ÿWPC  &jççÉÃò0b<Éè's%ß|V*›ó%äóhì/ëé¥~u¼µ JÎ#«)`fãç{ëÙÍ5c wþ¶ÛÛ[aÛÛéëRã;4~AçQ d /gu‰9ÔI× «¯yŸ™xÍxQƒ§(œáŽçS¼Î2“6§à"4í’¢….ôU2$ÒZDPÇK´ÌžuŸÊ·‹ ‘ÜD$\ï²ïƒ¦x%è ¼¼‘Ï`]„–­ò.,—ÃÙè¶iU`ÌÌ•tÆaz+ÍH¹ë³—ïIäú=4 #¿™a ¼ V7j\éÑæR¹ ®­:¥ ¼'Kd²Á×¼œV*²öe^ß"ˆJhé8/KÛUÝ úhÅOŠÂÇÂÁu;ÎYÑÙ(™éuVË?WåqúþJ_rg?q _ZX“ú)£}OW`=> H„NÙÃã$ò*-ybxÊX¦õŽÑ£èX+T‚À¢P=³«‚œw¦Ÿ»ŸógÚ´q¤ ’ ÿP†ÍbVÑoEWó"èÒt•k^pʈhëmÕv/$ì]=h«[+éÄß³øàï”Å:B?e<_†ónÒ25 £°…Õf×ݧ{å{¯å_3põÇ5PD»˜žaÚ›uy”ÓƒºU>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(žŤ$¡¡ÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XbØXX XÔÔ€XbØXX XbØÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularI) 'gt)Ä@¡ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ Ť!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XdØXX XÔÔ€XdØXX XdØÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòK.€N.€v.€SwitzerlandóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No€94/1997Ð H˜ ÐÌ19€May€1998Ð  d ÐÌCAT/C/20/D/94/1997Ð à 0 ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ ’â  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€K.€N.€(name€withheld)€(represented€by€counsel)€Ð D”  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€The€author€Ð ` ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€Switzerland€Ð Ü, ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€30€October€1997€óóÐ ¨ø ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó€,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€againstÐ Zª ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð @ ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€19€May€1998,€Ð  \ ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€94/1997,€submitted€to€theÐ Ø( ÐCommittee€against€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€OtherÐ ¾ ÐCruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð ¤ô ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ p!À  Ðcommunication,€his€counsel€and€the€State€party,€Ð V"¦! ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€its€Ð "$r# ÐÌÌÓäÓòòò òÓ  ÓViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóó€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÓÓÓÓÌÌ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€K.€N.,€a€national€of€Sri€Lanka,€seeking€asylum€inÐ †)Ö$) ÐSwitzerland.€He€claims€that€his€forced€return€to€Sri€Lanka€by€Switzerland€would€constituteÐ l*¼%* Ða€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌòòFacts€as€presented€by€the€authoróó€Ð -n(- ÐÔ_Ô‡2.1€The€author€states€that€he€was€born€on€13€March€1972€and€that€he€is€a€Tamil€and€aÐ ° ÐChristian.€He€lived€with€his€family€in€the€northern€province€of€Jaffna.€In€1990,€during€theÐ –æ Ðwar€between€the€"Indian€peacekeeping€forces"€and€the€Tamil€Tigers€(Liberation€Tigers€ofÐ |Ì ÐTamil€Eelam€„€LTTE),€the€author€was€forced€to€work€for€the€Tigers.€He€was€detained€for€aÐ b² Ðfew€days€by€the€Indian€army€and€then€released.€However,€in€1994,€the€author's€brother€joinedÐ H˜ Ðthe€Tamil€Tigers€and€when€the€Sri€Lankan€armed€forces€reconquered€Jaffna€in€October€1995,Ð . ~ Ðthey€were€allegedly€searching€for€the€author€and€his€brother.€The€author€states€that€he€hasÐ  d Ðno€news€from€his€brother€since€he€joined€the€Tigers.€Ð ú J ÐÌ2.2€On€13€September€1995,€the€author€fled€to€Kilinochi,€further€south,€a€town€controlled€byÐ Æ   Ðthe€Tigers.€In€autumn€1996,€when€the€Sri€Lanka€army€approached€the€town,€the€author€fledÐ ¬ ü  Ðto€Colombo€since€he€had€been€informed€by€his€parents€that€the€army€had€come€to€their€houseÐ ’â  Ðon€three€occasions€to€look€for€him.€On€5€September€1996,€he€flew€to€Rome.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ2.3€The€author€arrived€in€Switzerland€on€10€September€1996.€On€30€October€1996,€theÐ D”  ÐOffice€fdral€des€rfugis€(ODR)€rejected€his€application€for€recognition€as€a€refugee.€TheÐ *z  ÐCommission€suisse€de€recours€en€matire€d'asile€(CRA)€rejected€the€author's€appeal€on€22Ð ` ÐJanuary€1997.€The€author€was€ordered€to€leave€Switzerland€before€28€February€1997.€Ð öF ÐÌ2.4€On€31€July€1997,€the€author€through€his€attorney€requested€the€CRA€to€review€itsÐ Â Ðdecision,€arguing€that€the€fact€that€the€Sri€Lanka€army€had€searched€for€him€had€beenÐ ¨ø Ðoverlooked.€On€8€August€1997,€the€CRA€rejected€the€application€as€out€of€time.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ2.5€At€the€end€of€July,€beginning€of€August€1997,€the€author€received€a€letter€from€his€father,Ð Zª Ðdated€10€July€1997,€in€which€he€warned€him€not€to€come€home€because€the€security€forcesÐ @ Ðwere€looking€for€him.€The€author€presented€the€letter€with€an€application€to€the€ODR€on€5Ð &v ÐSeptember€1997,€after€having€had€it€translated.€On€10€September€1997,€the€ODR€rejectedÐ  \ Ðthe€author's€application,€considering€the€letter€one€of€convenience.€The€author€appealedÐ òB Ðagainst€this€decision,€but€in€a€letter€of€13€October€1997€he€was€informed€by€a€judge€of€theÐ Ø( ÐCRA€that€he€considered€the€appeal€as€devoid€of€any€chance€of€success;€consequently,€noÐ ¾ Ðsuspensive€effect€was€given€to€the€appeal€and€the€author€was€requested€to€pay€SwF€900€ifÐ ¤ô Ðhe€wanted€the€ODR€to€consider€his€case.€The€author,€in€a€letter€of€29€October€1997,Ð Š Ú Ðexplained€to€the€judge€that€he€did€not€consider€the€appeal€to€be€an€effective€remedy,€sinceÐ p!À  Ðit€had€no€chance€of€success.€He€further€considered€the€requirement€to€pay€SwF€900€excessiveÐ V"¦! Ðand€constituting€a€deterrent,€since€he€had€no€income€whatsoever.€The€author€recalls€that€theÐ <#Œ" ÐCommittee's€rules€of€procedure€state€that€a€remedy€need€not€be€exhausted€where€it€isÐ "$r# Ðunlikely€to€bring€effective€relief€to€the€alleged€victim.€Ð %X $ ÐÌòòThe€complaintóó€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌ3.1€It€is€argued€that€the€rejection€of€the€author's€application€as€out€of€time€is€in€violation€withÐ  (ð#( Ðarticle€3€of€the€Convention,€which€constitutes€an€absolute€prohibition€on€òòrefoulementóó.€HeÐ †)Ö$) Ðfurther€argues€that€he€only€discovered€on€29€July€1997,€that€the€officers€had€overlooked€theÐ l*¼%* Ðfact,€so€that€his€application€should€be€considered€in€time,€since€it€was€submitted€within€threeÐ R+¢&+ Ðmonths€of€the€discovery.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð3.2€The€author€claims€that€he€runs€a€serious€danger€of€being€detained€and€tortured€in€SriÐ ° ÐLanka€by€the€security€forces,€should€he€be€returned.€It€is€submitted€that€the€Sri€Lanka€armyÐ –æ Ðis€known€for€its€poor€human€rights€record.€Ð |Ì ÐÌòòState€party's€observationsóó€Ð H˜ ÐÌ4.€On€18€November€1997,€the€Committee,€acting€through€its€Special€Rapporteur€for€NewÐ  d ÐCommunications,€transmitted€the€communication€to€the€State€party€for€comments€andÐ ú J Ðrequested€the€State€party€not€to€expel€the€author€while€his€communication€was€underÐ à 0 Ðconsideration€by€the€Committee.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ5.1€In€its€observations,€dated€19€January€1998,€the€State€party€informs€the€Committee€thatÐ ’â  Ðthe€necessary€measures€have€been€taken€to€suspend€the€author's€expulsion.€WhileÐ xÈ  Ðrecognizing€the€importance€of€interim€measures€of€protection€to€guarantee€a€person'sÐ ^®  Ðeffective€recourse€to€the€Committee€under€article€22€of€the€Convention,€the€State€party€notesÐ D”  Ðthat€the€possibility€of€demanding€interim€measures€is€not€foreseen€in€the€Convention€itselfÐ *z  Ðand€that€article€108,€paragraph€9,€is€just€a€rule€of€procedure.€According€to€the€State€party,€theÐ ` Ðindividual€communication€to€the€Committee€is€and€should€remain€an€exceptional€remedy,Ð öF Ðnot€the€automatic€follow€up€after€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies.€The€regular€issuing€ofÐ Ü, Ðrequests€under€rule€108,€paragraph€9,€could€interfere€with€the€subsidiary€nature€of€theÐ Â Ðcommunications€procedure.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ5.2€The€State€party€is€of€the€opinion€that€the€Committee€should€only€use€the€procedure€underÐ tÄ Ðrule€108,€paragraph€9,€when€there€is€a€prima€facie€important€and€serious€risk€that€someoneÐ Zª Ðwould€be€subjected€to€torture€if€deported.€The€State€party€expresses€its€concern€about€the€factÐ @ Ðthat€the€Committee€has€requested€to€suspend€the€expulsion€in€9€out€of€the€16€casesÐ &v Ðconcerning€Switzerland.€It€notes€that€the€exception€thus€has€become€the€rule.€The€State€partyÐ  \ Ðconsiders€that€this€use€of€rule€108,€paragraph€9,€is€unjustified€in€the€majority€of€cases,€andÐ òB Ðshows€a€lack€of€understanding€of€the€seriousness€with€which€the€Swiss€authorities€examineÐ Ø( Ðthe€applicant's€situation.€In€the€instant€case,€the€State€party€fails€to€understand€the€reasonsÐ ¾ Ðwhich€made€the€Committee€issue€a€request€for€interim€measures.€Ð ¤ô ÐÌ6.€With€regard€to€the€admissibility€of€the€present€communication,€the€State€party€states€thatÐ p!À  Ðit€is€not€aware€of€the€case€having€been€submitted€to€another€instance€of€internationalÐ V"¦! Ðinvestigation€or€settlement.€The€State€party€does€not€contest€the€admissibility€for€failure€toÐ <#Œ" Ðexhaust€domestic€remedies€either.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ7.1€Concerning€the€merits€of€the€communication,€the€State€party€recalls€the€text€of€article€3Ð î%>!% Ðof€the€Convention,€as€well€as€the€Committee's€jurisprudence€in€this€respect.€It€notes€that€theÐ Ô&$"& Ðauthor€bases€his€complaint€mainly€on€his€short€detention€by€the€Sri€Lanka€security€forces€onÐ º' #' Ðsuspicion€of€belonging€to€the€Tamil€Tigers€and€on€reports€that€the€Sri€Lanka€security€forcesÐ  (ð#( Ðwere€looking€for€him,€after€his€brother€joined€the€LTTE.€According€to€the€author,€he€wouldÐ †)Ö$) Ðrisk€to€be€subjected€to€torture€because€he€belongs€to€the€Tamil€minority,€and€because€of€hisÐ l*¼%* Ðage€he€would€be€recruited€into€the€LTTE.€Further,€he€would€be€suspected€of€belonging€to€theÐ R+¢&+ ÐLTTE€because€of€his€brother's€membership.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÔ_ÔÐ -n(- Ð7.2€The€State€party€submits€that€the€facts€as€presented€by€the€author€have€not€been€the€objectÐ ° Ðof€a€thorough€examination€by€the€authorities,€as€his€request€for€asylum€was€rejectedÐ –æ Ðfollowing€the€existing€case€law,€since€he€mainly€invoked€the€situation€in€his€country€asÐ |Ì Ðground€for€asylum€and€no€personal€grounds€of€persecution.€The€fact€that€the€authorities€haveÐ b² Ðnot€challenged€the€facts€as€presented€by€the€author€can€thus€not€be€taken€to€indicate€that€theyÐ H˜ Ðaccepted€them€as€established.€Indeed,€the€Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô,€in€its€decision€of€30€October€1996,Ð . ~ Ðexpressed€doubt€with€regard€to€the€likelihood€of€some€of€the€events€recounted€by€the€author.€Ð  d ÐÌ7.3€According€to€the€State€party,€the€facts€as€presented€by€the€author€in€any€event€fail€toÐ à 0 Ðshow€the€existence€of€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€personally€in€danger€of€beingÐ Æ   Ðsubjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€Sri€Lanka.€In€this€connection,€the€State€party€notes€thatÐ ¬ ü  Ðthe€author€has€never€given€precise€information€with€regard€to€his€arrest€or€the€circumstancesÐ ’â  Ðof€his€detention,€despite€an€invitation€to€do€so€by€the€Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô.€In€the€State€party's€opinion,€theÐ xÈ  Ðauthor's€description€of€these€events€are€vague€and€full€of€gaps,€raising€doubts€about€theirÐ ^®  Ðreality.€Ð D”  ÐÌ7.4€Furthermore,€the€author€has€never€claimed€to€have€been€subjected€to€torture€.€In€thisÐ ` Ðcontext,€the€State€party€refers€to€the€Committee's€decision€in€communication€No.€38/1995òò1óóÐ öF Ðwhere€it€took€into€consideration€the€fact€that€the€author€had€never€claimed€that€he€had€beenÐ Ü, Ðtortured€in€reaching€its€decision€that€his€case€showed€no€violation€of€article€3.€Moreover,€theÐ Â ÐState€party€points€out€that€the€alleged€arrest€and€detention€in€the€instant€case€date€back€moreÐ ¨ø Ðthan€seven€years,€and€that€it€would€therefore€be€difficult€to€admit€a€link€between€this€eventÐ ŽÞ Ðand€the€author's€present€fear€of€persecution.€During€the€hearing€before€the€immigrationÐ tÄ Ðauthorities,€the€author€declared€that€since€his€release€he€had€lived€in€Ô_ÔKilinochiÔ_Ô€for€11€monthsÐ Zª Ðwithout€any€problem,€as€well€as€in€Colombo.€Ð @ ÐÌ7.5€With€regard€to€the€author's€claim€that€the€security€forces€are€looking€for€him€because€hisÐ  \ Ðbrother€is€a€member€of€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô,€the€State€party€considers€that€his€statements€in€this€regardÐ òB Ðare€not€credible.€During€the€hearing,€he€was€asked€whether€he€had€encountered€problemsÐ Ø( Ðbecause€of€his€brother,€to€which€he€replied€that€he€was€taken€in€for€questioning€in€1994,Ð ¾ Ðwhich€was€disturbing,€but€did€not€cause€any€problems.€In€his€communication€to€theÐ ¤ô ÐCommittee,€the€State€party€notes€that€the€author€states€that€the€Sri€Lanka€army€is€looking€forÐ Š Ú Ðhim,€because€of€his€brother,€a€claim€contradictory€to€what€he€told€the€Swiss€immigrationÐ p!À  Ðauthorities.€With€respect€to€the€letter€from€the€author's€father,€of€10€July€1997,€the€State€partyÐ V"¦! Ðcontends€that€it€does€not€constitute€sufficient€evidence,€since€it€gives€no€support€to€theÐ <#Œ" Ðauthor's€claim€of€arrest€and€detention,€and€coming€from€a€close€relative,€has€little€evidentiaryÐ "$r# Ðvalue.€In€the€State€party's€opinion,€if€the€army€were€in€reality€looking€for€the€author,€he€couldÐ %X $ Ðnot€have€left€Ô_ÔKilinochiÔ_Ô€to€go€to€Ô_ÔVavuniyaÔ_Ô,€since€the€area€is€closely€controlled€by€the€army;Ð î%>!% Ðnor€could€the€author€have€easily€obtained€an€army€pass€to€go€to€Colombo.€The€State€partyÐ Ô&$"& Ðconcludes€that€the€author€has€not€substantiated€his€claim€that€the€army€is€looking€for€him€andÐ º' #' Ðthat€he€consequently€risks€to€be€subjected€to€torture.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ7.6€The€State€party€notes€that€the€author€now€claims€that€he€risks€persecution€by€the€army,Ð l*¼%* Ðwhereas€before€the€immigration€authorities€he€claimed€that€"different€movements"€hadÐ R+¢&+ Ðstopped€and€interrogated€him.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€refers€to€the€hearing€before€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðimmigration€authorities,€where€the€author€replied€to€the€question€what€he€would€risk€uponÐ -n(- Ðreturn€to€his€country,€that€he€risked€being€taken€by€the€movement€for€which€he€would€haveÐ ° Ðto€work.€The€State€party€concludes€that€the€author's€asylum€request€was€mainly€based€on€theÐ –æ Ðthreat€by€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô,€whereas€before€the€Committee€he€claims€risk€of€persecution€by€theÐ |Ì Ðarmy.€The€State€party€recognizes€the€possibility€that€a€person€is€threatened€by€the€State€andÐ b² Ðan€opposition€movement€at€the€same€time,€but€does€not€believe€that€this€is€so€in€the€author'sÐ H˜ Ðcase.€Rather,€the€State€party€considers€it€likely€that€the€author€has€changed€his€story€in€viewÐ . ~ Ðof€the€text€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,€that€the€risk€of€torture€must€be€originating€in€StateÐ  d Ðauthority.€Again€referring€to€the€minutes€of€the€hearing€before€the€immigration€authorities,Ð ú J Ðthe€State€party€notes€that€the€author€indicated€as€reasons€for€his€departure€the€problems€withÐ à 0 Ðthe€movement€and€bombardments.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ7.7€The€State€party€concludes€that€the€author€has€failed€to€show€that€he€would€risk€to€beÐ ’â  Ðsubjected€to€torture€upon€return€to€Sri€Lanka.€The€State€party€adds€that€the€situation€ofÐ xÈ  Ðhuman€rights€in€a€country€cannot€bring€a€person€within€the€protection€of€article€3€in€theÐ ^®  Ðabsence€of€a€personal€risk.€According€to€the€State€party,€the€human€rights€situation€in€SriÐ D”  ÐLanka€has€improved€considerably€since€October€1994,€after€the€installation€of€the€HumanÐ *z  ÐRights€Task€Force.€It€also€points€out€that€the€author€could€reside€in€a€part€of€Sri€Lanka€thatÐ ` Ðdoes€not€suffer€from€civil€war.€Ð öF ÐÌòòThe€author's€commentsóó€Ð  ÐÌ8.1€In€his€comments,€the€author€maintains€that€the€Sri€Lanka€army€is€looking€for€him€sinceÐ ŽÞ Ðhis€brother€joined€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô,€and€that€he€told€the€Swiss€authorities€about€this.€The€fact€thatÐ tÄ Ðhe€also€had€problems€with€the€Tamil€movements,€does€not€contradict€his€problems€with€theÐ Zª Ðarmy.€In€this€connection,€counsel€for€the€author€notes€that€the€Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô€and€the€Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô€neverÐ @ Ðpointed€to€any€contradictions€in€the€author's€story.€Counsel€explains€that€the€author's€fear€forÐ &v Ðthe€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€has€not€been€mentioned€in€his€communication€to€the€Committee,€because€theÐ  \ ÐÔ_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€controls€only€the€northern€part€of€Sri€Lanka,€and€the€author€could€hide€from€them€inÐ òB ÐColombo€if€he€wanted.€This€does€not€imply€that€he€has€changed€his€story€for€the€benefit€ofÐ Ø( Ðthe€application€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ8.2€Counsel€submits€that€the€author€is€threatened€by€serious€persecution€from€the€Sri€LankaÐ Š Ú Ðsecurity€services,€since€the€war€is€still€continuing€and€since€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€have€increased€theirÐ p!À  Ðactivities€in€Colombo.€Ð V"¦! ÐÌ8.3€With€regard€to€the€State€party's€concern€that€the€Committee€is€being€used€as€a€regularÐ "$r# Ðsupervisory€body,€counsel€submits€that€the€State€party's€concern€is€groundless,€in€view€of€theÐ %X $ Ðfact€that€Swiss€immigration€authorities€handle€about€30,000€cases€a€year.€Counsel€notes€thatÐ î%>!% Ðthe€author's€case€was€examined€by€one€Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô€official€and€the€appeal€was€heard€by€a€singleÐ Ô&$"& Ðjudge.€In€counsel's€opinion,€the€judges€are€not€really€independent€since€they€are€appointedÐ º' #' Ðby€the€Government€and€not€by€Parliament.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeóó€Ð l*¼%* ÐÌ9.€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€againstÐ 8,ˆ', ÐTorture€must€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€TheÐ -n(- ÐCommittee€has€ascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€theÐ ° ÐConvention,€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€anotherÐ –æ Ðprocedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€The€Committee€finds€that€no€furtherÐ |Ì Ðobstacles€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication€exist€and€proceeds€with€theÐ b² Ðconsideration€of€the€merits€of€the€communication.€Ð H˜ ÐÌ10.1€The€Committee€has€considered€the€communication€in€the€light€of€all€the€informationÐ  d Ðmade€available€to€it€by€the€parties,€in€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€4,€of€theÐ ú J ÐConvention.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ10.2€The€Committee€must€decide,€pursuant€to€paragraph€1€of€article€3,€whether€there€areÐ ¬ ü  Ðsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€author€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subject€toÐ ’â  Ðtorture€upon€return€to€Sri€Lanka.€In€reaching€this€decision,€the€Committee€must€take€intoÐ xÈ  Ðaccount€all€relevant€considerations,€pursuant€to€article€3,€paragraph€2,€including€the€existenceÐ ^®  Ðof€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€The€aim€of€theÐ D”  Ðdetermination,€however,€is€to€establish€whether€the€individual€concerned€would€beÐ *z  Ðòòpersonallyóó€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he€or€she€wouldÐ ` Ðreturn.€It€follows€that€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massÐ öF Ðviolations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€a€sufficient€ground€forÐ Ü, Ðdetermining€that€a€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€uponÐ Â Ðhis€return€to€that€country;€additional€grounds€must€be€adduced€to€show€that€the€individualÐ ¨ø Ðconcerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€grossÐ ŽÞ Ðviolations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€dangerÐ tÄ Ðof€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.€Ð Zª ÐÌ10.3€The€author€has€claimed€that€he€was€arrested€once€in€1990€by€the€Indian€armed€forces,Ð &v Ðthat€his€brother€became€a€member€of€the€Tamil€Tigers€in€1994€and€that€for€this€reason€theÐ  \ Ðarmy€is€looking€for€him€and€has€searched€his€family's€house€on€several€occasions.€TheÐ òB ÐCommittee€notes€that€the€only€substantiation€in€support€of€the€author's€claim€is€a€letter€fromÐ Ø( Ðthe€author's€father,€in€which€it€is€stated€that€the€army€came€to€the€house€to€look€for€him€andÐ ¾ Ðhis€brother.€The€Committee€notes,€however,€that€the€letter€does€not€give€any€details€aboutÐ ¤ô Ðeither€the€author's€or€his€family's€situation.€The€author€has€not€presented€any€other€evidenceÐ Š Ú Ðin€support€of€his€claim.€He€does€not€claim€that€he€has€been€tortured€in€the€past.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ10.4€The€Committee€has€carefully€examined€the€material€before€it€and€finds€that€it€appearsÐ <#Œ" Ðthat€the€author's€main€reason€to€leave€his€country€was€that€he€felt€caught€between€the€twoÐ "$r# Ðparties€in€the€internal€conflict.€There€is€no€indication€that€the€author€himself€is€personallyÐ %X $ Ðtargeted€by€the€Sri€Lankan€authorities€for€repression.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ10.5€The€Committee€is€aware€of€the€serious€situation€of€human€rights€in€Sri€Lanka€and€notesÐ º' #' Ðwith€concern€the€reports€of€torture€in€this€country.€The€Committee€recalls€however€that,€forÐ  (ð#( Ðthe€purpose€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,€a€foreseeable,€real€and€personal€risk€must€existÐ †)Ö$) Ðof€being€tortured€in€the€country€to€which€a€person€is€returned.€On€the€basis€of€theÐ l*¼%* Ðconsiderations€above,€the€Committee€is€of€the€opinion€that€such€risk€has€not€beenÐ R+¢&+ Ðestablished.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð11.€The€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€ConventionÐ ° Ðagainst€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€is€of€theÐ –æ Ðview€that€the€facts€as€found€by€the€Committee€do€not€reveal€a€breach€of€article€3€of€theÐ |Ì ÐConvention.€Ð b² ÐÌÌ__________Ð  d ÐÌ1/€€€Ô_ÔBabikirÔ_Ô€v.€Switzerland,€Views€adopted€on€9€May€1997.Ð à 0 ÐÌÌ[Done€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.]€Ð ’â  ÐÓqÓ