Finland to send two specialists in forensic medicine to Nepal

Press release 31/2008
30 January, 2008

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal has asked whether Finland would be able to send specialists in forensic medicine to Nepal. Underlying the request is the possible mass grave found at Shivapuri National Park, 20 kilometres from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, on 19 December 2007.

Finland has given a positive reply to the request. Professor Helena Ranta from the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Helsinki and Professor Pekka Saukko from the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Turku will travel to the area on 4 February for two weeks, to conduct preliminary studies on the remains found at Shivapuri.

Additional information: Mikko Kinnunen, Head of the Unit for Civilian Crisis Management, tel. +358 9 1605 5357 and Marita Meranto, Attaché, Administrative Affairs, Unit for Asia and Oceania, tel. +358 9 1605 6405