ÿWPC)  ˆ]ÝÅj”.¥íg²½j”.¦~Ã¥P":ÅŠO>©8lº†åŸB 'Oœ-€¾ªº‡ŽÄÿ%! cG¡&7ÃxŒ#y¡)ÛÊ#äÀ3½H‹¢+GË7äáJš£@^¾tÙ=‚¼S‹ŸLô!p[O¢.@ë4GÔ;¯=R¹ôSϨý”á,Ý˱wž³KðtGKÎ\ÏňºÏAëAODEFl€X „¤ ŒÔƒ"ÜËvqi TT G´Ü Bö¯~™Fz}‡Š˜Ã[L ¯ÌYÇjXÄjÃØãe•'Ò^µ‡ú&Înœ05jlQÒùQwN.‚‡ìîÀ xð‹FhÚôZZ„s  (r¤O3(™ûžQ¢)çú¡%,&!¢»Ê™fTTÑ>¸ï6÷ N´U>BÌ€ 0nL 0iº 0Y# 0_| 0&ÛU6  7 0ÆG #! UN. %| M‚ († N® ^ ° w@¼ 4ü  m ô\  `‹&Times New Roman' United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Jurisprudence - 4nt - Jurisprudence - "Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   <ÿÿ:Default ParaÔ€ôôôÔÔ€XXXÔ< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ  ÔóóÔ  Ô<qyÿÿ:HTML TypewriÔ€ôôôÔÔK€<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔ  ÔÔ€XXXÔÔS€ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÔ  Ô<þ6X9`(‹Courier New#|x(ž…Z$¡¡ÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XvDXX XÔÔ€XvDXX XvDÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regular X¡-)Æ £ £ U [ £ U[£DDas() ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ …Z!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XØXX XÔÔ€XØXX XØÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòN.€P.€v.€AustraliaóóÐ ˆØ ÐÌCommunication€No€106/1998ÌÌ6€May€1999ÌÌCAT/C/22/D/106/1998ÌÌÌVIEWSó óÐ Ô$  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€N.€P.€(Name€withheld)€Ð ˜è  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:òò€óóThe€author€Ð pÀ ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€Australia€Ð H˜ ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€25€December€1997€óóÐ  p ÐÌÌòòññÓ  ÓÓ  ÓññThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€againstÐ ä4 ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€ÌÌòòMeetingóó€on€6€May€1999,€Ð ¨ø ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€106/1998,€submitted€to€theÐ €Ð ÐCommittee€against€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€OtherÏCruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€ÌÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ 0"€  Ðcommunication€and€the€State€party,€ÌÌòòAdoptsóó€its€Ð ô$D # ÐÌÌññÓ  Óñññ ñÓƒÓñ ñòòò òñ ññ ñViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóóÐ ¸'#& ÐññÓ Óñññ ñÓÓñ ñÌÌ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€N.€P.,€a€Sri€Lankan€of€Tamil€ethnic€origin,€currentlyÏresiding€in€Australia€where€he€has€applied€for€asylum€and€is€at€risk€of€expulsion.€He€allegesÏthat€his€expulsion€would€constitute€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€TortureÏand€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment.€He€is€represented€beforeÐ @-(, Ðthe€Committee€by€his€cousin,€Mahendra€Ô_ÔNirajahÔ_Ô.€ÌÌòòThe€facts€as€submitted€by€the€authoróó€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ2.1€The€author€comes€from€Ô_ÔManipayÔ_Ô,€in€the€northern€part€of€Sri€Lanka.€He€claims€that,€evenÏas€a€young€boy,€he€was€obliged€to€assist€the€Tamil€separatists,€the€Liberation€Tigers€of€TamilÏÔ_ÔEelamÔ_Ô€(Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô),€in€various€ways,€such€as€distributing€their€newspapers,€selling€publicationsÏand€encouraging€students€to€attend€their€meetings.€ÌÌ2.2€In€the€course€of€a€military€offensive€conducted€in€the€north€of€the€country€in€1987,€(In€theÏauthor's€communication€the€incident€in€question€was€said€to€have€taken€place€in€1982),€aÏlandmine€exploded€near€his€family's€house€and€some€soldiers€were€killed.€As€a€result,€theÏauthor€was€detained€for€20€days,€tortured€and€deprived€of€family€visits.€In€1988,€theÏÔ_ÔantiLTTEÔ_Ô€group€Ô_ÔEPRLFÔ_Ô,€operating€in€collusion€with€the€Sri€Lankan€army,€came€to€theÏauthor's€school€and€warned€the€students€against€supporting€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô.€The€author€was€singledÏout,€brought€to€a€Ô_ÔEPRLFÔ_Ô€camp€and€tortured€before€he€was€released.€In€1989,€clashes€betweenÏTamil€militants€and€the€Sri€Lankan€army€resulted€in€frequent€shelling€and€aerial€bombingsÏin€the€area€of€Ô_ÔManipayÔ_Ô.€The€author's€family€house€was€destroyed€and€the€family€becameÏdisplaced,€living€in€different€refugee€camps€in€the€region.€ÌÌ2.3€Subsequently,€the€author€started€working€in€Colombo€as€a€computer€instructor.€He€wasÏagain€forced€to€assist€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€and€was€detained€several€times€and€interrogated.€In€1994€heÏwas€caught€up€in€a€cordon€and€search€operation€and€held€in€detention€for€17€days€togetherÏwith€eight€other€Tamils.€The€author€states€that€he€was€kept€in€a€dark€room€except€duringÏinterrogation,€when€strong€lights€were€flashed€upon€his€face.€The€author€was€allegedlyÏbeaten,€not€given€proper€food€and€subjected€to€sleep€deprivation.€He€had€to€sleep€on€theÏfloor,€but€as€soon€as€he€fell€asleep€buckets€of€water€were€thrown€over€him€to€keep€himÏawake.€The€detainees€were€subsequently€released€with€a€severe€warning.€ÌÌ2.4€The€author€states€that€after€this€incident,€he€tried€to€discontinue€his€association€with€theÏÔ_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô,€but€the€organization's€demands€did€not€cease.€He€did€not€dare€to€report€anything€toÏthe€police€for€fear€of€reprisals€against€his€family€in€Ô_ÔJaffnaÔ_Ô.€He€assisted€in€the€purchase€ofÏcomputer€equipment€and€other€materials.€In€early€1997€he€was€contacted€by€an€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_ÔÏmember€who€requested€him€to€provide€accommodation€for€the€night.€The€man€left€early€theÏnext€morning€but€was€later€arrested€by€the€police,€to€whom€he€revealed€the€author's€name.ÏThe€author€states€that€the€police€came€to€his€workplace.€Suspecting€that€they€were€searchingÏfor€him,€he€managed€to€leave€unseen.€Fearing€that€his€activities€had€become€known€to€theÏauthorities,€the€author€contacted€an€agent€who€arranged€for€his€travel€to€Australia€viaÏSingapore€with€a€false€passport.€ÌÌ2.5€The€author€arrived€in€Australia€on€17€March€1997€and€applied€for€a€protection€visa€onÏ21€March€1997.€The€application€was€rejected€by€the€Department€of€Immigration€andÏÔ_ÔMulticulturalÔ_Ô€Affairs€on€3€June€1997.€The€Refugee€Review€Tribunal€(Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô)€turned€down€hisÏappeal€on€28€July€1997.€Subsequent€appeals,€including€an€application€based€on€newÏinformation€and€a€psychological€assessment€report,€were€considered€inadmissible€by€theÐ @-(, ÐDepartment€of€Immigration€and€Ô_ÔMulticulturalÔ_Ô€Affairs,€the€Minister€of€Immigration€andÏÔ_ÔMulticulturalÔ_Ô€Affairs€and€the€Federal€Court.€ÌÌòòThe€complaintóó€Ð tÄ ÐÌ3.1€The€author€fears€that€he€will€be€arrested,€tortured€and€killed€by€the€army€if€he€returns€toÏhis€country.€He€argues€that€he€has€attracted€the€attention€of€the€Sri€Lankan€police,€militaryÏand€pro„Government€militant€groups€as€a€suspected€supporter€or€member€of€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô.€InÏview€of€his€past€experiences,€including€torture,€he€cannot€ask€for€the€protection€of€the€SriÏLankan€authorities.€He€therefore€submits€that€his€forced€return€to€Sri€Lanka€would€constituteÏa€violation€by€Australia€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€ÌÌ3.2€The€author€further€states€that€in€view€of€the€fact€that€he€has€previously€been€subjected€toÏtorture€and€is€most€probably€suffering€from€a€post„traumatic€stress€disorder,€(no€medicalÏevidence€submitted).€even€the€possibility€of€detention€and€interrogation€in€the€future€wouldÏentail€such€emotional€and€physical€pain€that€it€would€amount€to€persecution.€ÌÌòòState€party's€observationsóó€Ð \¬ ÐÌ4.1€On€20€February€1998€the€Committee,€acting€through€its€Special€Rapporteur€for€newÏcommunications,€transmitted€the€communication€to€the€State€party€for€comments€andÏrequested€the€State€party,€under€rule€108,€paragraph€9,€of€the€rules€of€procedure,€not€to€expelÏthe€author€while€his€communication€is€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.€ÌÌ4.2€By€a€submission€of€1€September€1998,€the€State€party€informed€the€Committee€that,Ïfollowing€its€request€under€rule€108,€paragraph€9,€the€author€would€not€be€expelled€fromÏAustralian€territory€until€the€case€had€been€examined€by€the€Committee.€In€view€of€theÏcircumstances€of€the€author's€case,€it€was€likely€that€he€would€remain€in€immigrationÏdetention€until€that€time;€the€Committee€was€therefore€requested€to€examine€theÏcommunication€as€soon€as€possible.€The€State€party€challenged€the€admissibility€of€theÏcommunication,€but€also€addressed€the€merits€of€the€case.€ÌññÓ  Óñññ ñÌñ ññ ñÓÑ ÓÓ  Óñ ñÐ Ðñ ñò òñ ñA.€òòObservations€on€admissibilityñ ñó óñ ñóóÐ #l! ÐññÓ  Óñññ ñÓ%ÓÓ Óñ ñÌÌ4.3€With€respect€to€admissibility€the€State€party€submits€that€the€communication€isÏinadmissible€because€it€lacks€the€minimum€substantiation€that€would€render€it€compatibleÏwith€the€Convention,€in€accordance€with€the€jurisprudence€of€the€CommitteeÏ(Communication€No.€18/1994,€òòX€v.€Switzerlandóó;€Communication€No.€17/1994,€òòX€v.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐSwitzerlandóó;€Communication€No.€31/1995,òòX€and€Y€v.€the€Netherlandsóó).€It€notes€theÐ )à$( ÐCommittee's€general€comment€on€the€implementation€of€article€3,€according€to€which€it€isÏthe€responsibility€of€the€author€to€establish€a€prima€facie€case€for€the€purpose€of€admissibilityÏof€his€or€her€communication,€(General€comment€by€the€Committee€against€Torture€on€theÏimplementation€of€article€3€in€the€context€of€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€TortureÐ @-(, Ðdated€23€November€1997€(A/53/44,€annex€IX).€In€the€State€party's€view,€where€there€isÏquestion€of€possible€Ô_ÔrefoulementÔ_Ô€there€is€a€particular€onus€on€the€author€to€substantiate€andÏconvincingly€plead€a€prima€facie€case.€Unlike€allegations€relating€solely€to€events€on€theÏterritory€of€the€responding€State€party,€Ô_ÔrefoulementÔ_Ô€cases€by€their€very€nature€are€concernedÏwith€events€outside€the€State€party's€immediate€knowledge€and€control.€The€evidence€of€theÏauthor€and€alleged€victim€assumes€greater€importance.€ÌÌ4.4€The€State€party€argues€that€the€evidence€supporting€the€allegation€lacks€credibility,€sinceÏit€is€inconsistent,€not€detailed€and€not€independently€corroborated.€Accordingly,€the€authorÏhas€not€established,€prima€facie,€substantial€grounds€for€his€case.€ÌÌ4.5€On€9€February€1996,€the€author's€father€applied€for€a€Sri€Lanka€(Special€Assistance)€VisaÏfor€entry€to€Australia.€These€visas€were€introduced€in€1995€for€the€purpose€of€assisting€SriÏLankans€whose€lives€had€been€seriously€disrupted€by€the€fighting.€At€the€time€of€theÏapplication,€the€grant€of€the€visa€was€conditional€on€one€of€the€members€of€the€family€unit€Ï"the€applicant"€€satisfying€criteria€that€included€the€following:€the€applicant€must€be€a€SriÏLankan€citizen€usually€residing€in€Sri€Lanka€at€the€time€of€the€application;€the€applicant's€lifeÏhad€to€have€been€seriously€disrupted€by€the€fighting€in€Sri€Lanka€in€the€18€months€precedingÏthe€date€of€application;€the€applicant€had€to€be€unable€to€resume€normal€life;€the€applicantÏhad€to€have€suffered€substantial€discrimination€on€the€grounds€of€ethnicity€or€political€belief;Ïthe€applicant€must€have€a€parent,€daughter,€son,€brother,€sister,€aunt,€uncle,€nephew€or€nieceÏwho€was€an€Australian€citizen€or€permanent€resident€on€1€January€1994,€was€usually€residentÏin€Australia€and€who€would€provide€an€undertaking€to€support€the€applicant.€ÌÌ4.6€The€application€was€made€in€February€1996,€i.e.€less€than€18€months€after€the€allegedÏarrest€and€torture€of€the€author€by€police€in€October€1994€and€after€the€other€alleged€instancesÏof€ill„treatment€of€the€author€in€1994,€1993,€1989,€1988€and€1987.€However,€no€mention€wasÏmade€in€the€application€of€any€ill„treatment€of€the€son,€despite€the€fact€that€the€applicationÏform€stated€that€claims€by€any€member€of€the€close€family€which€supported€the€applicationÏshould€be€included.€It€is€likely€that€the€author's€father€would€have€known€of€any€ill„treatmentÏof€his€son€since€the€latter€had€been€a€schoolboy€of€approximately€15€when€the€first€instanceÏof€torture€allegedly€occurred.€Moreover,€the€son€appears€to€have€kept€in€regular€contact€withÏhis€father€after€leaving€for€Colombo.€In€the€State€party's€view,€the€omission€by€the€author'sÏfather€of€any€reference€to€the€considerable€ill„treatment€that€is€later€alleged€by€his€sonÏundermines€the€author's€credibility.€ÌÌ4.7€The€State€party€further€submits€that€the€author€lacks€credibility€in€view€of€inconsistentÏevidence€and€admissions€he€has€made€since€his€arrival€in€Australia.€The€State€partyÏunderlines€that€it€is€not€concerned€with€minor€or€irrelevant€inconsistencies€and€that€itÏrecognizes€the€jurisprudence€of€the€Committee€that€complete€accuracy€in€the€application€forÏasylum€is€seldom€to€be€expected€of€victims€of€torture€(Communication€No.€41/1996,€òòÔ_ÔKisokiÔ_ÔÐ )à$( Ðv.€Swedenóó,€8€May€1996,€para.€9.3;€Communication€No.€43/1996,€òòTala€v.€Swedenóó,€15Ð |*Ì%) ÐNovember€1996,€para.€10.3).€In€the€category€of€minor€or€irrelevant€inconsistencies€AustraliaÏplaces€the€differing€allegations€regarding€the€year€and€extent€of€damage€to€the€family€homeÏafter€shelling€by€the€army€in€the€1980s;€the€perpetrators€of€the€alleged€arrest€of€the€author€inÐ @-(, Ð1987;€the€means€by€which€the€author€received€confirmation€that€the€police€who€visited€hisÏworkplace€in€early€1997€were€in€fact€looking€for€him.€The€evidence€provided€to€Australia€byÏthe€author€and€his€advisers€has,€over€time,€included€increasingly€elaborate,€and€at€timesÏconflicting,€statements€of€fact€concerning€his€alleged€treatment€in€Sri€Lanka.€ÌÌ4.8€The€variations€between€the€author's€original€and€later€statements€were€noted€by€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_ÔÏat€its€hearing.€On€arrival€at€Melbourne€airport,€the€author€was€asked€whether€he€had€Ô_ÔhadÔ_Ô€anyÏtrouble€with€the€police/army€in€his€home€country€or€whether€his€family€had€experienced€anyÏother€disruption.€His€response€was€that€he€had€been€detained€on€one€occasion,€overnight.€NoÏreference€was€made€to€any€ill„treatment.€One€month€later,€in€the€statement€supporting€hisÏapplication€for€a€protection€visa,€the€author€mentioned€no€fewer€than€seven€instances€ofÏalleged€mistreatment,€detention€and/or€torture.€Three€months€after€arriving€in€Australia,€inÏhis€reasons€for€review€filed€with€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô,€he€mentioned€an€additional€experience:€the€allegedÏinterrogation€for€20€days€in€December€1996.€Responding€to€a€request€by€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô,€for€anÏexplanation,€the€author€stated€that€he€had€"misunderstood€the€question€at€the€airportÏconcerning€difficulties€with€the€authorities".€[The€State€party€notes€that€there€was€noÏinterpreter€present€at€the€interview€with€the€author€on€his€arrival€at€Melbourne€airport.ÏHowever,€in€relation€to€the€potential€for€misunderstanding,€the€State€party€also€notes€theÏfollowing€comment€by€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô:€ÌÌ"[The€author]€appears€to€have€been€able€to€understand€and€Ô_ÔresposeÔ_Ô€(òòsicóó)€to€a€range€of€otherÐ  p Ðquestions€to€which€he€supplied€detailed€factual€answers.€The€Immigration€inspector€recordedÏthat€[the€author]€'appeared€to€be€fluent€in€English€and€as€such€was€interviewed€without€theÏneed€of€an€interpreter'.€(Another€Sri€Lankan€detained€at€the€same€time€was€provided€with€anÏinterpreter;€it€does€not€appear€that€[the€author]€at€any€stage€requested€an€interpreter€orÏexpressed€any€difficulty).€The€author's€own€application€form€later€described€his€ability€toÏspeak,€read€and€write€English€as€'reasonable'".€ÌÌThe€State€party€is€of€the€view€that€the€author's€explanation€undermines€his€credibility€withÏrespect€not€only€to€the€incident€that€he€later€said€caused€him€to€leave€Sri€Lanka,€but€to€allÏlater€allegations€of€ill„treatment.€ÌÌ4.9€There€were€also€contradictory€statements€regarding€his€movements€in€Sri€Lanka.€In€hisÏarrival€interview€he€said€that€he€had€lived€in€Ô_ÔJaffnaÔ_Ô€until€going€to€Colombo€in€January€1997Ïto€further€his€studies.€Later,€in€his€compliance€interview€with€the€Department€of€ImmigrationÏand€Ô_ÔMulticulturalÔ_Ô€Affairs,€the€author€stated€that€he€had€lived€in€Ô_ÔJaffnaÔ_Ô€until€March€1993,€thenÏlived€in€Colombo€from€March€1993€to€February€1995,€returning€to€Ô_ÔJaffnaÔ_Ô€in€March€1995Ïbecause€of€the€conditions€in€Colombo;€he€returned€to€Colombo€about€a€month€before€hisÏdeparture€for€Singapore€and€Australia.€When€questioned€about€the€different€stories€by€theÏÔ_ÔRRTÔ_Ô,€the€author€stated€that€on€arrival€he€had€untruthfully€concealed€his€employment€inÏColombo€in€1993/94€because€he€had€been€told€that€this€might€lead€to€his€immediateÏdeportation.€The€State€party,€like€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô,€has€formed€the€view€that€the€author€has€divergedÏfrom€the€truth€where€it€has€suited€his€purposes.€ÌÌ4.10€The€State€party€underlines€the€importance€of€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€findings.€The€tribunal€hasÐ @-(, Ðexperience€in€reviewing€applications€concerning€Sri€Lankan€nationals.€In€the€1996/97ÏÔ_ÔprogrammeÔ_Ô€year,€930€applications€for€review€were€received€by€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€from€Sri€LankanÏnationals.€Of€the€678€applications€processed,€236€were€set€aside€and€408€were€affirmed.ÏThirty„four€applications€were€otherwise€resolved.€Thus,€in€relation€to€primary€decisions,€theÏset€aside€rate€on€review€was€37€per€cent.€ÌÌ4.11€Furthermore,€the€State€party€states€that€its€view€that€the€author's€allegation€lacksÏsubstantiation€is€supported€by€the€lack€of€detail€concerning,€and€independent€corroborationÏof,€the€ill„treatment€he€allegedly€experienced.€During€the€asylum€procedure€the€author€hasÏonly€described€once€the€details€of€his€ill„treatment.€Even€then,€he€described€only€one€of€theÏnine€instances.€There€is€no€evidence€to€indicate€that€the€author€suffers€from€Ô_ÔposttraumaÔ_Ô€stressÏwhich€might€affect€his€ability€to€provide€detail€of€prior€traumatic€events.€ÌÌ4.12€The€State€party€also€points€out€that€there€are€no€documents€to€support€the€allegation€thatÏthe€author€would€face€risk€on€return.€Despite€his€claim€to€have€some€scars€as€the€result€of€theÏtorture€he€suffered€at€the€hands€of€the€Ô_ÔEPRLFÔ_Ô,€the€author€has€not€provided€any€evidence€ofÏany€permanent€scarring€that€is€consistent€with€the€alleged€mistreatment€at€the€hands€of€theÏSri€Lankan€authorities.€ÌññÓ  Óñññ ñÌñ ñññÓ$)ÓÓ  ÓññÐ Ðññò òññB.€òòObservations€on€meritsññó óññóóÐ  p ÐññÓ  ÓññññÓÕTÓññññññÓ)ÓññññÌÌ4.13€The€State€party€submits€that€should€the€Committee€declare€the€communicationÏadmissible,€it€should€be€found€to€be€without€merit.€ÌÌ4.14€The€State€party€recognizes€that€fighting€between€the€LTTE€and€the€Sri€LankanÏGovernment€in€recent€years€has€taken€a€heavy€toll€on€the€civilian€population€and€that€despiteÏan€improvement€in€the€human€rights€situation€in€recent€years,€mass€movements€of€civiliansÏand€human€rights€infringements€by€both€the€security€forces€personnel€and€the€LTTE€continueÏto€take€place.€However,€in€accordance€with€the€Committee's€jurisprudence,€specific€groundsÏmust€exist€indicating€that€the€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk€of€tortureÏupon€return.€ÌÌ4.15€Despite€the€level€of€ethnic€conflict€which€exists€in€Sri€Lanka€at€present,€and€on€the€basisÏof€the€State€party's€understanding€of€the€author's€background€and€the€current€situation€in€SriÏLanka,€the€State€party€has€formed€the€view€that,€as€a€matter€of€fact€and€law,€there€are€noÏcircumstances€particular€to€the€author€which€constitute€sufficient€grounds€for€believing€thatÏhe€personally€would€be€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return.€ÌÌ4.16€The€author€is€a€young€Tamil€man€from€Jaffna€whose€family€has€suffered€as€a€result€ofÏthe€ethnic€conflict,€however,€he€has€not€suffered€to€any€greater€extent€than€any€other€youngÏTamil€from€the€north.€For€the€reasons€presented€in€its€admissibility€submission,€the€StateÏparty€cannot€accept€his€allegations€of€ill„treatment,€with€the€exception€of€the€overnightÏdetention€in€early€1996.€Ô_ÔÐ @-(, Ї4.17€The€State€party€has€formulated€its€views€on€the€likely€treatment€of€a€person€in€theÏauthor's€situation€based€on€the€assessment€of€several€expert€groups€in€Sri€Lanka,€includingÏthe€Australian€High€Commission€in€Colombo€and€independent€organizations,€and€highlights,Ð ˆØ Ðòòinter€aliaóó,€the€following.€It€is€recognized€that€Tamil€people€in€Sri€Lanka€are€subjected€to€aÐ tÄ Ðgreater€degree€of€surveillance,€suspicion€and€arrest€than€non„Tamil€people.€One€of€theÏimpacts€of€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€attacks€since€October€1997€is€a€tightening€of€security€in€Colombo.€MoreÏTamil€people€are€being€caught€up€in€the€security€measures,€such€as€cordon€and€searchÏoperations€(commonly€called€a€"round„up")€or€checkpoints.€Their€purpose€is€to€identifyÏpossible€terrorists.€People€who€do€not€have€identity€documents€that€readily€establish€theirÏbona€fides€must€find€other€means€to€do€so.€Those€who€do€not€have€documentation€and€do€notÏsatisfy€police€that€they€have€a€legitimate€reason€for€being€in€the€city€will€be€detained€untilÏtheir€bona€fides€are€established.€ÌÌ4.18€In€Ô_ÔJaffnaÔ_Ô,€security€is€less€tense€but€security€checks€are€nevertheless€frequent.€ChecksÏtake€the€form€of€Ô_ÔchannellingÔ_Ô€all€people€moving€on€a€street€into€a€single€file€for€frisking.€AtÏthese€points,€passengers€in€all€passing€vehicles€are€also€searched.€During€cordon€and€searchÏoperations,€everybody€present,€whether€Tamil,€Singhalese€or€Muslim,€is€checked.€Non„¼Tamils€are€likely€to€be€sent€on€their€way€and€those€detained€will€almost€invariably€be€Tamil.€ÌÌ4.19€The€State€party€submits€that€the€profile€of€a€person€who€might€come€under€scrutiny€inÏany€such€situations€is€the€same:€young€Tamils€from€the€north€or€east€of€Sri€Lanka€are€mostÏlikely€to€be€detained.€However,€the€State€party€understands€from€consistent€reports€sinceÏFebruary€1997€by€the€Australia€High€Commission€in€Sri€Lanka€and€confirmed€byÏindependent€sources€that€only€a€small€percentage€of€people€caught€in€a€cordon€and€searchÏoperation€or€at€a€checkpoint€are€detained€and,€of€those€detained,€the€overwhelming€majorityÏare€released€once€their€identification€and€bona€fides€are€established.€ÌÌ4.20€In€addition,€the€State€party€notes€that€Tamil€people,€like€anyone€else,€continue€to€haveÏthe€protection€of€the€law€against€unlawful€activities€by€security€services.€Detained€personsÏand€their€families€have€access€to€the€assistance€of€the€Human€Rights€Commission€andÏinternational€humanitarian€organizations.€There€is€evidence€that€intervention€by€theseÏorganizations€in€cases€of€individuals€detained€for€lengthy€periods€has€led€to€a€speedyÏresolution€of€the€case.€The€Sri€Lankan€Government€has€also€demonstrated€its€willingness€toÏavoid€complicity€in€unlawful€ill„treatment€of€Tamils.€In€December€1994,€it€enacted€theÏConvention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€orÏPunishment€Act€(No.€22€of€1994)€which€makes€it€an€offence€for€any€person€to€torture,€to€aidÏor€abet€torture,€or€to€conspire€or€attempt€to€torture€any€other€person.€It€has€also€prosecutedÏmembers€of€the€security€services€who€have€violated€the€law.€ÌÌ4.21€The€State€party€notes€the€current€practice€of€other€States€in€relation€to€failed€asylumÏseekers€from€Sri€Lanka.€On€13€February€1998,€the€Australian€High€Commission€in€ColomboÏadvised€the€Government€that€most€Western€missions€in€Colombo€continue€to€be€firmly€ofÏthe€view€that€Colombo€and€most€urban€Ô_ÔcentresÔ_Ô€in€Sri€Lanka€are€safe€for€the€return€of€failedÏasylum€seekers.€Countries€which€are€actively€repatriating€Sri€Lankans€include€Switzerland,ÏGermany,€Sweden,€Norway,€the€United€Kingdom,€Italy€and€the€Netherlands.€Ð @-(, Ї4.22€In€view€of€the€above,€the€State€party€does€not€consider€that€the€author€will€be€of€interestÏto€the€security€forces€in€a€situation€of€active€conflict,€as€he€has€denied€active€involvement€inÏthe€activities€of€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô.€The€State€party€has€also€confirmed€that€it€is€possible€for€a€SriÏLankan€national€in€the€author's€situation€to€obtain€a€full€Sri€Lankan€passport€and€thereby€re„¼enter€Sri€Lanka€without€drawing€attention€to€himself.€ÌÌ4.23€On€the€other€hand,€the€State€party€accepts€that€the€author€does€come€within€the€profileÏof€individuals€likely€to€come€under€scrutiny€by€the€Sri€Lankan€authorities.€It€also€recognizesÏthat€the€author€will€have€to€apply€for€an€identification€document€soon€after€his€return€whichÏmay€take€some€days,€during€which€time€he€may€be€particularly€vulnerable€to€beingÏquestioned,€and€possibly€detained,€either€in€a€cordon€and€search€operation€or€at€a€checkpoint.ÏHowever,€such€vulnerability€itself€does€not€provide€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€theÏauthor€would€be€subjected€to€torture.€On€the€basis€that€his€bona€fides€will€be€able€to€beÏverified€by€the€Sri€Lankan€authorities,€the€State€party€submits€that€the€chances€of€the€authorÏbeing€tortured,€or€indeed€detained€for€a€prolonged€time,€are€very€remote€indeed.€ÌÌ4.24€Finally,€the€State€party€draws€the€Committee's€attention€to€the€requirement€that€the€riskÏto€the€alleged€victim€be€a€risk€of€torture,€rather€than€a€less€severe€form€of€ill„treatment.€TheÏState€party€submits€that€neither€the€fact€of€detention€itself,€nor€detention€and€questioning,€hasÏthe€necessary€degree€of€deliberateness€or€intentionality€nor€the€necessary€severity€of€pain€toÏfall€within€the€definition€of€torture€in€the€Convention.€Even€if€the€Committee€were€to€acceptÏthat€the€only€instance€of€alleged€torture€that€is€described€by€the€author€was€substantiated,€itÏcannot€be€assumed€that€treatment€of€this€kind€would€fall€within€the€scope€of€the€definitionÏof€torture.€The€author€has€described€an€alleged€experience€of€questioning€combined€withÏassault€and€deprivation€of€food,€drink€and€sleep€which,€according€to€the€jurisprudence€of€theÏEuropean€Court€of€Human€Rights,€does€not€necessarily€constitute€torture€but€rather€inhumanÏand€degrading€treatment.€ÌÌ4.25€In€conclusion,€there€is€no€evidence€that€the€author€has€personal€characteristics€that€makeÏhim€more€likely€to€come€to€the€attention€of€the€Sri€Lankan€authorities€than€any€other€youngÏTamil€from€the€north.€For€these€reasons,€the€State€party€submits€that€there€are€no€substantialÏgrounds€to€believe€that€the€author€would€face€torture€on€his€removal€to€Sri€Lanka.€ÌÌMoreover,€any€treatment€the€author€is€likely€to€receive€at€the€hands€of€the€Sri€LankanÏauthorities€would€not€have€the€necessary€deliberateness€or€severity€to€constitute€torture€asÏdefined€in€article€1,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention.€ÌÌòòAuthor's€commentsóó€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ5.1€In€accordance€with€rule€110,€paragraph€4,€of€the€rules€of€procedure€of€the€Committee,€theÏobservations€received€from€the€State€party€were€communicated€to€the€author's€representative,Ïwith€the€request€that€any€comments€he€might€wish€to€submit€thereon€should€reach€theÏCommittee€within€six€weeks€of€the€date€of€the€transmittal.€No€such€comments€were€receivedÏdespite€a€reminder€sent€several€months€after€the€given€deadline.€ÌÐ @-(, ÐòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeóó€Ð ° ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€againstÏTorture€must€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€TheÏCommittee€notes€that€the€author€has€not€provided€comments€to€the€State€party's€observationsÏand€considers€that,€in€accordance€with€rule€108,€paragraph€8,€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€non„¼receipt€of€such€comments€within€the€established€time„limit€should€not€delay€the€considerationÏof€the€admissibility€of€the€communication.€It€therefore€proceeds€to€the€examination€of€theÏadmissibility€issue.€ÌÌ6.2€The€Committee€has€ascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a)Ïof€the€Convention,€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€underÏanother€procedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement€and€notes€that€the€exhaustionÏof€domestic€remedies€is€not€contested€by€the€State€party.€It€further€notes€the€State€party's€viewÏthat€the€communication€is€inadmissible€because€it€lacks€the€minimum€substantiation€thatÏwould€render€it€compatible€with€the€Convention€and€that€there€is€a€particular€onus€on€theÏauthor€to€substantiate€and€convincingly€plead€a€prima€facie€case€in€Ô_ÔrefoulementÔ_Ô€cases.€TheÏCommittee€nevertheless€considers€that€the€author€has€provided€enough€substantial€elementsÏprima€facie€and€that€his€communication€is€compatible€with€the€provisions€of€the€Conventionò ò.Ð H˜ Ðó óIt€therefore€considers€that€the€communication€is€admissible.€Ð 8ˆ ÐÌ6.3€Since€the€State€party€has€also€provided€observations€on€the€merits€and€the€author,€inÏaccordance€with€rule€110,€paragraph€4,€of€the€rules€of€procedure,€has€been€given€theÏopportunity€to€make€comments€on€such€observations,€the€Committee€will€proceed€to€examineÏthe€communication€on€its€merits.€ÌÌ6.4€The€Committee€must€decide€whether€the€forced€return€of€the€author€to€Sri€Lanka€wouldÏviolate€the€State€party's€obligation€under€article€3,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention€not€toÏexpel€or€return€(Ô_ÔrefoulerÔ_Ô)€an€individual€to€another€State€where€there€are€substantial€groundsÏfor€believing€that€he/she€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€In€order€to€reachÏits€conclusion€the€Committee€must€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations,€includingÏthe€existence€in€the€State€concerned€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massÏviolations€of€human€rights.€The€aim,€however,€is€to€determine€whether€the€individualÏconcerned€would€personally€risk€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he€or€she€would€return.€ItÏfollows€that€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€ofÏhuman€rights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€sufficient€grounds€for€determiningÏwhether€the€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€returnÏto€that€country;€additional€grounds€must€be€adduced€to€show€that€the€individual€concernedÏwould€be€personally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€violationsÏof€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€danger€of€beingÏsubjected€to€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.€ÌÌ6.5€The€Committee€is€aware€of€the€serious€situation€of€human€rights€in€Sri€Lanka€and€notesÏwith€concern€the€reports€of€torture€in€the€country,€in€particular€during€pre„trial€detention.€ItÏis€also€aware€of€the€fact€that€Tamils€are€at€particular€risk€of€being€detained€following€controlsÐ D-”(, Ðat€checkpoints€or€search€operations.€ÌÌ6.6€Although€the€Committee€considers€that€complete€accuracy€is€seldom€to€be€expected€fromÏvictims€of€torture,€it€notes€the€important€inconsistencies€in€the€author's€statements€before€theÏAustralian€authorities.€It€further€notes€that€the€author€has€not€provided€the€Committee€withÏany€arguments,€including€medical€evidence,€which€could€have€explained€suchÏinconsistencies.€Accordingly,€the€Committee€is€not€persuaded€that€the€author€faces€a€personalÏand€substantial€risk€of€being€tortured€upon€his€return€to€Sri€Lanka.€ÌÌ7.€In€the€circumstances€the€Committee,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€theÏConvention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€orÏPunishment,€is€of€the€view€that€the€decision€of€the€State€party€to€return€the€author€to€SriÏLanka€would€not€constitute€a€breach€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€ÌññññÓõUÓññññÓ  ÓññÝ‚ÿÿÿÝÔ€ôèõXXØÔÔ€ôG|õõôèÔÔÔÝ  ÝÌÝ‚ÿÿÿÀ‰ÝÔ€X½ùXõôG|ÔÔ€XØXXX½ùÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ€ôèõXXØÔò ò€Ô€XØXõôèÔó óÌññÓ  Ó