On February 29^th 2012, I finally had the privilege to see the Swedish Parliament and make a presentation about the plights of Ethiopian asylum seekers at a meeting organised by the Ethiopian Refugee Association with members of the Ethiopian political & civic societies, Swedish parliamentarians and representatives of various Swedish political parties.

Honestly, I was sceptic when representatives of our association told me that there would be a meeting at the Swedish Parliament, because of the phobia I developed to such governmental offices while I was working for Ethiopian Television. My colleagues were nagging me over the phone that they were waiting for me because I was supposed to meet them earlier to finish final arrangements.

I arrived there a couple of minutes late (I can’t help it, I’m an Ethiopian he, he), but I tell you: this was another shock, a bad “first impression”; I was expecting a high-walled façade guarded by strong men with machine guns/AK-47s and state-of-the-art metal detectors in the entrance. It’s just plain (trust me, it has nothing to do with its architectural beauty); hundreds of tourists and locals were walking next to the building, no big signboard which says “photographing is forbidden”, no military personnel shouting at you to walk on the other side; I felt like I came to a wrong address.

Then, I said what the heck and went to ask this handsome Swedish security guard if I was at the right place. Oh no, oh no, to my surprise he greeted me politely and directed me to the venue. When I went there and saw just an ordinary door of the building I thought that the security guard was making a practical joke on me; but then I saw my colleagues inside and I knew I was in the right place. Oh, Sweden never ceases to amaze me; when I went inside everybody was at ease, joking, laughing, and talking in the lobby.

My shock didn’t stop there; no body search/screening, no double-triple check of your ID, nothing but smiley, welcoming staff. An amazing experience and many Swedes take this kind of freedom for granted. Now, you know where my phobia to governmental offices/officials came from; we are being bullied and treated like aliens in our own country on daily basis by the “supposedly” elected people in power.

This paranoia and insecurity is widespread everywhere in Ethiopia; where in the world do people get searched to enter to hospitals, bars, hotels, government offices. Even ordinary people with no significant financial and/or political status live in a house surrounded by tall walls and my father is one of them.

I have seen some rich neighbourhoods in Stockholm and you know what? Their security status is laughable by Ethiopian standard; how could a rich person live with no fence, no security guard, just in an open field, is the question that comes to my mind every time I happen to go by those posh places.

Oh sorry, on a final note: I googled for a picture of our “beloved” Prime Minister’s office in order to share it with you, but for some unknown reason I couldn’t find any; hmm, maybe Google is conspiring against the good image of our Prime Minister. Hmm, I can’t wait to go and see what the palace looks like; I hope they’ll request from me a criminal clearance from INTERPOL, scan my body at least at ten check-points before I pose with the baby princess… have a nice week and enjoy your freedom to walk.

by Theodros Arega