Lønseth subjective self-deception

Although the state has been sued for the return agreement with Ethiopia, leaving Secretary Paul K. Lønseth that still nothing. He has designed a new diagnosis: "subjective fear".

BY: Ulf Ludvigsen Sandnes

Published: May 7, 2012 (09:50) Updated: May 7, 2012 (10:23)

Ulf Ludvigsen

So it is diagnosed they get, the Ethiopians who oppose forced return, "subjective fear". Devoid of any doubt and the ability to question their own stand point, lulled Lønseth of Justice and berdeskapsdepartementet further and further into a sort of false reality. Tilting his security is dangerous for hundreds of Ethiopians in Norway, and it is therefore high time that he was deprived of the luxury of not having to think about individuals. Instead, he is forced to take account of the hiding behind the facade of an Ethiopian dictatorship in the strong economic progress. Do not listen to the experts
Heavy, serious human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, has warned against returning the agreement and referred to the serious and systematic human rights violations, but the government ignores this. They will not listen to Norway's perhaps two leading experts Ethiopia, Kjetil Tronvoll and Siegfried Pause Wang, when they warned the situation in the country. The situation in the Oromo region, where people are subjected to forced deportation and murder by the authorities, says the government does not care. These lands, which the authorities tvangsdeporterer thousands from, sold or rented to, among other Western investors.

The rest of us do not have the luxury that we can accept such a risky game with human lives.
We will not hear about Norwegian business interests in Ethiopia and the Norwegian hydropower company receives significant contracts in the development of hydropower in the country, hydroelectric power to be produced from the controversial dam. Norwegian aid to Ethiopia was doubled just before the return agreement, but dismissed as a coincidence. This is to name a few. It follows the money and benefits, and returns the agreement "refugees for cash" as a renowned international expert Ethiopia recently called back the agreement.
Can not hear at the Norwegian Embassy
We can not hear anything from the government about the well-documented, and the massive amount of torture and sexual violence against women that exists in Ethiopian jails. Many women who are affected by the return agreement has just been subjected to extensive, serious, sexual violence, partly because of their political activity, or as a result of close relations with the political opposition. Violence has been carried out by police, security police, soldiers and prison guards. Many men tell of similar treatment of their spouses after their own flight. Everything is documented in a number of internationally recognized reports. The Norwegian Embassy has confirmed that this takes place. Human Rights Watch immediately.
Serious statements
Systematic use of sexual violence carried out by the Ethiopian government personnel have long been familiar. The South Eastern Region Melbourne Oromo Community, writes for example:
"A 2007 report from the UN committee That monitors the Implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) was 'alarmed' to find That security forces Have Been 'systematically targeting' Certain ethnic groups. It cited evidence of 'summary Executions, Rape of women and girls, arbitrary detention, torture, Humiliation, and destruction of property and crops of members of Those communities'. "
Fossati, Namarra and Niggli from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville writes:
"In prison women are humiliated and mistreated Often in the most brutal fashion. Tortures ram poles or bottles into Their vaginas, Electrodes connect to the lips of Their vulva, or the victims are dragged into the forest and time-raped by interrogation officers. [ ...] Ethiopian Soldiers garden events Collected Oromo girls and young women into concentration camps and raped time restriction in front of Their relatives, fathers, brothers, husbands and humiliate two restriction and the Oromo people. "
Former president warns
Ethiopia expert Pause Wang says the Times that "Norwegian authorities do not know that could undermine the policies they want to lead." Well-known experts in Ethiopia and abroad criticized Norway for not having updated country information about Ethiopia. Former Ethiopian President Negaso Gidada has warned against the return agreement. He believes that people being sent back, can be killed. Is it any wonder that the Ethiopians are afraid?
And this is just a small taste of Lønseth "subjective fear". Rape and sexual abuse are reduced to a system of public officials in Ethiopia, and the methodology of the UN Special Rapporteur defined as torture. Disturbing feature is that the UDI does not see the pattern, but instead characterize such abuse as "ordinary crimes" committed by "individual officers."
And politicians say that they have confidence in the administration and that everyone gets a fair treatment. Imagine this happening in Norway in 2012.
Do not listen, will not see
Lønseth take a chance on sending people back to a regime where many risk torture, arbitrary detention and inhuman treatment. He will not listen and will not see. He refuses to doubt his own subjective, rosy dream, no doubt to get the Ethiopians as a whole. And the government to follow suit. The rest of us do not have the luxury that we can accept such a risky game with human lives.