Published: 13 Sep 12 08:13 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/43194/20120913/
The two Swedish reporters Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson, jailed in Ethiopia on terror charges, were subjected to fake executions by Ethiopian guards to get them to admit their guilt, according to a report by national broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT).
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
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Do you think illegal immigrants caught in Sweden should be encouraged to confess their crimes in the same way?
Competitive, maybe.
honorable or likable?, hardly.
All we need now is laws introduced like "The right to return" and some sort of ideology that exonerates any wrong doing as long as long as they can prove to be a real swede.
I wonder how Gustaf V would have perceived this modern Sweden.
#3
I wrote more or less the same in another thread. But wait. There are still many more things to come: a film about their odyssey, a book, interviews with relatives, articles on corrupted countries like Ethiopia, a play at the biggest and only theater in Stockholm. Evertything one can think about, except that they went to Ethiopia without a pass, jointed the guerrilas, caught by the government and judged and convicted for terrorism. They were released, not thanks to the "silent diplomacy" shouted by Sweden's government, but thanks to the millions of crowns given to the country during the time the "journalists" were in a 1 x 1 meter cell.
Yes, but of course!
Sweden should immediately cease Aid to Ethiopian dictatorship.
Have the guys served all of the 11 full years of hard labour they were facing? :)
Why should Sweden cease aid?. And remember Africa Oil drilling oil in Ethiopia is largely owned by the Swedish family Lundin!.
SWEDEN IS NO SAINT, OK?
Usually, bona fide journalists follow rebels because they support the group's cause. If indeed their purpose was to investigate Swedish oil interests in Ogaden as they claim, they could have easily acquired visas, landed in the capital, rented a land cruiser and visited discreetly any part of the country.
With mind boggling arrogance they underestimated Ethiopia's resolve to ascertain its sovereignty over its territory, (a country that has never been colonized and that in the battle of Adwa, defeated a colonial European power - Italy), their action could have easily led to their tragic end. Hopefully, during their 14 months stay as guests of the Ethiopian prison system, they have learned a few lessons.
Reply to one rude and ill informed comment - "This affair is going to cost Swedish tax payers a great deal of "international aid", how much of that "aid" finds its way into the Swiss bank accounts of senior Ethiopian politicians ..."
My reply is - Ask your Ambassador in Addis Ababa, about Ethio-Swedish relations. SIDA's aid today is insignificant when compared to that of US, UK or China, instead of talking about beer and Jansson's Temptation and blueberry muffins. In the last thirty years, Swedish aid has been significantly scaled down. The little aid that trickles down is not charity and but only investment in buying goodwill and promoting Swedish exports.Sweden imports insignificant amount of coffee while Ethiopia imports Volvo and Scania Trucks, telecom equipment, machinery, spare parts, pharmaceutical products etc.. If Ethiopia was to express a little interest in importing five JAS 39 Gripens and some Swedish arsenal, SIDA's aid would be tripled overnight. Aid is given to assist foreign countries that need aid and it is meant to achieve specific long term interests and pre-defined objectives of the donor country. In any case, it is never donated as ransom to rescue foolish adventurers.
Technology can be acquired but rudeness is comes at birth. Ethiopia is one of the few countries that utilize external aid efficiently and where aid reaches intended recipients. There is corruption in Ethiopia as well as in Sweden. Ethiopia is not notorious in this respect.
Many have tried to defend the two journalists by saying they were simply doing their duty and committed no crime. Do journalists have unrestricted immunity? Are journalists allowed to disregard the laws of the land and foment rebellion without suffering the consequences? If this had happened elsewhere they would be languishing for decades incommunicado in Guantanamo-like prisons.
Even without the video which is not necessary really, the essence of the story persists.
1) they crossed borders illegally with out visa
2) they were there to promote separatist rebels.
That is the reason why they went to jail. They will still go to jail even if Ethiopia has vibrant free media and a fully democratic government. It is good to give them pardon and let them go!
I thought this was very clear!!! They broke the law - can any one deny that? Or do you guys have the opinion that you can jump in jump out of an African country illegally and support tribal wars? I do not get it! And I wouldn't be surprised if there is abuse (if any) by soldiers when you jump into a war supporting one faction. It is a WAR - do you get it?
The reality is for them it is adventurism in Africa - for us, they are promoting secessionists that could cost us our country or get us into endless wars. It has happened before - we won't let it happen again!
BBC NEWS: 74 Chinese & Ethiopian oil workers machine-gunned asleep in bed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6588055.stm
REUTERS NEWS: UN workers ambushed, killed, kidnapped
http://af.reuters.com/article/ethiopiaNews/idAFLDE74D0CU20110514
Besides, they should be happy, if their "story" is true, that they were not raped while being in jail.
They should be grateful that they did not enjoy the specialties developed by the US in Guantanamo, like:
100% agree with skogsbo
to me they got what they deserved!!!
They should be very happy that they did not enjoy some of the specialties developed by the US in Guantanamo, such as:
waterboarding
beatings
stress positions
sexual abuse
torture by music
sleep deorïvation
temperature extremes
forcible beard shaving
Threas of rendition and threats against prisoner's families
They should close their mouths and thank God thay they are still alive and can see the sun one more day.
Am I wrong?
Easy for u to say.. I show up in Sweden carrying my AK-47 Gun and no visa the immgaration officer did not like it... Only when I find out I am journalist they late me in, with big Sweden smile and hospitality