FINLAND: POSSIBLE RWANDAN GENOCIDE TRIAL

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000074

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EUR/NB FOR MIGUEL RODRIGUES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF SMIG SOCI FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND: POSSIBLE RWANDAN GENOCIDE TRIAL


1. (U) Summary: On February 5, local media reported that
Finnish police referred their investigation of genocide
charges against a Rwandan resident in Finland for
prosecution. Finnish officials investigated the charges after
the Rwandan applied for asylum in Finland. Officials allege
that the suspect is responsible for mass killings of 5,000 to
25,000 people; charges he denies. The small Rwandan community
in Finland offered no protest or public response to the
police referral. The Finnish government rejected the Rwandan
government's extradition request. The case may go to trial
as soon as late March. End summary.

Discovery of Genocide Allegations
--------------


2. (SBU) On February 5, the Finnish Press reported the
culmination of an investigation by the Finnish National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI) into Francois Uzaramba (aka
Bazaramba),a Rwandan-born resident suspected of taking part
in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Prior media reports on the
arrest noted that Finnish investigators first visited the
crime scene in February 2007 and viewed evidence termed
"overwhelming." In May 2007, two Finnish police reportedly
traveled to Rwanda to gather evidence, with cooperation from
Rwandan and UN authorities, including interviews of more than
100 people in Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Congo,
Malawi, Zambia and South Africa. Media reports have estimated
the number of deaths at 5,000 to 25,000. (Note: Under Finnish
law, the charge of genocide carries no requirement of a
minimum number of victims. End note.) NBI also worked with
the U.S. Department of Justice, Special Investigations
Department. Officials have not alleged how Uzaramba
accomplished the 1994 mass killings, but have described Human
Rights Watch's reporting of the events as nearly accurate.
Some press reports allege that Uzaramba led one massacre and
abetted another, in the area of Nyakizu Hill in the former
Butare Province, Rwanda. At the culmination of the
investigation, NBI submitted 4,000 pages of investigation
material to the state prosecutor for use in a possible trial.


Suspect Remains in Finland
--------------


3. (SBU) Uzaramba, in Finnish prison since April 2007,
denies the charges against him. The Finnish Ministry of
Justice has started the Finnish trial preparation process. A
trial could start in late March. Rwanda has no extradition
treaty with Finland, but Rwandan authorities asked for
extradition in this case. The Finnish Ministry of Justice
(MOJ) said that Finland will not extradite the Rwandan man
based on decisions made last year by the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR),when it rejected three
requests to return defendants to Rwanda because it was not
satisfied that they would received a fair trial. Based on a
February 6 conversation with a Finnish NBI official, Rwanda
could conceivably continue with a separate legal process. In
the same conversation, the Finnish official noted that
Finland rejected Uzaramba's request for asylum. He has
appealed.


4. (SBU) Finnish officials confirmed to PolAsst that
Uzaramba will remain in custody pending and during trial and
if convicted, serve his sentence in Finland. Finnish law
(Penal Code, Chapter 11, War Crimes and Offenses Against
Humanity Section 1 Genocide) provides penalties from four
years to life imprisonment. Finland implemented the UN
Genocide Convention within the Finnish Penal Code and the law
applies to offenses committed outside of the country.
Finnish officials noted that the statute is not common among
European countries, not even EU member states.

Uzaramba (aka Bazaramba)
--------------


5. (SBU) According to media reports, Uzaramba moved to
Finland in 2003. He reportedly was a leading figure in the
Rwandan Baptist Church and believed to be personally
acquainted with President Juvenal Habyarimana. Uzaramba's
wife also resides in Finland. Finland has a very small
Rwandan community, roughly 39 residents; the community has
not publicly responded to the allegations against Uzaramba.
BUTLER