ÿWPC  2’¡9%í·Y”˺R¾ V™u¿dæ¥7':.£á¸Èºj(eo§´nÿN·¼Ù @Y¦ZuøÐ±,,æz#-¡ìå[Ž´CóÞdÊw]pß.’ï)BN×.sqí¿—G ¶Ð–Ʀ¸Û·ã^Í›3FÈY€½ œ¾ö¨F]ydÅi`„{±'žS¨«fÕ0ô×î¦ûL,âÌK™Šú?Ç †!6 †nëÕ{‹Ë™ú P¸ÂÅ„!‡œXt`õlp^ ÷h†f­í&Lä½¥'Î0|F–27§µ‚|ÝÈmIOOÁQx˜Õ/úŸOPÆPªmSŒS“¬[?×ý0fÜ ‡ ,†!Çê¶`Ï_%i^e£Ã%àq?×'‡Ÿ ýR¢K ¸¯ÙxÔüEÀH£TÏê¢3;X‹ž+ª3¸žänL•ÀŒ!ÔʬåÞ¢x«ˆq Q+4m=”¥­V3‘ÿ5BÍ!{Ÿ¹;Ì)Ÿ¯Ä™I’ucddåL)xÁ'|>p•ʹ<Œ^bd½¤w+®N¨Þ<[à UMäy=¦ml^fžgæž| U“x•†lÉÁ¤5U™[›¨syȶ_jÍö˜.σë~ËØÖ/25X©õ§yjË|V¬á U>BÌ€ 0nL 0iº 0Y# 0_| 0&ÛU6 %7 = 0ÆM #Á UNÔ Ô M" (& NN ^ P w\ 4` t mv ô\  `‹&Times New Roman' United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Jurisprudence - 4nt - Jurisprudence - "Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   <ÿÿ:Default ParaÔ€ôôôÔÔ€XXXÔ< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ  ÔóóÔ  Ô<qyÿÿ:HTML TypewriÔ€ôôôÔÔK€<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔ  ÔÔ€XXXÔÔS€ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÔ  Ô<þ6X9`(‹Courier New X#|x(žå$¡¡ÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ Xo´XX XÔÔ€Xo´XX Xo´ÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regulari) 'gt)«(¶–test3 ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ å!ÝÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XrhXX XÔÔ€XrhXX XrhÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòX,€Y€and€Z€v.€SwedenóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No€61/1996Ð H˜ ÐÌ6€May€1998Ð  d ÐÌCAT/C/20/D/61/1996Ð à 0 ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ ’â  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€X,€Y€and€Z€(names€withheld)€(represented€by€counsel)€Ð D”  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€The€authors€Ð ` ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€Sweden€Ð Ü, ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€27€June€1996€óóÐ ¨ø ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€againstÐ Zª ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð @ ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€6€May€1998,€Ð  \ ÐÌòòHaving€concludedòòóó€óóits€consideration€of€communication€No.€61/1996,€submitted€to€theÐ Ø( ÐCommittee€against€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€OtherÐ ¾ ÐCruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð ¤ô ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountòòóó€óóall€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€authors€of€theÐ p!À  Ðcommunication,€their€counsel€and€the€State€party,€Ð V"¦! ÐÌòòAdoptsòòóó€óóits€Ð "$r# ÐÌÌÓÒÓòòò òÓ  ÓViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóóÐ Ô&$"& ÐÓÓÓÓÌÌ1.€The€authors€of€the€communication€are€X,€Y€and€Z.€They€are€nationals€of€the€DemocraticÐ †)Ö$) ÐRepublic€of€the€Congo€(formerly€Zaire)€and€allege€a€violation€by€Sweden€of€article€3€of€theÐ l*¼%* ÐConvention€against€Torture.€They€are€represented€by€counsel.€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌòòThe€facts€as€submittedóó€Ð -n(- Ї2.1€Counsel€submits€that€X€and€his€sister€Z€were€politically€active€in€a€political€oppositionÐ ° Ðparty€in€Zaire,€without€giving€further€specifications.€He€claims€that€this€led€to€their€arrest,Ð –æ Ðimprisonment€and€torture,€without€giving€more€details.€It€is€said€that,€as€a€result€of€herÐ |Ì Ðtorture,€Z€is€now€in€poor€health.€X€and€Z€reportedly€fled€from€prison€and€escaped€to€Sweden.€Ð b² ÐÌ2.2€Y,€who€is€married€to€X,€claims€to€have€faced€torture€in€Zaire€as€she€searched€for€herÐ . ~ Ðhusband€in€different€prisons.€She€too€escaped€from€Zaire€to€Sweden.€Ð  d ÐÌ2.3€From€the€English€translations,€provided€by€the€State€party,€of€the€decisions€of€theÐ à 0 ÐImmigration€Board€and€the€Appeal€Board€in€the€authors'€cases,€it€appears€that€X€and€ZÐ Æ   Ðattempted€to€enter€Sweden€from€Germany€on€14€December€1991€in€the€company€of€theirÐ ¬ ü  Ðbrother€and€his€wife,€both€of€whom€are€living€in€Sweden.€X€stated€that€he€had€Ô_ÔtravelledÔ_Ô€toÐ ’â  ÐSweden€on€his€brother's€passport,€and€his€sister€on€the€passport€of€her€sister„in„law.€They€hadÐ xÈ  Ðbeen€imprisoned€in€Zaire€from€November€1990€to€December€1991,€when€they€were€helpedÐ ^®  Ðto€escape.€As€reason€for€his€imprisonment€X€stated€that€he€had€been€involved€in€organizingÐ D”  Ða€strike€in€November€1990.€Z€said€that€she€had€helped€her€brother€to€hand€out€leaflets.€TheÐ *z  ÐImmigration€Board€passed€a€refusal„of„entry€order€with€immediate€effect,€and€the€authorsÐ ` Ðreturned€to€Germany€the€same€day.€The€authors€then€requested€asylum€in€Germany€but€didÐ öF Ðnot€stay€to€await€the€outcome€of€their€application.€They€returned€to€Sweden€on€6€June€1992Ð Ü, Ðand€on€13€August€1992€applied€for€asylum€in€Sweden.€As€reason€for€leaving€Germany,€XÐ Â Ðstated€that€he€was€afraid€and€wanted€to€be€with€his€brother.€Z€stated€that€she€wanted€to€beÐ ¨ø Ðwith€her€brother€who€was€living€in€Sweden,€and€also€that€asylum„seekers€were€not€allowedÐ ŽÞ Ðto€stay€long€in€Germany.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ2.4€As€grounds€for€asylum,€the€authors€explained€that€their€father€was€executed€in€1978€afterÐ @ Ðhaving€been€accused€of€involvement€in€a€coup€against€President€Mobutu.€X€was€sectionÐ &v Ðleader€of€the€youth€section€of€the€Ô_ÔMouvementÔ_Ô€Populaire€de€la€Ô_ÔRvolutionÔ_Ô€(MPR)€duringÐ  \ Ð1985/86.€From€1986€to€1989,€he€was€a€member€of€the€political€police,€then€left€the€MPR€andÐ òB Ðbecame€adviser€to€the€deputy€leader€in€eastern€Kinshasa€of€the€People's€Revolutionary€PartyÐ Ø( Ð(Ô_ÔPRPÔ_Ô).€He€was€active€in€the€Ô_ÔPRPÔ_Ô€from€January€to€November€1990,€conducting€propagandaÐ ¾ Ðand€distributing€leaflets€together€with€his€sister,€who€had€become€a€member€of€the€Ô_ÔPRPÔ_Ô€inÐ ¤ô ÐMay€1990.€On€5€November€1990,€his€sister€was€arrested€at€the€market€place€for€distributingÐ Š Ú Ðleaflets.€She€was€subjected€to€torture.€X€was€subsequently€arrested,€imprisoned€and€subjectedÐ p!À  Ðto€torture.€On€11€December€1991,€X€and€his€sister€were€helped€by€a€man€they€call€Colonel,Ð V"¦! Ðwho€gave€them€new€clothes€and€drove€them€to€the€airport.€At€the€airport,€they€were€met€byÐ <#Œ" Ðtheir€elder€sister,€who€gave€them€Nigerian€passports€and€Ô_ÔaeroplaneÔ_Ô€tickets.€They€flew€toÐ "$r# ÐFrankfurt€via€Brussels€and€were€met€by€the€brother€who€lives€in€Sweden.€At€the€hearing€ofÐ %X $ Ðher€refugee€claim,€Z€presented€two€statements€from€the€Ô_ÔCentreÔ_Ô€for€Torture€Survivors,Ð î%>!% Ðconcluding€that€she€is€suffering€from€depression€and€post„traumatic€stress€disorder.€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌ2.5€Y€entered€Sweden€on€24€March€1995€and€applied€for€asylum.€She€could€not€give€anyÐ  (ð#( Ðdetails€about€her€husband's€political€activities.€She€stated€that€when€she€returned€from€a€visitÐ †)Ö$) Ðto€north„eastern€Zaire,€her€husband€had€disappeared€and€friends€told€her€that€he€had€beenÐ l*¼%* Ðarrested.€When€looking€for€her€husband€at€the€Ô_ÔdefenceÔ_Ô€staff€prison€in€1992,€she€was€detainedÐ R+¢&+ Ðand€imprisoned€for€two€months.€She€was€interrogated€about€her€husband's€political€activitiesÐ 8,ˆ', Ðand€tortured.€She€managed€to€escape€and€went€to€stay€with€an€aunt€in€Ô_ÔBukavuÔ_Ô,€north„easternÐ -n(- ÐZaire.€In€June€1993,€she€received€a€letter€from€her€husband€through€a€cousin€in€Belgium.€InÐ ° ÐDecember€1994,€her€aunt's€house€was€searched€and€her€husband's€letter€found.€Y€wasÐ –æ Ðreturned€to€prison€and€subjected€to€torture€again.€A€friend€arranged€her€escape€on€21€MarchÐ |Ì Ð1995.€She€was€given€a€passport€in€another€person's€name€and€left€for€Paris.€There€she€wasÐ b² Ðmet€by€someone€who€Ô_ÔtravelledÔ_Ô€to€Sweden€with€her€and€then€took€her€travel€documents.€Ð H˜ ÐÌòòThe€complaintóó€Ð  d ÐÌ3.1€The€authors€claim€that€their€return€to€the€Democratic€Republic€of€the€Congo€wouldÐ à 0 Ðconstitute€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€by€Sweden.€The€authorsÐ Æ   Ðfear€that€if€they€were€to€return€to€the€Democratic€Republic€they€would€be€treated€in€the€sameÐ ¬ ü  Ðway€in€which€they€have€been€treated€in€the€past,€stating€that:€their€political€party€is€banned;Ð ’â  Ðthe€leaders€of€the€party€are€still€in€exile;€and€the€political€situation€in€the€country€remainsÐ xÈ  Ðessentially€the€same€as€when€they€left.€They€submit€that€their€personal€background€showsÐ ^®  Ðthat€they€personally€would€be€at€risk€of€torture€if€returned€to€the€country€and€that€there€is,€inÐ D”  Ðaddition,€in€the€country€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€and€massive€violations€of€human€rights.€Ð *z  ÐÌòòThe€State€party's€observationsóó€Ð öF ÐÌ4.€On€22€November€1996,€the€Committee€acting€through€its€Special€Rapporteur€for€NewÐ Â ÐCommunications,€requested€the€State€party€not€to€expel€or€deport€Z€to€the€then€Zaire€whileÐ ¨ø Ðher€communication€was€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ5.1€By€submission€of€11€February€1997,€the€State€party€informs€the€Committee€that€theÐ Zª ÐImmigration€Board€has€suspended€the€authors'€expulsion,€following€the€Committee's€request.€Ð @ ÐÌ5.2€Regarding€the€domestic€procedure,€the€State€party€explains€that€the€basic€provisionsÐ  \ Ðconcerning€the€right€of€aliens€to€enter€and€to€remain€in€Sweden€are€found€in€the€1989€AliensÐ òB ÐAct.€For€the€determination€of€refugee€status€there€are€normally€two€instances,€the€SwedishÐ Ø( ÐImmigration€Board€and€the€Aliens€Appeals€Board.€In€exceptional€cases,€an€application€isÐ ¾ Ðreferred€to€the€Government€by€either€of€the€two€boards.€In€this€context,€the€State€partyÐ ¤ô Ðexplains€that€the€Government€has€no€jurisdiction€of€its€own€in€aliens€cases€not€referred€to€itÐ Š Ú Ðby€either€of€the€two€Boards€and€that€not€referred€cases€are€determined€by€the€BoardsÐ p!À  Ðindependently€and€with€no€interference€by€the€Government.€The€Swedish€Constitution,Ð V"¦! Ðchapter€11,€section€7,€prohibits€any€interference€of€the€Government,€Parliament€or€any€otherÐ <#Œ" Ðpublic€authority€in€the€decision€making€of€an€administrative€authority.€The€State€partyÐ "$r# Ðsubmits€that,€in€this€respect,€an€administrative€authority,€such€as€the€Immigration€Board€andÐ %X $ Ðthe€Aliens€Appeal€Board,€enjoys€the€same€independence€as€a€court€of€law.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ5.3€Chapter€8,€section€1,€of€the€Act€corresponds€with€article€3€of€the€Convention€againstÐ º' #' ÐTorture€and€states€that€an€alien€who€has€been€refused€entry€or€who€shall€be€expelled€mayÐ  (ð#( Ðnever€be€sent€to€a€country€where€there€is€firm€reason€to€believe€that€he€or€she€would€be€inÐ †)Ö$) Ðdanger€of€suffering€capital€or€corporal€punishment€or€of€being€subjected€to€torture,€nor€to€aÐ l*¼%* Ðcountry€where€he€is€not€protected€from€being€sent€on€to€a€country€where€he€would€be€in€suchÐ R+¢&+ Ðdanger.€Further,€under€chapter€2,€section€5,€subsection€3,€of€the€Act,€an€alien€who€is€to€beÐ 8,ˆ', Ðrefused€entry€or€expelled,€can€apply€for€a€residence€permit€if€the€application€is€based€onÐ -n(- ÐÔ_Ôcircumstances€which€have€not€previously€been€examined€in€the€case€and€if€either€the€alienÐ ° Ðis€entitled€to€asylum€in€Sweden€or€if€it€will€otherwise€be€in€conflict€with€humanitarianÐ –æ Ðrequirements€to€enforce€the€decision€on€refusal€of€entry€or€expulsion.€Applications€underÐ |Ì Ðsection€5€are€dealt€with€by€the€Aliens€Appeal€Board.€Ð b² ÐÌ5.4€Under€chapter€8,€section€10,€of€the€Act,€the€Immigration€Board€and€the€Aliens€AppealÐ . ~ ÐBoard€may€stay€the€enforcement€of€an€expulsion€order€when€particular€reasons€exist€forÐ  d Ðdoing€so.€Pursuant€to€Chapter€8,€Section€13,€of€the€Aliens€Act,€the€police€authority€is€toÐ ú J Ðinform€the€Immigration€Board€if€it€finds€that€enforcement€cannot€be€carried€out.€As€of€1Ð à 0 ÐJanuary€1997,€the€Act€provides€a€legal€basis€for€complying€with€an€interim€request€made€byÐ Æ   Ðan€international€judicial€organ€not€to€deport€an€asylum€seeker.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ6.1€Regarding€admissibility€of€the€communication,€the€State€party€is€not€aware€of€the€presentÐ xÈ  Ðmatter€being€or€having€been€investigated€by€another€procedure€of€international€investigation.Ð ^®  ÐIt€further€submits€that€the€authors€can€apply,€under€chapter€2,€section€5€b,€of€the€Aliens€Act,Ð D”  Ðfor€a€re„examination,€if€new€circumstances€exist.€Ð *z  ÐÌ6.2€Finally,€the€State€party€submits€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible€as€beingÐ öF Ðincompatible€with€the€provisions€of€the€Convention.€Ð Ü, ÐÌ7.1€As€to€the€merits€of€the€communication,€the€State€party€refers€to€the€Committee'sÐ ¨ø Ðjurisprudence€in€the€case€of€òòÔ_ÔMutomboÔ_Ô€v.€Switzerlandóóòò€1óó€and€òòÔ_ÔKisokiÔ_Ô€v.€Swedenóó,òò€2óó€and€the€criteriaÐ ŽÞ Ðestablished€by€the€Committee,€first,€that€the€general€situation€of€human€rights€in€a€countryÐ tÄ Ðmust€be€taken€into€account,€but€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€orÐ Zª Ðmass€violations€of€human€rights€is€not€in€and€of€itself€determinative;€second,€that€theÐ @ Ðindividual€concerned€must€personally€be€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture;€and,€third,€thatÐ &v Ðsuch€torture€must€be€a€necessary€and€foreseeable€consequence€of€the€return€of€the€person€toÐ  \ Ðhis€or€her€country.€Ð òB ÐÌ7.2€With€reference€to€the€general€situation€of€human€rights€in€Zaire,€the€State€partyÐ ¾ Ðacknowledges€that€the€situation€is€far€from€acceptable,€and€that€the€State€is€losing€control.Ð ¤ô ÐThe€State€party€submits,€however,€that€the€situation€with€respect€to€political€persecution€hasÐ Š Ú Ðslightly€improved€since€the€middle€of€1994.€The€State€party€submits€that€at€present€there€isÐ p!À  Ðno€systematic€persecution€in€Zaire€of€members€of€the€Union€pour€la€Ô_ÔDmocratieÔ_Ô€et€le€Ô_ÔProgrsÔ_ÔÐ V"¦! ÐSocial€(Ô_ÔUDPSÔ_Ô),€and€that,€on€the€contrary,€a€great€number€of€opposition€parties€act€withoutÐ <#Œ" Ðbeing€at€risk€of€being€exposed€to€persecution.€Furthermore,€according€to€recent€informationÐ "$r# Ðprovided€by€the€Office€of€the€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€Refugees€(Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô),Ð %X $ Ðonly€those€playing€an€active€political€role€at€the€national€level€risk€being€harassed€and€notÐ î%>!% Ðordinary€active€members€of€a€party€or€local€party€leaders.€Especially€members€of€the€Ô_ÔUDPSÔ_ÔÐ Ô&$"& Ðappear€to€be€free€from€persecution€at€the€moment.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ7.3€The€State€party€submits€that€it€is€a€different€matter€that€members€of€the€army€and€of€theÐ †)Ö$) Ðsecurity€forces€may€act€arbitrarily€and€commit€atrocities€during€interrogation€of€detainees.Ð l*¼%* ÐBut€in€the€State€party's€view€the€risk€for€a€returned€asylum€seeker€of€being€subjected€toÐ R+¢&+ Ðtorture€is€not€significantly€greater€than€for€the€population€in€general.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð7.4€The€State€party€refers€to€its€own€legislation€which€reflects€the€same€principle€as€that€ofÐ ° Ðarticle€3€of€the€Convention.€The€State€party's€authorities€thus€apply€the€same€test€as€theÐ –æ ÐCommittee€in€deciding€on€the€return€of€a€person€to€his€or€her€country.€The€State€party€recallsÐ |Ì Ðthat€the€mere€possibility€that€a€person€be€subjected€to€torture€in€his€or€her€country€of€originÐ b² Ðdoes€not€suffice€to€prohibit€his€or€her€return€as€being€incompatible€with€article€3€of€theÐ H˜ ÐConvention.€The€risk€must€be€substantiated€having€regard€to€the€circumstances€and€inÐ . ~ Ðparticular€to€the€asylum€seekers'€personal€conditions.€Ð  d ÐÌ7.5€In€respect€of€its€assessment€whether€or€not€the€authors€would€be€personally€at€risk€ofÐ à 0 Ðbeing€subjected€to€torture€when€returned€to€the€Democratic€Republic€of€the€Congo,€the€StateÐ Æ   Ðparty€relies€on€the€evaluation€of€the€facts€and€evidence€made€by€its€immigration€board€andÐ ¬ ü  Ðthe€appeal€board,€which€have€decided€that€there€are€no€impediments€to€deporting€the€authorsÐ ’â  Ðto€the€country.€In€particular,€the€Board€considered€that€the€Ô_ÔPRPÔ_Ô,€the€political€party€of€whichÐ xÈ  ÐX€claimed€to€be€a€sympathizer,€was€now€allowed€in€the€Democratic€Republic€and€that€he€wasÐ ^®  Ðof€no€particular€interest€to€the€Congolese€authorities.€Regarding€his€sister,€the€Board€wasÐ D”  Ðuncertain€of€her€identity,€and€noted€that€the€medical€statement€submitted€did€not€exclude€thatÐ *z  Ðthe€findings€could€have€other€explanations€than€those€claimed.€Finally,€Y€had€never€beenÐ ` Ðpolitically€active€and€did€not€submit€any€medical€evidence€to€substantiate€her€claims€ofÐ öF Ðhaving€been€subjected€to€torture.€Ð Ü, ÐÌ7.6€The€State€party€further€points€out€that€the€authors'€stories€contain€many€inconsistenciesÐ ¨ø Ðand€questionable€information.€Z€changed€her€account€of€political€involvement€on€severalÐ ŽÞ Ðoccasions€(not€being€involved,€recruiting€new€members,€and€later€being€vice„treasurer).€TheÐ tÄ Ðaccount€of€the€circumstances€of€the€arrest€of€X€and€Z€also€differed,€and€they€also€submittedÐ Zª Ðconflicting€information€about€how€they€Ô_ÔtravelledÔ_Ô€to€Sweden.€There€is€also€conflictingÐ @ Ðinformation€about€when€X€left€the€former€Zaire,€and€the€State€party€points€out€that€X€and€hisÐ &v Ðsister€have€indicated€different€languages€as€their€mother€tongue.€Ð  \ ÐÌ7.7€In€the€State€party's€view€there€is€a€general€lack€of€credibility€attached€to€the€informationÐ Ø( Ðwhich€the€authors€of€the€communication€have€submitted€to€the€Swedish€authorities.€TheÐ ¾ ÐState€party€seriously€questions€whether€the€authors€are€not€abusing€the€system€set€up€underÐ ¤ô Ðthe€Convention€against€Torture.€The€State€party€submits€that€it€has€not€been€possible€toÐ Š Ú Ðascertain€any€of€the€facts€invoked€by€the€authors€in€support€of€their€applications€for€asylum.Ð p!À  ÐIn€view€of€the€fact€that€the€authors€carried€no€valid€travel€documents€when€arriving€inÐ V"¦! ÐSweden,€it€cannot€be€excluded,€according€to€the€State€party,€that€they€had€been€residingÐ <#Œ" Ðsomewhere€else€in€Europe€before€entering€Sweden.€The€State€party€submits€that€it€wouldÐ "$r# Ðhave€been€possible€for€X€and€Z€to€remain€in€Germany€awaiting€the€examination€of€theirÐ %X $ Ðapplication€for€asylum€in€that€country.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ7.8€The€State€party€therefore€maintains€that€the€authors€have€not€substantiated€that€theyÐ º' #' Ðwould€be€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€they€were€to€return€to€theÐ  (ð#( ÐDemocratic€Republic€of€the€Congo.€It€has€not€been€substantiated€that€they€are€wanted€by€theÐ †)Ö$) ÐCongolese€authorities€or€that€they€would€be€of€particular€interest€to€those€authorities.€TheÐ l*¼%* Ðrisk€they€will€run€if€returning€to€the€country€is€not€significantly€greater€than€for€theÐ R+¢&+ Ðpopulation€in€general€in€the€Democratic€Republic.€The€State€party€further€emphasizes€thatÐ 8,ˆ', Ðthe€authors€are€free€to€leave€Sweden€in€order€to€go€to€some€other€country€where€they€canÐ -n(- Ðobtain€a€residence€permit.€Ð ° ÐÌ7.9€The€State€party€concludes€that€the€authors€have€not€shown€the€existence€of€substantialÐ |Ì Ðgrounds€for€believing€that€they€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€theÐ b² Ðexpulsion€order€were€to€be€carried€out.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€points€out€that€noÐ H˜ Ðsufficient€evidence€has€been€submitted€which€shows€that€their€alleged€political€activitiesÐ . ~ Ðrender€them€a€target€of€the€Congolese€authorities€at€this€point€in€time.€An€enforcement€of€theÐ  d Ðexpulsion€order€against€the€author€would€therefore€not€constitute€a€violation€of€article€3€ofÐ ú J Ðthe€Convention.€Ð à 0 ÐÌÔ_ÔòòCounsel'sÔ_Ô€comments€óóÐ ¬ ü  ÐÌ8.1€In€his€comments€on€the€State€party's€submission,€counsel€for€the€authors€states€that€theÐ xÈ  Ðpolitical€situation€in€Zaire€is€very€difficult€at€present,€since€different€groups€are€fighting€eachÐ ^®  Ðother€and€the€Government€has€lost€control€of€great€parts€of€the€country.€According€toÐ D”  Ðcounsel,€people€returning€from€abroad€risk€arrest€and€torture€upon€arrival.€Ð *z  ÐÌ8.2€With€reference€to€the€jurisprudence€of€the€European€Commission€of€Human€Rights,Ð öF Ðcounsel€states€that€the€possibility€of€lodging€a€new€application€with€the€Aliens€Appeal€BoardÐ Ü, Ðdoes€not€affect€the€admissibility€of€the€communication.€Ð  ÐÌ8.3€As€to€the€merits,€counsel€submits€that€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massÐ ŽÞ Ðviolations€of€human€rights€exists€in€the€Democratic€Republic€of€the€Congo.€He€adds€that€theÐ tÄ Ðauthors€are€at€personal€risk€of€being€tortured€if€returned€to€the€country.€In€this€context,Ð Zª Ðcounsel€claims€that€the€political€party€to€which€X€and€Z€belong€is€still€forbidden€in€theÐ @ ÐDemocratic€Republic.€Counsel€states€that€the€changes€made€in€the€political€structure€in€theÐ &v ÐDemocratic€Republic€make€it€very€difficult€to€predict€the€danger€of€their€return.€Ð  \ ÐÌ8.4€Regarding€Y,€counsel€points€out€that€she€has€been€tortured€and€submits€that€if€one€of€herÐ Ø( Ðtorturers€were€to€see€her€again,€he€may€kill€her€or€torture€her€to€prevent€her€from€telling€whatÐ ¾ Ðearlier€had€happened€to€her.€Ð ¤ô ÐÌ8.5€Regarding€the€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€information,€counsel€states€that€he€has€been€told€by€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_ÔÐ p!À  Ðrepresentatives€that€this€information€is€not€consistent€with€the€policy€of€the€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€centralÐ V"¦! Ðoffice€and€should€thus€not€be€used.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ8.6€Counsel€argues€that€the€Immigration€Board€and€the€Aliens€Appeal€Board€do€not€examineÐ %X $ Ðthe€real€reasons€for€a€person€to€seek€asylum,€but€only€look€into€the€question€of€credibility.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ8.7€Regarding€the€State€party's€argument€that€the€authors€have€provided€different€andÐ º' #' Ðcontradictory€information,€counsel€claims€that€they€have€never€been€given€an€opportunityÐ  (ð#( Ðto€give€a€full€statement,€which€explains€the€discrepancies.€Counsel€further€argues€that€evenÐ †)Ö$) Ðif€some€information€is€inconsistent,€the€important€question€is€whether€they€will€be€at€risk€ofÐ l*¼%* Ðbeing€treated€in€violation€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€when€returned€to€the€DemocraticÐ R+¢&+ ÐRepublic.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð8.8€Concerning€the€lack€of€medical€evidence€for€X€and€his€wife,€counsel€states€that,€sinceÐ ° Ðno€one€questioned€the€fact€that€they€had€been€tortured,€it€was€not€necessary€to€provideÐ –æ Ðmedical€evidence.€Medical€evidence€for€the€sister€was€only€provided,€because€she€sufferedÐ |Ì Ðfrom€the€consequences€of€the€torture€so€much€that€she€had€to€see€a€specialist.€Ð b² ÐÌ9.1€In€a€further€letter,€counsel€for€the€authors€states€that€he€had€filed€a€new€application€withÐ . ~ Ðthe€Aliens€Appeal€Board,€on€the€basis€of€the€uncertain€new€political€situation€in€theÐ  d ÐDemocratic€Republic€of€the€Congo,€and€that€on€18€June€1997,€the€Board€stopped€theÐ ú J Ðexecution€of€the€decision€to€expel€the€authors.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ9.2€By€note€of€2€February€1998,€the€State€party€informed€the€Committee€that€the€AliensÐ ¬ ü  ÐAppeal€Board,€on€22€January€1998,€rejected€the€authors'€new€application.€The€BoardÐ ’â  Ðconcluded€that€neither€the€situation€in€the€Democratic€Republic€of€the€Congo,€nor€theÐ xÈ  Ðpersonal€situation€of€the€authors€entailed€any€risk€of€persecution,€torture€or€inhuman€orÐ ^®  Ðdegrading€treatment€if€they€were€to€return.€In€respect€of€the€political€situation€in€the€formerÐ D”  ÐZaire,€after€the€overthrow€of€the€Government€of€President€Ô_ÔMobutoÔ_Ô€in€spring€1997,€the€BoardÐ *z  Ðconsidered€that€there€existed€no€general€impediments€to€enforcing€decisions€of€expulsion€toÐ ` Ðthe€Democratic€Republic€of€the€Congo.€Moreover,€the€Board€noted€that€the€Ô_ÔPRPÔ_Ô,€the€partyÐ öF Ðto€which€the€authors€claim€to€belong,€is€part€of€the€Alliance€of€Democratic€Forces€for€theÐ Ü, ÐLiberation€of€Congo„Zaire,€led€by€Mr.€Ô_ÔKabilaÔ_Ô,€the€new€head€of€state€of€the€DemocraticÐ Â ÐRepublic€of€the€Congo.€For€this€reason,€the€Board€found€that€no€personal€impedimentsÐ ¨ø Ðexisted€to€the€enforcement€of€the€decision€of€expulsion€in€the€authors'€case.€The€State€partyÐ ŽÞ Ðstates€that€it€shares€the€Board's€view.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ9.3€By€letter€of€22€April€1998,€counsel€for€the€authors€admits€that€the€party€to€which€theÐ @ Ðauthors€belong€is€the€party€to€which€the€current€head€of€State,€Ô_ÔKabilaÔ_Ô,€belongs.€He€argues,Ð &v Ðhowever,€that€the€situation€has€changed€since€the€authors€left€their€country,€and€that€theÐ  \ Ðauthors€do€not€agree€with€the€dictatorship€imposed€by€President€Ô_ÔKabilaÔ_Ô.€In€this€context,€heÐ òB Ðnotes€that€the€authors€participated€in€a€demonstration€in€front€of€the€American,€English€andÐ Ø( ÐFrench€embassies€to€protest€against€the€arrest€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔThsisekediÔ_Ô,€the€leader€of€the€Ô_ÔUDPSÔ_Ô.€TheÐ ¾ Ðauthors€are€convinced€that€the€Government€of€the€Democratic€Republic€of€the€Congo€isÐ ¤ô Ðaware€of€their€presence€at€the€demonstration€and€that€they€will€risk€torture€if€they€were€toÐ Š Ú Ðreturn.€In€this€context,€they€also€submit€that€their€father€was€an€active€supporter€of€ex„Ð p!À  Ðpresident€Ô_ÔMobutoÔ_Ô€and€that€they€speak€Ô_ÔLingalaÔ_Ô,€a€language€associated€with€supporters€ofÐ V"¦! ÐPresident€Mobutu.€Further,€they€claim€to€risk€ill„treatment€because€they€are€not€in€theÐ <#Œ" Ðpossession€of€identification€documents.€Ð "$r# ÐÌòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeóó€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ10.€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€againstÐ º' #' ÐTorture€must€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€TheÐ  (ð#( ÐCommittee€has€ascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5(a),€of€theÐ †)Ö$) ÐConvention,€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€anotherÐ l*¼%* Ðprocedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€The€Committee€finds€that€no€furtherÐ R+¢&+ Ðobstacles€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication€exist€and€proceeds€with€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðconsideration€of€the€merits€of€the€communication.€Ð -n(- Ї11.1€The€Committee€must€decide,€pursuant€to€paragraph€1€of€article€3,€whether€there€areÐ ° Ðsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€authors€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subject€toÐ –æ Ðtorture€upon€return€to€the€Democratic€Republic€of€the€Congo.€In€reaching€this€decision,€theÐ |Ì ÐCommittee€must€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations,€pursuant€to€paragraph€2€ofÐ b² Ðarticle€3,€including€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violationsÐ H˜ Ðof€human€rights.€The€aim€of€the€determination,€however,€is€to€establish€whether€theÐ . ~ Ðindividual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€the€countryÐ  d Ðto€which€he€or€she€would€return.€It€follows€that€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,Ð ú J Ðflagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€aÐ à 0 Ðsufficient€ground€for€determining€that€a€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€beingÐ Æ   Ðsubjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€that€country;€additional€grounds€must€be€adduced€toÐ ¬ ü  Ðshow€that€the€individual€concerned€would€be€òòpersonallyóó€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€aÐ ’â  Ðconsistent€pattern€of€gross€violations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€beÐ xÈ  Ðconsidered€to€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.€Ð ^®  ÐÌ11.2€The€Committee€notes€that€the€authors€have€claimed€that€they€have€been€subjected€toÐ *z  Ðtorture€in€the€past,€and€that€Y€has€provided€medical€evidence€showing€that€she€suffers€fromÐ ` Ða€post€traumatic€stress€disorder.€The€Committee€observes€that€past€torture€is€one€of€theÐ öF Ðelements€to€be€taken€into€account€by€the€Committee€when€examining€a€claim€concerningÐ Ü, Ðarticle€3€of€the€Convention,€but€that€the€aim€of€the€Committee's€examination€of€theÐ Â Ðcommunication€is€to€find€whether€the€authors€would€risk€being€subjected€to€torture€now,€ifÐ ¨ø Ðreturned€to€the€Democratic€Republic€of€the€Congo.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ11.3€The€authors'€fear€of€being€subjected€to€torture€was€originally€based€on€their€politicalÐ Zª Ðactivities€for€the€PRP.€The€Committee€notes€that€the€party€is€part€of€the€alliance€forming€theÐ @ Ðpresent€Government€in€the€Democratic€Republic€of€the€Congo,€and€that€the€authors'€fear€thusÐ &v Ðappears€to€lack€substantiation.€Ð  \ ÐÌ11.4€In€their€latest€submission,€the€authors€have€raised€other€grounds€for€fearing€to€beÐ Ø( Ðsubjected€to€torture€upon€return€to€their€country.€In€this€context,€they€have€stated€that€theyÐ ¾ Ðdisagree€with€the€present€Government's€policy€and€that€they€have€participated€in€aÐ ¤ô Ðdemonstration€against€the€arrest€of€a€political€leader€in€the€Democratic€Republic€of€theÐ Š Ú ÐCongo.€According€to€the€Committee's€jurisprudence,òò€3óó€activities€in€the€receiving€countryÐ p!À  Ðshould€also€be€taken€into€account€when€determining€whether€substantial€grounds€exist€forÐ V"¦! Ðbelieving€that€the€return€to€their€country€would€expose€the€authors€to€a€risk€of€torture.€In€theÐ <#Œ" Ðinstant€case,€however,€the€Committee€considers€that€the€authors'€activities€in€Sweden€are€notÐ "$r# Ðsuch€as€to€substantiate€the€belief€that€they€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€Ð %X $ ÐÌ11.5€The€Committee€is€aware€of€the€serious€situation€of€human€rights€in€the€DemocraticÐ Ô&$"& ÐRepublic€of€the€Congo,€as€òòinter€aliaóó,€reflected€by€the€report€of€the€Special€Rapporteur€of€theÐ º' #' ÐCommission€on€Human€Rights.€The€Committee€observes€however,€that€UNHCR€has€notÐ  (ð#( Ðissued€a€recommendation€to€suspend€the€return€of€rejected€asylum€seekers€to€the€DemocraticÐ †)Ö$) ÐRepublic€of€the€Congo€in€view€of€the€current€situation€and€accordingly€that€no€objectiveÐ l*¼%* Ðimpediments€exist€to€the€return€of€failed€refugee€claimants€to€the€Democratic€Republic€ofÐ R+¢&+ Ðthe€Congo.€The€Committee€recalls€that,€for€the€purpose€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,€aÐ 8,ˆ', Ðforeseeable,€real€and€personal€risk€must€exist€of€being€tortured€in€the€country€to€which€aÐ -n(- Ðperson€is€returned.€On€the€basis€of€the€above€considerations,€the€Committee€is€of€the€opinionÐ ° Ðthat€such€risk€has€not€been€established.€Ð –æ ÐÌ11.6€In€the€light€of€the€above,€the€Committee€considers€that€the€information€before€it€doesÐ b² Ðnot€show€that€substantial€grounds€exist€for€believing€that€the€authors€will€be€personally€atÐ H˜ Ðrisk€of€being€subject€to€torture€if€they€are€returned€to€the€Democratic€Republic€of€the€Congo.€Ð . ~ ÐÌ12.€The€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€ConventionÐ ú J Ðagainst€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€is€of€theÐ à 0 Ðview€that€the€facts€as€found€by€the€Committee€do€not€reveal€a€breach€of€article€3€of€theÐ Æ   ÐConvention.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌÌ_____________Ð ^®  ÐÌ1/€€€Communication€No.€13/1993,€Views€adopted€on€27€April€1994.Ð *z  ÐÌ2/€€€Communication€No.€41/1996,€Views€adopted€on€8€May€1996.Ð öF ÐÌ3/€€€See€Committee's€Views€in€communication€No.€34/1995€òò(Ô_ÔAemeiÔ_Ô€v.€Switzerland)óó,€adoptedÐ Â Ðon€9€May€1997.Ð ¨ø ÐÌ[Done€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.]€Ð tÄ ÐÓqÓ