Martin Schibbye, 31, and Johan Persson, 29, two Swedish journalists who are being charged with terrorism acts after being arrested during a battle between government troops and Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) fighters, pleaded not guilty to the allegations related with terrorism but pleaded guilty to having entered the country illegally. After the judges at the Third Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court at Lideta read out all the Charges on Thursday, Schibbye, who celebrated his 31st birthday in prison was wearing a black suit with flip-flops when entered his plea by stating that he is a Swedish journalist who entered Ethiopia without any proper entry documents and forwarded his apology to the Ethiopian government. “But I am not guilty of terrorist acts” Schibbye said.

Persson, a photojournalist, who was also wearing a black suit with flip-flops, entered the same plea and an apology to the Ethiopian government for entering the country illegally.

The trial which began on Thursday around 9:30 am has gained much interest and is followed by the relatives of the two journalists, diplomats from fifteen countries and journalists from Sweden, international agencies as well as local journalists and other news media.

When the trial began the federal prosecutor requested for the amendment of the charge because it has detected some errors but the court overruled its request by accepting the objections of Abebe Balcha and Seleshi Ketsela, defense lawyers for the Swedes, which states that they came prepared for the present charge.

Because the charge says that the journalists were detained during a gun battle between the government and rebel groups at times and also says they were caught operating secretly is vague, defense lawyers argued.

The charge is also ambiguous when saying they gave support to ONLF, an outlawed group, because it does not state the kind of support they gave, defense lawyers also argued. Therefore, requested the court to order the Federal Prosecutor to present a clear charge because it is difficult to defend when the charge is vague and ambiguous.

When the Federal prosecutor responded to the defense lawyer’s objection it stated that the allegation which says after the journalists contacted a spokesperson of ONLF in London they went to Sweden by accepting the objective of ONLF and agreeing to support it then came to Somalia through Kenya which then was followed by their entrance to Ethiopia with ONLF fighters, will be supported by evidence which will show their involvement.

The court, after hearing both parties, did not receive the objections raised by the journalists’ defense lawyers by stating that because the allegations are complicated the court will wait for the evidences that will be presented by the Federal prosecutor and will drop the charges if not satisfied.

The court then ordered the Federal prosecutor to present eye witnesses and adjourned the case for November 1 next month to hear testimonies.

Together with ONLF guerrillas, Schibbye and Persson, crossed from Somalia into Ethiopia's Ogaden region, which is off limits to journalists, in June. On 1 July, they were detained during a gun battle with government troops. Around 15 rebels were killed in the battle, and the journalists were reported to have sustained minor injuries. The Swedes, worked for several Swedish newspapers and magazines, before coming to Ethiopia.

EthiopianReporter