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Swedish Journalists Imprisoned in Ethiopia Seek Pardon
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Swedish Journalists Imprisoned in Ethiopia Seek Pardon
Swedish Journalists Imprisoned in Ethiopia Seek Pardon
Peter Heinlein | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
VOA News
Two Swedish journalists sentenced to prison in Ethiopia on terrorism charges have decided to seek clemency rather than file an appeal. Ethiopia's federal high court is currently hearing three other terrorism trials involving journalists and opposition politicians.
Journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson said Tuesday they would not appeal their 11-year sentence for entering Ethiopia illegally and aiding an outlawed insurgent group.
As the deadline for filing an appeal passed, the pair issued a brief statement indicating they would ask for a pardon. The statement was read by Persson's father, Kjell Persson, by telephone from his home in Sweden.
“This is what they are saying in their own words. There is a tradition of grace and forgiveness in Ethiopia, and we chose to rely on this tradition," he said.
Sweden's ambassador to Ethiopia, Jens Odlander, said bilateral discussions are underway on the fate of the journalists.
"There is a dialogue, which is ongoing between the Swedish and Ethiopian governments. We have direct talks, government to government discussion," said Odlander.
Schibbye and Persson were arrested last June while traveling with fighters from the outlawed Ogaden National Liberation Front in Ethiopia's restive Somali region. A three-judge high court panel ruled last month that their association with the banned group was outside normal journalistic practice, and constituted support for terrorism.
The same federal court currently is hearing three other terrorism cases involving Ethiopian journalists and opposition politicians. All had been outspoken critics of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front.
Human rights and press freedom groups have pointed to the arrest of at least 33 people on terrorism charges since last June as evidence that the government is using the anti-terrorism law to silence dissent.
Government officials, including Prime Minister Meles, have staunchly denied the accusations, saying police have produced compelling evidence against the defendants.
22 comments
Thank you Oromo Nation for
realizing you are also the AVITAR for your MOTHER LAND, and you joined your brothers the awaiting warriors now between the rest oppressed nation we will stop, the very handfull with thier mighty machines.
The current idiots do not understand destroying Ethiopia will also destroy them.
Cheers.
Or maybe they are as usual waiting the oxfam or red coss to fix for them. How ashamed to see that court......gimmatam weyanne.
It's called FREEDOM OF THE PRESS!
Sorry for helpless Ethiopian journalist
Eritrea Accuses Ethiopia of Blocking Satellite Transmissions
Eritrea’s government accused neighboring Ethiopia of jamming its satellite broadcasts and threatened to take legal action, the Information Ministry said.
Ethiopia has been warned by the Arab Satellite Communications Organization that the interference is illegal, the Asmara-based ministry said in a statement on its website.
Ethiopian government spokesmen Bereket Simon and Shimeles Kemal didn’t answer calls to their mobile phones seeking comment.
These guys were expected to join their family for Christmas too. So woyane's soft side is in test right now. Some CASH will solve the problem
Just wait and see.
I read somewhere that even the mother of one of the journalists was complaining thus: "They felt that their defence arguments didn't have much impact"?? Apparently she has been taken for a ride. It is tragic that she and her credulous fellow Swedes did not dig the Stalinist sleight of hand. The “judges”, the “prosecutors” and “defence attorneys” are actually party hacks. They are detailed not to dispense justice or win a case but to act as the hatchet men of the ruling group. It is a well orchestrated choreography by a legitimacy-starved cabal haunted by continuous nightmares of a fall from power.
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