ÿWPC> qäà?XðèY6þðé7\À¯q¨\FÓOÕ°ýû˜ÙM šýÎØ‡#ø¬h`×J±=ÒÐ6tûIl>Ìa£€ËóƒÃ—?Ä“ÔBÑLƒ#´mõx}cÚÚ<80|c°Ò°1ˆL;ºàÀa¡Zž/¹aò„É2Ù%fo®?¹ïÊx¶&Ââ>UmÛo@;àëºö°Þ4vÙo;Do}&Kk—®Œ+O(”»4×ÊfÔYæä¸ôà5“;„ôv«´Ó7³*U¿RDjõ”É=D´Ï457Sá63#":.ØÊÁj“Io¦ÓqUD±Ô{kfuª:ûäSóXÙÏÅF †/«+h‘Wú’¬/:RM$à™ñÛþ ¸"þ4vDѪ=_³ÍYþAU`+z{³vß9ÈËùu럥ŒÎšËØVAä~( Ûö°5·„óV‰È)­³8%äM 7ãóyS{2-];ƒý»îIæNÉ‘;ð¡šÂéž”({¤½ƒ‘àk†óÛ£Òj˜ùËõ k˜Íð„K ,û÷‹b°q¡ß„X7ÝÐÛ0&æåL1—º}☧G^µÁ–{¨º‹.ðÿõœ(v+̃ýcÆÕ5« ÎÈ+#ÁZUN %i 0:o 0î© 0ë— 0è‚ 0åj 0âO 0ß1 0Ü 0Ùì 0ÖÅ 0Ü› 0Ùw 0ÖP 0Ó& 0Ðù 0ÍÉ 0Ê– 0Ç` 0Ä' 0Ûë 0ØÆ 0Õž 0Òs 0ÏE 0Ì 0Éà 0Æ© 0Ão 0Ì2 0¶þ 0<´´Nð^ òwþ4% m'˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - StandardÈÐððÈÐ0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,Ô2G+J ÿÿ0_level1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2D+J ÿÿ0_level2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2A+J ÿÿ0_level3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>+J ÿÿ0_level4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;+J ÿÿ0_level5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28+J ÿÿ0_level6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25+J ÿÿ0_level7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22+J ÿÿ0_level8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/+J ÿÿ0_level9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2GJ ÿÿ0_levsl1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2DJ ÿÿ0_levsl2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2AJ ÿÿ0_levsl3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>J ÿÿ0_levsl4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;J ÿÿ0_levsl5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28J ÿÿ0_levsl6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25J ÿÿ0_levsl7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22J ÿÿ0_levsl8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/J ÿÿ0_levsl9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2GJ ÿÿ0_levnl1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2DJ ÿÿ0_levnl2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2AJ ÿÿ0_levnl3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>J ÿÿ0_levnl4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;J ÿÿ0_levnl5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28J ÿÿ0_levnl6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25J ÿÿ0_levnl7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22J ÿÿ0_levnl8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/J ÿÿ0_levnl9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó6K >ÿÿ4heading 1Ñ  ÑÓ  Óò òÔ UK ÔÔ‡XXXÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  Óó óÔ US ÔÑ  ÑÔ‡XXXÔ6@ 3ÿÿ4heading 3Ñ  Ñò òÔ UK ÔÔ‡XXXÔÔ  ÔÔ  Ôó óÔ US ÔÑ  ÑÔ‡XXXÔ<ÿÿ:Default Paraãˆ(, tQ+ Documexªø3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  Óò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòM.€K.€O.€v€The€NetherlandsóóÐ à ÐÌCommunication€No.€134/1999Ð pÀ ÐÌ9€May€2001Ð P   ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ  p  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€M.€K.€O.€(name€withheld)Ð ð@  Ðà  àà ` à[represented€by€counsel]Ð à0  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€€The€authorÐ À ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€€NetherlandsÐ  ð ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€€25€May€1999óóÐ €Ð ÐÌÌà  àòòThe€Committee€Against€Tortureóó,€established€under€Article€17€of€the€Convention€againstÐ P  ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,Ð @ ÐÌà  àòòMeetingóó€on€9€May€2001,Ð  p ÐÌà  àòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€134/1999,€submitted€to€theÐ P ÐCommittee€against€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,Ð ð@ ÐInhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,Ð à0 ÐÌà  àòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ À! Ðcommunication,€his€counsel€and€the€State€party,Ð °"  ÐÌà  àòòAdoptsóó€its€Views€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Convention.Ð $à" ÐÌ1.1à  àThe€author€of€the€communication€is€Mr.€M.€K.€O.,€born€in€1970€and€a€Turkish€national€ofÐ p&À!$ ÐKurdish€origin,€currently€residing€in€the€Netherlands.€€The€author€applied€for€refugee€status€in€theÐ `'°"% ÐNetherlands€on€22€June€1997.€€His€application€was€rejected.€€He€claims€that€his€deportation€toÐ P( #& ÐTurkey€would€expose€him€to€a€risk€of€torture€and€constitute€therefore€a€violation€by€the€State€partyÐ @)$' Ðof€article€3€of€the€Convention.€€He€is€represented€by€counsel.Ð 0*€%( ÐÌ1.2à  àIn€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€transmitted€theÐ ,`'* Ðcommunication€to€the€State€party€on€26€May€1999€and€requested€it€to€provide€observations€on€theÐ -P(+ Ðadmissibility€and€merits€of€the€communication.€€The€State€party€was€also€requested,€pursuant€to€ruleÐ ð-@), Ð108,€paragraph€9,€of€the€Committeeððs€rules€of€procedure,€to€defer€the€removal€of€the€author€to€TurkeyÐ ° Ðwhile€his€communication€was€under€its€consideration.Ð  ð ÐÌò òThe€facts€as€presented€by€the€authoró óÐ €Ð ÐÌ2.1à  àThe€author€comes€from€a€village€located€in€the€region€of€Ô_ÔTunceliÔ_Ô,€Turkish€Kurdistan,€whereÐ ` ° Ðfor€many€years€there€has€been€a€war€between€the€Turkish€army€and€the€Kurds.€€He€claims€to€haveÐ P   Ðbeen€urged€several€times€by€the€Turkish€military€to€become€a€village€guard,€which€he€alwaysÐ @  Ðrefused.Ð 0 € ÐÌ2.2à  àThe€author€alleges€that€as€a€village€guard€he€would€have€to€kill€Kurds€and€Ô_ÔAlevisÔ_Ô,€his€ownÐ `  Ðpeople.€€Because€of€this€refusal,€he€was€very€often€ill„treated.€€He€was€beaten€on€several€occasionsÐ P  Ðby€the€Turkish€militaries.€€During€the€winter,€the€author€and€other€Kurds€were€forced€to€standÐ ð@  Ðbarefoot€in€the€snow€for€hours.€€The€author€suffers€from€a€kidney€ailment€as€a€result.€€Sometimes€heÐ à0  Ðand€other€Kurds€were€threatened€with€death€and€their€food€supplies€stopped€by€the€Turkish€military.€Ð Ð  ÐThe€author€also€alleges€that€he€was€arrested€on€several€occasions€and€taken€to€the€forest€or€theÐ À Ðmountains€where€he€was€tortured.Ð ° ÐÌ2.3à  àWhen€the€authorððs€neighbours€were€arrested€for€giving€food€to€the€guerrillas,€he€decided€toÐ à Ðleave€Turkey€because€he€was€afraid€of€being€arrested€for€the€same€reason.€€He€arrived€in€theÐ €Ð ÐNetherlands€on€21€June€1997€and€applied€for€refugee€status€the€same€day.€€His€request€was€turnedÐ pÀ Ðdown€on€22€August€1997.Ð `° ÐÌ2.4à  àAfter€two€unsuccessful€appeals€to€the€Ministry€of€Justice€and€to€the€court,€on€22€FebruaryÐ @ Ð1999,€the€author€made€a€second€application€for€refugee€status,€which€was€also€rejected€as€were€theÐ 0€ Ðsubsequent€appeals.€€The€date€of€26€May€1999€was€set€for€his€removal€to€Turkey.Ð  p ÐÌ2.5à  àThe€author€is€an€active€member€of€the€Kurdish€Union€in€The€Hague€and€in€various€KurdishÐ P Ðactivities.€€He€has€run€in€marathons€for€the€Kurds€in€the€Netherlands€and€Germany,€and€has€beenÐ ð@ Ðseen€with€his€Kurdish€music€band,€Ô_ÔZylanÔ_Ô€several€times€on€MED„TV,€a€Kurdish€television€station€inÐ à0 ÐEurope€which€can€also€be€seen€in€Turkey€and€which€was€recently€forbidden.€€On€16€February€1999,Ð Ð  Ðhe€was€arrested€in€the€Netherlands€along€with€300€other€Kurds€during€a€demonstration€againstÐ À! ÐAbdullah€Ô_ÔcalanÔ_Ôððs€extradition€to€Turkey.€€Since€then,€he€has€remained€in€detention€because€he€doesÐ °"  Ðnot€have€a€residence€permit.€Ð  #ð! ÐÌò òThe€complaintó óÐ €%Ð # ÐÌ3.à  àThe€author€alleges€that€he€will€be€at€serious€risk€of€torture€if€he€is€removed€to€Turkey€and€thatÐ `'°"% Ðthe€removal€decision€is€therefore€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð P( #& ÐÌò òState€partyððs€observations€on€the€admissibility€and€meritsó óÐ 0*€%( ÐÌ4.1à  àIn€a€submission€dated€6€December€1999,€the€State€party€transmitted€to€the€Committee€itsÐ ,`'* Ðobservations€on€the€merits€of€the€communication.€€In€its€communication€it€did€not€raise€anyÐ -P(+ Ðobjections€with€regard€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication€and€made€a€summary€of€the€factsÐ ð-@), Ðof€the€case€and€of€the€national€procedure,€as€well€as€of€the€various€arguments€made€by€the€author.Ð ° ÐÌ4.2à  àIn€relation€to€the€merits,€the€State€party€considers€that€not€all€Kurds€from€Turkey€can€beÐ à Ðgranted€asylum€and€that€the€author€has€to€prove€a€personal€risk€of€torture,€which€he€failed€to€do.€Ð €Ð ÐAlthough€the€State€party€does€not€dispute€the€ethnic€origin€of€the€author,€it€states€that€the€latter€wasÐ pÀ Ðunconvincing€on€this€issue€during€the€asylum€procedure;€it€therefore€rejects€the€allegation€by€theÐ ` ° Ðauthor€that€the€investigation€into€his€ethnic€origin€was€not€conducted€with€sufficient€care.Ð P   ÐÌ4.3à  àThe€State€party€maintains€that€the€author€has€not€proved€that€he€would€attract€specialÐ 0 € Ðattention€from€the€Turkish€authorities€because€he€expressly€said€that€he€had€never€been€arrested€andÐ  p  Ðhad€never€had€any€problem€despite€having€helped€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.€€It€was€only€during€the€appeal€phase€ofÐ `  Ðthe€asylum€procedure€that€the€author€told€the€Dutch€authorities€that€he€was€once€arrested€by€threeÐ P  Ðsoldiers€in€civilian€clothes.€€The€author€has€never€furnished€a€clear€explanation€for€this€contradiction.Ð ð@  ÐÌ4.4à  àThe€discrimination€and€degrading€treatment€to€which€the€author€has€allegedly€been€subjectedÐ Ð  Ðdo€not€necessarily€lead€to€the€conclusion€that€he€should€be€recognized€as€a€refugee€because,€althoughÐ À Ðdaily€life€for€Kurds€in€south„eastern€Turkey€is€probably€not€easy,€it€is€not€intolerable€and€ð ðsuchÐ ° Ðtreatment€probably€takes€place€in€the€large€Kurdish€community€with€a€certain€amount€ofÐ  ð Ðarbitrarinessðð.Ð à ÐÌ4.5à  àEven€accepting€that€the€author€has€had€problems€with€Turkish€soldiers€does€not€imply€thatÐ pÀ Ðhe€would€risk€such€treatment€again€throughout€Turkey.€€Indeed,€the€author€travelled€to€Istanbul€inÐ `° Ð1996€and€had€no€problems.€€He€is€therefore€free€to€resettle€in€another€part€of€Turkey.Ð P  ÐÌ4.6à  àRegarding€the€authorððs€activities€in€the€Netherlands,€the€State€party€considers€that€the€factÐ 0€ Ðof€being€a€member€of€the€band€Ô_ÔZylanÔ_Ô,€of€having€appeared€on€MED„TV€with€his€band€several€times,Ð  p Ðof€having€attended€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€celebrations,€of€having€competed€in€marathons€as€a€Kurd€and€of€havingÐ ` Ðparticipated€in€a€demonstration€in€support€of€Abdullah€Ô_ÔcalanÔ_Ô€and€having€been€arrested€during€thisÐ P Ðdemonstration€do€not€constitute€significant€opposition€activities€and€are€therefore€not€of€such€aÐ ð@ Ðnature€as€to€attract€the€attention€of€the€Turkish€authorities.€€Even€his€arrest€after€the€demonstrationÐ à0 Ðis€not€significant€in€this€regard€because€he€was€arrested€along€with€many€other€persons.Ð Ð  ÐÌ4.7à  àIn€the€State€partyððs€opinion,€there€is€no€element€in€the€authorððs€escape€from€Turkey€or€in€hisÐ °"  Ðactivities€in€the€Netherlands€that€provides€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€faces€a€personalÐ  #ð! Ðrisk€of€being€tortured€if€he€were€to€be€returned€in€Turkey.Ð $à" ÐÌò òCounsel€commentsó óÐ p&À!$ ÐÌ5.1à  àIn€a€submission€of€26€January€2000,€counsel€for€the€author€made€her€comments€on€theÐ P( #& Ðobservations€of€the€State€party.Ð @)$' ÐÌ5.2à  àWith€regard€to€the€Kurdish€origin€of€the€author,€counsel€makes€a€few€remarks€in€order€toÐ  +p&) Ðexplain€the€confusion€that€may€have€emerged€during€the€various€interviews.€€Nevertheless,€the€ethnicÐ ,`'* Ðorigin€of€the€author€is€no€longer€disputed€by€the€State€party.€€Counsel€also€notes€that€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€does€notÐ -P(+ Ðhave€a€membership€system€for€security€reasons,€which€partly€explains€why€the€author€was€not€aÐ ð-@), Ðð ðmemberðð€of€any€organization.Ð ° ÐÌ5.3à  àCounsel€argues€that€the€problems€faced€by€the€author€while€he€was€in€Turkey€would€indeedÐ à Ðdraw€the€attention€of€the€Turkish€authorities€if€the€author€returned€to€his€country.€€She€also€notes€thatÐ €Ð Ðit€is€usual€for€more€information€to€become€available€towards€the€end€of€the€procedure€because€moreÐ pÀ Ðquestions€are€asked€and€because€the€author,€with€only€a€primary„school€education,€may€have€hadÐ ` ° Ðsome€difficulties€in€understanding€questions€at€the€beginning€of€the€procedure.€€Counsel€also€arguesÐ P   Ðthat€people€applying€for€refugee€status€as€soon€as€they€arrive€in€the€State€party€do€not€have€sufficientÐ @  Ðtime€to€reflect€on€their€declarations€and€are€subjected€to€a€significant€number€of€obligations€duringÐ 0 € Ðthe€first€weeks€of€the€procedure,€which€may€sometimes€lead€to€confusion.Ð  p  ÐÌ5.4à  àConcerning€Ô_ÔTunceliÔ_Ô,€the€region€of€origin€of€the€author,€counsel€contends€that€life€there€hasÐ P  Ðindeed€become€intolerable€and,€because€the€place€is€a€symbol€of€Kurdish€resistance,€notes€that€anyÐ ð@  Ðperson€from€this€area€would€encounter€problems€throughout€Turkey;€this€implies€that€the€authorÐ à0  Ðcould€not€easily€resettle€in€another€part€of€Turkey.€€Counsel€quotes€in€this€regard€the€Dutch€ForeignÐ Ð  ÐMinister€who€stated€that€the€fact€of€refusing€to€be€a€village€guard€is€interpreted€as€implicit€supportÐ À Ðfor€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.€Ð ° ÐÌ5.5à  àWith€regard€to€the€demonstration€that€took€place€in€The€Hague€on€17€February€1999,€counselÐ à Ðmentions€that€A.€Ô_ÔKisaogluÔ_Ô,€a€Kurd€of€Dutch€nationality,€was€arrested€in€Turkey€a€few€days€after€theÐ €Ð Ðdemonstration€and€badly€tortured€for€five€days.€€According€to€counsel,€the€Turkish€authoritiesÐ pÀ Ðarrested€him€because€they€were€informed€that€his€son€had€been€arrested€during€the€demonstration€inÐ `° ÐThe€Hague.€€However,€it€appeared€later€that€this€was€not€the€case.€€Counsel€considers€that€thisÐ P  Ðincident€demonstrates€that€the€Turkish€authorities€can€obtain€information€about€political€eventsÐ @ Ðrelated€to€the€Kurdish€question€that€occur€outside€Turkey€and€subsequent€arrests€or€detentions,€whichÐ 0€ Ðraises€the€possibility€of€cooperation€between€the€Turkish€and€Dutch€security€services.Ð  p ÐÌ5.6à  àMoreover,€concerning€the€authorððs€other€activities€in€the€Netherlands,€counsel€refers€toÐ P Ðseveral€statements€from€the€Dutch€Foreign€Ministry€according€to€which€MED„TV€is€considered€byÐ ð@ Ðthe€Turkish€authorities€to€be€the€voice€of€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€and€that€Kurdish€music€is€sometimes€forbidden,€twoÐ à0 Ðelements€that€would€certainly€constitute€satisfactory€reasons€for€the€Turkish€authorities€to€arrest€theÐ Ð  Ðauthor€upon€his€arrival€in€Turkey.Ð À! ÐÌ5.7à  àRelying€on€various€other€cases,€counsel€underlines€that€a€significant€number€of€Kurds€whoÐ  #ð! Ðhave€been€repatriated€from€the€State€party€to€Turkey€and€whose€whereabouts€could€be€monitoredÐ $à" Ðhave€been€detained€and€tortured€by€the€Turkish€authorities.Ð €%Ð # ÐÌ5.8à  àFinally,€to€the€extent€that€the€author€stated€from€the€outset€of€the€asylum€procedure€that€heÐ `'°"% Ðhad€been€tortured,€counsel€deplores€the€State€partyððs€failure€to€take€steps€to€assess€the€medical€profileÐ P( #& Ðof€the€author,€which€it€had€many€opportunities€to€do.Ð @)$' ÐÌÌò òAdditional€Comments€by€the€State€partyó óÐ ,`'* ÐÌ6.1à  àIn€a€submission€dated€6€September€2000,€the€State€party€made€additional€comments€on€theÐ ð-@), Ðobservations€of€the€author.Ð ° ÐÌ6.2à  àThe€State€party€first€draws€the€attention€of€the€Committee€to€the€fact€that€it€no€longer€disputesÐ à Ðthe€Kurdish€origin€of€the€author.Ð €Ð ÐÌ6.3à  àThe€State€party€further€notes€that€there€has€been€some€confusion€and€mistranslation€on€theÐ ` ° Ðpart€of€counsel€of€the€words€ð ðtortureðð€and€other€ð ðill„treatmentðð,€the€latter€using€both€termsÐ P   Ðindifferently.Ð @  ÐÌ6.4à  àThe€State€party€still€considers€that€the€author€has€not€furnished€a€convincing€explanation€asÐ  p  Ðto€the€reasons€why€he€neglected€to€mention€some€elements€of€his€story€during€the€first€part€of€theÐ `  Ðasylum€procedure.Ð P  ÐÌ6.5à  àThe€State€party€also€firmly€rejects€the€allegations€of€counsel€that€the€State€party€has€givenÐ à0  Ðinformation€to€the€Turkish€authorities€concerning€the€persons€detained€after€the€pro„KurdÐ Ð  Ðdemonstration.Ð À ÐÌ6.6à  àIn€respect€of€the€statement€from€the€Dutch€Foreign€Ministry€on€the€subject€of€MED„TV,€theÐ  ð ÐState€party€notes€that€counsel€has€cited€sentences€out€of€their€context€and€gives€the€full€text€of€theÐ à Ðstatements.€Ð €Ð ÐÌ6.7à  àThe€State€party€emphasizes€that€it€has€given€continued€attention€to€the€situation€of€Kurds€inÐ `° ÐTurkey.€€This€is€illustrated€by€the€fact€that€the€State€party€suspended€the€expulsion€of€Kurds€toÐ P  ÐTurkey€after€it€had€been€informed€of€the€death€in€Turkey€of€a€former€Kurdish€asylum„seeker€in€theÐ @ ÐNetherlands.€€Following€the€inquiry€into€this€case€and€four€other€cases,€to€which€counsel€wasÐ 0€ Ðpresumably€referring,€the€State€party€noted€that€the€persons€concerned€had€not€experienced€particularÐ  p Ðproblems€with€the€Turkish€authorities€after€their€return.€€These€conclusions€were€endorsed€by€theÐ ` Ðjudiciary€of€the€State€party,€and€the€Government€lifted€the€suspension€on€expulsions.Ð P ÐÌ6.8à  àFinally,€the€State€party€considers€that€the€author€also€has€had€ample€time€to€obtain€medicalÐ à0 Ðdocuments€confirming€the€treatment€to€which€he€claims€he€was€subjected.Ð Ð  ÐÌò òIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeó óÐ °"  ÐÌ7.1à  àBefore€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€must€decideÐ $à" Ðwhether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€€The€Committee€has€ascertained,Ð €%Ð # Ðas€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€the€Convention€that€the€same€matter€hasÐ p&À!$ Ðnot€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€another€procedure€of€international€investigation€orÐ `'°"% Ðsettlement.Ð P( #& ÐÌ7.2à  àThe€Committee€also€notes€that€all€available€domestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted€and€thatÐ 0*€%( Ðthe€State€party€has€not€contested€the€admissibility€of€the€communication.€€The€Committee€findsÐ  +p&) Ðtherefore€that€the€communication€is€admissible.€€The€State€party€and€the€author€have€both€madeÐ ,`'* Ðobservations€on€the€merits€of€the€communication€and€the€Committee€therefore€proceeds€to€examineÐ -P(+ Ðthe€merits.Ð ð-@), Ї7.3à  àThe€Committee€must€decide,€pursuant€to€article€3,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention,€whetherÐ ° Ðthere€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€author€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÐ  ð Ðtorture€upon€return€to€Turkey.€€In€reaching€this€decision,€the€Committee€must€take€into€account€allÐ à Ðrelevant€considerations,€pursuant€to€article€3,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention,€including€the€existenceÐ €Ð Ðof€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€€The€aim€of€theÐ pÀ Ðdetermination,€however,€is€to€establish€whether€the€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€riskÐ ` ° Ðof€being€subjected€to€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he€or€she€would€return.€€It€follows€that€theÐ P   Ðexistence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€a€countryÐ @  Ðdoes€not€as€such€constitute€a€sufficient€ground€for€determining€that€a€particular€person€would€be€inÐ 0 € Ðdanger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€or€her€return€to€that€country;€additional€grounds€mustÐ  p  Ðexist€to€show€that€the€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€€Similarly,€the€absence€ofÐ `  Ða€consistent€pattern€of€gross€violations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€beÐ P  Ðconsidered€to€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.Ð ð@  ÐÌ7.4à  àThe€Committee€notes€the€arguments€developed€by€both€parties€and€considers€that€the€authorÐ Ð  Ðhas€not€given€any€satisfactory€explanation€for€the€contradictions€between€his€different€statements€toÐ À Ðthe€Dutch€immigration€authorities.€€It€notes€that€he€fulfilled€his€military€obligation€without€anyÐ ° Ðappreciable€problems€and€finds€that€he€has€not€demonstrated€that€his€later€activities€in€theÐ  ð ÐNetherlands€could€draw€the€attention€of€the€Turkish€authorities€to€the€extent€that€he€would€risk€beingÐ à Ðtortured€were€he€removed€to€Turkey.€Ð €Ð ÐÌ7.5à  àThe€Committee€concludes€that€the€author€has€not€furnished€sufficient€evidence€to€substantiateÐ `° Ðhis€claim€that€he€would€run€a€personal,€real€and€foreseeable€risk€of€being€tortured€if€he€were€sentÐ P  Ðback€to€his€country€of€origin.Ð @ ÐÌ8.à  àAs€a€consequence,€the€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€ofÐ  p Ðthe€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€treatment€or€punishment,Ð ` Ðis€of€the€view€that€the€facts€as€found€by€the€Committee€do€not€constitute€a€breach€of€article€3€of€theÐ P ÐConvention.Ð ð@ ÐÌÓ=Ó