(21 Dec 2011, Aljazeera)--Two journalists, detained after gun battle between Ethiopian troops and rebels, found guilty over links to banned group.
An Ethiopian court has found two Swedish journalists guilty of helping and promoting an outlawed rebel group, and entering the Horn of Africa nation illegally.
Reporter Martin Schibbye and photographer Johan Persson were arrested in Ethiopia's Ogaden region on July 1 during clashes between Ethiopian forces and fighters of the separatist Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) with whom the pair had been travelling.
"Guilty as charged, period, unanimous vote. They have shown that they are esteemed journalists, but we cannot conclude that someone with a good reputation doesn't engage in criminal acts," Judge Shemsu Sirgaga told the court.
The pair could face up to 15 years in prison when they are sentenced on December 27.Charges of participating in terrorism were dropped last month due to a lack of evidence. The Ethiopian government has blacklisted the ONLF as a terrorist group, and recently adopted legislation outlawing promotion of the rebels' activities. Read more from Aljazeera »
An Ethiopian court has found two Swedish journalists guilty of helping and promoting an outlawed rebel group, and entering the Horn of Africa nation illegally.Reporter Martin Schibbye and photographer Johan Persson were arrested in Ethiopia's Ogaden region on July 1 during clashes between Ethiopian forces and fighters of the separatist Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) with whom the pair had been travelling.
"Guilty as charged, period, unanimous vote. They have shown that they are esteemed journalists, but we cannot conclude that someone with a good reputation doesn't engage in criminal acts," Judge Shemsu Sirgaga told the court.
The pair could face up to 15 years in prison when they are sentenced on December 27.Charges of participating in terrorism were dropped last month due to a lack of evidence. The Ethiopian government has blacklisted the ONLF as a terrorist group, and recently adopted legislation outlawing promotion of the rebels' activities. Read more from Aljazeera »
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