’WPCE Ū5,†ŻjV ¼ż“ZåMA®£āŅų©a& ˆqą“Q“XeĢ]‹žĶ R‡„?ɆK­õĻ«Sr‘ćd½Må'T=w›š¶Vä²ßßS:tr¶?1«H„*Ių «¾ė«Źńw7–¶xE1i…‚BLžC›’<ŠćČfšĖ‚ņĒ†£ĪPa‡{YŃ æcT`Al)‘lŪ,<Ī§ÕIļJ¾”dł+6™ŒäŲ &Švžż:‚O¼ŪAćx©M”ŠĆĄFī{\wÖßkĒ»ō¾oÖCžGr”$K6Ūž&é5yX.F  ¼y+ f#qpD”gi tßš6’®×¤Ę¼Q¶#įīā»ROמ“äŽ^E•6āņTĘ½ž(<ü"ąM#4 XkōĢ˜ćšŌö~ĄgĀ¦ÉvY’w·įŹģ@6źė»?:™sÕÕķĮ„‡Éz%»wMņńUßL|°[OdĖ°’ß<ŅĻ¤¬l•½Ģ5gĶĶŪr{æiž9ör„F;Ć>Ć^9‚$2Ś_Į&®Č¼gsĪųŲ'ų9öŗų”C|¢_÷_~ņDø©}7RļZZ¶ł@8ōEńO®¬n§;ŌiSe·1øķ£I¾ūp^Va£®>TØiÜ£ģ[w³d ^Ńö #ĮØUNi %· 0:½^ ÷w4* m,NC˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ō[†ų* Äpģ* DocumeĄ¦3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄŻ ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREŠ ° ŠĢņņŌ_ŌArkauzŌ_Ō€Ō_Ōv.Ō_Ō€FranceóóŠ ą ŠĢCommunication€No€63/1997Š pĄ ŠĢ9€November€1999Š P   ŠĢCAT/C/23/D/63/1997Š 0 € ŠĢĢVIEWSó óŠ P  ŠĢĢņņņņSubmitted€byóó:€Ō_ŌJosuŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌArkauzŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌAranaŌ_Ō€[represented€by€counsel]Š Š  ŠĢņņAlleged€victimóó:€The€authorŠ ° ŠĢņņState€partyóó:€FranceŠ ą ŠĢņņDate€of€communicationóó:€16€December€1996óóŠ pĄ ŠĢĢņņÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andŠ @ ŠOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Š 0€ ŠĢņņMeetingóó€on€9€November€1999,€Š ` ŠĢņņHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€63/1997,€submitted€to€the€CommitteeŠ š@ Šagainst€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€orŠ ą0 ŠDegrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Š Š  ŠĢņņHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€the€communicationŠ °"  Šand€the€State€party,€Š  #š! ŠĢņņAdoptsóó€the€following€decision:€Š €%Š # ŠĢĢ1.1€The€author€of€the€communication€is€Ō_ŌJosuŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌArkauzŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌAranaŌ_Ō,€a€Spanish€national.€He€is€representedŠ P( #& Šby€counsel.€Mr.€Ō_ŌArkauzŌ_Ō€applied€to€the€Committee€on€16€December€1996€claiming€to€be€a€victim€ofŠ @)$' Šviolations€by€France€of€articles€3€and€16€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,Š 0*€%( ŠInhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment€because€of€his€deportation€to€Spain.€Š  +p&) ŠĢ1.2€In€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€brought€theŠ -P(+ Šcommunication€to€the€attention€of€the€State€party€on€13€January€1997.€At€the€same€time,€acting€underŠ š-@), ŠŌ_Ōrule€108,€paragraph€9,€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€the€Committee€requested€the€State€party€not€to€expelŠ ° ŠMr.€Ō_ŌArkauzŌ_Ō€to€Spain€while€his€communication€was€being€considered.€Š  š ŠĢņņThe€facts€as€submitted€by€the€author€óóŠ €Š ŠĢ2.1€The€author,€who€is€of€Basque€origin,€states€that€he€left€Spain€in€1983€following€numerous€arrestsŠ ` ° Šof€persons€reportedly€belonging€to€ETA,€the€Basque€separatist€movement,€by€the€security€forces€inŠ P   Šhis€native€village€and€nearby.€Many€of€the€persons€arrested,€some€of€whom€were€his€childhoodŠ @  Šfriends,€were€subjected€to€torture.€During€the€interrogations€and€torture€sessions,€the€name€of€Ō_ŌJosuŌ_ŌŠ 0 € ŠŌ_ŌArkauzŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌAranaŌ_Ō€had€been€one€of€those€most€frequently€mentioned.€Sensing€that€he€was€a€wantedŠ  p  Šperson€and€in€order€to€avoid€being€tortured,€he€fled.€In€1984€his€brother€was€arrested.€In€the€courseŠ `  Šof€several€torture€sessions€the€members€of€the€security€forces€asked€the€latter€questions€about€theŠ P  Šauthor€and€said€that€Ō_ŌJosuŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌArkauzŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌAranaŌ_Ō€would€be€executed€by€the€Anti-Terrorist€Liberation€GroupsŠ š@  Š(GAL).€Š ą0  ŠĢ2.2€Several€murders€of€Basque€refugees€and€attempts€on€the€lives€of€others€took€place€close€to€whereŠ Ą Šthe€author€was€working€in€Bayonne.€The€author€further€states€that€the€officer€in€charge€of€the€Ō_ŌBiarritzŌ_ŌŠ ° Špolice€station€summoned€him€in€late€1984€to€notify€him€of€his€fears€that€an€attempt€on€his€life€wasŠ  š Šbeing€prepared€and€that€the€author's€administrative€file,€which€contained€all€the€informationŠ ą Šnecessary€to€locate€him,€had€been€stolen.€He€was€therefore€obliged€to€leave€his€work€and€lead€aŠ €Š Šclandestine€existence.€Throughout€the€period€of€his€concealment,€his€relatives€and€friends€wereŠ pĄ Šcontinually€harassed€by€the€Spanish€security€forces.€In€June€1987€his€brother-in-law€was€arrested€andŠ `° Štortured€in€an€effort€to€make€him€reveal€the€author's€whereabouts.€Š P  ŠĢ2.3€In€March€1991€the€author€was€arrested€on€the€charge€of€belonging€to€ETA€and€sentenced€to€eightŠ 0€ Šyears'€imprisonment€for€criminal€conspiracy€("association€de€Ō_ŌmalfaiteursŌ_Ō").€He€began€serving€hisŠ  p Šsentence€in€Saint-Ō_ŌMaurŌ_Ō€prison€and€was€due€to€be€released€on€13€January€1997.€However,€on€10€JulyŠ ` Š1992,€he€was€further€sentenced€to€a€three-year€ban€from€French€territory.€He€filed€an€appeal€againstŠ P Šthe€decision€to€ban€him€with€the€Paris€Court€of€Major€Jurisdiction€in€October€1996,€but€no€actionŠ š@ Šwas€taken.€Š ą0 ŠĢ2.4€On€15€November€1996€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior€commenced€a€proceeding€for€the€author'sŠ Ą! Šdeportation€from€French€territory.€A€deportation€order€can€be€enforced€by€the€administration€exŠ °"  Šofficio€and€means€that€the€person€concerned€is€automatically€taken€to€the€border.€The€author€appliedŠ  #š! Što€the€Administrative€Court€of€Limoges€on€13€December€1996€requesting€the€annulment€of€theŠ $ą" Šdeportation€order€which€might€be€made€out€against€him€and€a€stay€of€execution€of€such€an€order€ifŠ €%Š # Šit€were€to€be€issued.€However,€his€application€for€a€stay€of€execution€was€rejected€by€a€ruling€of€15Š p&Ą!$ ŠJanuary€1997,€the€court€having€taken€the€view€that€handing€over€the€author€would€not€be€likely€toŠ `'°"% Šhave€irreversible€consequences€for€him.€An€appeal€from€this€ruling€was€not€possible€because€theŠ P( #& Šdeportation€measure€had€already€been€implemented.€Š @)$' ŠĢ2.5€On€10€December€1996€the€author€began€a€hunger€strike€to€protest€against€his€deportation.€Later,Š  +p&) Šbecause€of€his€deteriorating€health,€the€author€was€transferred€to€the€local€prison€at€Ō_ŌFresnesŌ_Ō,€in€theŠ ,`'* ŠParis€region,€where€he€again€went€on€strike,€refusing€to€take€liquids.€Š -P(+ ŠŠ š-@), ŠŌ_Ō2.6€On€17€December€1996€the€author€was€informed€that€the€Deportation€Board€of€the€IndreŠ ° ŠPrefecture€had€rendered€an€opinion€in€favour€of€his€deportation,€considering€that€his€presence€inŠ  š ŠFrench€territory€constituted€a€serious€threat€to€public€order.€The€Board€did,€however,€remind€theŠ ą ŠMinistry€of€the€Interior€of€the€law€stipulating€that€an€alien€could€not€be€removed€to€another€countryŠ €Š Šwhere€his€life€or€liberty€might€be€threatened€or€where€he€could€be€exposed€to€treatment€contrary€toŠ pĄ Šarticle€3€of€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights.€Following€this€opinion,€a€ministerialŠ ` ° Šdeportation€order€was€issued€on€13€January€1997€and€communicated€that€day€to€the€author.€He€wasŠ P   Šat€the€same€time€notified€of€a€decision€indicating€that€the€order€of€deportation€to€Spain€was€beingŠ @  Šput€into€effect.€The€deportation€measure€was€implemented€the€same€day,€after€a€medical€examinationŠ 0 € Šhad€concluded€that€Mr.€Arkauz€could€be€transported€by€car€to€the€Spanish€border.€Š  p  ŠĢ2.7€By€a€letter€of€17€March€1997€the€author€informed€the€Committee€that€his€deportation€to€SpainŠ P  Šhad€taken€place€on€13€January€1997.€He€reported€having€been€ill-treated€and€threatened€by€theŠ š@  ŠFrench€police€and€described€the€incidents€which€occurred€in€Spain€after€his€deportation.€Š ą0  ŠĢ2.8€The€author€claims€to€have€suffered€greatly€during€the€journey€to€Spain€because€of€his€extremeŠ Ą Šweakness.€He€states€that€while€being€driven€from€Fresnes€to€the€Spanish€border,€a€distance€of€nearlyŠ ° Š1,000€kilometres€covered€in€seven€hours,€he€was€seated€between€two€police€officers,€with€his€handsŠ  š Šcuffed€behind€his€back,€and€he€experienced€very€considerable€back€pain€because€he€suffers€fromŠ ą Šdegenerative€discopathy.€The€police€officers€are€said€to€have€stopped€at€one€point€and€ordered€Mr.Š €Š ŠArkauz€to€get€out€of€the€vehicle.€Since€he€was€unable€to€move,€the€police€officers€reportedly€threwŠ pĄ Šhim€to€the€ground€and€beat€him.€He€adds€that€the€police€officers€intimidated€him€throughout€theŠ `° Šjourney€and€that€the€treatment€to€which€he€was€subjected€is€contrary€to€article€16€of€the€Convention.€Š P  ŠĢ2.9€As€soon€as€he€had€been€handed€over€to€the€Spanish€Civil€Guard€he€was€placed€in€incommunicadoŠ 0€ Šdetention.€A€forensic€physician€is€said€to€have€examined€him€and€pronounced€him€fit€to€travel€onŠ  p Što€Madrid€under€certain€conditions,€since€his€health€had€been€very€much€affected€by€the€hungerŠ ` Šstrike.€He€states€that€he€was€slapped€on€the€ears€and€about€the€head€during€the€journey€of€about€500Š P Škilometres€to€Madrid.€He€also€claims€to€have€been€constantly€told€that€he€would€later€be€tortured€andŠ š@ Škilled.€On€entering€Madrid,€the€officials€are€said€to€have€thrust€his€head€between€his€knees€so€thatŠ ą0 Šhe€would€not€know€where€he€was€being€taken,€namely€to€the€Civil€Guard€Headquarters€in€Madrid.Š Š  ŠHe€says€that€he€fainted€from€exhaustion.€When€revived,€he€was€reportedly€subjected€to€longŠ Ą! Šinterrogation€sessions.€He€was€allegedly€forced€to€remain€seated,€with€his€legs€apart,€in€a€positionŠ °"  Šthat€caused€him€very€considerable€back€pain.€With€his€eyes€covered,€he€was€reportedly€slapped€allŠ  #š! Šover€his€body.€He€was€also€allegedly€subjected€to€loud€hand€claps€and€whistling€close€to€his€ears€andŠ $ą" Štold€in€detail€about€the€methods€and€long€sessions€of€torture€that€would€be€inflicted€on€him.€At€oneŠ €%Š # Špoint,€the€guards€are€said€to€have€ripped€his€clothes€off,€while€continuing€to€beat€him.€Later,€withŠ p&Ą!$ Šsome€guards€holding€his€legs€and€others€his€arms,€he€was€allegedly€subjected€to€"la€bolsa"ņņ€1óó€and€atŠ `'°"% Šthe€same€time€beaten€on€the€testicles.€He€reportedly€then€lost€consciousness.€When€revived€and€stillŠ P( #& Šmasked,€he€was€reportedly€again€seated€on€a€chair,€with€his€legs€spread€apart€and€his€arms€held€toŠ @)$' Šhis€legs.€The€guards€allegedly€brought€electrodes€close€to€him.€As€he€tried€to€move€away,€heŠ 0*€%( Šreportedly€received€a€direct€shock.€Š  +p&) ŠĢ2.10€Some€officials€reportedly€tried€to€persuade€him€to€cooperate€with€them,€using€emotionalŠ -P(+ Šarguments€concerning€his€wife€and€two€children,€but€the€author€says€that€he€refused€to€cooperate.Š š-@), ŠHe€was€reportedly€then€examined€by€a€doctor.€After€the€doctor€left,€he€was€reportedly€masked€againŠ ° Šand€beaten€about€the€ears€and€the€head.€Another€examination€was€made€by€a€doctor,€who€reportedlyŠ  š Šstated€that€the€author€was€close€to€suffering€from€tachycardia.€The€interrogations€and€threatsŠ ą Šcontinued€and€a€third€visit€was€made€by€the€doctor€some€hours€later.€Meanwhile,€his€wife€met€theŠ €Š Šjudge€on€15€January€1997.€She€expressed€fears€concerning€her€husband's€state€of€health€and€askedŠ pĄ Što€see€him,€but€this€request€was€denied.€On€the€forensic€physician's€advice,€the€author€was€transferredŠ ` ° Što€a€hospital.€After€being€injected€with€serum€and€undergoing€various€tests,€he€was€returned€to€CivilŠ P   ŠGuard€Headquarters.€During€the€day€of€16€January,€out€of€fear€of€reprisals,€he€signed€a€statementŠ @  Šbefore€a€designated€lawyer€which€the€Civil€Guard€officers€had€themselves€dictated.€That€evening€heŠ 0 € Šwas€brought€before€the€judge,€who€had€just€lifted€the€incommunicado€order.€He€was€also€examinedŠ  p  Šby€a€forensic€physician€appointed€by€the€family.€This€physician€concluded€that€the€allegations€ofŠ `  Šill-treatment€represented€coherent€testimony.ņņ2óó€On€17€January€1997,€Mr.€Arkauz€was€visited€by€aŠ P  Šdelegation€of€the€European€Committee€for€the€Prevention€of€Torture€and€Inhuman€or€DegradingŠ š@  ŠTreatment€or€Punishment€(CPT)ņņ€3óó€in€Soto€del€Real€prison.€On€10€March€1997€he€filed€a€complaintŠ ą0  Šof€torture.€Š Š  ŠĢņņThe€complaint€óóŠ ° ŠĢ3.1€In€his€communication€of€16€December€1996€the€author€stated€that€his€forcible€return€to€Spain€andŠ ą Šhanding€over€to€the€Spanish€security€forces€constituted€a€violation€by€France€of€articles€3€and€16€ofŠ €Š Šthe€Convention€against€Torture.€Š pĄ ŠĢ3.2€The€author€referred€first€to€article€22,€paragraph€5€(b),€of€the€Convention€and€claimed€that€theŠ P  Šdomestic€remedies€available€against€warrants€of€deportation€were€neither€useful€nor€effective,€sinceŠ @ Šthey€had€no€suspensive€effect€and€the€courts€would€reach€a€decision€long€after€the€deportation€hadŠ 0€ Šbeen€carried€out.€In€addition,€the€procedures€were€unreasonably€prolonged.€The€admissibilityŠ  p Šrequirement€of€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies€was€therefore€said€not€to€be€applicable€in€this€case.€Š ` ŠĢ3.3€The€author€submitted€that€his€origin,€political€affiliation€and€conviction€in€France€and€the€threatsŠ š@ Šdirected€against€him,€his€family€and€friends€provided€substantial€grounds€for€fearing€that€he€wouldŠ ą0 Šbe€mistreated€in€custody€and€that€the€Spanish€police€would€use€every€possible€means,€includingŠ Š  Štorture,€to€obtain€information€about€ETA€activities€from€him.€The€danger€was€all€the€more€realŠ Ą! Šbecause€the€author€had€been€portrayed€in€the€press€by€the€Spanish€authorities€as€an€ETA€leader.€Š °"  ŠĢ3.4€The€handing-over€of€the€author€to€the€Spanish€security€forces€was€a€"disguised€extradition"€forŠ $ą" Šthe€purpose€of€his€incarceration€and€conviction€in€Spain.€It€was€an€administrative€procedure€that€didŠ €%Š # Šnot€arise€from€an€extradition€request€made€by€the€Spanish€judicial€authorities.€The€five€days€of€policeŠ p&Ą!$ Šcustody€and€incommunicado€detention€to€which€Mr.€Arkauz€could€be€subjected€under€the€SpanishŠ `'°"% Šlaw€on€terrorism€would€be€used€to€obtain€from€him€the€confessions€needed€for€him€to€be€charged.Š P( #& ŠDuring€this€period€he€would€not€be€given€the€protection€of€the€judicial€authorities€to€which€he€wouldŠ @)$' Šhave€been€entitled€had€he€been€extradited.€The€lack€of€jurisdictional€guarantees€thus€increased€theŠ 0*€%( Šrisk€of€torture.€Š  +p&) ŠĢ3.5€In€support€of€his€claims,€the€author€mentioned€the€cases€of€several€Basque€prisoners€who€hadŠ -P(+ Šallegedly€been€tortured€by€the€Spanish€police€between€1986€and€1996€after€being€expelled€fromŠ š-@), ŠFrench€territory€and€handed€over€to€the€Spanish€security€forces€at€the€border.€In€addition,€he€citedŠ ° Šthe€reports€of€various€international€bodies€and€non-governmental€organizations€which€had€expressedŠ  š Štheir€concern€at€the€use€of€torture€and€ill-treatment€in€Spain€and€at€the€Spanish€legislation€enablingŠ ą Špersons€suspected€of€belonging€to€or€collaborating€with€armed€groups€to€be€held€incommunicadoŠ €Š Šfor€five€days,€as€well€as€regarding€the€impunity€apparently€enjoyed€by€the€perpetrators€of€acts€ofŠ pĄ Štorture.€The€combination€of€these€various€factors€(existence€of€an€administrative€practice,€seriousŠ ` ° Šdeficiencies€in€the€protection€of€persons€deprived€of€their€liberty€and€lack€of€punishment€for€officialsŠ P   Šemploying€torture)€provided€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€author€was€in€real€danger€ofŠ @  Šbeing€subjected€to€torture.€Lastly,€he€expressed€his€fears€regarding€the€conditions€of€detention€toŠ 0 € Šwhich€he€would€be€submitted€if€he€was€imprisoned€in€Spain.€Š  p  ŠĢ3.6€In€his€communication€of€16€December€1996€the€author€also€stated€that€during€his€transfer€to€theŠ P  Šborder€there€was€a€risk€that€he€would€be€subjected€to€ill-treatment€contrary€to€article€16€of€theŠ š@  ŠConvention,€since€the€police€could€use€force€and€he€would€be€completely€isolated€from€his€familyŠ ą0  Šand€counsel.€Š Š  ŠĢ3.7€In€his€letter€of€17€March€1997,€the€author€reiterates€that€there€was€a€violation€by€the€State€partyŠ ° Šof€articles€3€and€16€of€the€Convention€and,€subsidiarily,€of€articles€2€and€22.€In€seeking€to€justify€hisŠ  š Šsurrender€to€the€Spanish€security€forces,€France€is€said€to€have€violated€article€2€of€the€Convention.Š ą ŠFrance€reportedly€sought€to€justify€that€action€on€the€basis€of€necessary€solidarity€between€EuropeanŠ €Š ŠStates€and€cooperation€against€terrorism.€However,€neither€the€situation€of€acute€conflict€prevailingŠ pĄ Šin€the€Basque€country,€nor€solidarity€between€European€States,€nor€the€fight€against€terrorism€canŠ `° Šjustify€the€practice€of€torture€by€the€Spanish€security€forces.€Š P  ŠĢ3.8€The€author€further€submits€that,€by€proceeding€with€his€deportation€and€surrendering€him€to€theŠ 0€ ŠSpanish€security€forces,€despite€the€Committee's€request€not€to€expel€him,€the€State€party€violatedŠ  p Šarticle€22€of€the€Convention€because€the€individual€remedy€provided€for€by€that€article€was€renderedŠ ` Šinoperative.€He€believes€that€the€State€party's€attitude€under€those€circumstances€amounts€to€a€denialŠ P Šof€the€binding€nature€of€the€Convention.€Š š@ ŠĢ3.9€The€author€also€criticizes€the€French€authorities€for€the€late€notification€of€the€deportation€orderŠ Š  Šand€its€immediate€execution,€the€sole€purpose€of€which,€in€his€view,€was€to€deprive€him€of€anyŠ Ą! Šcontact€with€his€family€and€counsel,€to€prevent€him€from€effectively€preparing€his€defence€and€toŠ °"  Šplace€him€at€a€psychological€disadvantage.€He€submits€that€it€was€consequently€impossible€inŠ  #š! Špractice€for€him€to€enter€any€appeal€between€the€time€of€notification€of€the€deportation€order€and€itsŠ $ą" Šimmediate€execution.€Š €%Š # ŠĢņņState€party's€observations€on€admissibilityóóŠ `'°"% ŠĢ4.1€In€a€reply€dated€31€October€1997,€the€State€party€disputes€the€admissibility€of€theŠ @)$' Šcommunication.€It€indicates€that€on€13€January€1997,€the€day€on€which€the€deportation€order€wasŠ 0*€%( Šissued€and€carried€out,€it€had€not€known€of€the€Committee's€request€for€a€stay€of€execution,€whichŠ  +p&) Šwas€received€on€14€January€1997,€and€it€therefore€could€not€have€taken€it€into€consideration.€It€addsŠ ,`'* Šthat€the€immediate€and€rapid€expulsion€was€necessary€for€reasons€of€public€order.€Š -P(+ ŠŠ š-@), Š4.2€The€State€party€considers€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible€on€the€ground€ofŠ ° Šnon-exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies.€If,€in€view€of€the€nature€of€the€alleged€violation,€theŠ  š ŠCommittee€were€nevertheless€to€consider€that€the€remedies€actually€sought€before€the€administrativeŠ ą Šand€judicial€courts€were€not€useful€since€they€had€no€suspensive€effect,€it€should€be€pointed€out€thatŠ €Š Šother€channels€of€recourse€were€open€to€the€author.€When€notified€of€the€deportation€order€and€theŠ pĄ Šorder€indicating€Spain€as€the€country€of€return,€he€could€have€applied€to€the€administrative€court€forŠ ` ° Ša€stay€of€execution€or€for€effect€to€be€given€to€article€L.10€of€the€Code€of€Administrative€Courts€andŠ P   ŠAdministrative€Courts€of€Appeal.€The€author€could€also,€when€notified€of€the€two€orders,€haveŠ @  Šcomplained€of€a€flagrant€irregularity€("voie€de€fait")€to€the€judicial€court€if€he€believed€that€hisŠ 0 € Štransfer€to€Spain€had€no€legal€justification€and€violated€a€fundamental€freedom.€According€to€theŠ  p  ŠState€party,€such€a€remedy€could€have€proved€effective€in€view€of€the€rapidity€with€which€the€judicialŠ `  Šcourt€is€required€to€act€and€its€recognized€authority€to€put€an€end€to€a€situation€which€constitutes€aŠ P  Šflagrant€irregularity.€Š š@  ŠĢ4.3€The€State€party€further€specifies€that,€in€order€to€obtain€a€rapid€decision,€the€complainant€couldŠ Š  Šhave€applied€to€the€interim€relief€judge€on€the€basis€of€article€485€of€the€new€Code€of€CivilŠ Ą ŠProcedure.ņņ4óó€It€grants€that€an€application€for€interim€relief€is€admissible€only€in€support€of€anŠ ° Šapplication€in€the€main€action,€but€argues€that€such€an€application€could€in€the€present€case€haveŠ  š Šbeen€made€for€damages€for€the€injury€suffered€as€a€result€of€the€irregularity.€Furthermore,€the€PrefectŠ ą Šwho€signed€the€orders€of€deportation€and€return€to€Spain€could€not€have€opposed€consideration€ofŠ €Š Šsuch€an€application€by€the€judicial€court€pursuant€to€article€136€of€the€Code€of€Criminal€Procedure.ņņ5óóŠ pĄ ŠĢņņComments€by€the€author€óóŠ P  ŠĢ5.1€In€his€comments€on€the€State€party's€reply,€the€author€recalls€the€facts€and€procedures€explainedŠ 0€ Šin€the€previous€communication€and€reiterates€his€observations€concerning€the€admissibility€of€theŠ  p Šcommunication.€With€regard€to€the€merits€of€the€case,€he€recalls€his€claims€concerning€the€personalŠ ` Šthreat€to€him€of€his€being€deported€to€Spain,€and€the€torture€and€ill-treatment€he€underwent.€Š P ŠĢ5.2€With€reference€to€the€request€for€a€stay€of€execution€of€the€deportation€order€made€by€theŠ ą0 ŠCommittee€on€13€January€1997,€the€author€disputes€the€claim€by€the€French€Government€that€it€hadŠ Š  Šnot€received€the€request€until€14€January€1997€and€therefore€did€not€have€time€to€take€it€intoŠ Ą! Šconsideration.€In€fact,€the€Government's€representative€was€informed€by€fax€of€the€request€made€byŠ °"  Šthe€Committee€on€13€January€1997,€well€before€the€author€was€notified€of€the€deportation€order€lateŠ  #š! Šin€the€day€on€13€January€1997.€The€author€also€says€that€he€was€handed€over€to€the€Civil€Guard€byŠ $ą" Šthe€French€police€only€on€14€January€1997.€During€the€transfer,€the€French€Government€could,Š €%Š # Šaccording€to€the€author,€have€contacted€its€officials€and€deferred€deportation.€Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢ5.3€The€author€further€argues€that€even€if€the€French€Government€had€not€received€the€Committee'sŠ P( #& Šrequest€until€14€January€1997,€it€had€the€obligation,€on€receiving€it,€under€article€3€of€theŠ @)$' ŠConvention,€to€intercede€with€the€Spanish€authorities,€through€diplomatic€channels,€for€example,€toŠ 0*€%( Šensure€that€the€author€was€protected€against€any€possible€ill-treatment.€He€specifies€that€he€wasŠ  +p&) Štortured€continuously€up€to€16€January€1997,€long€after€the€French€authorities€had€received€theŠ ,`'* ŠCommittee's€request.€Š -P(+ ŠŠ š-@), Š5.4€The€author€also€contests€the€State€party's€claim€that€his€immediate€and€rapid€deportation€wasŠ ° Šnecessary€for€reasons€of€public€order.€Although€he€was€in€Fresnes€prison,€the€French€authoritiesŠ  š Šchose€to€have€him€taken€to€the€Franco-Spanish€border,€which€was€the€furthest€from€Paris,€yet€as€aŠ ą ŠEuropean€citizen€Mr.€Arkauz€was€entitled€to€stay€and€move€freely€in€any€part€of€the€European€Union,Š €Š Šincluding€countries€with€much€less€distant€borders.€According€to€the€author,€this€is€further€evidenceŠ pĄ Šof€the€fact€that€the€French€authorities€deliberately€and€consciously€put€him€in€the€hands€of€theŠ ` ° ŠSpanish€security€forces.€Š P   ŠĢ5.5€With€regard€to€domestic€remedies,€the€author€first€of€all€submits€that€the€rule€of€the€exhaustionŠ 0 € Šof€domestic€remedies€concerns€available,€i.e.€accessible,€remedies.€However,€he€was€prevented€fromŠ  p  Šhaving€access€to€the€available€remedies.€The€deportation€order€was€carried€out€immediately€by€theŠ `  ŠFrench€police,€who€allegedly€forbade€him€to€warn€his€wife€and€counsel.€It€would€thus€have€beenŠ P  Šphysically€impossible€for€him€to€communicate€with€them€to€inform€them€that€he€had€been€notifiedŠ š@  Šof€the€deportation€order€and€to€ask€them€to€file€an€immediate€appeal€against€his€deportation.Š ą0  ŠFurthermore,€the€French€authorities€allegedly€refused€to€give€them€any€information€on€what€hadŠ Š  Šhappened€to€him.€Š Ą ŠĢ5.6€Secondly,€Mr.€Arkauz€argues€that,€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(b),€of€the€Convention,€the€ruleŠ  š Šof€the€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies€does€not€apply€when€their€application€is€unreasonablyŠ ą Šprolonged.€He€adds€that€domestic€remedies€against€deportation€must€have€an€immediate€andŠ €Š Šsuspensive€effect.€In€the€present€case,€however,€no€judge€could€have€made€a€ruling€within€aŠ pĄ Š"reasonable"€time,€since€the€decisions€in€question€were€enforced€immediately€the€person€concernedŠ `° Šhad€been€notified€of€them.€Š P  ŠĢ5.7€Thirdly,€Mr.€Arkauz€submits€that,€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(b),€the€rule€of€the€exhaustionŠ 0€ Šof€remedies€concerns€effective€and€adequate€remedies,€and€therefore€does€not€apply€if€the€remediesŠ  p Šare€unlikely€to€bring€relief€to€the€individual€concerned.€In€the€present€case,€neither€the€administrativeŠ ` Šremedy€nor€the€judicial€remedy€proposed€by€the€State€party€can€be€considered€effective€or€adequate.€Š P ŠĢ5.8€As€regards€the€administrative€remedy,€the€author€points€out€that,€as€a€preventive€measure,€he€hadŠ ą0 Šapplied€to€the€Administrative€Court€of€Limoges€against€his€deportation€and€that€the€court€hadŠ Š  Šreached€a€decision€on€that€application€only€after€the€deportation€had€been€carried€out.€In€responseŠ Ą! Što€the€State€party's€argument€that€he€could€have€reapplied€to€the€administrative€court,€on€beingŠ °"  Šnotified€of€the€deportation€order€and€of€the€order€indicating€Spain€as€the€country€of€return,€for€a€stayŠ  #š! Šof€execution€or€for€the€application€of€article€L.10€of€the€Code€of€Administrative€Courts€andŠ $ą" ŠAdministrative€Courts€of€Appeal,€Mr.€Arkauz€states€that€this€remedy€would€have€been€no€moreŠ €%Š # Šeffective€than€its€predecessor.€Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢ5.9€As€regards€the€judicial€remedy,€the€author€contests€the€theory€of€flagrant€irregularity€put€forwardŠ P( #& Šby€the€State€party.€He€states€that€this€theory€is€applicable€in€French€law€only€under€exceptionalŠ @)$' Šcircumstances,€in€particular€when€the€administration€has€taken€a€decision€which€manifestly€cannotŠ 0*€%( Šbe€related€to€a€power€conferred€upon€it€or€when€it€has€enforced€a€decision€of€its€own€volitionŠ  +p&) Šalthough€it€manifestly€did€not€have€the€authority€to€do€so,€which€is€not€the€case€in€the€presentŠ ,`'* Šinstance.€Mr.€Arkauz€quotes€rulings€of€the€Court€of€Conflicts€to€the€effect€that€neither€a€deportationŠ -P(+ Šdecision,€even€if€illegal,€nor€a€decision€to€enforce€it€may€be€termed€flagrant€irregularities,€and€henceŠ š-@), Šonly€the€administrative€courts€have€jurisdiction€in€such€matters.€Š ° ŠĢņņThe€Committee's€decision€on€admissibility€óóŠ ą ŠĢ6.1€At€its€twentieth€session€the€Committee€considered€the€question€of€the€admissibility€of€theŠ pĄ Šcommunication.€It€ascertained€that€the€same€matter€had€not€been,€and€was€not€being,€examined€underŠ ` ° Šanother€procedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€Insofar€as€the€exhaustion€of€domesticŠ P   Šremedies€is€concerned,€the€Committee€noted€that€no€decision€regarding€the€application€to€theŠ @  Šadministrative€court€requesting€the€suspension€of€the€deportation€measure€which€might€have€beenŠ 0 € Štaken€against€the€author€had€been€reached€when€the€measure€was€enforced.€Furthermore,€an€appealŠ  p  Šagainst€the€ministerial€deportation€order€issued€in€respect€of€the€complainant€on€13€January€1997Š `  Šwould€not€have€been€effective€or€even€possible,€since€it€would€not€have€had€a€suspensive€effect€andŠ P  Šthe€deportation€measure€was€enforced€immediately€following€notification€thereof,€leaving€the€personŠ š@  Šconcerned€no€time€to€seek€a€remedy.€The€Committee€therefore€found€that€article€22,€paragraph€5€(b),Š ą0  Šdid€not€preclude€it€from€declaring€the€communication€admissible.€Š Š  ŠĢ6.2€Accordingly,€the€Committee€decided€on€19€May€1998€that€the€communication€was€admissible.€Š ° ŠĢņņObservations€by€the€State€party€on€the€Committee's€decision€declaring€the€communicationŠ ą Šadmissibleóó€Š €Š ŠĢ7.1€In€a€reply€dated€4€January€1999€the€State€party€provides€information€concerning€the€question€ofŠ `° Šthe€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies.€It€maintains€that€the€author's€application€to€the€AdministrativeŠ P  ŠCourt€of€Limoges€cannot€be€considered€to€be€relevant,€since€it€does€not€concern€the€decisionŠ @ Šchallenged€before€the€Committee.€That€application,€filed€on€16€December€1996€in€the€court€registry,Š 0€ Šwas€directed€not€against€the€deportation€measure€in€dispute,€which€had€not€yet€been€taken,€butŠ  p Šagainst€a€deportation€measure€that€"might"€have€been€taken.€That€wording€alone€was€sufficient€toŠ ` Šrender€the€application€by€Mr.€Arkauz€inadmissible,€as€the€practice€of€the€administrative€courtsŠ P Šconsistently€requires€complainants€to€challenge€current€and€existing€decisions.€Therefore,€the€factŠ š@ Šthat€no€ruling€had€been€made€on€the€application€by€13€January€1997,€when€the€deportation€order€wasŠ ą0 Šissued,€does€not€appear€to€be€decisive€in€the€present€case.€The€judgement€was€reached€two€days€later,Š Š  Ši.e.€less€than€a€month€after€registration€of€the€application.€The€rendering€of€this€court€decision€wasŠ Ą! Šobviously€not€a€matter€of€the€greatest€urgency,€since€it€related€not€to€a€current€but€to€a€possibleŠ °"  Šmeasure.€Š  #š! ŠĢ7.2€The€author€failed€to€enter€an€appeal€against€the€ministerial€order€of€13€January€1997€calling€forŠ €%Š # Šhis€deportation€from€French€territory€and€against€the€decision€specifying€Spain€as€the€country€ofŠ p&Ą!$ Šdestination.€An€application€for€a€stay€of€execution€under€article€L.10€of€the€Code€of€AdministrativeŠ `'°"% ŠCourts€and€Administrative€Courts€of€Appeal,€a€possibility€of€which€the€complainant€was€clearly€notŠ P( #& Šunaware,€was€incontestably€the€appropriate€and€available€remedy.€It€was€not,€however,€used.€TheŠ @)$' ŠState€party€therefore€submits€that€the€Committee€should€declare€the€communication€inadmissibleŠ 0*€%( Šunder€rule€110,€paragraph€6,€of€its€rules€of€procedure.€Š  +p&) ŠĢ7.3€The€State€party€argues€that€the€execution€of€the€deportation€measure€in€question€in€no€wayŠ -P(+ Šstemmed€from€a€desire€on€the€part€of€the€Government€to€obviate€the€right€of€recourse€available€toŠ š-@), Šthe€person€concerned,€both€at€national€and€international€level.€More€specifically€as€regards€theŠ ° ŠCommittee's€recommendation€pursuant€to€rule€108€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€it€was€physicallyŠ  š Šimpossible€for€the€Government€to€have€known€on€13€January€1997,€the€day€on€which€the€deportationŠ ą Šorder€was€issued€and€put€into€effect,€of€the€request€for€a€stay€of€execution€made€by€the€CommitteeŠ €Š Šin€its€letter€of€13€January€1997,€that€letter€having€been€received€the€following€day€at€the€PermanentŠ pĄ ŠMission€of€France€to€the€United€Nations€in€Geneva,€as€attested€by€the€stamp€placed€on€the€saidŠ ` ° Šdocument€when€it€arrived.€It€was€therefore€impossible€for€the€request€to€be€taken€into€considerationŠ P   Šbefore€the€execution€of€the€measure.€Š @  ŠĢ7.4€The€deportation€measure€was€implemented€on€13€January€1997€since€on€that€date€the€author€hadŠ  p  Špaid€the€sum€he€owed€to€the€Treasury€following€his€court€conviction€and€there€was€then€no€reason,Š `  Šbearing€in€mind€the€threat€that€his€presence€would€represent€for€public€order€after€his€release,€to€deferŠ P  Ša€decision€to€call€for€and€proceed€with€his€deportation.€Although€the€author€claims€that€it€wasŠ š@  Šphysically€impossible€for€him€to€enter€an€appeal,€he€offers€no€proof€of€this,€and€he€certainly€does€notŠ ą0  Šdeny€that€the€notice€of€the€deportation€order,€which€he€refused€to€sign,€included€information€aboutŠ Š  Šthe€procedures€and€time-limits€for€an€appeal.€Š Ą ŠĢņņComments€by€the€author€óóŠ  š ŠĢ8.1€The€author€states€that€when€he€was€notified€of€the€deportation€order€and€of€the€decisionŠ €Š Šindicating€Spain€as€the€country€of€destination,€he€was€prevented€by€the€authorities€fromŠ pĄ Šcommunicating€with€his€wife€and€counsel.€Furthermore,€when€the€latter€asked€the€authorities€forŠ `° Šnews€about€the€author,€no€information€was€given€to€them.€Thus,€contrary€to€the€State€party'sŠ P  Šcontention,€it€was€made€impossible€for€the€author,€after€notification€of€the€deportation€order€andŠ @ Šbefore€its€execution,€to€apply€for€a€remedy,€to€be€brought€before€a€person€capable€of€receiving€suchŠ 0€ Šan€application€or€to€communicate€with€persons€who€could€have€acted€in€his€place.€Š  p ŠĢ8.2€The€author€indicates€that€the€applications€made€to€the€Administrative€Court€of€Limoges€wereŠ P Šreferred,€on€27€July€1998,€for€consideration€by€the€Administrative€Court€of€Pau,€which€rendered€itsŠ š@ Šjudgement€on€4€February€1999.€The€judgement€states€that€while€at€the€time€of€its€submission€theŠ ą0 Šrequest€was€premature,€the€issuance€of€the€orders€of€13€January€1997€calling€for€the€deportation€ofŠ Š  ŠMr.€Arkauz€and€his€return€to€Spain€had€the€effect€of€regularizing€the€request.€The€Court€also€foundŠ Ą! Šthe€handing€over€of€the€author€to€the€Spanish€security€forces€to€be€illegal€and€therefore€annulled€thatŠ °"  Šmeasure.€However,€an€appeal€to€a€French€administrative€court€has€no€suspensive€effect€and€theŠ  #š! ŠAdministrative€Court€of€Pau€did€not€reach€a€decision€on€the€author's€request€until€two€years€after€theŠ $ą" Šactual€implementation€of€the€deportation€order.€The€finding€of€the€author's€surrender€to€be€illegalŠ €%Š # Štherefore€has€only€a€symbolic€effect€in€the€circumstances€of€the€present€case.€Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢ8.3€Concerning€the€Committee's€request€for€the€suspension€of€the€deportation€order,€the€authorŠ P( #& Šreiterates€the€arguments€he€had€put€forward€in€that€connection.ņņ6óóŠ @)$' ŠĢņņState€party's€oberservations€on€the€merits€óóŠ  +p&) ŠĢ9.1€The€State€party€notes€that,€on€his€arrival€in€France,€the€author€was€given€temporary€permits€toŠ -P(+ Šstay€as€an€asylum€seeker€but€the€French€Office€for€the€Protection€of€Refugees€and€Stateless€PersonsŠ š-@), Š(OFPRA)€and€the€Refugee€Appeals€Board€rejected€his€asylum€request€in€1981.€Thereafter,€he€neitherŠ ° Šreapplied€for€refugee€status,€as€he€could€have€done,€nor€looked€for€another€country€prepared€to€acceptŠ  š Šhim,€although€his€situation€was€irregular€and€he€knew€that€he€might€be€subject€to€an€enforceableŠ ą Šmeasure€of€banishment.€In€1992€he€was€sentenced€to€eight€years'€imprisonment,€a€ten-yearŠ €Š Šprohibition€on€residence€and€a€three-year€ban€from€French€territory€for€conspiring€with€others€toŠ pĄ Šcommit€one€or€more€offences,€as€well€as€for€illegally€bearing€weapons,€keeping€explosives€andŠ ` ° Šmunitions€and€using€false€administrative€documents.€That€conviction€automatically€gave€rise€to€theŠ P   Špossibility€of€deportation.€Š @  ŠĢ9.2€The€State€party€indicates€that€the€real€risks€mentioned€by€the€author€were€evaluated€by€theŠ  p  Šnational€authorities€prior€to€implementation€of€the€deportation€procedure,€according€to€the€criteriaŠ `  Šdefined€in€article€3,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention.€Š P  ŠĢ9.3€Two€main€points€led€the€administration€to€believe€that€there€was€nothing€to€preventŠ ą0  Šimplementation€of€the€deportation€measure.€Firstly,€the€specialized€bodies€responsible€forŠ Š  Šdetermining€eligibility€for€political€refugee€status€had€rejected€the€author's€application€in€1981,Š Ą Šfeeling€that€the€fears€of€persecution€alleged€by€him€were€unfounded.€Secondly,€in€view€of€theŠ ° Šcommitments€made€by€Spain€regarding€the€protection€of€fundamental€freedoms,€the€FrenchŠ  š ŠGovernment,€although€certainly€not€unaware€that€the€person€concerned€might€be€subject€to€criminalŠ ą Šprosecution€in€that€country,€could€legitimately€feel€that€there€were€no€substantial€grounds€forŠ €Š Šbelieving€that€the€author€was€in€danger€of€being€tortured.€The€legitimacy€of€that€position€wasŠ pĄ Šconfirmed€by€the€European€Commission€of€Human€Rights,€which,€in€its€inadmissibility€decisionsŠ `° Šof€1998€in€two€cases€where€the€points€of€fact€and€law€were€perfectly€comparable,€considered€that€theŠ P  ŠFrench€Government€had€no€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€complainants€would€beŠ @ Šsubjected€to€torture€in€Spain.€The€Commission€noted€that€there€was€a€presumption€favourable€to€thatŠ 0€ Šcountry€concerning€respect€for€human€rights,€in€particular€on€account€of€its€accession€to€theŠ  p ŠEuropean€Convention,€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€and€the€OptionalŠ ` ŠProtocol€thereto.€It€also€made€reference€to€the€report€of€the€European€Committee€for€the€PreventionŠ P Šof€Torture,€which€stated€that€torture€could€not€be€regarded€as€common€practice€in€Spain.€Š š@ ŠĢ9.4€The€State€party€also€indicates€that,€before€being€taken€to€the€border,€Mr.€Arkauz€underwent€aŠ Š  Šmedical€examination,€which€concluded€that€he€was€in€a€fit€state€to€be€deported,€and€that€after€hisŠ Ą! Šarrest€and€detention€by€the€Spanish€authorities€he€was€again€seen€by€a€doctor.€Furthermore,€theŠ °"  Šprocedure€initiated€in€Spain€was€conducted€in€accordance€with€the€instructions€of€the€examiningŠ  #š! Šmagistrate€who€had€issued€international€arrest€warrants€and€authorized€the€transfer€of€Mr.€ArkauzŠ $ą" Što€Civil€Guard€Headquarters€in€Madrid,€so€that€he€could€be€heard€in€the€presence€of€a€lawyer.€Š €%Š # ŠĢ9.5€If€the€author€had€indeed€been€the€victim€of€acts€contrary€to€article€3€of€the€Convention,€aŠ `'°"% Šsupposition€which€might€be€verified€by€the€proceedings€under€way€in€Spain,€those€acts€could€onlyŠ P( #& Šbe€regarded€as€having€been€committed€by€isolated€individuals€in€breach€of€the€guidelines€laid€downŠ @)$' Šby€the€Spanish€State.€As€such,€they€could€not€have€been€foreseen€and€the€French€Government€cannotŠ 0*€%( Šbe€blamed€for€having€neither€suspected€nor€prevented€such€an€outcome.€Š  +p&) ŠĢ9.6€For€all€the€above€reasons,€no€failure€to€comply€with€the€provisions€of€article€3€of€the€ConventionŠ -P(+ Šcould€be€deemed€to€have€been€established.€Š š-@), Š‡9.7€As€to€the€claim€of€a€violation€of€article€16€of€the€Convention,€the€State€party€submits€that€theŠ ° Šauthor€cannot€effectively€invoke€the€provisions€set€forth€in€that€article,€which€are€inapplicableŠ  š Šbecause€the€territory€in€which€the€violations€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€were€allegedly€committedŠ ą Šis€not€under€the€jurisdiction€of€the€French€State.€Š €Š ŠĢņņComments€by€the€author€óóŠ ` ° ŠĢ10.1€The€author€reiterates€that€there€were€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€inŠ @  Špersonal€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€he€was€deported€to€Spain.€The€existence€of€such€aŠ 0 € Šdanger€was€confirmed€by€the€following€facts:€the€author€and€his€family€had€been€the€targets€ofŠ  p  Šthreats€and€harassment;€the€Anti-Terrorist€Liberation€Groups€(GAL)€were€preparing€an€attempt€onŠ `  Šhis€life;€and€he€had€been€handed€over€by€the€French€police€to€Civil€Guard€personnel€from€theŠ P  Šanti-terrorist€sections€of€the€Intxaurrondo€barracks,€which€had€been€publicly€accused,€inter€alia,€ofŠ š@  Šcommitting€acts€of€torture.€Furthermore,€during€his€interrogation€in€January€1997€the€Civil€GuardŠ ą0  Špersonnel€confirmed€to€him€that€they€had€prepared€an€assassination€attempt€against€him€while€he€wasŠ Š  Šliving€in€Bayonne;€and€he€had€been€portrayed€by€the€Spanish€authorities€as€an€important€figure€inŠ Ą ŠETA.€Š ° ŠĢ10.2€The€author€again€states€that€the€length€and€conditions€of€the€police€custody€are€conducive€to€theŠ ą Špractice€of€torture€and€other€forms€of€ill-treatment€by€the€Spanish€security€forces€and€that€theŠ €Š Šmachinery€for€supervision€and€forensic€medical€assistance€for€detainees€are€seriously€inadequate.Š pĄ ŠInquiries€into€the€circumstances€of€torture€are€very€difficult€and€when,€on€occasion,€they€areŠ `° Šcompleted,€the€procedures€are€very€long.€Š P  ŠĢ10.3€The€State€party€maintains€that€the€author€should€have€asked€for€political€refugee€status€on€theŠ 0€ Šgrounds€of€the€risks€to€his€life€and€liberty€in€the€event€of€his€return€to€Spain.€However,€for€politicalŠ  p Šreasons,€the€French€Government€no€longer€grants€such€status€to€Basques€applying€for€it.Š ` ŠFurthermore,€the€protection€arising€under€article€3€of€the€Convention€concerns€"everyone"€and€notŠ P Šjust€persons€applying€for€or€having€the€status€of€refugee.€Š š@ ŠĢ10.4€According€to€the€author,€the€State€party€is€making€an€erroneous€interpretation€of€the€findingsŠ Š  Šof€the€European€Committee€for€the€Prevention€of€Torture€(CPT).€The€latter€actually€stated€that€"itŠ Ą! Šwould€be€premature€to€conclude€that€the€phenomenon€of€torture€and€severe€ill-treatment€had€beenŠ °"  Šeradicated"€in€Spain.ņņ7óóŠ  #š! ŠĢ10.5€The€fact€that€Spain€is€a€party€to€the€Convention€and€has€recognized€the€competence€of€theŠ €%Š # ŠCommittee€under€article€22€does€not,€in€the€present€case,€constitute€a€sufficient€guarantee€of€theŠ p&Ą!$ Šauthor's€safety.€Š `'°"% ŠĢ10.6€Insofar€as€the€violation€of€article€16€of€the€Convention€is€concerned,€the€State€party€has€notŠ @)$' Šdenied€that€the€author€was€subjected€to€ill-treatment€during€his€transfer€to€the€border€post.€Those€actsŠ 0*€%( Šshould€have€been€the€subject€of€a€prompt€and€impartial€investigation€by€the€competent€authorities,Š  +p&) Šin€accordance€with€article€12€of€the€Convention.€However,€no€such€investigation€was€held.€The€StateŠ ,`'* Šparty€does€not€dispute€the€fact€that€the€author€was€illegally€handed€over€to€the€Spanish€security€forcesŠ -P(+ Šwhile€in€a€state€of€extreme€weakness,€after€35€days€of€a€hunger€strike€and€five€days€of€refusing€toŠ š-@), Štake€liquids.€The€fact€of€handing€over€a€person€under€such€circumstances€for€prolonged€interrogationŠ ° Šin€itself€constitutes€cruel,€inhuman€and€degrading€treatment.€In€addition,€at€the€time€of€theŠ  š Šdeportation,€the€medical€file€of€the€person€concerned€was€transmitted€by€the€French€police€to€theŠ ą ŠSpanish€Civil€Guard€officers.€Moreover,€the€medical€details€contained€in€this€file,€and€in€particularŠ €Š Šthe€fact€that€the€author€was€suffering€from€degenerative€discopathy,€were€used€during€the€policeŠ pĄ Šcustody€to€aggravate€the€author's€suffering,€notably€by€forcing€him€to€adopt€postures€designed€toŠ ` ° Šincrease€his€back€pain.€The€fact€of€having€supplied€the€medical€file€also€constitutes€cruel,€inhumanŠ P   Šand€degrading€treatment.€Š @  ŠĢņņIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committee€óóŠ  p  ŠĢ11.1€In€accordance€with€rule€110,€paragraph€6,€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€the€Committee€reconsideredŠ P  Šthe€question€of€admissibility€in€the€light€of€the€observations€made€by€the€State€party€concerning€theŠ š@  ŠCommittee's€decision€declaring€the€communication€admissible.€The€Committee€notes,€however,€thatŠ ą0  Šthe€application€made€by€the€author€to€the€Administrative€Court€of€Limoges€was€relevant€even€if,€atŠ Š  Šthe€time€of€its€submission,€the€deportation€measure€had€not€yet€been€taken.€This€was€confirmed€byŠ Ą Šthe€judgement€of€the€Administrative€Court€of€Pau,€which€stated€that€the€issuance€of€the€orders€of€13Š ° ŠJanuary€1997€calling€for€the€deportation€of€Mr.€Arkauz€and€his€return€to€Spain€had€the€effect€ofŠ  š Šregularizing€the€author's€application.€The€Committee€accordingly€found€no€reason€to€revoke€itsŠ ą Šdecision.€Š €Š ŠĢ11.2€The€Committee€notes€the€author's€allegations€that€he€was€ill-treated€by€the€French€policeŠ `° Šofficers€while€being€driven€to€the€Spanish€border.€The€Committee€considers,€however,€that€the€authorŠ P  Šhas€not€exhausted€the€domestic€remedies€available€in€this€respect.€It€therefore€declares€that€this€partŠ @ Šof€the€communication€is€not€admissible.€Š 0€ ŠĢ11.3€With€regard€to€the€substance€of€the€communication,€the€Committee€must€determine€whetherŠ ` Šthe€author's€deportation€to€Spain€violated€the€obligation€of€the€State€party,€under€article€3,€paragraphŠ P Š1,€of€the€Convention,€not€to€expel€or€return€a€person€to€another€State€where€there€are€substantialŠ š@ Šgrounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€In€doing€so€theŠ ą0 ŠCommittee€must€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations€with€a€view€to€determining€whetherŠ Š  Šthe€person€concerned€is€in€personal€danger.€Š Ą! ŠĢ11.4€The€Committee€recalls€that€during€the€consideration€of€the€third€periodic€report€submitted€byŠ  #š! ŠSpain€under€article€19€of€the€Convention,€it€had€expressed€its€concern€regarding€the€complaints€ofŠ $ą" Šacts€of€torture€and€ill-treatment€which€it€frequently€received.€It€also€noted€that,€notwithstanding€theŠ €%Š # Šlegal€guarantees€as€to€the€conditions€under€which€it€could€be€imposed,€there€were€cases€of€prolongedŠ p&Ą!$ Šdetention€incommunicado,€when€the€detainee€could€not€receive€the€assistance€of€a€lawyer€of€hisŠ `'°"% Šchoice,€which€seemed€to€facilitate€the€practice€of€torture.€Most€of€the€complaints€received€concernedŠ P( #& Štorture€inflicted€during€such€periods.ņņ8óó€Similar€concerns€had€already€been€expressed€during€theŠ @)$' Šconsideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€by€the€Committee,ņņ9óó€as€well€as€in€the€concludingŠ 0*€%( Šobservations€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee€regarding€the€fourth€periodic€report€submitted€byŠ  +p&) ŠSpain€under€article€40€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.ņņ10óó€Furthermore,Š ,`'* Šthe€European€Committee€for€the€Prevention€of€Torture€(CPT)€also€reported€complaints€of€torture€orŠ -P(+ Šill-treatment€received€during€its€visits€to€Spain€in€1991€and€1994,€in€particular€from€persons€detainedŠ š-@), Šfor€terrorist€activities.€The€CPT€concluded€that€it€would€be€premature€to€affirm€that€torture€andŠ ° Šsevere€ill-treatment€had€been€eradicated€in€Spain.ņņ11óó€Š  š ŠĢ11.5€The€Committee€notes€the€specific€circumstances€under€which€the€author's€deportation€tookŠ €Š Šplace.€First,€the€author€had€been€convicted€in€France€for€his€links€with€ETA,€had€been€sought€by€theŠ pĄ ŠSpanish€police€and€had€been€suspected,€according€to€the€press,€of€holding€an€important€positionŠ ` ° Šwithin€that€organization.€There€had€also€been€suspicions,€expressed€in€particular€by€someŠ P   Šnon-governmental€organizations,€that€other€persons€in€the€same€circumstances€as€the€author€had€beenŠ @  Šsubjected€to€torture€on€being€returned€to€Spain€and€during€their€incommunicado€detention.€TheŠ 0 € Šdeportation€was€effected€under€an€administrative€procedure,€which€the€Administrative€Court€of€PauŠ  p  Šhad€later€found€to€be€illegal,€entailing€a€direct€handover€from€police€to€police,ņņ12óó€without€theŠ `  Šintervention€of€a€judicial€authority€and€without€any€possibility€for€the€author€to€contact€his€familyŠ P  Šor€his€lawyer.€That€meant€that€a€detainee's€rights€had€not€been€respected€and€had€placed€the€authorŠ š@  Šin€a€situation€where€he€was€particularly€vulnerable€to€possible€abuse.€The€Committee€recognizes€theŠ ą0  Šneed€for€close€cooperation€between€States€in€the€fight€against€crime€and€for€effective€measures€toŠ Š  Šbe€agreed€upon€for€that€purpose.€It€believes,€however,€that€such€measures€must€fully€respect€theŠ Ą Šrights€and€fundamental€freedoms€of€the€individuals€concerned.€Š ° ŠĢ12.€In€the€light€of€the€foregoing,€the€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€the€author's€expulsion€to€Spain,Š ą Šin€the€circumstances€in€which€it€took€place,€constitutes€a€violation€by€the€State€party€of€article€3€ofŠ €Š Šthe€Convention.€Š pĄ ŠĢ13.€Pursuant€to€rule€111,€paragraph€5,€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€the€Committee€would€wish€toŠ P  Šreceive,€within€90€days,€information€on€any€measure€taken€by€the€State€party€in€accordance€withŠ @ Šthese€Views.€Š 0€ ŠĢ[Done€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€French€text€being€the€original€version.]Š ` ŠĢĢ€ņņNotesóó€Š ą0 ŠĢ1/€€€This€form€of€torture€consists€in€covering€the€head€with€a€plastic€bag€to€cause€asphyxia.€Š Ą! ŠĢ2/€€€A€copy€of€the€medical€report€is€attached€to€the€communication.€Š  #š! ŠĢ3/€€€As€of€the€time€of€adoption€of€these€Views€the€CPT€report€on€this€visit€had€not€been€published.€Š €%Š # ŠĢ4/€€€This€article€states€that€"an€application€for€interim€relief€is€made€by€way€of€summons€to€a€hearingŠ `'°"% Šheld€on€the€customary€day€and€at€the€customary€time€for€such€proceedings.€If€greater€speed€isŠ P( #& Šrequired,€however,€the€interim€relief€judge€may€allow€a€summons€to€be€given€effect€at€the€timeŠ @)$' Šindicated,€even€on€public€holidays€or€non-working€days,€either€in€chambers€or€at€his€place€ofŠ 0*€%( Šresidence,€in€an€open€hearing".€Š  +p&) ŠĢ5/€€€This€article€states€that€"in€all€cases€of€infringement€of€the€freedom€of€the€individual,€the€disputeŠ -P(+ Šcannot€be€taken€up€by€the€administrative€authority€and€the€judicial€courts€always€have€exclusiveŠ š-@), Šjurisdiction".€Š ° ŠĢ6/€€€See€paras.€5.2€and€5.3.€Š ą ŠĢ7/€€€Reports€to€the€Spanish€Government€on€the€visits€which€took€place€from€1€to€12€April€1991,€10Š pĄ Što€22€April€1994€and€10€to€14€June€1994,€CPT/Inf€(96)€9,€paras.€25€and€206.€Š ` ° ŠĢ8/€€€A/53/44,€paras.€129€and€131.€Š @  ŠĢ9/€€€A/48/44,€paras.€456€and€457.€Š  p  ŠĢ10/€€€CCPR/C/79/Add.61€of€3€April€1996.€Š P  ŠĢ11/€€€CPT/Inf€(96)€9,€paras.€208-209.€Š ą0  ŠĢ12/€€€At€the€time€of€the€consideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€submitted€by€France€pursuant€toŠ Ą Šarticle€19€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€expressed€its€concern€at€the€practice€whereby€the€policeŠ ° Šhand€over€individuals€to€their€counterparts€in€another€country€(A/53/44,€para.€143).€