The Swedes jailed in Ethiopia
Journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson received yesterday his imprisonment timed to 11 years. In Stockholm and other European cities have it when, last week talked about strategies to secure their release as soon as possible. For many observers, it is just a waste of time to appeal. Sure, this approach requires a genuine acceptance of reality, rather than relying on empty hope. On the other hand, it is not certain that those who oppose appeals understands the logic of the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
The last 20 years of experience shows that there is a common denominator behind Meles Zenawis all documents and non-documents: to stay in power. The favorite among his suppression techniques are to surprise. The more he feels threatened by his opponents, critics and even the donors, the more he wants to surprise. Nothing has ever surprised his Western supporters and critics as much as his accusations of terrorism against the two Swedish journalists.
Times of political crisis and impending popular pressure, Meles Zenawi to fight back. He must keep his opponents as surprised as possible, by whatever means. Terrorism charges against Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson can be viewed in that light.
Since 2011 he has initiated a kind of witch trials to combat the carriers of the “virus” has begun to spread from North Africa. The opposition on the home front and abroad have united against his regime, while inflation has risen to 40 percent and the corruption and repression have pushed people to the utmost. The open and covert support from the West in the Arab spring worried Meles Zenawi and other African dictators. A lot went against him. It was high time to surprise everyone involved and show who’s boss.
In order to surprise the local opposition was carried out mass arrests of the two largest regions, Oromia and Amhara in the beginning of the year. Then came the terrorist accusations only against the leaders of the only viable coalition, Medrek, then against journalists. Few, however, had been expected that Meles Zenawi would surprise by playing the terrorism card.
The last party to be surprised where aid agencies in Addis Ababa. The Prime Minister urged them open to keep your hands away from democracy and law in Ethiopia. To show he meant business, he saw to get the Slovakian ambassador isolated a few days in early November.
Such a thing must not happen without senior officials informed. Yet the prime minister responsible for local government. The Slovak ambassador allegedly “walked around town without papers”. What a funny episode! An Ethiopian police officer who does not allow an ambassador to call a friend who can get his “ID” is hard to find. Surprise!
For Meles Zenawi was Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson immediately considered to be angels. With them, he could surprise the West with the greater shock. Everything that took place after the arrests follow a carefully written script.
How long they remain in Ethiopia is due to two factors: the amount of pressure that Sweden and other exercise, and the amount of surprise that Meles Zenawi considers necessary to keep the West as “hostages”.
While it may seem like a waste of time to appeal against Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson, no one knows if Meles Zenawi is able to surprise us in a higher court. Nor do we know how long it would take for Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye to be free from “amnesty” because it also depends on the prime minister’s will.
Which way you choose is the introduction of Meles Zenawi. He reigns, he is arrested, he blames, he judges, he pardons.
Amen!
Mesfin Negash, asylum seekers Ethiopian journalist in Sweden. Was editor of the independent newspaper Addis Neger, which closed in 2009 after several of its staff went into exile, and charged himself recently in absentia for terrorism.
kulturdebatt@dn.se
Transl. Sverker Lenas
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