ethiopia must investigate this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice," said UNPO General Secretary Marino Busdachin. "This incident cannot and must not be used as a false spark by the Ethiopian government to further abrogate the rights of the people of Ogaden, who have suffered numerous human rights abuses at the hands of the government regime for too long."