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| Africa Horn |
| EU calls on Ethiopia to release jailed Swedish journalists on terrorism charges |
| 2011-12-28 |
| (KUNA) -- The EU Tuesday expressed concern ...meaning the brow was mildly wrinkled, the eyebrows drawn slightly together, and a thoughtful expression assumed, not that anything was actually done or indeed that any thought was actually expended... over the jail sentence against two Swedish journalists for 11 years by an Ethiopian court for supporting terrorism and entering the country illegally. Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson were jugged in July after they were captured in Ethiopia with rebels from the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). Tut tut. What are the natives doing, putting white men in jug?... "Do you not know who we are!?!" "Their sentencing on terrorism related charges raises concerns about the freedom of media and expression in Ethiopia," said EU High Representative Catherine Ashton in a statement. Ogaden is a nasty, arid region in Ethiopia. It's where the remains of Lucy, the 3.2 million year old woman, were found. ONLF has been tormenting the Ethiopian government seemingly forever. "While recognising the Ethiopian judicial process, we hope that the two journalists can be released as soon as possible," she added . Why should they be released if they were canoodling with terrorists? According to western media reports, the two men had confessed to the Ethiopian court during their trial that they had held talks with ONLF leaders in London and Nairobi, before entering Ethiopia from Somalia and meeting members of the group. But the journalist denied charges of supporting terrorism and said they entred the country to report on the activities in the region of a Swedish oil company. Ja, sure. And I for one believe them. They're white men, y'see, so they wouldn't lie. Meanwhile, ...back at the pound, Zebulon finally found just the friend he'd been looking for... the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the jail sentences against the two Swedish journalists. "This is a devastating blow to press freedom in Ethiopia but we are determined to pursue the fight for our colleagues' freedom," said Jim Boumelha, IFJ President. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 The best technique for handling such people is to invite a very impartial, high cred observer to discreetly watch and record how they are handled, without them knowing about it. Then release them to their home nation's diplomats. And then, once they go home and immediately complain about torture and abuse, weaving grandiose tales of b.s., provide the sworn testimony and video showing that they were not abused in the slightest. Even cough up a little bread to get a good quality Swedish translation, make lots of copies of it, and give it to the media in Norway and Finland, who love nothing better than a little Swedish scandal. For a little extra effort, Ethiopia could look very civil and proper, make these "journos" look like the pair of corrupt liars they are, as well as discredit the revolutionaries they were with. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-12-28 09:26 |
| #2 The EUSSR speaks the opinion of very few of it's serfs. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2011-12-28 06:53 |
| #1 Don't know about the rest of you, but I'm jolly tired of these degenerates running around pretending to be bearers of civilization. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-12-28 01:52 |