Finland’s decision a disappointment

Editor, I would like to use your esteemed paper to make my displeasure felt on the Finnish government’s refusal to extradite Francois Uzaramba to Rwanda.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Editor,

I would like to use your esteemed paper to make my displeasure felt on the Finnish government’s refusal to extradite Francois Uzaramba to Rwanda.

They’ve used the ICTR’s refusal to similarly extradite suspects to Rwanda as their excuse believing that he may not get a fair trial.

This insult to the Rwandan justice system cannot be taken lying down. Obviously the Finnish government hasn’t been following the leaps and bounds that the justice system had made- improvements that have also hugely impressed the ICTR. I feel a hint of racism in this Finnish action.

Would they be so fast to deny an extradition request if it was made by the Israeli government and the suspect was a Nazi?

If other nations have extradited Rwandan suspects with confidence, what is the Finnish government scared about? That he ‘may’ not get a fair trial?

A suspect might not get a fair trial in any country? Why else are minorities, in many Western nations, Black, Hispanic and Arab, a disproportionably large part of the prison system?

Is it because they are the majority of those engaging in criminal behaviour? I think not. 

While its easy for the Finns to plead ‘the right to a fair trail’, its obvious that there is another element to it.

Kacyiru