Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson spoke for Dawit at the Book Fair

At a packed exhibition floor spoke Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye with Essayas Isaak today at the Book Fair. - The important thing is that this never happens again, that's the big lesson, said Johan Persson on time after Ethiopia. 

September 27, 2012 at 17:23, Updated: 27 september 2012 at 18:34

- Last year we sat captivated and thought "now we miss this year's Book Fair, wondering if we are free to the next?" Said Martin Schibbye half in jest, half in earnest, when he met colleagues and visitors today at the Book Fair.

The international square was filled to the brim when Schibbye, Persson and Dawit Isaak's brother Essayas Isaak got up on stage for the annual rally for Dawit and other detained journalists. When the two journalists - who until a few weeks ago were detained in Ethiopia - arrived they were met with resounding applause.

- Thank you, it feels great to be free and be on the scene, said Marin Schibbye to the audience.

Both Martin and Jowere keen to point out thatmany journalists and opposition politicians are still in detention around the world.

- It's hard to be happy because so many remain in prison. We will soon sit down with Essayas and Journalists and try to discuss what we can do.We hope to get a sensible debate about what conscience is and how we can solve this, said Johan Persson.

This year, eleven years ago Dawit Isaak was imprisoned in Eritrea, and still he has not been given a trial or an official indictment. Jonas Nordling from Swedish Journalists said that about Dawit sentenced to the same punishment that Schibbye and Persson had been serving his sentence now.

- We had a hell of a tour that came out. I mean we sat for fourteen months and Isaak has served for eleven years. I can not even imagine how long it is, said Johan Persson.

Martin Schibbye filled in:

- While the main point that we were sentenced, and that we were sentenced to eleven years, this has been a journey that has changed our lives. The question now is how it will change the foreign journalism and conditions for journalists working in conflict areas, he said.

Johan and Martin was asked what lessons they learned from their time in Ethiopia.

- The important thing is that this never happens again, that's the big lesson, that protection must be strengthened to journalists, said Johan Persson.

Martin Schibbye said that the protection of journalists is really a protection for people living in closed countries:

- We want to make a difference for future journalists working in conflict areas and work to give them greater protection. Not that journalists should have a sour cream - to be able to use their pressleg to enter the country in which you want to without a visa - but to protect some of the world's most vulnerable people living in these regions, giving them a voice and an opportunity to meet journalists.

Essayas Isaak began the conversation, which was organized by Journalists and Reporters Without Borders.

- Unfortunately, I know as little about Dawit as last year, so we are still living in uncertainty, said Essayas.

On the question of what currently can be done Dawit Issak said his brother, above all, need to keep the issue alive.

- Forgotten Dawit away, he is dead. The regime wants us to forget, said Essayas.