ÿWPC  nôÆÎP©'¥ îÜ ýˆ¹÷æå2ÈíLz…c?¨W%púŠøÛEMbá±hKОcU„ŠO½B½¼œ®†ôë1æ>ãd~ØÄxv!Æ@yZžXXJ?X,!ü¢n 8‰Z‘’m0-%Á¥ /¡Ê4_ @vG¤Ét Ì£\m·ó½º¸Þk­²H–YsêJ¸kr4è™qÖú¶¢Ç|bäp¼ Gƒ*¾ÒmI¿(kR™¼†"GÈ"öàT }F ¿È¥}ŒTÒÅsù‹ª‰oZó™öÒ„K ªo5´ö_¤¨Û›yK3I²¹ˆ5é^«ÐK¢(WGŽßm,ÑÆ›{­üì}k[‡yê—T‘×B4„ry˜ÞÚ•BøGj>1K¦©†ÙÀèÚVÝol¨J JKµó‘öãåyûCƒL*é·(BœØð+‰—ĺ—PîÙ„d¾¾­‡‘`õrØY9áoJí8}Œ(:xM!Xã@¨*4¡\tJÙˆ#ÇRªm4†þÕuKÀ^ V:qï¯æ8a*èœ@âA=ÍyZolB.‹³Ž:Y·/|u¦ÒjpŽ×Ä`… ñ‚ÂwÏò½{}œúÚmÁm5à¯oZLU>BÌ€ 0nL 0iº 0Y# 0_| 0&ÛU6  7 0ÆG #Á UNÎ % M" (& NN ^ P w\ 4` t mv 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(žv$¡¡ÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XfŒXX XÔÔ€XfŒXX XfŒÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regular Xò* Äpì*c(¤³prograÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ v!ÝÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ Xs8XX XÔÔ€Xs8XX Xs8ÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòÔ_ÔElmiÔ_Ô€v.€AustraliaóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No€120/1998Ð H˜ ÐÌ14€May€1999Ð  d ÐÌCAT/C/22/D/120/1998Ð à 0 ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ ’â  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Ô_ÔSadiqÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔShekÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔElmiÔ_Ô€[represented€by€counsel]€Ð D”  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€The€author€Ð ` ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€Australia€Ð Ü, ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€17€November€1998óó€Ð ¨ø ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€againstÐ Zª ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð @ ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€14€May€1999,€Ð  \ ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€120/1998,€submitted€to€theÐ Ø( ÐCommittee€against€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€OtherÐ ¾ ÐCruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð ¤ô ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ p!À  Ðcommunication,€his€counsel€and€the€State€party,€Ð V"¦! ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€its€Ð "$r# ÐÌÌÓXÓòòò òViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóóÐ Ô&$"& ÐÓÓÌÌ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€Mr.€Ô_ÔSadiqÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔShekÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔElmiÔ_Ô,€a€Somali€national€from€theÐ †)Ö$) ÐÔ_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan,€currently€residing€in€Australia,€where€he€has€applied€for€asylum€and€is€at€riskÐ l*¼%* Ðof€expulsion.€He€alleges€that€his€expulsion€would€constitute€a€violation€by€Australia€ofÐ R+¢&+ Ðarticle€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€DegradingÐ 8,ˆ', ÐTreatment€or€Punishment.€Ð -n(- Їò òòòThe€facts€as€submitted€by€the€authoró óóó€Ð ° ÐÌ2.1€The€author€was€born€on€10€July€1960€in€Mogadishu.€Before€the€war€he€worked€as€aÐ |Ì Ðgoldsmith€in€Mogadishu,€where€his€father€was€an€elder€of€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan.€The€author€statesÐ b² Ðthat€members€of€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan,€of€Arabic€descent,€are€identifiable€by€their€lighter€Ô_ÔcolouredÔ_ÔÐ H˜ Ðskin€and€discernable€accent.€The€clan€is€known€for€having€brought€Islam€to€Somalia,€for€itsÐ . ~ Ðreligious€leadership€and€relative€wealth.€The€author€claims€that€the€clan€has€not€been€directlyÐ  d Ðinvolved€in€the€fighting,€however€it€has€been€targeted€by€other€clans€owing€to€its€wealth€andÐ ú J Ðits€refusal€to€join€or€support€economically€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€militia.€In€the€lead€up€to€the€oustingÐ à 0 Ðof€President€Ô_ÔBarreÔ_Ô€in€late€1990,€the€author's€father,€as€one€of€the€elders€of€his€clan,€wasÐ Æ   Ðapproached€by€leaders€of€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan€seeking€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€financial€support€and€fighters€forÐ ¬ ü  Ðthe€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€militia.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ2.2€The€author€further€states€that€upon€refusal€to€provide€support€to€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€militia€inÐ ^®  Ðgeneral,€and€in€particular€to€provide€one€of€his€sons€to€fight€for€the€militia,€his€father€wasÐ D”  Ðshot€and€killed€in€front€of€his€shop.€The€author's€brother€was€also€killed€by€the€militia€whenÐ *z  Ða€bomb€detonated€inside€his€home,€and€his€sister€was€raped€three€times€by€members€of€theÐ ` ÐÔ_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€militia,€precipitating€her€suicide€in€1994.€Ð öF ÐÌ2.3€The€author€claims€that€on€a€number€of€occasions€he€barely€escaped€the€same€fate€as€hisÐ Â Ðfamily€members,€and€that€his€life€continues€to€be€threatened,€particularly€by€members€of€theÐ ¨ø ÐÔ_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan€who,€at€present,€control€most€of€Mogadishu.€From€1991€until€he€left€SomaliaÐ ŽÞ Ðin€1997,€he€continuously€moved€around€the€country€for€reasons€of€security,€Ô_ÔtravellingÔ_Ô€toÐ tÄ Ðplaces€that€he€thought€would€be€safer.€He€avoided€checkpoints€and€main€roads€and€Ô_ÔtravelledÔ_ÔÐ Zª Ðthrough€small€streams€and€the€bush€on€foot.€Ð @ ÐÌ2.4€The€author€arrived€in€Australia€on€2€October€1997€without€valid€travel€documents€andÐ  \ Ðhas€been€held€in€detention€since€his€arrival.€On€8€October€1997,€he€made€an€application€forÐ òB Ða€protection€visa€to€the€Department€of€Immigration€and€Ô_ÔMulticulturalÔ_Ô€Affairs.€Following€anÐ Ø( Ðinterview€with€the€author€held€on€12€November€1997,€the€application€was€rejected€on€25Ð ¾ ÐMarch€1998.€On€30€March€1998,€he€sought€review€of€the€negative€decision€before€theÐ ¤ô ÐRefugee€Review€Tribunal€(Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô),€which€turned€down€his€request€for€a€review€on€21€MayÐ Š Ú Ð1998.€The€author€subsequently€appealed€to€the€Minister€for€Immigration€and€Ô_ÔMulticulturalÔ_ÔÐ p!À  ÐAffairs€who€under€the€Migration€Act€has€the€personal,€non„compellable€and€non„Ô_ÔreviewableÔ_ÔÐ V"¦! Ðpower€to€intervene€and€set€aside€decisions€of€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€where€it€is€in€the€"public€interest"€to€doÐ <#Œ" Ðso.€This€request€was€denied€on€22€July€1998.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ2.5€On€22€October€1998,€the€author€was€informed€that€he€was€to€be€returned€to€Mogadishu,Ð î%>!% Ðvia€Johannesburg.€Amnesty€International€intervened€in€the€case€and,€in€a€letter€dated€28Ð Ô&$"& ÐOctober€1998,€urged€the€Minister€for€Immigration€and€Ô_ÔMulticulturalÔ_Ô€Affairs€to€use€hisÐ º' #' Ðpowers€not€to€remove€the€author€as€planned.€In€addition,€the€same€day€the€author€submittedÐ  (ð#( Ða€request€to€the€Minister€to€lodge€a€second€application€for€a€protection€visa.€In€the€absenceÐ †)Ö$) Ðof€the€exercise€of€the€Minister's€discretion,€the€lodging€of€a€new€application€for€refugeeÐ l*¼%* Ðstatus€is€prohibited.€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ2.6€On€29€October€1998,€the€author€was€taken€to€Melbourne€Airport€to€be€deported,€escortedÐ -n(- Ðby€guards€from€the€Immigration€Detention€Ô_ÔCentreÔ_Ô.€However,€the€author€refused€to€board€theÐ ° Ðplane.€As€a€result,€the€captain€of€the€aircraft€refused€to€take€him€on€board.€The€author€wasÐ –æ Ðthen€taken€back€to€the€detention€Ô_ÔcentreÔ_Ô.€On€the€same€day€he€addressed€an€additional€plea€toÐ |Ì Ðthe€Minister€in€support€of€his€previous€requests€not€to€be€removed€from€Australia;€it€wasÐ b² Ðrejected.€On€30€October€1998,€the€author€was€informed€that€his€removal€would€be€carriedÐ H˜ Ðout€the€following€day.€On€the€same€date€he€sought€an€interim€injunction€from€Justice€HaynesÐ . ~ Ðat€the€High€Court€of€Australia€to€restrain€the€Minister€from€continuing€the€removalÐ  d Ðprocedure.€Justice€Haynes€dismissed€the€author's€application€on€16€November€1998,€in€viewÐ ú J Ðof€the€fact€that€the€circumstances€did€not€raise€a€"serious€question€to€be€tried".€Special€leaveÐ à 0 Ðwas€sought€to€appeal€to€the€full€bench€of€the€High€Court,€but€that€request€was€also€dismissed.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ2.7€The€author€states€that€he€has€exhausted€all€available€domestic€remedies€and€underlinesÐ ’â  Ðthat,€while€he€could€still€technically€seek€special€leave€from€the€High€Court,€his€imminentÐ xÈ  Ðremoval€would€stymie€any€such€application.€He€further€indicates€that€the€legalÐ ^®  Ðrepresentatives€initially€provided€to€him€by€the€authorities€clearly€failed€to€act€in€their€client'sÐ D”  Ðbest€interest.€As€the€submitted€documents€reveal,€the€initial€statement€and€the€subsequentÐ *z  Ðlegal€submissions€to€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€were€undoubtedly€inadequate€and€the€representatives€failed€to€beÐ ` Ðpresent€during€the€author's€hearing€with€the€Tribunal€in€order€to€ensure€a€thoroughÐ öF Ðinvestigation€into€his€history€and€the€consequences€of€his€membership€of€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan.€Ð Ü, ÐÌò òòòThe€complaintó óóó€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ3.1€The€author€claims€that€his€forced€return€to€Somalia€would€constitute€a€violation€of€articleÐ tÄ Ð3€of€the€Convention€by€the€State€party€and€that€his€background€and€clan€membership€wouldÐ Zª Ðrender€him€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€He€fears€that€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan€willÐ @ Ðbe€controlling€the€airport€on€his€arrival€in€Mogadishu€and€that€they€will€immediatelyÐ &v Ðascertain€his€clan€membership€and€the€fact€that€he€is€the€son€of€a€former€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€elder.€TheyÐ  \ Ðwill€then€detain,€torture€and€possibly€execute€him.€He€is€also€fearful€that€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clanÐ òB Ðwill€assume€that€the€author,€being€a€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€and€having€been€abroad,€will€have€money,€whichÐ Ø( Ðthey€will€attempt€to€extort€by€torture€and€other€means.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ3.2€It€is€emphasized€that€in€addition€to€the€particular€circumstances€pertaining€to€the€author'sÐ Š Ú Ðindividual€case,€Somalia€is€a€country€where€there€exists€a€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massÐ p!À  Ðviolations€of€human€rights.€In€expressing€its€opinion€in€the€author's€case,€the€Regional€OfficeÐ V"¦! Ðof€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€for€Australia,€New€Zealand,€Papua€New€Guinea€and€the€South€Pacific€stated€thatÐ <#Œ" Ð"(w)Ô_ÔhileÔ_Ô€it€is€true€that€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€facilitates€voluntary€repatriation€to€so„called€Ô_ÔSomalilandÔ_Ô,€weÐ "$r# Ðneither€promote€nor€encourage€repatriation€to€any€part€of€Somalia.€In€respect€of€rejectedÐ %X $ Ðasylum„seekers€from€Somalia,€this€office€does€urge€States€to€exercise€the€utmost€caution€inÐ î%>!% Ðeffecting€return€to€Somalia."òò1óó€Reference€is€also€made€to€the€large€number€of€sourcesÐ Ô&$"& Ðindicating€the€persisting€existence€of€torture€in€Somalia,€which€would€support€the€author'sÐ º' #' Ðposition€that€his€forced€return€would€constitute€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌò òòòState€party's€observationsó óóó€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ4.1€On€18€November€1998,€the€Committee,€acting€through€its€Special€Rapporteur€on€newÐ 8,ˆ', Ðcommunications,€transmitted€the€communication€to€the€State€party€for€comment€andÐ -n(- Ðrequested€the€State€party€not€to€expel€the€author€while€his€communication€was€underÐ ° Ðconsideration€by€the€Committee.€Ð –æ ÐÌ4.2€By€submission€of€16€March€1999,€the€State€party€challenged€the€admissibility€of€theÐ b² Ðcommunication,€but€also€addressed€the€merits€of€the€case.€It€informed€the€Committee€that,Ð H˜ Ðfollowing€its€request€under€rule€108,€paragraph€9,€the€expulsion€order€against€the€author€hasÐ . ~ Ðbeen€stayed€while€his€communication€is€pending€consideration€by€the€Committee.€Ð  d ÐÐ ÐÌÓÈÓÓ  Óò òA.€òòObservations€on€admissibilityó óóóÐ Æ   ÐÓj0ÓÓ ÓÌÌ4.3€As€regards€the€domestic€procedures,€the€State€party€submits€that€although€it€considersÐ xÈ  Ðthat€domestic€remedies€are€still€available€to€the€author€it€does€not€wish€to€contest€theÐ ^®  Ðadmissibility€of€the€communication€on€the€ground€of€non„exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies.€Ð D”  ÐÌ4.4€The€State€party€contends€that€this€communication€is€inadmissible€òòratione€materiaeóó€on€theÐ ` Ðbasis€that€the€Convention€is€not€applicable€to€the€facts€alleged.€In€particular,€the€kind€of€actsÐ öF Ðthe€author€fears€that€he€will€be€subjected€to€if€he€is€returned€to€Somalia€do€not€fall€within€theÐ Ü, Ðdefinition€of€"torture"€set€out€in€article€1€of€the€Convention.€Article€1€requires€that€the€actÐ Â Ðof€torture€be€"committed€by,€or€at€the€instigation€of,€or€with€the€consent€or€acquiescence€ofÐ ¨ø Ða€public€official€or€any€other€person€acting€in€an€official€capacity".€The€author€alleges€thatÐ ŽÞ Ðhe€will€be€subjected€to€torture€by€members€of€armed€Somali€clans.€These€members,€however,Ð tÄ Ðare€not€"public€officials"€and€do€not€act€in€an€"official€capacity".€Ð Zª ÐÌ4.5€The€Australian€Government€refers€to€the€Committee's€decision€in€òòG.R.B.€v.€Swedenóó,€inÐ &v Ðwhich€the€Committee€stated€that€"a€State€party's€obligation€under€article€3€to€refrain€fromÐ  \ Ðforcibly€returning€a€person€to€another€State€where€there€were€substantial€grounds€to€believeÐ òB Ðthat€he€or€she€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€was€directly€linked€to€theÐ Ø( Ðdefinition€of€torture€as€found€in€article€1€of€the€Convention."òò2óóÐ ¾ ÐÌ4.6€The€State€party€further€submits€that€the€definition€of€torture€in€article€1€was€the€subjectÐ Š Ú Ðof€lengthy€debates€during€the€negotiations€for€the€Convention.€On€the€issue€of€whichÐ p!À  Ðperpetrators€the€Convention€should€cover,€a€number€of€views€were€expressed.€For€example,Ð V"¦! Ðthe€delegation€of€France€argued€that€"the€definition€of€the€act€of€torture€should€be€aÐ <#Œ" Ðdefinition€of€the€intrinsic€nature€of€the€act€of€torture€itself,€irrespective€of€the€status€of€theÐ "$r# Ðperpetrator".òò3óó€There€was€little€support€for€the€French€view€although€most€States€did€agreeÐ %X $ Ðthat€"the€Convention€should€not€only€be€applicable€to€acts€committed€by€public€officials,€butÐ î%>!% Ðalso€to€acts€for€which€the€public€authorities€could€otherwise€be€considered€to€have€someÐ Ô&$"& Ðresponsibility."òò€4óóÐ º' #' ÐÌ4.7€The€delegation€of€the€United€Kingdom€of€Great€Britain€and€Northern€Ireland€made€anÐ †)Ö$) Ðalternative€suggestion€that€the€Convention€refer€to€a€"public€official€or€any€other€agent€of€theÐ l*¼%* ÐState".òò€5óó€By€contrast,€the€delegation€of€the€Federal€Republic€of€Germany€"felt€that€it€shouldÐ R+¢&+ Ðbe€made€clear€that€the€term€'public€official'€referred€not€only€to€persons€who,€regardless€ofÐ 8,ˆ', Ðtheir€legal€status,€have€been€assigned€public€authority€by€State€organs€on€a€permanent€basisÐ -n(- Ðor€in€an€individual€case,€but€also€to€persons€who,€in€certain€regions€or€under€particularÐ ° Ðconditions€actually€hold€and€exercise€authority€over€others€and€whose€authority€isÐ –æ Ðcomparable€to€government€authority€or€„€be€it€only€temporarily€„€has€replaced€governmentÐ |Ì Ðauthority€or€whose€authority€has€been€derived€from€such€persons."òò€6óó€Ð b² ÐÌ4.8€According€to€the€State€party€it€was€ultimately€"generally€agreed€that€the€definition€shouldÐ . ~ Ðbe€extended€to€cover€acts€committed€by,€or€at€the€instigation€of,€or€with€the€consent€orÐ  d Ðacquiescence€of€a€public€official€or€any€other€person€acting€in€an€official€capacity".òò€7óó€It€wasÐ ú J Ðnot€agreed€that€the€definition€should€extend€to€private€individuals€acting€in€a€non„officialÐ à 0 Ðcapacity,€such€as€members€of€Somali€armed€bands.€Ð Æ   ÐÌÓÇ0ÓÓ  ÓÐ Ðò òB.€òòObservations€on€meritsó óóóÐ xÈ  ÐÓvAÓÓ5ÓÌÌ4.9€In€addition€to€contesting€the€admissibility€the€State€party€argues,€in€relation€to€the€merits,Ð *z  Ðthat€there€are€no€substantial€grounds€to€believe€that€the€author€would€be€subjected€to€tortureÐ ` Ðif€returned€to€Somalia.€The€author€has€failed€to€substantiate€his€claim€that€he€would€beÐ öF Ðsubjected€to€torture€by€members€of€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€and€other€armed€clans€in€Somalia,€or€that€theÐ Ü, Ðrisk€alleged€is€a€risk€of€torture€as€defined€in€the€Convention.€Ð  ÐÌ4.10€The€State€party€points€to€the€existing€domestic€safeguards€which€ensure€that€genuineÐ ŽÞ Ðapplicants€for€asylum€and€for€visas€on€humanitarian€grounds€are€given€protection€andÐ tÄ Ðthrough€which€the€author€has€been€given€ample€possibilities€to€present€his€case,€as€describedÐ Zª Ðbelow.€In€the€primary€stage€of€processing€an€application€for€a€protection€visa,€a€case€officerÐ @ Ðfrom€the€Federal€Department€of€Immigration€and€Ô_ÔMulticulturalÔ_Ô€Affairs€(Ô_ÔDIMAÔ_Ô)€examinesÐ &v Ðthe€claim€against€the€provisions€of€the€Convention€relating€to€the€Status€of€Refugees.€WhenÐ  \ Ðthere€are€claims€which€relate€to€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€further€clarification€isÐ òB Ðrequired,€the€officer€may€seek€an€interview,€using€an€interpreter€if€necessary.€ApplicantsÐ Ø( Ðmust€be€given€the€opportunity€to€comment€on€any€adverse€information,€which€will€be€takenÐ ¾ Ðinto€account€when€their€claim€is€considered.€Assessments€of€claims€for€refugee€protectionÐ ¤ô Ðare€made€on€an€individual€basis€using€all€available€and€relevant€information€concerning€theÐ Š Ú Ðhuman€rights€situation€in€the€applicant's€home€country.€Submissions€from€migration€agentsÐ p!À  Ðor€solicitors€can€also€form€part€of€the€material€to€be€assessed.€Ð V"¦! ÐÌ4.11€The€State€party€further€explains€that€if€an€application€for€a€protection€visa€is€refused€atÐ "$r# Ðthe€primary€stage,€a€person€can€seek€review€of€the€decision€by€the€Refugee€Review€TribunalÐ %X $ Ð(Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô),€an€independent€body€with€the€power€to€grant€a€protection€visa.€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€also€examinesÐ î%>!% Ðclaims€against€the€Convention€relating€to€the€Status€of€Refugees.€If€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€intends€making€aÐ Ô&$"& Ðdecision€that€is€Ô_ÔunfavourableÔ_Ô€to€the€applicant€on€written€evidence€alone,€it€must€give€theÐ º' #' Ðapplicant€the€opportunity€of€a€personal€hearing.€Where€there€is€a€perceived€error€of€law€inÐ  (ð#( Ðthe€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€decision,€a€further€appeal€may€be€made€to€the€Federal€Court€for€judicial€review.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ4.12€Ô_ÔDIMAÔ_Ô€provides€for€application€assistance€to€be€given€to€eligible€protection€visaÐ R+¢&+ Ðapplicants.€Under€this€scheme,€all€asylum€seekers€in€detention€have€access€to€contractedÐ 8,ˆ', Ðservice€providers€who€assist€with€the€preparation€of€the€application€form€and€exposition€ofÐ -n(- Ðtheir€claims,€and€attend€any€interview.€If€the€primary€decision€by€Ô_ÔDIMAÔ_Ô€is€to€refuse€aÐ ° Ðprotection€visa,€the€service€providers€may€assist€with€any€further€submissions€to€Ô_ÔDIMAÔ_Ô€andÐ –æ Ðany€review€applications€to€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô.€Ð |Ì ÐÌ4.13€The€State€party€draws€the€attention€of€the€Committee€to€the€fact€that,€in€the€present€case,Ð H˜ Ðthe€author€had€the€assistance€of€a€migration€agent€in€making€his€initial€application€and€thatÐ . ~ Ðan€interview€was€conducted€with€him€by€an€officer€of€Ô_ÔDIMAÔ_Ô€with€the€assistance€of€anÐ  d Ðinterpreter.€In€addition,€during€the€course€of€the€review€by€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€of€the€primary€decision,€theÐ ú J Ðauthor€attended€two€days€of€hearings€before€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô,€during€which€he€was€also€assisted€by€anÐ à 0 Ðinterpreter.€He€was€not€represented€by€a€migration€agent€at€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€hearing,€but€the€StateÐ Æ   Ðparty€takes€the€view€that€legal€representation€before€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€is€not€necessary,€as€its€proceedingsÐ ¬ ü  Ðare€non„adversarial€in€nature.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ4.14€The€State€party€submits€that€neither€Ô_ÔDIMAÔ_Ô€nor€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€was€satisfied€that€the€author€hadÐ ^®  Ða€well„founded€fear€of€persecution,€because€he€failed€to€show€that€he€would€be€persecutedÐ D”  Ðfor€a€reason€pertaining€to€the€Convention€relating€to€the€Status€of€Refugees.€In€particular,Ð *z  Ðalthough€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€accepted€that€the€author€was€a€member€of€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan€and€that,€at€theÐ ` Ðbeginning€of€the€conflict€in€Somalia,€his€father€and€one€brother€had€been€killed€and€one€sisterÐ öF Ðhad€committed€suicide,€it€found€that€the€author€had€not€shown€that€he€would€be€targetedÐ Ü, Ðpersonally€if€returned€to€Somalia.€It€found€that€the€alleged€victim€had,€at€times,€had€to€fleeÐ Â Ðthe€civil€war€in€Somalia€but€that€this€was€not€sufficient€to€show€persecution€for€a€reasonÐ ¨ø Ðpertaining€to€the€Convention€relating€to€the€Status€of€Refugees.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ4.15€The€alleged€victim€sought€judicial€review€of€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€decision€in€the€High€Court€ofÐ Zª ÐAustralia,€on€the€basis€that€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€had€erred€in€law€and€that€its€decision€was€unreasonable.€HeÐ @ Ðalso€sought€an€order€restraining€the€Minister€for€Immigration€and€Ô_ÔMulticulturalÔ_Ô€Affairs€fromÐ &v Ðremoving€him€from€Australia€until€his€application€was€decided.€On€16€November€1998,Ð  \ ÐJustice€Ô_ÔHayneÔ_Ô€of€the€High€Court€dismissed€all€the€grounds€of€appeal,€rejecting€the€argumentÐ òB Ðthat€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€had€erred€in€law€or€that€its€decision€was€unreasonable.€Further,€he€rejected€theÐ Ø( Ðapplication€to€restrain€the€Minister€of€Immigration€and€Ô_ÔMulticulturalÔ_Ô€Affairs€from€removingÐ ¾ Ðthe€author.€Subsequently,€on€17€November€1998,€the€author€lodged€a€communication€withÐ ¤ô Ðthe€Committee.€The€Committee€requested€the€State€party€not€to€remove€the€author€until€hisÐ Š Ú Ðcase€had€been€examined.€Following€such€request,€the€State€party€interrupted€the€author'sÐ p!À  Ðremoval.€The€State€party€understands€that€on€25€November€1998€the€author€applied€forÐ V"¦! Ðspecial€leave€to€appeal€the€decision€of€Justice€Ô_ÔHayneÔ_Ô€to€the€Full€Bench€of€the€High€Court€ofÐ <#Œ" ÐAustralia.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ4.16€In€addition€to€the€procedures€established€to€deal€with€claims€of€asylum€pursuant€toÐ î%>!% ÐAustralia's€obligations€under€the€Convention€relating€to€the€Status€of€Refugees,€the€MinisterÐ Ô&$"& Ðfor€Immigration€and€Ô_ÔMulticulturalÔ_Ô€Affairs€has€a€discretion€to€substitute€a€decision€of€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_ÔÐ º' #' Ðwith€a€decision€which€is€more€Ô_ÔfavourableÔ_Ô€to€the€applicant,€for€reasons€of€public€interest.€AllÐ  (ð#( Ðcases€which€are€unsuccessful€on€review€by€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€are€assessed€by€the€Department€ofÐ †)Ö$) ÐImmigration€and€Ô_ÔMulticulturalÔ_Ô€Affairs€on€humanitarian€grounds,€to€determine€if€they€shouldÐ l*¼%* Ðbe€referred€to€the€Minister€for€consideration€of€the€exercise€of€his€or€her€humanitarian€stayÐ R+¢&+ Ðdiscretion.€Cases€are€also€referred€to€the€Minister€under€this€section€on€request€by€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðapplicant€or€a€third€party€on€behalf€of€the€applicant.€In€the€present€case,€the€Minister€wasÐ -n(- Ðrequested€to€exercise€his€discretion€in€Ô_ÔfavourÔ_Ô€of€the€author,€but€the€Minister€declined€to€doÐ ° Ðso.€The€author€also€requested€that€the€Minister€exercise€his€discretion€to€allow€him€to€lodgeÐ –æ Ða€fresh€application€for€a€protection€visa,€but,€on€the€recommendation€of€Ô_ÔDIMAÔ_Ô,€the€MinisterÐ |Ì Ðagain€declined€to€consider€exercising€his€discretion.€Ð b² ÐÌ4.17€The€State€party€notes€that€in€the€course€of€the€asylum€procedure,€the€author€has€notÐ . ~ Ðprovided€factual€evidence€to€support€his€claims.€Furthermore,€the€State€party€does€not€acceptÐ  d Ðthat,€even€if€those€assertions€were€correct,€they€necessarily€would€lead€to€the€conclusion€thatÐ ú J Ðhe€would€be€subjected€to€"torture"€as€defined€in€the€Convention.€In€making€this€assessment,Ð à 0 Ðthe€State€party€has€taken€into€account€the€jurisprudence€of€the€Committee€establishing€thatÐ Æ   Ða€person€must€show€that€he€or€she€faces€a€real,€foreseeable€and€personal€risk€of€beingÐ ¬ ü  Ðsubjected€to€torture,€as€well€as€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massÐ ’â  Ðviolations€of€human€rights.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ4.18€The€State€party€does€not€deny€that€the€attacks€on€the€author's€father,€brother€and€sisterÐ D”  Ðoccurred€as€described€by€the€author,€nor€that€at€that€time€and€immediately€afterwards€theÐ *z  Ðauthor€may€have€felt€particularly€vulnerable€to€attacks€by€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan€and€that€this€fearÐ ` Ðmay€have€caused€the€author€to€flee€Mogadishu€(but€not€Somalia).€However,€there€is€noÐ öF Ðevidence€that€the€author,€at€present,€would€face€a€threat€from€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan€if€he€wereÐ Ü, Ðreturned€to€Somalia.€Moreover,€in€the€absence€of€any€details€or€corroborating€evidence€ofÐ Â Ðhis€alleged€escapes€and€in€the€absence€of€any€evidence€or€allegations€to€the€effect€that€theÐ ¨ø Ðauthor€has€previously€been€tortured,€it€must€be€concluded€that€the€author€remained€inÐ ŽÞ ÐSomalia€in€relative€safety€throughout€the€conflict.€The€State€party€points€out€that€it€isÐ tÄ Ðincumbent€upon€the€author€of€a€communication€to€present€a€factual€basis€for€his€allegations.Ð Zª ÐIn€the€present€case€the€author€has€failed€to€adduce€sufficient€evidence€of€an€ongoing€and€realÐ @ Ðthreat€of€torture€by€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€against€him€and€other€members€of€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan.€Ð &v ÐÌ4.19€The€State€party€accepts€that€there€has€been€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€orÐ òB Ðmass€violations€of€human€rights€in€Somalia€and€that,€throughout€the€armed€conflict,Ð Ø( Ðmembers€of€small,€unaligned€and€unarmed€clans,€like€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô,€have€been€more€vulnerableÐ ¾ Ðto€human€rights€violations€than€members€of€the€larger€clans.€However,€through€diplomaticÐ ¤ô Ðchannels,€the€State€party€has€been€informed€that€the€general€situation€in€Somalia€hasÐ Š Ú Ðimproved€over€the€past€year€and,€although€random€violence€and€human€rights€violationsÐ p!À  Ðcontinue€and€living€conditions€remain€difficult,€civilians€are€largely€able€to€go€about€theirÐ V"¦! Ðdaily€business.€The€State€party€has€also€been€informed€by€its€embassy€in€Nairobi€that€a€smallÐ <#Œ" Ðcommunity€of€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€still€resides€in€Mogadishu€and€that€its€members€are€apparently€able€toÐ "$r# ÐÔ_ÔpractiseÔ_Ô€their€trade€and€have€no€fear€of€being€attacked€by€stronger€clans.€However,€as€anÐ %X $ Ðunarmed€clan,€they€are€particularly€vulnerable€to€looters.€Although€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô,€includingÐ î%>!% Ðmembers€of€the€author's€family,€may€have€been€targeted€by€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€in€the€early€stagesÐ Ô&$"& Ðof€the€Somali€conflict,€they€have€at€present€a€harmonious€relationship€with€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€inÐ º' #' ÐMogadishu€and€elsewhere,€affording€a€measure€of€protection€to€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€living€there.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ4.20€The€State€party€points€out€that€it€has€also€considered€the€issue€of€whether€the€authorÐ l*¼%* Ðwould€risk€being€targeted€by€other€clans€than€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô.€It€states€that€it€is€prepared€toÐ R+¢&+ Ðaccept€that€certain€members€of€unarmed€clans€and€others€in€Somalia€suffer€abuse€at€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðhands€of€other€Somali€inhabitants.€Further,€the€author€may€be€more€vulnerable€to€suchÐ -n(- Ðattacks€as€he€is€a€member€of€an€unarmed€clan€whose€members€are€generally€believed€to€beÐ ° Ðwealthy.€However,€the€State€party€does€not€believe€that€the€author's€membership€of€such€aÐ –æ Ðclan€is€sufficient€to€put€him€at€a€greater€risk€than€other€Somali€civilians.€In€fact,€the€StateÐ |Ì Ðparty€believes€that€many€Somalis€face€the€same€risk.€That€view€is€supported€by€the€reportÐ b² Ðof€its€embassy€in€Nairobi,€which€states€that€"(a)ll€Somalis€in€Somalia€are€vulnerable€becauseÐ H˜ Ðof€lack€of€a€functioning€central€government€authority€and€an€effective€rule€of€law.€[TheÐ . ~ Ðauthor's]€situation,€were€he€to€return€to€Somalia,€would€not€be€exceptional".€Ð  d ÐÌ4.21€In€the€event€that€the€Committee€disagrees€with€the€State€party's€assessment€that€the€riskÐ à 0 Ðfaced€by€the€author€is€not€a€real,€foreseeable€and€personal€one,€the€State€party€contends€thatÐ Æ   Ðsuch€risk€is€not€a€risk€of€"torture"€as€defined€in€article€1€of€the€Convention.€Although€theÐ ¬ ü  ÐState€party€accepts€that€the€political€situation€in€Somalia€makes€it€possible€that€the€authorÐ ’â  Ðmay€face€violations€of€his€human€rights,€it€argues€that€such€violations€will€not€necessarilyÐ xÈ  Ðinvolve€the€kind€of€acts€contemplated€in€article€1€of€the€Convention.€For€example,€evenÐ ^®  Ðthough€the€acts€of€extortion€anticipated€by€the€author€may€be€committed€for€one€of€theÐ D”  Ðpurposes€referred€to€in€the€definition€of€torture,€such€acts€would€not€necessarily€entail€theÐ *z  Ðintentional€infliction€of€severe€pain€or€suffering.€In€addition,€the€author's€claims€that€he€willÐ ` Ðrisk€detention,€torture€and€possibly€execution€have€not€been€sufficiently€substantiated.€Ð öF ÐÌ4.22€Finally,€the€State€party€reiterates€its€reasoning€as€to€the€admissibility€of€the€case€andÐ Â Ðalso€as€to€the€merits.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌò òòòCounsel's€commentsó óóó€Ð tÄ ÐÌ5.1€As€regards€the€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔmateriaeÔ_Ôóó€admissibility€of€the€communication,€counsel€submits€thatÐ @ Ðdespite€the€lack€of€a€central€government,€certain€armed€clans€in€effective€control€ofÐ &v Ðterritories€within€Somalia€are€covered€by€the€terms€"public€official"€or€"other€person€actingÐ  \ Ðin€an€official€capacity"€as€required€by€article€1€of€the€Convention.€In€fact,€the€absence€of€aÐ òB Ðcentral€government€in€a€State€increases€the€likelihood€that€other€entities€will€exercise€quasi„Ð Ø( Ðgovernmental€powers.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ5.2€Counsel€further€emphasizes€that€the€reason€for€limiting€the€definition€of€torture€to€theÐ Š Ú Ðacts€of€public€officials€or€other€persons€acting€in€an€official€capacity€was€that€the€purposeÐ p!À  Ðof€the€Convention€was€to€provide€protection€against€acts€committed€on€behalf€of,€or€at€leastÐ V"¦! Ðtolerated€by,€the€public€authorities,€whereas€the€State€would€normally€be€expected€to€takeÐ <#Œ" Ðaction,€in€accordance€with€its€criminal€law,€against€private€persons€having€committed€actsÐ "$r# Ðof€torture€against€other€persons.€Therefore,€the€assumption€underlying€this€limitation€wasÐ %X $ Ðthat,€in€all€other€cases,€States€were€under€the€obligation€by€customary€international€law€toÐ î%>!% Ðpunish€acts€of€torture€by€"non„public€officials".€It€is€consistent€with€the€above€that€theÐ Ô&$"& ÐCommittee€stated,€in€òòÔ_ÔG.R.B.Ô_Ô€v.€Swedenóó,€that€"whether€the€State€party€has€an€obligation€toÐ º' #' Ðrefrain€from€expelling€a€person€who€might€risk€pain€or€suffering€inflicted€by€a€non„Ð  (ð#( Ðgovernmental€entity,€without€the€consent€or€acquiescence€of€the€Government,€falls€outsideÐ †)Ö$) Ðthe€scope€of€article€3€of€the€Convention".€However,€the€present€case€is€distinguishable€fromÐ l*¼%* Ðthe€latter€as€it€concerns€return€to€a€territory€where€non„governmental€entities€themselves€areÐ R+¢&+ Ðin€effective€control€in€the€absence€of€a€central€government,€from€which€protection€cannot€beÐ 8,ˆ', Ðsought.€Ð -n(- Ї5.3€Counsel€submits€that€when€the€Convention€was€drafted€there€was€agreement€by€all€StatesÐ ° Ðto€extend€the€scope€of€the€perpetrator€of€the€act€from€the€"public€official"€referred€to€in€theÐ –æ ÐDeclaration€on€the€Protection€of€All€Persons€from€Being€Subjected€to€Torture€and€OtherÐ |Ì ÐCruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€to€include€"other€Ô_Ôperson[sÔ_Ô]€actingÐ b² Ðin€an€official€capacity".€This€would€include€persons€who,€in€certain€regions€or€underÐ H˜ Ðparticular€conditions,€actually€hold€and€exercise€authority€over€others€and€whose€authorityÐ . ~ Ðis€comparable€to€government€authority.€Ð  d ÐÌ5.4€According€to€a€general€principle€of€international€law€and€international€public€policy,Ð à 0 Ðinternational€and€national€courts€and€human€rights€supervisory€bodies€should€give€effect€toÐ Æ   Ðthe€òòrealitiesóó€of€administrative€actions€in€a€territory,€no€matter€what€may€be€the€strict€legalÐ ¬ ü  Ðposition,€where€those€actions€affect€the€everyday€activities€of€private€citizens.€In€òòAhmed€v.Ð ’â  ÐAustriaóó,€the€European€Court€of€Human€Rights,€in€deciding€that€deportation€to€Somalia€wouldÐ xÈ  Ðbreach€article€3€of€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights,€which€prohibits€torture,Ð ^®  Ðstated€that€"fighting€was€going€on€between€a€number€of€clans€vying€with€each€other€forÐ D”  Ðcontrol€of€the€country.€There€was€no€indication€that€the€dangers€to€which€the€applicant€wouldÐ *z  Ðhave€been€exposed€to€had€ceased€to€exist€or€that€any€public€authority€would€be€able€toÐ ` Ðprotect€[the€applicant]."òò€8óóÐ öF ÐÌ5.5€In€relation€to€Somalia,€there€is€abundant€evidence€that€the€clans,€at€least€since€1991,Ð Â Ðhave,€in€certain€regions,€fulfilled€the€role,€or€exercised€the€semblance,€of€an€authority€thatÐ ¨ø Ðis€comparable€to€government€authority.€These€clans,€in€relation€to€their€regions,€haveÐ ŽÞ Ðprescribed€their€own€laws€and€law€enforcement€mechanisms€and€have€provided€their€ownÐ tÄ Ðeducation,€health€and€taxation€systems.€The€report€of€the€independent€expert€of€theÐ Zª ÐCommission€on€Human€Rights€illustrates€that€States€and€international€organizations€haveÐ @ Ðaccepted€that€these€activities€are€comparable€to€governmental€authorities€and€that€"[Ô_Ôt]heÔ_ÔÐ &v Ðinternational€community€is€still€negotiating€with€the€warring€factions,€who€ironically€serveÐ  \ Ðas€the€interlocutors€of€the€Somali€people€with€the€outside€world".òò€9óóÐ òB ÐÌ5.6€Counsel€notes€that€the€State€party€does€not€wish€to€contest€admissibility€on€the€basis€ofÐ ¾ Ðthe€non„exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€but€nevertheless€wishes€to€emphasize€that€theÐ ¤ô Ðauthor's€communication€of€17€November€1998€was€submitted€in€good€faith,€all€domesticÐ Š Ú Ðremedies€available€to€the€author€having€been€exhausted.€The€subsequent€application€by€theÐ p!À  Ðauthor€for€special€leave€to€appeal,€which€is€currently€pending€before€the€Full€Bench€of€theÐ V"¦! ÐHigh€Court€of€Australia,€does€not€provide€a€basis€for€injunctive€relief€to€prevent€theÐ <#Œ" Ðexpulsion€of€the€author.€Further,€following€an€intervention€by€Amnesty€International€in€theÐ "$r# Ðauthor's€case,€the€Minister€for€Immigration€and€Ô_ÔMulticulturalÔ_Ô€Affairs€stated€that€"[Ô_Ôa]sÔ_Ô€anÐ %X $ Ðunlawful€non„citizen€who€had€exhausted€all€legal€avenues€to€remain€in€Australia,€myÐ î%>!% ÐDepartment€was€required€under€law€to€remove€[the€author]€as€soon€as€reasonablyÐ Ô&$"& Ðpracticable".€Ð º' #' ÐÌ5.7€As€to€the€merits€of€the€communication,€the€author€must€establish€grounds€that€go€beyondÐ †)Ö$) Ðmere€"theory€or€suspicion"òò€10óó€that€he€will€be€in€danger€of€being€tortured.€As€the€primaryÐ l*¼%* Ðobject€of€the€Convention€is€to€provide€safeguards€against€torture,€it€is€submitted€that€theÐ R+¢&+ Ðauthor€is€not€required€to€prove€all€of€his€claims€òò€11óó€Ô_ÔndÔ_Ô€that€a€"benefit€of€the€doubt"€principleÐ 8,ˆ', Ðmay€be€applied.€There€is€sufficient€evidence€that€the€author€faces€personal€risk€of€beingÐ -n(- Ðsubjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€owing€to€his€membership€of€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan€and€hisÐ ° Ðbelonging€to€a€particular€family.€Ð –æ ÐÌ5.8€Counsel€contests€the€State€party's€argument€that€the€author€had€in€fact€been€able€to€liveÐ b² Ðin€Somalia€since€the€outbreak€of€the€war€in€"relative€safety"€and€submits€an€affidavit€fromÐ H˜ Ðthe€author€stating€that,€as€an€elder€of€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan,€his€father€had€been€prosecuted€by€theÐ . ~ ÐÔ_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan,€especially€since€he€had€categorically€refused€to€provide€money€and€manpowerÐ  d Ðfor€the€war.€Even€before€the€outbreak€of€the€war€there€had€been€attempts€on€the€author'sÐ ú J Ðfather's€life€by€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan.€The€family€was€told€by€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€that€they€would€sufferÐ à 0 Ðthe€consequences€of€their€refusal€to€provide€support€to€the€clan,€once€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€came€intoÐ Æ   Ðpower€in€Mogadishu.€The€author€states€that€he€was€staying€at€a€friend's€house€when€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðviolence€broke€out€in€December€1990€and€he€learnt€that€his€father€had€been€killed€during€anÐ ’â  Ðattack€by€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan.€Only€hours€after€his€father's€death,€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€planted€andÐ xÈ  Ðdetonated€a€bomb€under€the€family€home,€killing€one€of€the€author's€brothers.€The€author'sÐ ^®  Ðmother,€other€brothers€and€his€sisters€had€already€fled€the€house.€Ð D”  ÐÌ5.9€The€author€also€states€that,€together€with€the€remaining€family€members,€he€escaped€toÐ ` Ðthe€town€of€Medina,€where€he€stayed€during€1991.€The€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan€attacked€Medina€on€aÐ öF Ðnumber€of€occasions€and€killed€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€members€in€brutal€and€degrading€ways.€The€authorÐ Ü, Ðstates€that€hot€oil€was€poured€over€their€heads,€scalding€their€bodies.€Sometimes,€when€theyÐ Â Ðreceived€warnings€about€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€raids,€the€family€would€flee€Medina€for€short€periods€ofÐ ¨ø Ðtime.€On€one€occasion,€upon€returning€after€such€a€flight,€the€author€learnt€that€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_ÔÐ ŽÞ Ðmilitia€had€searched€the€town€with€a€list€of€names€of€people€they€were€looking€for,€includingÐ tÄ Ðthe€author€and€his€family.€After€one€year€of€constant€fear€the€family€fled€to€Ô_ÔAfgoiÔ_Ô.€On€theÐ Zª Ðday€of€the€flight,€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€attacked€again€and€the€author's€sister€was€raped€for€the€secondÐ @ Ðtime€by€a€member€of€the€militia.€In€December€1992,€the€author€heard€that€the€United€NationsÐ &v Ðwas€sending€troops€to€Somalia€and€that€the€family€would€be€protected€if€they€returned€toÐ  \ ÐMogadishu.€However,€the€author€and€his€family€only€returned€as€far€as€Medina,€since€theyÐ òB Ðheard€that€the€situation€in€Mogadishu€had€in€fact€not€changed.€Ð Ø( ÐÌ5.10€After€another€year€in€Medina,€the€family€once€again€fled€to€Ô_ÔAfgoiÔ_Ô€and€from€there€toÐ ¤ô ÐÔ_ÔUgunjiÔ_Ô,€where€they€stayed€for€two€years€in€relative€peace€before€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€arrived€in€theÐ Š Ú Ðarea€and€enslaved€the€members€of€minority€clans€and€peasants€living€there,€including€theÐ p!À  Ðauthor.€The€indigenous€villagers€also€had€pale€skin,€therefore€the€militia€never€questionedÐ V"¦! Ðthe€author€and€his€family€about€their€background.€However,€when€the€family€learnt€thatÐ <#Œ" ÐÔ_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€elders€were€coming€to€the€village€they€once€again€fled,€knowing€that€they€would€beÐ "$r# Ðrecognized.€In€the€course€of€the€following€months€the€author€went€back€and€forth€betweenÐ %X $ ÐMedina€and€Ô_ÔAfgoiÔ_Ô.€Finally,€the€family€managed€to€leave€the€country€by€truck€to€Kenya.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ5.11€In€addition€to€the€grounds€previously€mentioned,€the€risk€to€the€author€is€increased€byÐ º' #' Ðthe€national€and€international€publicity€which€his€particular€case€has€received.€For€example,Ð  (ð#( ÐAmnesty€International€has€issued€an€Urgent€Action€in€the€name€of€the€author;€Reuters€newsÐ †)Ö$) Ðagency,€the€BBC€Somali€Service€and€other€international€media€have€reported€on€theÐ l*¼%* Ðsuspension€of€the€author's€expulsion€following€the€request€of€the€Committee;€theÐ R+¢&+ Ðindependent€expert€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€on€the€situation€of€human€rightsÐ 8,ˆ', Ðin€Somalia€has€appealed€in€the€author's€case€and€made€reference€to€it€both€in€her€report€toÐ -n(- Ðthe€Commission€on€Human€Rights€and€in€oral€statements,€indicating€that€"[a]€case€currentlyÐ ° Ðpending€in€Australia€concerning€a€forced€return€to€Mogadishu€of€a€Somali€national€isÐ –æ Ðparticularly€alarming,€due€to€the€precedent€it€will€create€in€returning€individuals€to€areasÐ |Ì Ðundergoing€active€conflict."òò€12óóÐ b² ÐÌ5.12€Counsel€also€submits€that€the€danger€of€torture€faced€by€the€author€is€further€aggravatedÐ . ~ Ðowing€to€the€manner€in€which€the€State€party€intends€to€carry€out€his€return.€According€toÐ  d Ðthe€return€plan,€the€author€is€to€be€delivered€into€the€custody€of€private€security€"escorts"€inÐ ú J Ðorder€to€be€flown€to€Nairobi€via€Johannesburg€and€then€continue€unescorted€from€NairobiÐ à 0 Ðto€Mogadishu.€Counsel€submits€that€if€the€author€were€to€arrive€unescorted€in€NorthÐ Æ   ÐMogadishu,€at€an€airport€which€tends€to€be€used€only€by€humanitarian€relief€agencies,Ð ¬ ü  Ðwarlords€and€smugglers€and€which€is€controlled€by€one€of€the€clans€hostile€to€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô,€heÐ ’â  Ðwould€be€immediately€identifiable€as€an€outsider€and€would€be€at€increased€risk€of€torture.Ð xÈ  ÐIn€this€context€counsel€refers€to€written€interventions€from€various€non„governmentalÐ ^®  Ðsources€stating€that€a€Somali€arriving€in€Mogadishu€without€escort€or€help€to€get€through€theÐ D”  Ðso„called€"authorities"€would€in€itself€give€rise€to€scrutiny.€Ð *z  ÐÌ5.13€With€reference€to€the€State€party's€comments€regarding€the€author's€credibility,€counselÐ öF Ðunderlines€that€throughout€the€author's€application€for€refugee€status,€the€credibility€of€theÐ Ü, Ðauthor€or€his€claims€have€never€been€an€issue.€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€accepted€the€author's€case€as€claimed€andÐ Â Ðclearly€found€the€applicant€a€credible€witness.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ5.14€Counsel€underlines€that€there€is€evidence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€orÐ tÄ Ðmass€violations€of€human€rights€in€Somalia,€although€the€lack€of€security€has€seriouslyÐ Zª Ðcompromised€the€ability€of€human€rights€monitors€to€document€comprehensively€individualÐ @ Ðcases€of€human€rights€abuses,€including€torture.€The€absence€of€case€studies€concerningÐ &v Ðtorture€of€persons€with€similar€"risk€characteristics"€as€the€author€cannot€therefore€lead€toÐ  \ Ðthe€conclusion€that€such€abuses€do€not€occur,€in€accordance€with€reports€from€òòinter€aliaóó€theÐ òB Ðindependent€expert€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€on€the€situation€of€human€rightsÐ Ø( Ðin€Somalia,€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô,€the€Office€for€the€Coordination€of€Humanitarian€Affairs€of€the€UnitedÐ ¾ ÐNations€and€Amnesty€International.€Counsel€further€underlines€that€the€author€is€a€memberÐ ¤ô Ðof€a€minority€clan€and€hence€is€recognized€by€all€sources€as€belonging€to€a€group€atÐ Š Ú Ðparticular€risk€of€becoming€the€victim€of€violations€of€human€rights.€The€State€party'sÐ p!À  Ðindication€of€the€existence€of€an€agreement€between€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clans€affordingÐ V"¦! Ðsome€sort€of€protection€to€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€is€categorically€refuted€by€counsel€on€the€basis€ofÐ <#Œ" Ðinformation€provided€by€reliable€sources,€and€is€considered€as€unreliable€and€impossible€toÐ "$r# Ðcorroborate.€Ð %X $ ÐÌ5.15€Finally,€counsel€draws€the€attention€of€the€author€to€the€fact€that€although€SomaliaÐ Ô&$"& Ðacceded€to€the€Convention€on€24€January€1990,€it€has€not€yet€recognized€the€competence€ofÐ º' #' Ðthe€Committee€to€receive€and€consider€communications€from€or€on€behalf€of€individualsÐ  (ð#( Ðunder€article€22.€If€returned€to€Somalia,€the€author€would€no€longer€have€the€possibility€ofÐ †)Ö$) Ðapplying€to€the€Committee€for€protection.€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌò òòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeóó€ó óÐ 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð6.1€The€Committee€notes€the€information€from€the€State€party€that€the€return€of€the€authorÐ ° Ðhas€been€suspended,€in€accordance€with€the€Committee's€request€under€rule€108,€paragraphÐ –æ Ð9€of€its€rules€of€procedure.€Ð |Ì ÐÌ6.2€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€againstÐ H˜ ÐTorture€must€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€InÐ . ~ Ðthis€respect€the€Committee€has€ascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraphÐ  d Ð5€(a)€of€the€Convention,€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€underÐ ú J Ðanother€procedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€The€Committee€also€notes€thatÐ à 0 Ðthe€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies€is€not€contested€by€the€State€party.€It€further€notes€theÐ Æ   ÐState€party's€view€that€the€communication€should€be€declared€inadmissible€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔmateriaeÔ_ÔóóÐ ¬ ü  Ðon€the€basis€that€the€Convention€is€not€applicable€to€the€facts€alleged,€since€the€acts€theÐ ’â  Ðauthor€will€allegedly€face€if€he€is€returned€to€Somalia€do€not€fall€within€the€definition€ofÐ xÈ  Ð"torture"€set€out€in€article€1€of€the€Convention.€The€Committee,€however,€is€of€the€opinionÐ ^®  Ðthat€the€State€party's€argument€raises€a€Ô_ÔsustantiveÔ_Ô€issue€which€should€be€dealt€with€at€theÐ D”  Ðmerits€and€not€the€admissibility€stage.€Since€the€Committee€sees€no€further€obstacles€toÐ *z  Ðadmissibility,€it€declares€the€communication€admissible.€Ð ` ÐÌ6.3€Both€the€author€and€the€State€party€have€provided€observations€on€the€merits€of€theÐ Ü, Ðcommunication.€The€Committee€will€therefore€proceed€to€examine€those€merits.€Ð  ÐÌ6.4€The€Committee€must€decide€whether€the€forced€return€of€the€author€to€Somalia€wouldÐ ŽÞ Ðviolate€the€State€party's€obligation,€under€article€3,€paragraph€1€of€the€Convention,€not€toÐ tÄ Ðexpel€or€return€(òòÔ_ÔrefoulerÔ_Ôóó)€an€individual€to€another€State€where€there€are€substantial€groundsÐ Zª Ðfor€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€In€order€to€reach€itsÐ @ Ðconclusion€the€Committee€must€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations,€including€theÐ &v Ðexistence€in€the€State€concerned€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violationsÐ  \ Ðof€human€rights.€The€aim,€however,€is€to€determine€whether€the€individual€concerned€wouldÐ òB Ðpersonally€risk€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he€or€she€would€return.€It€follows€that€theÐ Ø( Ðexistence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€aÐ ¾ Ðcountry€does€not€as€such€constitute€sufficient€grounds€for€determining€whether€the€particularÐ ¤ô Ðperson€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€that€country;Ð Š Ú Ðadditional€grounds€must€be€adduced€to€show€that€the€individual€concerned€would€beÐ p!À  Ðpersonally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€violations€of€humanÐ V"¦! Ðrights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€danger€of€being€subjectedÐ <#Œ" Ðto€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ6.5€The€Committee€does€not€share€the€State€party's€view€that€the€Convention€is€notÐ î%>!% Ðapplicable€in€the€present€case€since,€according€to€the€State€party,€the€acts€of€torture€the€authorÐ Ô&$"& Ðfears€he€would€be€subjected€to€in€Somalia€would€not€fall€within€the€definition€of€torture€setÐ º' #' Ðout€in€article€1€(i.e.€pain€or€suffering€inflicted€by€or€at€the€instigation€of€or€with€the€consentÐ  (ð#( Ðor€acquiescence€of€a€public€official€or€other€person€acting€in€an€official€capacity,€in€thisÐ †)Ö$) Ðinstance€for€discriminatory€purposes).€The€Committee€notes€that€for€a€number€of€yearsÐ l*¼%* ÐSomalia€has€been€without€a€central€government,€that€the€international€community€negotiatesÐ R+¢&+ Ðwith€the€warring€factions€and€that€some€of€the€factions€operating€in€Mogadishu€have€set€upÐ 8,ˆ', Ðquasi„governmental€institutions€and€are€negotiating€the€establishment€of€a€commonÐ -n(- Ðadministration.€It€follows€then€that,€de€facto,€those€factions€exercise€certain€prerogatives€thatÐ ° Ðare€comparable€to€those€normally€exercised€by€legitimate€governments.€Accordingly,€theÐ –æ Ðmembers€of€those€factions€can€fall,€for€the€purposes€of€the€application€of€the€Convention,Ð |Ì Ðwithin€the€phrase€"public€officials€or€other€persons€acting€in€an€official€capacity"€containedÐ b² Ðin€article€1.€Ð H˜ ÐÌ6.6€The€State€party€does€not€dispute€the€fact€that€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€humanÐ  d Ðrights€have€been€committed€in€Somalia.€Furthermore,€the€independent€expert€on€the€situationÐ ú J Ðof€human€rights€in€Somalia,€appointed€by€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights,€described€inÐ à 0 Ðher€latest€reportòò€13óó€the€severity€of€those€violations,€the€situation€of€chaos€prevailing€in€theÐ Æ   Ðcountry,€the€importance€of€clan€identity€and€the€vulnerability€of€small,€unarmed€clans€suchÐ ¬ ü  Ðas€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô,€the€clan€to€which€the€author€belongs.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ6.7€The€Committee€further€notes,€on€the€basis€of€the€information€before€it,€that€the€area€ofÐ ^®  ÐMogadishu€where€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€mainly€reside,€and€where€the€author€is€likely€to€reside€if€he€everÐ D”  Ðreaches€Mogadishu,€is€under€the€effective€control€of€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan,€which€has€establishedÐ *z  Ðquasi„governmental€institutions€and€provides€a€number€of€public€services.€Furthermore,Ð ` Ðreliable€sources€emphasize€that€there€is€no€public€or€informal€agreement€of€protectionÐ öF Ðbetween€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€and€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clans€and€that€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€remain€at€the€mercy€of€theÐ Ü, Ðarmed€factions.€Ð  ÐÌ6.8€In€addition€to€the€above,€the€Committee€considers€that€two€factors€support€the€author'sÐ ŽÞ Ðcase€that€he€is€particularly€vulnerable€to€the€kind€of€acts€referred€to€in€article€1€of€theÐ tÄ ÐConvention.€First,€the€State€party€has€not€denied€the€veracity€of€the€author's€claims€that€hisÐ Zª Ðfamily€was€particularly€targeted€in€the€past€by€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan,€as€a€result€of€which€hisÐ @ Ðfather€and€brother€were€executed,€his€sister€raped€and€the€rest€of€the€family€was€forced€to€fleeÐ &v Ðand€constantly€move€from€one€part€of€the€country€to€another€in€order€to€hide.€Second,€hisÐ  \ Ðcase€has€received€wide€publicity€and,€therefore,€if€returned€to€Somalia€the€author€could€beÐ òB Ðaccused€of€damaging€the€reputation€of€the€Hawiye.€Ð Ø( ÐÌ6.9€In€the€light€of€the€above€the€Committee€considers€that€substantial€grounds€exist€forÐ ¤ô Ðbelieving€that€the€author€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€returned€toÐ Š Ú ÐSomalia.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ7.€Accordingly,€the€Committee€is€of€the€view€that,€in€the€prevailing€circumstances,€the€StateÐ <#Œ" Ðparty€has€an€obligation,€in€accordance€with€article€3€of€the€Convention,€to€refrain€fromÐ "$r# Ðforcibly€returning€the€author€to€Somalia€or€to€any€other€country€where€he€runs€a€risk€of€beingÐ %X $ Ðexpelled€or€returned€to€Somalia.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ8.€Pursuant€to€rule€111,€paragraph€5,€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€the€Committee€would€wish€toÐ º' #' Ðreceive,€within€90€days,€information€on€any€relevant€measures€taken€by€the€State€party€inÐ  (ð#( Ðaccordance€with€the€Committee's€present€views.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ[Done€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€being€the€original€version.]€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌÐ -n(- Ðò òòòÌNotesó óóóÐ –æ ÐÐ Ð1.€Letter€dated€7€September€1998€addressed€to€the€author's€counsel.€Ð b² ÐÌ2.€Communication€No.€83/1997,€òòÔ_ÔG.R.B.Ô_Ô€v.€Swedenóó,€15€May€1998,€para.€6.5.€Ð . ~ ÐÌ3.€Herman€Burgers€and€Hans€Ô_ÔDaneliusÔ_Ô,€òòThe€United€Nations€Convention€against€Torture:€AÐ ú J ÐHandbook€on€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€DegradingÐ à 0 ÐTreatment€or€Punishmentóó€(1988).€Ð Æ   ÐÌ4.€Ibid.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ5.€Ibid.€Ð ^®  ÐÌ6.€Ibid.€Ð *z  ÐÌ7.€E/CN.4/L.1470,€12€March€1979,€para.€18.€Ð öF ÐÌ8.€òòAhmed€v.€Austriaóó,€Case€No.€71/1995/577/663,€27€November€1996.€Ð  ÐÌ9.€Report€of€the€independent€expert€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights,€Ms.€MonaÐ ŽÞ ÐRishmawi,€on€the€situation€of€human€rights€in€Somalia,€E/CN.4/1999/103,€23€DecemberÐ tÄ Ð1998,€para.€154.€Ð Zª ÐÌ10.€Communication€No.€101/1997,€òòÔ_ÔHalilÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHaydinÔ_Ô€v.€Swedenóó,€16€December€1998Ð &v Ð(CAT/C/21/D/101/1997),€para.€6.5.€Ð  \ ÐÌ11.€Communication€No.€34/1995,€òòÔ_ÔSeidÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔMortesaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAemeiÔ_Ô€v.€Switzerlandóó,€29€May€1998Ð Ø( Ð(CAT/C/18/D/34/1995),€para.€9.6.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ12.€Oral€statement€on€the€situation€of€human€rights€in€Somalia,€delivered€on€22€April€1999Ð Š Ú Ðbefore€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ13.€E/CN.4/1999/103,€of€18€February€1999.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÓÚAÓ