Swedish member of parliament speaks of atrocities in Ethiopia

Anders Osterberg

ESAT News (February 16, 2017)

A Swedish member of parliament on Wednesday spoke at length on the atrocities committed by the Ethiopian regime against its citizens, while also crossing his wrists, a sign of resistance by Ethiopians against a brutal regime, made popular by Olympic silver medalist Feyisa Lilesa.

Anders Osterberg called on the parliament and the government of Sweden to put pressure  on a regime, which he said is using the tactics of divide and rule and pitting one ethnic group against another to hang onto power.

The Swedish MP, who recalled that Ethiopia and his country has a long history of cooperation and friendship said “we must also tell the truth to our friends even when it hurts.”

He said even members of NGOs, not just members of political organizations, risk punishment and imprisonment for working on human rights issues. He recalled that Human rights Watch and Amnesty International are banned in Ethiopia.

He highlighted the killing of hundreds of people in last year’s anti-government protest, the massacre of hundreds at the Ireecha festival goers last October and the killing of about 400 people in Gambella.

Osterberg also mentioned the names of high profile political prisoners and journalists who are illegally detained among tens of thousands of others.