Jutta Rabe
August Bebel Str. 26-53
14482 Potsdam
Germany

Open Letter to the Government of Estonia

To:

Arnold Rüütel, President
Lennart Meri, former President
Allar Jöks, Chancellor of the Ministry of Justice and the following members of Parliament:
Andrus Ansip
Edgar Savisaar
Juhan Parts
Tunne Kelam
Villu Reiljan
Ivari Padar

Dear Sirs,

When I first heard about Estonia's attempt to assign their own investigation commission to find out about the illegal transport of military material in September 1994 on the passenger ferry Estonia, I thought that this was going in a very good direction.

Meanwhile I have read in the press about the persons who are going to conduct this investigation.

With this letter I want to express my deepest disappointment and concern about the chosen commission.

I do not believe that two persons from the secret police, Kapo, and two prosecutors, who are mainly handling cases about corruption and money laundering have enough qualification, background knowledge, or capacity to carry out a thorough and competent investigation in such an important case.

The nature of the secret police is to carry out secret operations secretly. Why would they suddenly be willing to bring out facts to the public? And if they have had a deeper knowledge of the Estonia case, why did they not bring this information out years ago?

The two prosecutors Margus Kurm and Kristel Siitam-Nyiri are known for their legally and morally questionable methods for handling cases about corruption and money laundering. As the media has reported, they are, together with the Kapo even staging actions by framing suspects only to reach a pre-programmed success in fighting corruption.

If someone then complains about their questionable methods to a higher ranked prosecutor, one only ends up in the office of the chief prosecutor of the Northern District, Martin Hirvoja, who is an intimate and close friend of Ken-Marti Vaher, the dismissed Minister of Justice. Everything is, so to say - kept inside the club, "the family."

Dear Sirs: With all due respect, is Estonia developing into a nepotistic Banana Republic inside the European Community, or is Estonia a democratic state?

I'm sure the European Community would be more than willing to assist a thorough impartial investigation to be conducted in Estonia.

I'm also sure that you could apply for financial support from there. Then you would be able to appoint an investigation commission consisting of persons who are not from any states involved in the Estonia case. That would guarantee higher neutrality.

Only then, I believe, would the investigation into the Estonia case bring out the truth - the truth the people of Estonia have the right to, as do the relatives of the victims.
Please take this into consideration when you make your decisions in this matter.

With very best regards,
Jutta Rabe

Berlin, March 29, 2005