FINLAND: Total objector P. V. sentenced to 181 days in prison

en

On 7 September 2004, the Loviisa district court sentenced total objector P. V. to 181 days of unconditional imprisonment for refusing to perform substitute service. P. V. had performed the 1-month induction period for substitute service for conscientious objectors back in 1997, but declared in April 2004 that he refuses to perform the rest of his substitute service. V. states that military service had never been an option for him because of his anti-war conviction. He sees the present system of substitute service as a "safety valve" into which the dissatisfaction with conscription is channeled and through which those critical of the military are made to participate in the machinery. V. also refers to the problems with the present system of substitute service as one of the reasons for his objection. Substitute service lasts more than twice as long as military service, which he sees as a punishment for conscientious objectors. In addition, substitute service cannot be performed in humanitarian or other institutions outside Finland. "I do not see having committed a crime, but because of my opinions and an archaic concept of justice I will most likely be sentenced to unconditional imprisonment. Loviisa district court probably will not have the enthusiasm to go against the old practises. I can only hope than in the future conscientious objectors, tax payers and judicary will be spared this kind of foolishness. Perhaps I mysef can spend the future half-a-year in prison more productively than the thousands of other victims of the law on conscription", V. stated before his trial. At the beginning of September there were 26 prisoners convicted of civilian service crime or refusing to perform military service. Three of them have been adopted by Amnesty International as prisoners of conscience. War Resisters' International focusses on Finland in its 2004 campaign for Prisoners for Peace Day - 1 December 2004. More information on this campaign is available at http://wri-irg.org/co/osce-rep.htm#Heading10.

War Resisters' International calls for protest letters to the Finnish authorities, and Finnish embassies abroad. A protest email can be sent to President Tarja Halonen at http://www.wri-irg.org/co/alerts/20040914a.html . A list of Finnish embassies can be found at http://formin.finland.fi/doc/eng/missions/embcount.html .

War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of P. V. and all other imprisoned conscientious objectors.

Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International