ADDIS ABABA – An Ethiopian court sentenced two Swedish journalists yesterday to 11 years in prison for helping and promoting the outlawed Ogaden National Liberation Front rebel group and entering the country illegally.
The accusations and last week’s guilty verdicts have provoked anger in Sweden and suggestions in the media that the case has taken on a political dimension.
Reporter Martin Schibbye and photographer Johan Persson were arrested in July after they entered the Ogaden province from Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region with fighters from the rebel group.
“The court has sentenced both defendants to 11 years. We have heard both cases . . . and we believe this is an appropriate sentence,” Judge Shemsu Sirgaga told the court. He said the convictions warranted a sentence of up to 14½ years, but noted the freelance journalists’ good behaviour. The prosecution had asked for 18½ years.
“It wasn’t an entirely unexpected sentence. It is regrettable in light of their journalistic assignment,” Swedish foreign ministry spokesman Anders Jorle said. “The Swedish government’s view is known, among other things, through the prime minister’s statement last week.”
Prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said Sweden was seriously concerned about the judgment and the journalists should be freed as soon as possible.
The European Union expressed “serious concern” about the sentence and hoped the two would be released soon. “Their sentencing on terrorism-related charges raises concerns about the freedom of media and expression in Ethiopia,” said a statement from the office of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. “The EU will continue to closely monitor this case.”
The two Swedes had also been charged with terrorism but were acquitted in November on that count, as the court did not believe they were involved in carrying out attacks. They did admit to crossing the border without a permit.
Schibbye and Persson looked at the judge without expression as the sentence was read out and then translated by their lawyer. No family members were present.
One of the journalists’ lawyers said his clients were weighing the option of an appeal, but that for now there was no talk of pleading for clemency. “We are only talking about the possibility of appealing for the time being, which follows judicial procedure,” defence lawyer Sileshi Ketsela said.
Schibbye and Persson’s Swedish lawyer, Thomas Olsson, told Sweden’s public broadcaster, SVT, that the pair were innocent reporters doing their job in a “closed area”.
About a dozen protesters gathered outside Ethiopia’s consulate in Stockholm, waving Swedish and Ethiopian flags and chanting “Free Martin Schibbye! Free Johan Persson! Free all political and journalist prisoners!”
“The government does not respect the rule of law that is made in parliament. This is our reality,” said 30-year-old Nebiyu Desta Yiman, who is seeking political asylum in Sweden. “These two, and thousands of others, should be released.”
Persson’s father told Swedish news agency TT the government had promised to contact the Ethiopian government.
“We also expect the government to contact the European Union and the United States, since these have given their support to Johan and Martin,” Kjell Persson said.
This year, Ethiopia has detained more than 150 people, including reporters, in a crackdown the opposition says is designed to stifle moves towards more democracy. The government vehemently denies such accusations. – (Reuters)