ETHIOPIA: Ogaden rebels
claim victory against govt. forces
18
June 2005
Text of report
by Ethiopian opposition Radio Freedom audio website on 17 June; all place names
in southeastern Ethiopia
Ogaden National Liberation
Front [ONLF] forces have been conducting a major military operation codenamed
Operation Digsi [saucepan] since 30 May 2005, the objective of which is to
cripple enemy Ethiopia troops preparing to oversee the so-called election [in
Somali regional state]. Heavy losses have been inflicted on colonial Ethiopian
forces.
On 30 May 2005
Ogaden liberation fighters entered a colonial Ethiopian military base in
Shilabo town at night after killing the base's guards. They killed over 40
enemy Ethiopian soldiers at the base.
On 5 June 2005
Ogaden liberation fighters carried out a nocturnal attack on Yu'ub town at a
time when a meeting for colonial military officers was taken place there.
Unspecified number of soldiers were killed along with six military officers. On
the same date Ethiopian soldiers assembled in Shilabo defied orders to
participate in a military operation.
On 7 June 2005
an Ethiopian military vehicle was destroyed at a place called Madhedh, in the
district of Korahey. Seven soldiers were killed in the attack.
On 8 June 2005 a
battle broke out at a place called Daratore in the district of Dolo. Fifteen
enemy Ethiopian soldiers were killed and eight others were wounded.
On 11 June 2005
an enemy vehicle was destroyed along with its passengers at a place called
Suryin Sagaro, which is located between Shilabo and Kebri Dehar towns.
On 12 June 2005
over 60 enemy soldiers were killed when two vehicles they were travelling in
were destroyed at Lih-Irridod.
On 13 June 2005
seven enemy soldiers were killed and five others were wounded at La-Helow. On
the same date colonial Ethiopia sent a large number of troops to a place called
Qamuda with an objective of conducting a military operation. After learning of
their massing, Ogaden liberation forces attacked the Ethiopian soldiers,
killing 62 of them. Two military field radio sets and 35 firearms, two of them
BKMs, were captured in the fighting. A colonial Ethiopian military corporal was
taken prisoner and still being held by Ogaden liberation forces. The Ogaden
liberation army central command said the soldier was in good health and
promised that he would be treated in accordance with the international
conventions government POWs.
The latest
military operation against colonial forces is the most successful since the
Operation Mandad that was conducted in the middle of April.
Source: Radio
Freedom, Voice of the Ogadeni People audio website in Somali 17 Jun 05 via BBC Monitoring Service -
United Kingdom
