ÿWPCE –6°JxÎÒE™Eo˜¦­þrîù¾uÏÅ|„šã\˜ªj] 9¥Ò8 <*Ê-& –Êf±üLîéu\zIpÿõ§h³±ìáöfJ½OC¸tË(~õãõ^A«»ÚÜw&)dÍìÈVþÏ!Ƶƅ†£³ö«¿ÑJ—˜È¡)Ùã”ç>«I˜jƒ;\«ÿ"¯‰W¦c~ç¦A?sfÐ r3ÆY×Al$Ê6ïÃsE÷SÛ¸Ë^ƒ»V¡1™Ý®Ù¢þ"{ŸÄñ`SÀ€ÃNæ–$<üþý«¿‰ÄŠ=œl¬ð^ÌДŒ•t‚+L‹}­çgÖ:`Öb€ã]¦\>.jšC&O]K¶ÓZ.Ö@!ê•<éd<¹ŒFЂ/`ÎJæùcÔ(€_‹GarïAmÇŒ½‹<Ä’ ¦~s¬Lž‰NüËe,6|„lŸŒuˆæ’/+Ïï)EÂ{s´kkÕN>‡wPF·øܺˆ.Ÿ)‹]GV ”º×ÉjÌÆÁcz£¯Å¬f&Ÿ/² #kœú-ŽK’eývü¯ô^´ª¦iµ#%Þ6 #Á¨UNi %· 0:½^ ÷w4* m,NC˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,Ôl†) 'gt) DocumetB 3|x ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòÔ_ÔK.N.Ô_Ô€v.€FranceóóÐ ˆØ ÐÌCommunication€No€93/1997Ð `° ÐÌ18€November€1999Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌCAT/C/23/D/93/1997Ð  ` ÐÌÌADMISSIBILITYó óÐ Ô$  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€K.N.€(name€deleted)€[represented€by€counsel]Ð ˜è  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€The€authorÐ pÀ ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€FranceÐ H˜ ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€15€August€1997óóÐ  p ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andÐ ä4 ÐOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€DegradingTreatment€or€Punishment,Ð Ð  ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€18€November€1999,Ð ¨ø ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€the€following€decision:Ð €Ð ÐÌÌòòò òÓ  ÓDecision€on€admissibilityó óóóÐ D!” ÐÓ°ÓÌÌ1.1€The€author€of€the€communication€is€K.N.,€born€in€1963,€a€national€of€the€Democratic€RepublicÐ $X" Ðof€the€Congo€(former€Zaire)€currently€living€in€France,€where€he€has€asked€for€asylum€and€facesÐ ô$D # Ðdeportation.€He€asserts€that€to€return€him€to€the€Democratic€Republic€of€the€Congo€would€constituteÐ à%0!$ Ða€violation€by€France€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€orÐ Ì&"% ÐDegrading€Treatment€or€Punishment.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌ1.2€In€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€brought€theÐ )à$( Ðcommunication€to€the€attention€of€the€State€party€on€17€December€1998.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌòòFacts€as€submitted€by€the€authoróóÐ T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð2.1€The€author€says€that€he€was€a€student€leader€in€Zaire,€and€organized€student€demonstrationsÐ ° Ðagainst€President€Mobutu's€regime.€He€gives€no€description€of€his€activities€in€Zaire,€but€submitsÐ œì Ðcopies€of€a€wanted€notice€for€him€issued€on€4€May€1992,€an€arrest€and€detention€warrant€forÐ ˆØ Ðincitement€to€rebellion€drawn€up€by€the€Ndjili€Prosecutor's€Office€€on€22€April€1992,€and€a€pre-trialÐ tÄ Ðrelease€on€bail€order€for€his€brother€dated€24€July€1992.Ð `° ÐÌ2.2€On€arrival€in€France€on€6€June€1992,€the€author€applied€to€the€French€Office€for€the€ProtectionÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€Refugees€and€Stateless€Persons€(OFPRA)€for€refugee€status;€his€application€was€denied€on€11Ð $ t ÐAugust€1992,€and€the€denial€was€upheld€by€the€Refugee€Appeal€Board€(Ô_ÔCRRÔ_Ô)€€on€17€DecemberÐ  ` Ð1992.Ð ü L  ÐÌ2.3€The€author€then€requested€a€review€of€his€file,€stating€that€there€had€been€some€new€factors,€vizÐ Ô$  Ðthat€certain€members€of€his€family€had€allegedly€suffered€severe€ill-treatment,€òò1óó€and€provided€copiesÐ À  Ðof€documents€showing€that€he€was€still€a€wanted€man.€Meanwhile,€by€an€order€dated€15€April€1993,Ð ¬ü  Ðthe€Paris€Prefect€of€Police€decided€that€he€should€be€deported.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ2.4€By€decision€dated€23€April€1993,€OFPRA€rejected€K.N.'s€fresh€application€on€the€grounds€thatÐ pÀ Ðthe€alleged€new€developments€did€not€establish€that€his€alleged€fears€were€justified€since€hisÐ \¬ Ðstatements€were€not€backed€up€by€any€convincing€evidence.€That€decision€was€confirmed€by€CRRÐ H˜ Ðon€28€September€1993€on€the€same€grounds,€at€a€time€when€the€current€case€law€did€not€accept€thatÐ 4„ Ðconsiderations€that€could€have€been€attached€to€the€initial€application€were€admissible€as€new€factors.Ð  p ÐThe€author€maintains,€however,€that€the€new€factors€were€relevant€enough€for€the€ParisÐ  \ ÐAdministrative€Tribunal€to€annul€the€first€deportation€order,€in€a€ruling€dated€5€May€1993€followingÐ øH Ðthe€rejection€of€his€initial€application.Ð ä4 ÐÌ2.5€The€communication€reveals€that€a€second€deportation€order€was€issued,€but€the€author€states€thatÐ ¼  Ðhe€never€knew€of€its€existence,€probably€because€it€was€sent€to€him€at€his€previous€address.€HeÐ ¨ø Ðaffirms€that,€since€he€was€not€notified€of€that€second€order,€an€appeal€against€it€had€becomeÐ ”ä Ðinadmissible.Ð €Ð ÐÌ2.6€On€12€March€1994,€the€author€was€arrested€after€an€identity€check€and€transferred€to€theÐ X ¨ Ðdetention€area€of€the€Paris€Law€Courts.€A€hearing€was€arranged€immediately€and,€in€a€judgementÐ D!” Ðdated€14€March€1994,€the€Paris€Correctional€Court€sentenced€him€to€a€three-year€ban€from€FrenchÐ 0"€  Ðterritory€for€theft€and€for€being€in€France€illegally.€The€charge€of€theft€was€for€carrying€an€identityÐ #l! Ðcard€which,€according€to€the€author,€his€brother-in-law€had€lent€him.€On€20€March€1994,€Ô_ÔK.N.Ô_Ô€wasÐ $X" Ðput€aboard€an€aircraft€bound€for€Brussels€and€Kinshasa.Ð ô$D # ÐÌ2.7€The€author€states€that,€upon€his€arrival€in€Zaire,€he€was€detained€after€passing€throughÐ Ì&"% Ðimmigration€control€at€the€airport.€There€he€was€allegedly€subjected€to€a€stern€interrogation€carriedÐ ¸'#& Ðout€by€an€army€officer€who€withheld€the€papers€relating€to€his€application€for€asylum,€in€particularÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€OFPRA€and€CRR€decisions.Ð )à$( ÐÌ2.8€Ô_ÔK.N.Ô_Ô€says€he€was€imprisoned€without€trial€in€Makala€prison€until€January€1995.€Held€in€anÐ h+¸&* Ðovercrowded€cell,€deprived€of€food,€clothing€and€hygiene,€he€was€constrained€to€drink€water€mixedÐ T,¤'+ Ðwith€urine€and€excrement€from€the€cell,€and€was€often€beaten€with€truncheons€once€or€twice€a€day,Ð @-(, Ðalso€being€subjected€to€various€kinds€of€ill-treatment€and€torture.€He€was€also€made€to€performÐ ° Ðforced€labour.€Some€months€later,€a€prison€guard€to€whom€his€uncle€had€given€money€moved€himÐ œì Ðto€a€different€cell€and€secured€for€him€a€transfer€docket€to€the€central€hospital€in€Kinshasa€where€heÐ ˆØ Ðwas€to€obtain€medical€attention.òò€2óó€Arriving€at€the€hospital€on€19€January€1995,€the€author€met€hisÐ tÄ Ðuncle€who€first€took€him€by€car€to€a€friend's€house€and€then€helped€him€to€cross€the€frontier€into€theÐ `° ÐCongo€by€boat.€He€allegedly€arrived€back€in€France€in€March€1995.Ð L œ ÐÌ2.9€Being€still€banned€from€the€country,€the€author€had€no€alternative,€if€he€wished€to€regularize€hisÐ $ t Ðsituation,€but€to€lodge€a€plea€with€the€Ministry€of€Justice€to€set€aside€the€judgement€of€the€ParisÐ  ` ÐCorrectional€Court€dated€14€March€1994.€His€plea€was€rejected€on€16€October€1996.Ð ü L  ÐÌ2.10€Pursuant€to€the€provisions€of€the€ministerial€circular€dated€24€June€1997€on€the€review€of€theÐ Ô$  Ðsituation€of€certain€categories€of€aliens€illegally€present€in€the€country,€the€author€lodged€a€requestÐ À  Ðfor€exceptional€authorization€to€reside€in€France.€The€request€was€rejected€by€the€Prefect€ofÐ ¬ü  ÐHaute-Vienne€on€3€July€1998€on€the€grounds€that€the€author€did€not€satisfy€the€conditions€forÐ ˜è  Ðbenefiting€under€any€of€the€provisions€of€the€circular.€More€particularly,€he€had€not€furnishedÐ „Ô  Ðsufficient€evidence€of€his€personal€situation€to€demonstrate€that€returning€him€to€his€home€countryÐ pÀ Ðwould€put€him€at€serious€risk€of€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment.€He€was€therefore€given€one€monthÐ \¬ Ðin€which€to€leave€French€territory.€The€Minister€of€the€Interior€rejected€the€author's€appeal€againstÐ H˜ Ðthe€Prefect's€ruling€on€16€December€1998.Ð 4„ ÐÌ2.11€Ô_ÔK.NÔ_Ô's€counsel€asserts€that€the€author€is€utterly€without€rights;€he€has€no€legal€means€ofÐ  \ Ðregularizing€his€situation,€no€resources€and€no€entitlement€to€housing,€social€security,€employment,Ð øH Ðetc.€He€is€living€in€hiding,€receiving€occasional€help€from€people€who€feed€and€shelter€him,€and€mayÐ ä4 Ðbe€discovered€and€expelled€at€any€moment.Ð Ð  ÐÌòòThe€complaintóóÐ ¨ø ÐÌ3.1€The€author€considers€himself€to€be€at€risk€of€being€arrested€and€tortured€if€he€is€returned€to€theÐ €Ð ÐDemocratic€Republic€of€the€Congo,€even€though€the€present€regime€is€not€the€same€as€the€one€thatÐ l¼ Ðwas€in€power€when€he€left€the€country:€he€is€known€to€the€security€service,€where€some€old€handsÐ X ¨ Ðstill€have€influence.€His€forcible€return€would€thus€be€in€breach€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.Ð D!” ÐÌ3.2€The€author€has€submitted€to€the€Committee€a€copy€of€a€letter€posted€in€Kinshasa€€on€16€JuneÐ #l! Ð1995€telling€him€that€his€wife's€dead€body€had€been€found,€headless,€while€he€was€still€in€prison€inÐ $X" ÐZaire.€òò3óó€According€to€the€letter,€his€family€does€not€know€whether€the€discovery€and€the€author'sÐ ô$D # Ðarrest€are€connected.€The€author€also€asserts€that€his€daughter€was€abducted€in€November€1997€andÐ à%0!$ Ðheld€for€several€days€at€a€secret€location,€but€he€provides€no€details€of€the€persons€responsible€or€theÐ Ì&"% Ðcircumstances€in€which€the€abduction€allegedly€took€place.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌòòState€party's€observations€on€admissibilityóóÐ )à$( ÐÌ4.1€By€letter€dated€20€April€1999,€the€State€party€challenges€the€admissibility€of€the€communication.Ð h+¸&* ÐIt€argues€non-exhaustion€of€the€domestic€remedies€available€to€the€applicant,€both€during€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðproceedings€leading€up€to€his€expulsion€to€Kinshasa€in€March€1994€and€since€his€return€to€FranceÐ @-(, Ðin€1995.€It€also€disputes€the€author's€claim€to€be€a€victim.Ð ° ÐÌòòA.€Proceedings€leading€up€to€author's€deportation€in€1994óóÐ ˆØ ÐÌ4.2€By€judgement€dated€14€March€1994,€the€Paris€Correctional€Court€banned€the€author€from€FrenchÐ `° Ðterritory€for€three€years€and€ordered€provisional€execution€of€its€sentence.€The€author,€who€wasÐ L œ Ðdeported€on€20€March€1994,€entered€no€appeal€against€that€judgement,€although€he€had€10€days€inÐ 8 ˆ Ðwhich€to€do€so€by€virtue€of€articles€496,€497€and€498€of€the€Code€of€Penal€Procedure.Ð $ t ÐÌ4.3€It€is€true€that€the€judgement€was€for€immediate€enforcement€and€that€the€author€was€liable€to€beÐ ü L  Ðdeported€at€any€time,€even€before€the€10€days€had€elapsed.€There€was,€however,€nothing€to€preventÐ è 8  ÐK.N.€from€availing€himself€of€this€judicial€remedy€so€as€to€have€his€case€reviewed€by€the€Court€ofÐ Ô$  ÐAppeal.Ð À  ÐÌòòB.€Proceedings€after€author's€return€to€France€in€1995óóÐ ˜è  ÐÌ4.4€Contrary€to€what€is€asserted€in€the€communication€before€the€Committee,€the€author€did€have€theÐ pÀ Ðpossibility,€from€the€moment€of€his€secret€return€to€France€in€1995,€of€explaining€to€the€FrenchÐ \¬ Ðadministrative€authorities€the€risks€he€ran€in€his€country€of€origin€and€securing€an€administrativeÐ H˜ Ðruling€protecting€him€from€any€action€to€expel€him€to€the€former€Zaire.€Indeed,€he€could€validly€haveÐ 4„ Ðsubmitted€a€fresh€application€for€refugee€status€to€OFPRA.Ð  p ÐÌ4.5€It€is€true€that€the€decree€dated€14€March€1997,€amending€the€decree€of€2€May€1953,€stipulatesÐ øH Ðthat€a€fresh€application€for€recognition€of€refugee€status€must€be€preceded€by€a€fresh€application€forÐ ä4 Ðprovisional€authorization€to€reside€in€France.€It€is€nonetheless€the€case€that€the€decree€was€adoptedÐ Ð  Ðonly€in€March€1997,€and€cannot€therefore€be€invoked€by€the€author€as€a€reason€for€not€applying€toÐ ¼  ÐOFPRA€between€March€1995,€when€he€returned€to€France,€and€March€1997,€when€the€new€decreeÐ ¨ø Ðwas€published.Ð ”ä ÐÌ4.6€Moreover,€the€obligation,€deriving€from€article€2€of€the€Act€of€25€July€1952€establishing€OFPRA,Ð l¼ Ðto€make€oneself€known€to€the€authorities€at€the€prefecture€before€applying€to€OFPRA€for€recognitionÐ X ¨ Ðof€refugee€status€does€not€render€registration€of€such€a€request€by€OFPRA€contingent€upon€a€priorÐ D!” Ðdecision€by€the€prefecture€to€give€permission€to€reside€in€France.Ð 0"€  ÐÌ4.7€Even€if€an€alien€is€not€granted€authorization€to€reside€legally€in€France€with€a€duly€issued€permit,Ð $X" Ðhe€is€always€entitled€to€have€his€application€for€refugee€status€considered€by€OFPRA.€Article€2€ofÐ ô$D # Ðthe€aforementioned€Act€of€25€July€1952€states€that,€when€provisional€authorization€to€reside€inÐ à%0!$ ÐFrance€is€withheld,€OFPRA€shall€accord€priority€to€examination€of€the€request€for€recognition€ofÐ Ì&"% Ðrefugee€status,€and€article€12€of€the€same€Act€says€that€an€alien€to€whom€permission€to€reside€inÐ ¸'#& ÐFrance€has€not€been€granted€on€any€of€the€grounds€set€forth€in€article€10€shall€nonetheless€be€entitledÐ ¤(ô#' Ðto€remain€in€France€until€the€decision€reached€by€OFPRA€is€notified.Ð )à$( ÐÌ4.8€Thus,€though€not€indeed€entitled€to€obtain€a€residence€permit€as€long€as€the€ban€on€his€presenceÐ h+¸&* Ðon€French€territory€remained€in€effect,€the€author€cannot€seriously€assert€that€this€prevented€him€fromÐ T,¤'+ Ðsubmitting€a€fresh€application€for€refugee€status€or€emphasizing€the€risks€he€would€run€if€returnedÐ @-(, Ðto€his€home€country.€Furthermore,€since€his€banishment€from€French€territory€ceased€to€be€effectiveÐ ° Ðas€from€March€1997,€the€author€could€thereafter€have€submitted€an€application€for€recognition€ofÐ œì Ðrefugee€status€subject€to€the€usual€conditions.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ4.9€Given€that€the€author€could€prove€that€he€had€been€returned€to€his€country€of€origin€after€theÐ `° Ðrejection€of€his€application€by€OFPRA€and€CRR€in€1993,€a€fresh€application€for€recognition€ofÐ L œ Ðrefugee€status€would€have€been€regarded€as€a€first€application€and€not€as€an€"abuse€of€process"€orÐ 8 ˆ Ð"deliberate€fraud"€which€could,€under€the€terms€of€article€10€of€the€Act€of€25€July€1952,€justify€aÐ $ t Ðrefusal€of€provisional€authorization€to€reside€in€France.€The€author€could€thus€have€been€granted€aÐ  ` Ðprovisional€authorization€to€reside€in€France€until€OFPRA€and,€on€appeal,€CRR€had€ruled€on€hisÐ ü L  Ðapplication.Ð è 8  ÐÌ4.10€Nor€can€the€author€maintain€that€the€judicial€authorities€could€not€have€been€persuaded€to€liftÐ À  Ðthe€order€banning€him€from€France€after€his€secret€return€in€1995.€Article€28€bis€of€the€ordinance€ofÐ ¬ü  Ð2€November€1945€does€indeed€say€that€an€application€to€lift€a€ban€from€French€territory€can€beÐ ˜è  Ðentertained€only€if€the€alien€is€living€outside€France,€but€the€same€article€provides€for€an€exceptionÐ „Ô  Ðwhere€the€alien€is€subjected€to€a€restricted€residence€order.€Since€such€an€order€is€issued€by€theÐ pÀ Ðadministrative€authorities€when€it€is€established€that€the€individual€concerned€cannot€return€to€hisÐ \¬ Ðcountry€of€origin€because,€inter€alia,€of€the€risks€he€might€be€exposed€to€there,€the€author€was€atÐ H˜ Ðliberty€to€appear€before€the€authorities€in€the€appropriate€prefecture€to€have€his€situation€consideredÐ 4„ Ðin€that€regard.€He€refrained€from€taking€such€a€step.Ð  p ÐÌ4.11€It€is€thus€clearly€apparent€that,€since€returning€to€France€in€1995,€the€author€has€not€made€useÐ øH Ðof€the€legal€channels€which€would€have€enabled€him€effectively€to€explain€both€to€OFPRA€and€CRRÐ ä4 Ðand€to€the€administrative€authorities€the€risks€to€which€he€would€be€allegedly€exposed€in€his€countryÐ Ð  Ðof€origin,€and€to€secure€effective€protection€against€any€action€to€expel€him.Ð ¼  ÐÌ4.12€On€the€other€hand,€the€author€of€the€communication€under€consideration€has€recently€broughtÐ ”ä Ðtwo€appeals€before€the€administrative€courts:€the€first,€dated€18€February€1999,€seeks€a€stay€ofÐ €Ð Ðexecution€of€the€decision€dated€3€July€1998€by€the€Prefect€of€Haute-Vienne€rejecting€his€applicationÐ l¼ Ðfor€residence,€and€the€second,€dated€25€February€1999,€seeks€to€have€that€same€decision€quashed.Ð X ¨ ÐSince€those€two€appeals€are€currently€pending,€the€communication€is€premature.Ð D!” ÐÌòòC.€Author's€lack€of€victim€statusóóÐ #l! ÐÌ4.13€The€author€is€at€present€illegally€within€French€territory,€inasmuch€as€his€latest€application€forÐ ô$D # Ða€residence€permit,€submitted€pursuant€to€the€circular€dated€24€June€1997€on€the€review€of€theÐ à%0!$ Ðsituation€of€certain€categories€of€illegal€aliens,€was€definitively€rejected€by€ministerial€decision€onÐ Ì&"% Ð16€December€1998.€Nevertheless,€he€does€not€at€present€face€any€administrative€or€judicial€actionÐ ¸'#& Ðto€expel€him.€The€decision€banning€him€from€French€territory€for€three€years€taken€by€the€ParisÐ ¤(ô#' ÐCorrectional€Court€on€14€March€1994€has€lapsed.€Nor€is€there€any€order€for€his€deportation€for€beingÐ )à$( Ðin€France€illegally.€So€long€as€no€such€order€has€been€issued€by€the€Prefect,€he€is€safe€from€anyÐ |*Ì%) Ðaction€to€expel€him€to€the€former€Zaire.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ4.14€On€the€assumption€that€such€an€order€were€issued,€its€implementation€would€require€a€decisionÐ @-(, Ðby€the€Prefect€naming€the€country€of€destination.€If,€at€that€time,€the€individual€concerned€establishedÐ ° Ðthat€his€life€or€liberty€would€be€at€risk€or€that€he€would€be€exposed€to€treatment€in€breach€of€articleÐ œì Ð3€of€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights€in€the€event€of€€being€returned€to€his€country€ofÐ ˆØ Ðorigin,€expulsion€to€that€country€could€not€be€carried€out€by€virtue€of€article€27€bis€of€the€aforesaidÐ tÄ Ðordinance,€and€he€would€be€made€subject€to€a€restricted€residence€order€in€accordance€with€articleÐ `° Ð28€of€the€ordinance.Ð L œ ÐÌ4.15€If,€nonetheless,€having€heard€the€author's€explanations,€the€administrative€authorities€were€toÐ $ t Ðconsider€that€the€risks€in€the€event€of€his€return€had€not€been€established,€the€author€would€stillÐ  ` Ðhowever€have€the€possibility€of€challenging,€in€the€administrative€courts,€not€only€the€deportationÐ ü L  Ðorder€itself€but€also€the€decision€on€the€country€of€destination.€Such€an€administrative€law€appealÐ è 8  Ðwould,€under€article€27€ter,€have€the€effect€of€staying€execution,€and€the€deportation€order€could€thusÐ Ô$  Ðnot€be€put€into€effect€until€the€court€had€handed€down€its€ruling.€The€administrative€court€has€fullÐ À  Ðcontrol€of€the€decision€fixing€the€country€of€destination€and€could€therefore€annul€it€if€it€consideredÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€risks€proven.€In€that€event,€the€individual€concerned€would€also€benefit€from€a€restrictedÐ ˜è  Ðresidence€order€pursuant€to€the€aforementioned€article€28.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ4.16€At€present€the€author,€who€is€not€subject€to€any€enforceable€decision€to€expel€him€to€his€countryÐ \¬ Ðof€origin,€cannot€Ô_ÔpleadÔ_Ô€that€he€is€the€victim€of€a€breach€of€the€Convention€within€the€meaning€ofÐ H˜ Ðarticle€22,€paragraph€1,€thereof.€In€any€event,€if€he€were€to€be€notified€of€a€decision€naming€hisÐ 4„ Ðcountry€of€origin€as€the€country€of€destination,€he€would€have€open€to€him€effective€remedies€whichÐ  p Ðhe€would€have€to€exhaust€before€making€application€to€the€Committee.Ð  \ ÐÌòòComments€by€counselóóÐ ä4 ÐÌ5.1€Ô_ÔK.N.Ô_Ô's€counsel€submits€objections€to€the€State€party's€observations€on€admissibility.€A.€FailureÐ ¼  Ðto€exhaust€domestic€remedies€in€respect€of€the€ban€from€French€territory€ordered€on€14€March€1994Ð ¨ø Ð5.2€Counsel€points€out€that€it€is€scarcely€reasonable€to€maintain€that€the€author,€who€was€arrested€onÐ ”ä Ð13€March€1994,€sentenced€to€banishment€from€French€territory€the€day€after,€immediately€detainedÐ €Ð Ðwith€a€view€to€the€execution€of€the€sentence,€and€then€forcibly€sent€back€to€Zaire€on€20€March,€hadÐ l¼ Ðhad€an€opportunity€to€lodge€an€appeal.€Appeals€must€be€lodged€in€person€with€the€clerk€of€the€CourtÐ X ¨ Ðof€Appeal,€òò4óó€the€only€exception€being€that€prisoners,€i.e.€persons€sentenced€to€a€term€ofÐ D!” Ðimprisonment,€are€given€the€possibility€of€entering€an€official€appeal€in€the€prison€establishment.€òò5óóÐ 0"€  ÐÔ_ÔK.N.Ô_Ô,€who€had€not€been€sentenced€to€any€term€of€imprisonment,€was€detained,€first€in€premises€notÐ #l! Ðunder€the€authority€of€the€Prisons€Administration,€then€in€the€aircraft€and€then€in€Zaire.Ð $X" ÐÌ5.3€It€is,€moreover,€generally€acknowledged€that,€on€the€one€hand,€cases€before€the€Paris€Court€ofÐ à%0!$ ÐAppeal€take€about€eight€months€to€come€up€for€a€hearing,€and€on€the€other€hand,€that€in€cases€of€theÐ Ì&"% Ðpresent€kind,€heard€by€the€Twelfth€Division€of€the€Court,€the€penalties€are€automatically€upheld€ifÐ ¸'#& Ðnot€increased.€In€no€circumstances€could€this€be€regarded€as€an€effective€and€adequate€judicialÐ ¤(ô#' Ðremedy€since,€even€if€it€had€been€materially€possible€to€lodge€an€appeal,€the€appeal€entailed€no€stayÐ )à$( Ðof€execution€and€would€have€done€nothing€to€change€the€forcible€execution€of€the€author'sÐ |*Ì%) Ðbanishment€from€French€territory.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌòòB.€Failure€to€exhaust€domestic€remedies€after€the€author's€return€to€France€in€1995óóÐ @-(, Ї5.4€The€State€party€maintains€that€the€author€could€have€submitted€an€application€for€asylum€toÐ ° ÐOFPRA,€could€have€requested€assignment€to€a€fixed€place€of€residence,€and€has€an€appeal€pendingÐ œì Ðbefore€the€Administrative€Court.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ5.5€No€lawyer€or€association€would€take€the€responsibility€of€advising€the€author€to€enter€a€freshÐ `° Ðapplication€for€asylum,€either€in€1995€or€nowadays.€Doing€so€would€almost€automatically€lead€to€theÐ L œ Ðauthor's€expulsion.€Under€French€law,€any€application€by€an€alien€for€permission€to€reside€in€FranceÐ 8 ˆ Ð(and€hence€for€asylum,€a€request€for€asylum€being€possible€and€admissible€only€after€residence€forÐ $ t Ðthat€purpose€has€been€authorized€by€the€administration)€requires€the€applicant€to€go€in€person€to€theÐ  ` Ðprefecture,€pursuant€to€article€3€of€the€decree€dated€30€June€1946€as€amended€and€definitivelyÐ ü L  Ðinterpreted€by€the€Council€of€State.€That,€of€course,€has€a€strong€deterrent€effect€since€anyone€whoÐ è 8  Ðis€not€already€in€possession€of€residence€papers€or€a€residence€permit€is€ipso€facto€liable€to€be€issuedÐ Ô$  Ðwith€an€immediate€deportation€order.€Thus€proceedings€to€regularize€an€alien's€situation€often€resultÐ À  Ðin€the€alien€being€arrested€at€the€counter€in€the€prefecture,€served€notice€of€a€deportation€order,€andÐ ¬ü  Ðdeported€a€few€days€later.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ5.6€The€State€party€wrongly€maintains€that,€before€the€decree€dated€14€March€1997€which€prohibitsÐ pÀ Ðany€application€for€asylum€before€the€prefect€has€granted€permission€to€reside€in€France,€nothingÐ \¬ Ðprevented€the€author€from€approaching€Ô_ÔOFPRAÔ_Ô.€Before€the€decree,€any€fresh€application€from€anÐ H˜ Ðasylum-seeker€who€had€been€once€refused€was€considered€inadmissible€because€it€conflicted€withÐ 4„ Ða€previous€final€decision:€the€ipso€facto€result€was€the€deportation€of€the€applicant.€Thus,€when€theÐ  p Ðauthor€submitted€a€second€application€for€asylum€in€March€1993€the€only€concrete€result€was€theÐ  \ Ðissue€in€the€following€few€days€of€the€customary€deportation€order€and€a€decision€to€expel€him€toÐ øH ÐZaire€on€15€April€1993.€Only€following€the€rulings€by€the€Council€of€State€on€21€June€1996€(PrefectÐ ä4 Ðof€Yvelines€v.€SARR,€No.€168785€and€Ô_ÔLakkisÔ_Ô,€No.€16053)€was€the€right€of€a€"reapplicant"€forÐ Ð  Ðasylum€to€reside€in€France€recognized€in€certain€cases,€and€then€only€for€a€short€while,€since€theÐ ¼  Ðdecree€of€14€March€1997€expressly€banned€any€fresh€application€in€the€absence€of€permission€fromÐ ¨ø Ða€prefect€to€reside€in€France.€It€is€scarcely€realistic,€therefore,€to€suggest€that€the€author€ought€to€haveÐ ”ä Ðsubmitted€a€third€application,€and€no€one€with€professional€experience€of€the€law€on€aliens€wouldÐ €Ð Ðhave€considered€doing€so.€What€is€more,€until€14€March€1997,€which€was€the€date€on€which€theÐ l¼ Ðdecree€took€effect,€the€author€was€still€legally€banned€from€French€territory€for€three€years€by€theÐ X ¨ Ðdecision€handed€down€by€the€Paris€Correctional€Court€on€14€March€1994,€and€could€not€byÐ D!” Ðdefinition€be€granted€permission€to€reside€in€France€-€and€thus€to€submit€an€application€for€asylum,Ð 0"€  Ðwhich€necessarily€supposed€previous€authorization€to€reside€in€France.Ð #l! ÐÌ5.7€The€State€party€wrongly€suggests€that,€after€14€March€1997,€the€author€could€have€approachedÐ ô$D # ÐÔ_ÔOFPRAÔ_Ô€even€without€being€authorized€to€reside€in€France.€Under€French€law,€OFPRA€cannot€beÐ à%0!$ Ðapproached€directly;€it€only€considers€applications€for€asylum€forwarded€by€a€prefecture€which€hasÐ Ì&"% Ðgranted€the€asylum-seeker€permission€to€reside€in€France.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌ5.8€As€regards€the€assignment€to€a€fixed€place€of€residence€(which€confers€no€right€to€work,€welfareÐ )à$( Ðcoverage,€etc.),€counsel€argues€that€this€is€a€discretionary€measure€which€the€administration€may€takeÐ |*Ì%) Ðbut€which€cannot€be€requested€from€an€independent€authority€or€court:€it€cannot€therefore€beÐ h+¸&* Ðregarded€as€a€"judicial€remedy"€within€the€meaning€of€international€law.€As€the€State€party€indicates,Ð T,¤'+ Ðthe€administration€may€take€such€a€step€if€it€considers€it€has€been€shown€that€the€individualÐ @-(, Ðconcerned€cannot€return€to€his€country€of€origin€in€view,€inter€alia€,€of€the€risks€to€which€he€isÐ ° Ðexposed.€It€will€be€recalled€that,€for€seven€years,€the€administration€has€taken€the€view,€when€theÐ œì Ðquestion€of€asylum,€residence€or€expulsion€has€arisen,€that€returning€to€his€country€of€origin€will€notÐ ˆØ Ðcause€the€author€any€problem.€It€is€hard€to€see€how€things€would€be€any€different€if€the€question€ofÐ tÄ Ðassignment€to€a€fixed€place€of€residence€arose.Ð `° ÐÌ5.9€The€appeal€against€the€refusal€of€permission€to€reside€in€France€currently€pending€before€theÐ 8 ˆ ÐLimoges€Administrative€Court€does€not€entail€a€stay€of€execution€and€thus€affords€the€author€noÐ $ t Ðprotection€whatsoever€against€forcible€return€to€his€home€country.€In€parallel€with€his€request€to€haveÐ  ` Ðthat€refusal€overturned,€the€author€submitted,€in€February€1999,€an€application€for€suspension€of€theÐ ü L  Ðcontested€decision.€That€procedure,€too,€does€not€entail€a€stay€of€execution.€While,€theoretically,€itÐ è 8  Ðshould€be€pursued€as€a€matter€of€extreme€urgency,€òò6óó€one€need€only€observe€that€the€application€hasÐ Ô$  Ðstill€not€been€heard€and€that€delays€in€such€cases€can€run€into€years.€As€for€the€appeal,€counsel€statesÐ À  Ðthat,€in€1999,€petitions€submitted€in€1994€were€coming€up€before€the€Limoges€Administrative€CourtÐ ¬ü  Ðfor€a€hearing.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ5.10€As€for€the€substance,€the€appeals€lodged,€even€if€they€entailed€a€stay€of€execution€and€even€ifÐ pÀ Ðthey€were€heard€within€a€reasonable€period,€would,€in€keeping€with€constant€case€law,€be€rejected.Ð \¬ ÐApplications€for€suspension€are€consistently€held€to€be€inadmissible€unless€the€contested€decisionÐ H˜ Ðplaces€the€petitioner,€already€in€an€irregular€situation,€in€a€new€de€facto€and€de€jure€situation.€WithÐ 4„ Ðregard€to€the€substance,€moreover,€there€is€first€of€all€case€law€that€is€just€as€constant€that€fears€in€theÐ  p Ðcountry€of€origin€are€of€no€avail€against€a€refusal€of€permission€to€reside€in€France.€Secondly,€theÐ  \ Ðapplicant€always€bears€the€burden€of€providing€conclusively€the€truth€of€the€facts€he€cites;€yet€byÐ øH Ðdefinition,€no€absolute€proof€such€as€the€French€administration€and€courts€demand€can€be€providedÐ ä4 Ðin€the€present€case.Ð Ð  ÐÌòòC.€Author€not€a€victim€in€the€absence€of€expulsion€proceedingsóóÐ ¨ø ÐÌ5.11€According€to€counsel,€keeping€the€author€in€a€situation€where€he€has€no€right€to€any€legalÐ €Ð Ðsupport,€housing,€or€welfare€coverage€is€in€itself€suffering€intentionally€inflicted€and/or€condonedÐ l¼ Ðwith€the€objective€of€persuading€him€not€to€remain€in€French€territory,€and€constitutes€inhuman€andÐ X ¨ Ðdegrading€treatment€and€torture€within€the€meaning€of€article€1€of€the€Convention.Ð D!” ÐÌ5.12€One€has€only€to€read€the€decision€by€the€Prefect€of€Haute-Vienne€refusing€the€author€permissionÐ #l! Ðto€reside€in€France,€notice€of€which€was€served€on€him€on€27€July€1998,€to€see€that€he€is€given€aÐ $X" Ðmonth€to€leave€the€country,€after€which€time€an€order€for€his€deportation€will€be€issued.€FrenchÐ ô$D # Ðadministrative€practice€is€as€follows.€Either€a€deportation€order€is€sent€by€recorded€delivery€to€theÐ à%0!$ Ðindividual's€last€known€address;€in€this€case€it€is€final,€and€that€the€individual€may€not€know€of€itsÐ Ì&"% Ðexistence€is€irrelevant;€or€else€a€deportation€order€is€immediately€produced,€served€on€the€individualÐ ¸'#& Ðand€put€into€effect€when€he€is€arrested€or€subjected€to€an€identity€check.€In€the€former€case,€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðindividual€has€seven€days€in€which€to€appeal.€K.N.,€does€not€know€whether€such€a€letter€was€sentÐ )à$( Ðto€him.€In€the€latter€case,€an€appeal€must€be€entered€within€48€hours.€It€cannot€seriously€beÐ |*Ì%) Ðmaintained€that,€in€such€circumstances,€the€author€would€have€the€time€and€opportunity€to€establishÐ h+¸&* Ðwhat€risks€he€is€running,€when€he€had€been€denied€the€option€of€doing€so€since€1992.€Such€an€appealÐ T,¤'+ Ðdid€indeed€entail€a€stay€of€execution,€but€the€court€is€required€to€give€its€ruling€within€48€hours.€InÐ @-(, Ðthe€circumstances,€this€cannot€be€regarded€as€an€effective€and€appropriate€remedy.Ð ° ÐÌ5.13€According€to€counsel,€arguments€based€on€fears€and€on€risks€run€in€the€country€of€destinationÐ ˆØ Ðare€of€no€avail€against€the€expulsion€order€itself€and€can€at€best€serve€to€have€the€decision€as€toÐ tÄ Ðcountry€of€destination€overturned€where€appropriate.€Besides€the€additional€procedural€complicationÐ `° Ðthis€creates€for€the€alien,€who€must€remember€to€state€specifically€that€he€also€contests€the€possibleÐ L œ Ðdecision€as€to€country€of€destination€and€adduce€separate€factual€and€legal€arguments€for€thatÐ 8 ˆ Ðpurpose,€there€is€nothing€that€obliges€the€administration€to€notify€the€decision€as€to€country€ofÐ $ t Ðdestination€at€the€same€time€as€the€expulsion€order.€On€the€contrary,€it€has€now€become€commonÐ  ` Ðpractice,€precisely€in€order€to€prevent€any€appeal€entailing€stay€of€execution€from€being€lodged,€notÐ ü L  Ðto€notify€an€alien€in€detention€of€this€decision€until€the€48€hours€for€appealing€against€the€expulsionÐ è 8  Ðorder€have€expired.€That€alien€who€is€being€expelled€has€the€two€months€allowed€under€ordinary€lawÐ Ô$  Ðto€enter€a€traditional€appeal€against€the€decision€as€to€country€of€destination.€That€appeal,€which€doesÐ À  Ðnot€entail€a€stay€of€the€expulsion,€will€be€heard€after€the€customary€delay€of€some€years.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌòòThe€Committee's€considerationsóóÐ „Ô  ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€must€decideÐ \¬ Ðwhether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.Ð H˜ ÐÌ6.2€In€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€5€(b),€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€does€notÐ  p Ðconsider€any€communication€unless€it€has€ascertained€that€the€author€has€exhausted€all€availableÐ  \ Ðdomestic€remedies;€this€does€not€apply€where€it€has€been€established€that€the€application€of€theÐ øH Ðremedies€has€been€or€would€be€unreasonably€prolonged€or€that€it€is€unlikely€to€bring€effective€reliefÐ ä4 Ðto€the€alleged€victim.Ð Ð  ÐÌ6.3€In€the€present€case,€the€Committee€notes€that,€since€arriving€in€France€in€1995,€the€author€has€notÐ ¨ø Ðsubmitted€a€fresh€application€for€refugee€status€to€OFPRA€although€there€are€new€facts€which€heÐ ”ä Ðcould€adduce.€The€Committee€notes,€in€that€connection,€the€statement€by€the€State€party€that,€thoughÐ €Ð Ðnot€indeed€entitled€to€obtain€a€residence€permit€so€long€as€the€ban€on€his€presence€in€French€territoryÐ l¼ Ðremained€in€effect,€the€author€could€not€seriously€maintain€that€this€state€of€affairs€prevented€himÐ X ¨ Ðfrom€submitting€a€fresh€application€for€refugee€status€or€emphasizing€the€risks€he€would€run€ifÐ D!” Ðreturned€to€his€own€country.€The€State€party€also€says€that,€his€banishment€from€French€territoryÐ 0"€  Ðhaving€ceased€to€be€effective€as€of€March€1997,€the€author€could€thereafter€have€submitted€anÐ #l! Ðapplication€for€refugee€status€subject€to€the€usual€conditions.€The€Committee€notes€also€that€theÐ $X" Ðauthor's€appeal€against€the€decision€by€the€Prefect€rejecting€his€application€for€residence€and€hisÐ ô$D # Ðapplication€for€suspension€of€the€expulsion€order,€lodged€before€the€administrative€authorities€in€JulyÐ à%0!$ Ð1998€and€February€1999€respectively,€are€currently€pending.€In€the€circumstances,€the€CommitteeÐ Ì&"% Ðfinds€that€the€conditions€laid€down€in€article€22,€paragraph€5€(b),€of€the€Convention€are€not€met.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌ7.€The€Committee€consequently€decides€that:Ð )à$( ÐÌ(a)€The€communication€is€inadmissible€as€it€stands;Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ(b)€Under€rule€109€of€the€Committee's€rules€of€procedure,€this€decision€may€be€reviewed€if€theÐ @-(, ÐCommittee€receives€a€written€request€by€or€on€behalf€of€the€author€containing€evidence€to€the€effectÐ ° Ðthat€the€reasons€for€inadmissibility€no€longer€apply;€andÐ œì ÐÌ(c)€This€decision€shall€be€communicated€to€the€author€of€the€communication€and,€for€information,Ð tÄ Ðto€the€State€party.Ð `° ÐÌÌ_____________Ð $ t ÐÌ1/€€€The€author€states€that€his€wife€was€arrested€and€Ô_ÔimporisonedÔ_Ô€after€his€departure,€but€the€fileÐ ü L  Ðcontains€no€evidence€to€support€this€statement.Ð è 8  ÐÌ2/€€€Copy€of€transfer€docket€attached.Ð À  ÐÌ3/€€€Photographs€of€the€body€are€annexed€to€the€communication.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ4/€€€Code€of€Penal€Procedure,€article€502.Ð pÀ ÐÌ5/€€€Ibid.,€article€503.Ð H˜ ÐÌ6/€€€Administrative€Courts€and€Administrative€Appeals€Courts€Code,€article€R€120.Ð  p ÐÌÌ[Done€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€French€text€being€the€original€version.]