Ethiopia’s regime arrested 2 Swedish journalists in the company of Ogaden rebels, and today (December 21, 2011) an Ethiopian Court has convicted them of supporting terror under dubious circumstances and evidence. Under international criminal legal standards, reporting on cannot be equated to supporting – especially in a country with such a dubious human rights record as this Ethiopian regime. Ogaden’s plight has not garnered the attention such famine and human rights abuses ordinarily might; however Ethiopia has done all to prevent access for humanitarian workers and media to the region. Read: - “Why Ogaden Isn’t in the News/” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/why-ogaden-isnt-in-the-news-is-the-wool-being-pulled-over-our-eyes-by-susan-sacirbey/33764 The case has attracted wide attention from international human rights and press freedom groups. However, we await response from Washington and European capitals many who have funded and effectively given the Ethiopian regime carte blanche in dealing with its ethnic Somali citizens in the Ogaden as well as Somalia – presumably on the theory of lesser evils but one ornamented with religious and ethnic bigotry. (Read: -“Political Culpability for Famine” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/political-culpability-for-famine-by-ambassador-mo/34826 Investigating Carl Bildt’s Links & Swedish Oil Firm: Reporter Martin Schibbye and photographer Johan Persson (Bottom Photo) face a maximum of 18 years in prison. The Swedes were arrested June 30 in Ethiopia's Somali region while traveling with rebels of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), which is fighting for regional autonomy. “The region has been off-limits to most outsiders for years while government troops carry out what human rights groups allege is a harsh counterinsurgency campaign against the ONLF.” (From VOA 12-21-2011). “Schibbye and Persson admitted entering Ethiopia illegally from Somalia, but denied supporting the rebels. They told the court they were investigating a Swedish firm allegedly involved in oil exploration in the conflict zone. The case is being closely followed in Sweden because of the firm's ties to Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. “ Carl Bildt (Top Photo) is someone who I dealt with during the conflict in BiH. He left a poor impression in terms of promoting western democratic values of democracy and free, multi-ethnic society. I believe and there is ample evidence linking him to the betrayal of the UN/NATO declared safe area of Srebrenica. (See Film Report: - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/ambassador-muhamed-sacirbey-on-betrayal-cover-up-regarding-srebrenica-genocide/17916 & Also Read: -“Road to Dayton” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/the-road-to-dayton-by-ambassador-muhamed-sacirbey-part-1/41938. ) Bildt also had accumulated a reputation for dubious business dealings that were a conflict of interest and infringed upon his objectivity as well as duties as Swedish and EU envoy and High Representative to Bosnia & Herzegovina after the conflict. Finally, Carl Bildt testified as defense witness in the war crimes trial before the ICTY "Hague War Crimes Tribunal" of now convicted Serbian Military Chief Momcilo Perisic - where I have also testified though as witness for the prosecution. (See Film Report: - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/general-perisic-verdict-sentencing/28463). The Ethiopian Judge “told the pair he accepted their claim to be journalists, but said it was hard to believe they could be impartial while breaking the laws of a sovereign country. “ However, impartial journalists have acted similarly in hundreds of conflict zones around the globe over the last century. Ingrid Dahlback from Swedish news agency TT said the weight of evidence had raised hopes that the defendants would be found not guilty of supporting terrorism.“I thought the judge would at least take some of the arguments from the defense, but as it seems he went almost only on the prosecutor's line, So it's very bad news for the Swedish journalists, and I would say it's bad news for freedom of the press.” Swedish Efforts Toward Release of Journalists Undermined? According to VOA: “An ashen-faced Swedish ambassador to Ethiopia, Jens Odlander, said the next move would be up to authorities in Stockholm.” However, with Carl Bildt as Foreign Minister, should one be hopeful for the fate of fellow Swedes? Mats Larsson of Dagens Nyheter covering the Ethiopian proceedings: “There's been a big discussion in Sweden about the role of the Swedish foreign minister, (Carl Bildt). There are accusations that he has seen these two guys as left-wingers in the wrong part of the world and that this was their own fault that they came into this situation. And the result of this trial is a disaster for the Swedish government and for the relatives and for the two Swedish journalists and for freedom of speech in the world.” At least the Swedish Prime Minister appears to have taken the matter more objectively as well as seriously than Bildt: Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt “issued a statement saying the journalists were on a legitimate assignment and should be freed immediately. He said his government was already in high-level contact with Ethiopian officials on the matter.” Condemnation from Human Rights & Press Freedom Defenders: Amnesty International labelled the two journalists “prisoners of conscience," and no evidence of support for terror or the ONLF. Reporters Without Borders has also sent a letter to the UN accusing Ethiopia of “muzzling dissent.” According to the VOA report, 8 Ethiopian journalists are also currently on trial on terrorism-related charges - three in person and five others in absentia. Some of them could face the death penalty if convicted. (See Film Report: -“Attacks on Press” – diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/attacks-on-press/24719 We now await reaction from the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (Navi Pillay) and UNESCO, as well as Washington, Brussels along with Stockholm. There is wide precedent in other situations from Iran and Russia to Latin America and Belorussia. Read: - “Press Freedom More Relevant Than Ever in Digital Era, UN Stresses,” diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/press-freedom-more-relevant-than-ever-in-digital-era-un-stresses/27714 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook – Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX More Film Reports: - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/war-crimes-justice