Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Exiled Ethiopian opposition party, Ginbot7, has condemned the conviction of two Swedish journalists, who it praised for “professional sanity” in their efforts to expose
human rights abuses. The two Swedish journalists have been found guilty of links with the rebels in the Ogaden region, where they entered to investigate a story about mining activities. Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson were initially facing terrorism charges, but the court dropped the charges for lack of evidence, but found them guilty of links with the rebels fighting for the separation of the Ogaden region from the rest of Ethiopia.

Ginbot 7 declared the two Swedish journalists 'national heroes' for trying to expose human rights violations in the region, from where they were arrested and charged with illegal entry into Ethiopia.

“Schibbye and Persson are among the very few foreign journalists who are paying a huge price for trying to tell the truth about the man-made problems in Ogaden,” the party said.

The party praised the two journalists for their courage and professional sanity.

“They are Swedish heroes; but they are Ethiopian heroes as well,” the party said and called for their immediate and unconditional release.

'The Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy condemns the Tigrian People Liberation Front’s (TPLF) court verdict against the two journalists. One of the important roles of journalism is to ensure government accountability,” the group said in a statement.

Members of Ginbot7, a political party that advocates violent change of government in Ethiopia, have been sentenced to long prison terms in Ethiopia for allegedly planning to assassinate senior Ethiopian state officials and seizing power.

Its name, Ginbot, denotes the month of its much-rumoured attempt to seize power on 7 May.

The party said the effectiveness of reducing the information gap between officials and constituents and informing the citizens to defend their interests were key roles of journalists.

Critics roundly accuse the administration of shutting down the free press and that journalists have been prime targets.

“As a result, hundreds of them are thrown to jail, tortured and maimed; and yet many more are forced to exile,” the group said.

Several Ethiopian journalists and columnists are facing terrorism charges and others have fled the country fearing arrests.

Pana 25/12/2011