describad in paragraphs 26 and 21 of the reportr under what conditions of economic crisis the draft State of Defence Act would apply and what articles of the Covenant would be derogated from under that Act; and what proposals for the internment of persons who were deemed to be liable to commit certain offences that draft Act contained and what remedies would be available to individuals thereunder. 114. In his reply, the representative said that the bills were expected to The new Defence Bill reflected the desire of the pass by the end of the year. Finnish authorities to provide for both defence needs and the protection of the fundsmental rights of individuals and was consistent with the limitations Several safeguards were expressly provided in article 4 (2) of the Covenant. “Economic for and the supremacy of international obligations was guaranteed. crisis*@ referred to such situations as the total breakdown of the energy supply or similar catastrophes which would threaten the existence of society, and which the authorities could not cope with under normal powers. A person the right of appeal would be could be interned only 8s a last resort, guaranteed, and the usual rules for compensation would be applicable. The assured the Committee bill not yet having been adopted, the representative that all of its comments would be taken into account by the Finnish authorities. , f the SQ,QS 115. With regard to that issue , members of the Committee wished to know whether there were any plans to extend to other aliens the right to participate in municipal elections currently recognized in the case of They also wished to receive further citizens of other Nordic countries. information on the proposal by the Task Force for Penal Code Reform for a new as mentioned in paragraph 132 of tne penal provision on discrimination, report, and on the law exempting Jehovah’s Witnesses from all national service and of the reasons for the difference in treatment between Jehovah’s Witnesses and other conscientious objectors. They also noted that the Status of Conscientious Objectors Act of 1991 should be consistent with the need for the length of alternative service to be proportionate to that of military service. Members wished to know whether the new penal provision would apply also to banks, which appeared to require job applicants to produce an attestation proving they were not carriers of the HIV virus. 116, In his reply, the representative stated that the new penal provision on discrimination was being diSCUsSed as part of the total revision of the Penal Code. The new provision would have a broader application than the present law and would deal with discrimination based on race, national and ethnic origin, skin colour, language, sex, age, kinship, or state of health in the exercise of a profession, the performance of a public function or the organization of a public event. 117. Replying to the question on Jehovah’s Witnesses, the representative said that their special status was due to the fact that this community had shown great coherence in its beliefst there was no danger that the law would be abused for the purpose of evading military or civilian service. Civilian service was longer than military service but was less exacting, There was no alternative to imprisonment for conscientious objectors refusing to perform any kind of service. AIDS and HIV infection could be considered as forming part of a person’s state of health and, as such, could be mentioned in the new -29-