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On Monday, 31st May, total objector Juha Lehtonen (21) started his prison sentence of 197 days. Juha Lehtonen was sentenced in March 2004 for refusing to do military or substitute service. In a statement on his total objection Juha Lehtonen wrote that he cannot accept violent institutions like the military. He was not prepared to do substitute service either, because the right to conscientious objection is only recognised in peacetime, the length of substitute service is punitive (twice as much as military service), and substitute service is not a real alternative to military service. Juha Lehtonen is one of 27 total objectors who were imprisoned as of 1st June 2004. War Resisters' International will therefore focus on Finland in the 2004 Prisoners for Peace Day campaign.
Background information on the situation in Finland can be found 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/20040611a.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 Juha Lehtonen and all other imprisoned conscientious objectors.
Addresses of some imprisoned total objectors in Finland:
Mikko Markovaara
(15.12.2003-2.7.2004)
Aydin Sayar
(29.12.2003-16.7.2004)
Tatu Lauriala
(18.12.2003-4.7.2004)
Markus Kauppinen
(13.01.04-30.7.04)
Toni Simpanen
(2.1.2004-18.7.2004)
Helsingin työsiirtola
PL 36
01531 Vantaa
Aleksi Uski
(8.3.-20.9.2004)
Sulkavan vankila
PL 6
58701 Sulkava
Eero Laitinen
(5.1.2004-22.7.2004)
Kestilän avovankilaosasto
Turppasentie 2
92700 Kestilä
Tero Herva
(24.11.2003-8.6.2004)
Ylitornion avovankila
Rajantie 410
95600 Ylitornio