The heroic OLA is our muscle.

Headline: Ethiopian oromo rebels claim battle gains over government troops


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Text of report by Ethiopian opposition radio Voice of Oromo Liberation audio website on 19 May

The heroic Oromo Liberation Army [OLA, armed wing of Oromo Liberation Front, OLF] fighters operating in eastern and northeastern regions have put over 34 enemy soldiers out of action.

The OLA, the muscle and the shield of the Oromo people, yesterday, 18 May 2007, attacked a gathering of local weyane [Ethiopian government] administrators, military commanders, government cadres and organizations at a place called Weldiya in Welo's Bati District in northeastern zone, killing eight of them and wounding over 15 others. Survivors of the attack fled in different directions.

In another development, the heroic OLA combatants operating in eastern zone, on 11 May 2007, mounted an attack on weyane forces in Mudhi Baliti in Midhaga Lola District in East Harerge Zone. The OLA killed six enemy soldiers, wounded five and captured four others in the attack. Four AK-47 rifles, large amount of ammunition and grenades were also captured and converted into weapons of Oromo liberation [struggle; passage omitted].

On the same day, OLA fighters stormed the prison in Mudhi Balli and freed Oromo detainees as well as destroyed prison registry.

It is to be recalled that between 10 and 15 May 2007, the heroic OLA and Ogaden National Liberation Army [ONLA] carried out a joint military operation in various places in Warder province [eastern Ethiopia], killing over 82 weyane soldiers and wounding over 75 others. Local Ogaden people were impressed by the OLA's military action.

Source: Voice of Oromo Liberation audio website in Oromo 19 May 07

BBC Monitoring

May 21, 2007

Joint operation/OLA.ONLA

May 20, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — Two Ethiopian rebel groups carried out a joint military operation against the Ethiopian army in the eastern part of the country. A rebel statement alleged 157 soldiers were killed during the attack.

In a joint military operation, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and the Ogaden National Liberation Army (ONLA) have killed 157 soldiers of the Ethiopian army in various places in the Warder zone of the Ogaden region in eastern Ethiopia.

According to Voice of Oromo Liberation, between 10 and 15 May 2007, commando units of the OLA and ONLA conducted attacks in various places in the zone of Warder killing over 82 Ethiopian soldiers and wounding over 75 others.

“The regular troops particularly badly suffered in a battle that occurred at a place called Biyo Daye. Following this battle various types of materiel and many hand grenades and ammunition were captured from the enemy.” The rebel radio said.

OLA, the military wing of the OLF and ONLA, the military wing of the ONLF said they would step up joint military operations against the Ethiopian army.

The Ormo Liberation Front (OLF) and Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) are members of an opposition coalition (Alliance for Freedom and Democracy) formed on May 22, 2006. The other members of the AFD are the Sidama Liberation Front (SLF), the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) and the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) and the Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF).