Ethiopian rebels warns against oil exploration activities in Ogaden

Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)
ONLF Press Release
August 7, 2007 — Recent sensational claims by the Ethiopian regime that it has been able to realize military gains in Ogaden have no basis in reality and are designed to give a false sense of security to oil companies being urged by the regime not to abandon their exploration plans in Ogaden.
The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) would like to make clear that our forces are largely intact, operational and effective. We also wish to confirm that the regime of Melez Zenawi does not have effective control of Ogaden, a factor which has contributed to their policy of denying entry to international journalists and expulsion of the ICRC.
Pursuing oil and natural gas exploration activities in Ogaden at this stage can only be characterized as gross corporate irresponsibility given the war crimes being committed against our civilian population.
The ONLF will continue to uphold the principle of justice, democracy and respect for human rights before oil exploration in Ogaden and as such, we will not allow this regime to benefit from our peoples natural resources.