ÿWPCK0 š<S½N`÷„ß‹6Šó¡ÀÒu‚«ôÓÚ/Æä¼ŽWiKiÁ»»‰¼d/«Ì¢Àâ7ÔñÌ”Hfœ s dðu‚8b%Ðã =÷Jj3ÀT¸§cùôè4Åå­léJúœ:wÓ \¦™‰ˆe7¥b û y‰Qš;ЮúŸ@¨.v¸¿ TÝÁøU†Í«)J³É¯È'A>$ŽÉ.3*2b+ظ¯Ñ¨ f4[>Pœ§+sÜûÌ{kÛ9X—‹¾uÊ# Ìw çô(veÑ 0‘?öŽYÙ(~fs8Ú"¶ˆÈ8BLCm”ÆLü !7Y¥ó«y ¨„3ÙÇÙ<0Û˜›ªm ‚¦Å8//8‹j€Ä:ŽIˆšÖú÷+:!²„{½}‡vvå`ÅÁ½jqÙË4PêAÿüdÊдºK¥O"±ÓœÌßÚ¦–¬ëQH#ÁðUN± %ÿ 0: 0ô? 0ñ3 0î$ 0ë 0èý 0åå 0âÊ 0߬ 0Ü‹ 0âg 0ßI 0Ü( 0Ù 0ÖÝ 0Ó³ 0І 0ÍV 0Ê# 0áí 0ÞÎ 0Û¬ 0؇ 0Õ_ 0Ò4 0Ï 0ÌÕ 0É¡ 00j 0<š 0¾Ö 0>” 0vÒ 0`H! 0`¨! 0`" 0`h" 0`È" 08(# 0Ò`# 022$ 0üd$ 0:`% 0Yš% 0_ó% 0 R& 0j\' 0„Æ( B*J* D/t* D+£* 0„Î* D/R, 0Î, 06O- 0…- 0:. 0^Ç. 0<%/U6a/U>—/U*Õ/^ ÿ/w 040#020 m40˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ö\$¡¡ÔCEUS.,Ô2J+M ÿÿ0_level1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ2( ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 2ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2G+M ÿÿ0_level2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2D+M ÿÿ0_level3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2A+M ÿÿ0_level4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>+M ÿÿ0_level5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;+M ÿÿ0_level6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28+M ÿÿ0_level7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25+M ÿÿ0_level8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22+M ÿÿ0_level9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2JM ÿÿ0_levsl1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ2( ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 2ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2GM ÿÿ0_levsl2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2DM ÿÿ0_levsl3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2AM ÿÿ0_levsl4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>M ÿÿ0_levsl5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;M ÿÿ0_levsl6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28M ÿÿ0_levsl7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25M ÿÿ0_levsl8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22M ÿÿ0_levsl9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2JM ÿÿ0_levnl1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ2( ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 2ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2GM ÿÿ0_levnl2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2DM ÿÿ0_levnl3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2AM ÿÿ0_levnl4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>M ÿÿ0_levnl5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;M ÿÿ0_levnl6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28M ÿÿ0_levnl7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25M ÿÿ0_levnl8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22M ÿÿ0_levnl9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ ¨ý Ó0ÿÿ.Normal<ÿÿ:Definition T<AAÿÿ:Definition LÓ , ÓÓ5+Ü Ü` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5Ó8ÿÿ6Definitionòòóó(''ÿÿ&H1ò òÔ  ÔÔ‡°°°Ôó óÔ  ÔÔ‡XXXÔ(ÿÿ&H2ò òÔ‡„„„Ôó óÔ‡XXXÔ(ÿÿ&H3ò òÔ‡¼¼¼Ôó óÔ‡XXXÔ(ÿÿ&H4ò òÔ‡XXXÔó óÔ‡XXXÔ(ÿÿ&H5ò òÔ‡ôôôÔó óÔ‡XXXÔ(ÿÿ&H6ò òÔ‡Ôó óÔ‡XXXÔ2ÿÿ0Addressòòóó8MMÿÿ6BlockquoteÓ , ÓÓ , ÓÓ5+Ü Ü` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5Ó,ÿÿ*CITEòòóó,dlÿÿ*CODEÔ‡ôôôÔÔK‡?<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡@ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔ4ÿÿ2Emphasisòòóó6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ €€ ÔóóÔ  Ô4goÿÿ2Keyboardò òÔ‡ôôôÔÔK‡?<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔó óÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡@ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔ<“›ÿÿ:PreformattedÓ/%° °Ïî ,KkŠ©È %#/ÓÔ‡ôôôÔÔK‡?<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡@ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÓ/%° °Ïî ,KkŠ©È %#/Ó<š®ÿÿ:z©Bottom of Ó7€5(€X7ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡ÔÔ?‡A%ä2¼A`‹Arial?ÔÓ7€6(€X7ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡@ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔ&ÿÿ  d d4)1dxd'dxd<š®ÿÿ:z©Top of ForÓ7€8(€X7ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡ÔÔ?‡A%ä2¼A`‹Arial?ÔÓ7€6(€X7ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡@ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔ4)2dxd0KSÿÿ.SampleÔK‡?<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔS‡@ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔ0ÿÿ.Strongò òó ó8dlÿÿ6TypewriterÔ‡ôôôÔÔK‡?<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡@ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔ4ÿÿ2Variableòòóó: ÿÿ8HTML MarkupÔB  ÔÔ ÿ ÔÔ  Ô2 ÿÿ0CommentÔB  Ô<þ6X9`(‹Courier Newô\  `‹&Times New Roman%ä2¼A`‹Arial’) 'gt) Documeœµ 3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒö\!ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòÔ_ÔV.X.N.Ô_Ô€and€Ô_ÔH.N.Ô_Ô€v.€SwedenóóÐ ˆØ ÐÌCommunications€Nos€130/1999€and€131/1999Ð `° ÐÌ15€May€2000Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌCAT/C/24/D/130€&€131/1999Ð  ` ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ Ô$  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Ô_ÔV.X.N.Ô_Ô€and€Ô_ÔH.N.Ô_Ô€(names€withheld)€[represented€by€counsel]€Ð ˜è  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimsóó:€The€authors€Ð pÀ ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€Sweden€Ð H˜ ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€15€February€1999€Ð  p ÐóóÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andÐ ä4 ÐOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð Ð  ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€15€May€2000,€Ð ¨ø ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communications€Nos.€130/1999€and€131/1999,€submitted€toÐ €Ð Ðthe€Committee€against€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,Ð l¼ ÐInhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð X ¨ ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€authors€of€the€communication,Ð 0"€  Ðtheir€counsel€and€the€State€party,€Ð #l! ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€its€Ð ô$D # ÐÌÌòòò òÓ  ÓViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóóÐ ¸'#& ÐÓÓÌÌ1.1€The€authors€of€the€communications€are€Mr.€Ô_ÔV.X.N.Ô_Ô,€born€on€1€December€1959,€and€Mr.€Ô_ÔH.N.Ô_Ô,Ð |*Ì%) Ðborn€on€10€November€1963,€two€Vietnamese€nationals€currently€residing€in€Sweden€where€theyÐ h+¸&* Ðreceived€refugee€status€and€permanent€residence€permits€on€18€August€1992€and€23€August€1991Ð T,¤'+ Ðrespectively.€The€authors€claim€that€they€risk€torture€if€they€are€returned€to€Viet€Nam€and€that€theirÐ @-(, Ðforced€return€to€that€country€would€therefore€constitute€a€violation€by€Sweden€of€article€3€of€theÐ ° ÐConvention.€The€authors€are€represented€by€counsel.€Ð œì ÐÌ1.2€In€view€of€the€similarities€of€the€two€claims,€the€Committee€decided€to€consider€theÐ tÄ Ðcommunications€together.€Ð `° ÐÌ1.3€In€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€transmittedÐ 8 ˆ Ðcommunications€Nos.€130/1999€and€131/1999€to€the€State€party€on€29€April€1999.€Pursuant€to€ruleÐ $ t Ð108,€paragraph€9,€of€the€Committee's€rules€of€procedure,€the€State€party€was€requested€not€to€expelÐ  ` Ðthe€authors€to€Viet€Nam€pending€the€consideration€of€their€cases€by€the€Committee.€In€a€submissionÐ ü L  Ðdated€27€May€1999€the€State€party€informed€the€Committee€that€the€authors€would€not€be€expelledÐ è 8  Ðto€their€country€of€origin€while€their€communications€were€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.€Ð Ô$  ÐÌòòThe€facts€as€presented€by€the€authorsóóÐ ¬ü  ÐÌòòThe€case€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔV.X.N.Ô_Ôóó€Ð „Ô  ÐÌ2.1€The€author€of€the€first€communication€(No.€130/1999),€Mr.€Ô_ÔV.X.N.Ô_Ô,€states€that€he€came€toÐ \¬ ÐSweden€in€1992,€recognized€as€a€quota€refugee.€In€1995€the€author€was€sentenced€under€Swedish€lawÐ H˜ Ðto€five€years'€imprisonment.€According€to€the€sentence,€the€author€was€also€to€be€expelled€fromÐ 4„ ÐSweden€after€having€served€his€sentence.€The€author€was€released€from€prison€on€16€January€1999Ð  p Ðand€is€at€present€awaiting€expulsion€to€Viet€Nam.€Ð  \ ÐÌ2.2€The€author€states€that€his€family,€in€particular€his€father,€had€been€collaborating€with€the€previousÐ ä4 Ðregime€in€Viet€Nam.€When€the€Communist€regime€came€to€power€in€1975€the€family's€property€wasÐ Ð  Ðconfiscated€and€they€were€forcibly€relocated€to€a€forest€region€where€the€living€conditions€wereÐ ¼  Ðdifficult.€The€author€states€that,€at€the€beginning€of€1976,€he€was€sentenced€to€12€years€in€prison,Ð ¨ø Ðaccording€to€the€author€for€not€having€complied€with€a€decision€that€he,€his€parents€and€his€siblingsÐ ”ä Ðwere€to€stay€in€the€area€to€which€they€had€been€deported.€The€family€instead€moved€back€to€a€cityÐ €Ð Ðin€the€area€from€which€they€had€been€deported.€When€the€police€tried€to€make€the€family€return€toÐ l¼ Ðthe€forest,€the€author's€uncle€was€shot€dead€and€his€father€was€treated€harshly.€The€author€claims€thatÐ X ¨ Ðhe€resisted€the€police€by€seizing€one€of€the€policemen's€weapon,€which€resulted€in€two€police€officersÐ D!” Ðbeing€shot€dead€and€four€injured.€The€author€was€then€arrested.€Ð 0"€  ÐÌ2.3€The€author€was€allegedly€first€detained€in€a€remand€prison€for€political€prisoners.€AfterÐ $X" Ðapproximately€two€weeks€the€author€was€moved€to€24€Nguyen€Cong€Chu€Ô_ÔNhaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔTrangÔ_Ô€prison€whereÐ ô$D # Ðhe€was€held€in€detention€for€eight€months€before€any€judicial€proceedings€took€place.€The€authorÐ à%0!$ Ðclaims€that,€while€in€detention,€he€was€severely€tortured€on€a€daily€basis€during€the€first€two€months.Ð Ì&"% ÐThe€torture€allegedly€included€beatings€with€weapons€and€batons€to€his€head,€back€and€chest€whileÐ ¸'#& Ðhis€hands€were€tied€behind€his€back.€The€author€also€alleges€that€the€police€threatened€to€executeÐ ¤(ô#' Ðhim.€For€the€next€six€months,€the€author€was€kept€in€solitary€confinement€and€was€allegedly€forcedÐ )à$( Ðto€lie€locked€up€in€his€own€urine€and€faeces.€The€author's€submission€includes€a€medical€certificateÐ |*Ì%) Ðdated€24€March€1999€from€the€Unit€for€War€and€Torture€Injuries€in€Gothenburg,€which€indicates€thatÐ h+¸&* Ðthe€author's€account€appears€to€be€credible€and€that€the€author€suffers€from€post„traumatic€stressÐ T,¤'+ Ðsyndrome.€Ð @-(, Ї2.4€The€author€submits€that€he€was€then€sentenced€to€death,€but€owing€to€his€young€age€the€sentenceÐ ° Ðwas€commuted€to€12€years€in€prison.€After€nine€years'€imprisonment€in€Dong€Rang€prison,€whichÐ œì Ðincluded€forced€labour,€he€eventually€managed€to€escape€and,€after€two€years€of€hiding€on€anÐ ˆØ Ðuninhabited€island€fled€from€Viet€Nam€in€1986.€Together€with€others,€he€stole€a€boat.€While€theyÐ tÄ Ðwere€still€in€Vietnamese€territorial€waters,€the€Vietnamese€military€attempted€to€prevent€them€fromÐ `° Ðproceeding.€Shots€were€fired€on€both€sides€and€many€of€the€fugitives€were€wounded.€The€authorÐ L œ Ðstates€that€he€believes€that€some€of€the€soldiers€were€also€wounded€and€probably€killed.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ2.5€The€author,€together€with€his€family,€eventually€reached€the€Philippines€where€they€stayed€in€aÐ  ` Ðrefugee€camp.€With€the€assistance€of€the€Office€of€the€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€forÐ ü L  ÐRefugees€(Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô),€the€author€and€his€family€were€accepted€as€so„called€quota€refugees€by€SwedenÐ è 8  Ðand€received€permanent€residence€permit€in€1992.€Ð Ô$  ÐÌ2.6€In€1995,€the€Court€of€Appeal€for€Western€Sweden€sentenced€the€author€to€five€years'Ð ¬ü  Ðimprisonment,€to€be€followed€by€permanent€expulsion€from€Sweden.€The€author€was€released€fromÐ ˜è  Ðprison€on€26€January€1999.€On€the€same€date,€the€Swedish€Minister€of€Justice,€at€the€request€ofÐ „Ô  ÐÔ_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô,€decided€to€stay€the€execution€of€the€expulsion€order€to€allow€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€to€pronounce€on€theÐ pÀ Ðcompatibility€of€an€expulsion€with€article€33.2€of€the€1951€Convention€relating€to€the€Status€ofÐ \¬ ÐRefugees.€Ð H˜ ÐÌòòThe€case€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔH.N.Ô_Ôóó€Ð  p ÐÌ3.1€The€author€of€the€second€communication€(No.€131/1999),€Mr.€Ô_ÔH.N.Ô_Ô,€states€that€he€came€toÐ øH ÐSweden€in€1991,€recognized€as€a€quota€refugee.€In€1995€the€author€was€sentenced€under€Swedish€lawÐ ä4 Ðto€five€years'€imprisonment.€The€author€was€also€to€be€expelled€from€Sweden€after€having€served€hisÐ Ð  Ðsentence.€The€author€was€released€from€prison€on€12€October€1998€and€is€at€present€awaitingÐ ¼  Ðexpulsion€to€Viet€Nam.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ3.2€The€author€states€that€his€father€was€a€high€ranking€military€officer€in€the€South€VietnameseÐ €Ð ÐArmy€until€he€was€murdered€by€the€Viet€Cong€in€1970.€The€author€states€that€in€1975,€when€theÐ l¼ ÐNorth€Vietnamese€came€to€power€in€Viet€Nam,€he€was€no€longer€allowed€to€continue€his€primaryÐ X ¨ Ðeducation€as€he€was€the€son€of€a€South€Vietnamese€soldier.€In€his€early€twenties,€the€author,€togetherÐ D!” Ðwith€a€small€group€of€like„minded€friends,€created€a€resistence€movement€to€work€against€theÐ 0"€  ÐCommunist€regime.€Its€activities€consisted€mainly€in€producing€and€putting€up€anti„GovernmentÐ #l! Ðposters€at€night.€Ð $X" ÐÌ3.3€The€author€alleges€that€he€was€arrested€and€sent€to€a€work€camp,€where€he€and€many€otherÐ à%0!$ Ðchildren€of€South€Vietnamese€military€personnel€had€to€clear€minefields.€According€to€the€author,Ð Ì&"% Ðmany€were€either€killed€or€injured.€After€one€month,€the€author€managed€to€escape€and€resumed€hisÐ ¸'#& Ðactivities€with€the€resistance,€in€hiding.€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ3.4€In€1985,€after€one€year€in€hiding,€the€author€was€again€arrested.€According€to€the€author,€he€wasÐ |*Ì%) Ðtortured€during€interrogation.€The€torture€included€beatings€with€rifles€on€his€chest€until€he€lostÐ h+¸&* Ðconsciousness.€The€author€further€alleges€that€rifle€barrels€were€put€into€his€mouth€and€that€he€wasÐ T,¤'+ Ðthreatened€with€death.€The€torture€continued€for€several€days,€until€the€author€was€taken€to€hospital.Ð @-(, ÐDespite€the€fact€that€the€author€was€tied€up€with€rope€to€his€hospital€bed,€he€managed€to€escape.€TheÐ ° Ðauthor's€submission€includes€a€medical€certificate€dated€1€April€1999€from€the€Unit€for€War€andÐ œì ÐTorture€Injuries€in€Gothenburg,€which€states€that€the€author's€account€appears€credible€and€that€theÐ ˆØ Ðauthor€"with€great€probability€has€been€subjected€to€cruel€and€inhuman€treatment€and€torture€in€hisÐ tÄ Ðhome€country".€Between€September€1985€and€August€1988,€the€author,€together€with€his€wife,€hidÐ `° Ðin€the€mountains.€Ð L œ ÐÌ3.5€In€August€1988€the€author,€his€wife,€their€child€and€other€compatriots€managed€to€leave€VietÐ $ t ÐNam€by€boat.€While€still€in€Vietnamese€territorial€waters,€they€were€intercepted€by€the€military€whoÐ  ` Ðattempted€to€prevent€them€from€leaving€the€country,€which€resulted€in€shots€being€fired€on€bothÐ ü L  Ðsides.€Many€of€the€fugitives€were€wounded.€The€author€states€that€he€believes€that€some€of€theÐ è 8  Ðsoldiers€were€also€wounded€and€probably€killed.€Ð Ô$  ÐÌ3.6€The€author€and€his€family€eventually€reached€the€Philippines€on€25€August€1988€where€theyÐ ¬ü  Ðstayed€in€a€refugee€camp.€With€the€assistance€of€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô,€the€author€and€his€family€were€acceptedÐ ˜è  Ðas€so„called€quota€refugees€by€Sweden€and€received€permanent€residence€permits€in€1991.€Ð „Ô  ÐÌ3.7€In€1995,€the€Court€of€Appeal€for€Western€Sweden€sentenced€the€author€to€five€years'Ð \¬ Ðimprisonment,€to€be€followed€by€permanent€expulsion€from€Sweden.€The€author€was€released€fromÐ H˜ Ðprison€on€12€October€1998.€On€26€January€1999€the€Swedish€Minister€of€Justice,€at€the€request€ofÐ 4„ ÐÔ_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô,€decided€to€stay€the€execution€of€the€expulsion€order€to€allow€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€to€pronounce€on€theÐ  p Ðcompatibility€of€an€expulsion€with€article€33.2€of€the€1951€Convention€relating€to€the€Ô_ÔStatutÔ_Ô€ofÐ  \ ÐRefugees.€Ð øH ÐÌ3.8€In€order€to€support€their€individual€submissions,€both€authors€refer€to€the€general€human€rightsÐ Ð  Ðsituation€in€Viet€Nam,€noting€that€Amnesty€International€is€not€allowed€to€work€in€Viet€Nam€and€thatÐ ¼  Ðit€is€therefore€difficult€to€establish€clear€evidence€of€the€extent€to€which€torture€is€being€used€in€theÐ ¨ø Ðcountry.€However,€the€view€of€Amnesty€International€is€that€torture€by€the€police€during€detentionÐ ”ä Ðand€in€prisons€is€common.€Ð €Ð ÐÌòòComplaintóóÐ X ¨ ÐÌ4.€The€authors€submit€that,€upon€return€to€Viet€Nam,€they€will€be€apprehended,€tortured€andÐ 0"€  Ðsentenced€to€death€and€that€their€forced€return€to€Viet€Nam€by€Sweden€would€therefore€constituteÐ #l! Ða€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð $X" ÐÌòòObservations€by€the€State€party€on€admissibility€and€Ô_ÔmeritsóóÔ_ÔÐ à%0!$ ÐÌ5.1€In€its€submissions€of€3€September€1999,€the€State€party€refers€to€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a)€of€theÐ ¸'#& ÐConvention,€according€to€which€the€Committee€shall€not€consider€any€communication€from€anÐ ¤(ô#' Ðindividual€unless€it€has€ascertained€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examinedÐ )à$( Ðunder€another€procedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€In€this€context,€the€State€partyÐ |*Ì%) Ðdraws€the€attention€of€the€Committee€to€the€fact€that€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€has€already€examined€the€cases€of€theÐ h+¸&* Ðauthors.€In€a€letter€dated€16€March€1999,€the€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€Regional€Representative€for€the€Baltic€andÐ T,¤'+ ÐNordic€Countries€informed€the€Swedish€Minister€of€Justice€that€an€expulsion€of€the€authors€wouldÐ @-(, Ðnot€be€a€breach€of€article€33€of€the€1951€Convention€relating€to€the€Status€of€Refugees.€Ð ° ÐÌ5.2€Moreover,€the€State€party€submits€that€the€present€communication€should€be€consideredÐ ˆØ Ðinadmissible€in€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€2€of€the€Convention€for€being€incompatibleÐ tÄ Ðwith€its€provisions€due€to€the€lack€of€the€necessary€substantiation€of€the€claim.€Concerning€theÐ `° Ðmerits,€the€State€party€contends€that€the€present€communication€reveals€no€violation€of€theÐ L œ ÐConvention.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ5.3€With€respect€to€the€merits€of€the€communication,€the€State€party€draws€the€attention€of€theÐ  ` ÐCommittee€to€the€fact€that€according€to€the€Swedish€1989€Aliens€Act,€an€alien€must€not€be€expelledÐ ü L  Ðfrom€Sweden€on€account€of€having€committed€a€criminal€offence€unless€certain€conditions€are€met.Ð è 8  ÐFirstly,€the€alien€must€be€convicted€of€a€crime€that€is€punishable€by€imprisonment.€Secondly,€theÐ Ô$  Ðalien€may€only€be€expelled€if€he€is€sentenced€to€a€punishment€more€severe€than€a€fine€and€if€(a)€itÐ À  Ðmay€be€assumed€that€the€alien€will€continue€criminal€activity€in€Sweden;€or€(b)€the€offence€is€of€suchÐ ¬ü  Ða€serious€character€that€the€alien€should€not€be€allowed€to€remain€in€Sweden.€Ð ˜è  ÐÌ5.4€The€State€party€further€notes€that€special€conditions€apply€for€aliens€who€are€considered€to€beÐ pÀ Ðrefugees.€Such€aliens€may€be€expelled€if€they€have€committed€a€particularly€serious€crime€and€publicÐ \¬ Ðorder€and€security€would€be€seriously€endangered€if€they€were€allowed€to€remain€in€Sweden.Ð H˜ ÐPursuant€to€the€1989€Aliens€Act,€there€is€an€absolute€impediment€to€expelling€an€alien€to€a€countryÐ 4„ Ðwhere€there€are€reasonable€grounds€for€believing€that€he/she€would€be€in€danger€of€suffering€capitalÐ  p Ðor€corporal€punishment€or€of€being€subjected€to€torture€or€other€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment€orÐ  \ Ðpunishment.€Ð øH ÐÌ5.5€The€State€party€confirms€that€the€authors€were€granted€permanent€residence€permits€and€refugeeÐ Ð  Ðstatus€as€quota€refugees€in€Sweden,€in€1992€and€1991€respectively.€In€accordance€with€the€StateÐ ¼  Ðparty's€practice€prevailing€at€the€time,€they€were€accepted€as€quota€refugees€without€any€detailedÐ ¨ø Ðexamination€of€their€individual€reasons€for€flight.€The€Swedish€Immigration€Board€decided€to€grantÐ ”ä Ðasylum€to€the€authors€following€an€interview€conducted€with€the€authors€by€the€local€policeÐ €Ð Ðauthority.€Ð l¼ ÐÌ5.6€The€State€party€states€that€in€April€1995€the€two€authors€were€sentenced€by€the€District€Court€ofÐ D!” ÐHalmstad€to€six€years'€imprisonment€for€gross€rape,€committed€together€with€two€other€VietnameseÐ 0"€  Ðnationals.€The€authors€had€previously€been€found€guilty€of€crimes€of€violence€on€several€occasions.Ð #l! ÐOwing€to€the€authors'€refugee€status,€the€District€Court€rejected€the€public€prosecutor's€request€thatÐ $X" Ðthe€authors€be€expelled€from€Sweden.€Both€the€authors€and€the€prosecutor€appealed€the€judgementÐ ô$D # Ðto€the€Court€of€Appeal€for€Western€Sweden.€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ5.7€The€Court€of€Appeal,€after€holding€an€oral€hearing€at€which€the€authors€were€present€togetherÐ ¸'#& Ðwith€their€public€defence€lawyer,€found€that€the€requirements€for€expulsion€were€fulfilled.€In€itsÐ ¤(ô#' Ðjudgement€of€15€June€1995,€the€Court€of€Appeal€lowered€the€sentences€to€five€years'€imprisonmentÐ )à$( Ðand€ordered€that€the€authors€should€be€expelled€from€Sweden€after€having€served€their€sentences.Ð |*Ì%) ÐThe€authors€appealed€the€judgement€to€the€Supreme€Court,€which€refused€leave€to€appeal.€While€stillÐ h+¸&* Ðserving€his€five„year€prison€sentence,€Mr.€Ô_ÔV.X.N.Ô_Ô€was€found€guilty€of€assault,€gross€assault€and€rape.Ð T,¤'+ ÐMr.€Ô_ÔH.N.Ô_Ô€was€similarly€found€guilty€of€complicity€in€rape.€Ð @-(, Ї5.8€In€December€1998,€the€Vietnamese€Embassy€in€Stockholm€informed€the€Ministry€for€ForeignÐ ° ÐAffairs€that€the€Ministry€of€Public€Security€of€Viet€Nam€had€accepted€the€repatriation€of€the€authors.€Ð œì ÐÌ5.9€Following€a€petition€from€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€in€January€1999,€the€Minister€of€Justice€stayed€theÐ tÄ Ðenforcement€of€the€expulsion€order,€awaiting€the€advice€of€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€Regional€Representative€for€theÐ `° ÐBaltic€and€Nordic€Countries€as€to€the€compatibility€of€the€expulsion€with€article€33,€paragraph€2,€ofÐ L œ Ðthe€1951€Convention€relating€to€the€Status€of€Refugees,€in€accordance€with€which€the€protectionÐ 8 ˆ Ðagainst€"Ô_ÔrefoulementÔ_Ô"€can€not€be€claimed€"by€a€refugee€whom€there€are€reasonable€grounds€forÐ $ t Ðregarding€as€a€danger€to€the€security€of€the€country€in€which€he€is,€or€who,€having€been€convictedÐ  ` Ðby€a€final€judgement€of€a€particularly€serious€crime,€constitutes€a€danger€to€the€community€of€thatÐ ü L  Ðcountry."€On€16€March€1999,€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€informed€the€Minister€of€Justice€that€the€decision€to€expelÐ è 8  Ðthe€authors€did€not€violate€the€1951€Refugee€Convention.€Ð Ô$  ÐÌ5.10€The€State€party€further€informs€the€Committee€that€since€January€1999,€Mr.€Ô_ÔV.X.N.Ô_Ô€has€threeÐ ¬ü  Ðtimes€requested€the€Government€to€cancel€the€expulsion€order,€or€to€grant€him€a€temporary€residenceÐ ˜è  Ðpermit.€At€the€time€of€the€State€party's€submission,€two€requests€had€been€denied,€and€the€third€wasÐ „Ô  Ðpending.€Since€January€1998,€Mr.€Ô_ÔH.N.Ô_Ô€has€made€six€similar€requests€to€the€Government.€At€the€timeÐ pÀ Ðof€the€State€party's€submission,€five€requests€had€been€turned€down€while€the€sixth€was€still€pending.€Ð \¬ ÐÌ5.11€The€State€party€underlines€that€when€determining€whether€the€forced€return€of€the€authors€toÐ 4„ ÐViet€Nam€would€constitute€a€breach€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,€the€following€considerations€areÐ  p Ðrelevant:€(a)€the€general€situation€of€human€rights€in€Viet€Nam€and€(b)€the€personal€risk€of€theÐ  \ Ðauthors€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€returned€to€Viet€Nam.€Ð øH ÐÌ5.12€The€State€party€submits€that€when€the€Court€of€Appeal€found,€on€15€June€1995,€that€noÐ Ð  Ðimpediments€existed€to€expulsion€of€the€authors,€account€was€taken€of€the€opinion€of€the€SwedishÐ ¼  ÐImmigration€Board€that€no€obstacles€of€a€general€character€existed€to€expelling€persons€who€had€fledÐ ¨ø ÐViet€Nam.€As€for€impediments€of€an€individual€character,€the€Board€had€found€that€the€scantyÐ ”ä Ðinformation€available€regarding€the€authors'€personal€circumstances€did€not€indicate€that€there€wasÐ €Ð Ðany€impediment€of€such€kind.€In€addition,€on€21€May€1999€and€1€June€1999,€the€authors€wereÐ l¼ Ðinterviewed€by€the€Board€at€the€request€of€the€Ministry€of€Justice€but€no€impediments€to€expulsionÐ X ¨ Ðwere€identified€as€a€result.€Ð D!” ÐÌ5.13€As€to€the€general€situation€of€human€rights€in€Viet€Nam€today,€the€State€party€submits€thatÐ #l! Ðaccording€to€various€reports€from€international€and€other€sources,€such€as€Amnesty€International,€theÐ $X" ÐUnited€States€Department€of€State€and€the€Swedish€Embassy€in€Hanoi,€measurable€improvementsÐ ô$D # Ðhave€been€made€in€a€few€areas,€although€serious€problems€remain,€particularly€as€to€the€enjoymentÐ à%0!$ Ðof€the€freedom€of€speech,€assembly,€association€and€religion.€Arbitrary€arrests€and€detentions€occurÐ Ì&"% Ðquite€frequently€and€prison€conditions€are€harsh,€but€reports€of€torture€of€detainees€are€rare.€AlthoughÐ ¸'#& Ðthere€are€reports€of€police€brutality,€there€is€no€evidence€that€torture€is€practised€regularly€nor€thatÐ ¤(ô#' Ðprisoners€are€tortured.€Ð )à$( ÐÌ5.14€The€State€party€further€submits€that€illegal€departure€from€Viet€Nam€in€the€middle€of€the€1980sÐ h+¸&* Ðis€no€longer€considered€to€be€a€criminal€offence.€The€majority€of€the€people€who€departed€illegallyÐ T,¤'+ Ðat€that€time€have€now€returned€with€the€assistance€of€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô.€A€large€number€of€returnees€comeÐ @-(, Ðfrom€the€same€part€of€Viet€Nam€as€the€authors.€Among€those€who€have€been€repatriatedÐ ° Ðinvoluntarily,€some€have€served€prison€sentences€for€crimes€committed€in€countries€of€first€asylum,Ð œì Ðbut€according€to€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€there€are€no€reports€of€retribution€or€discrimination€after€their€return.€TheÐ ˆØ ÐState€party€further€underlines€that€the€majority€of€the€approximately€500€returnees€who€have€facedÐ tÄ Ðlegal€action€upon€return€on€charges€of€crimes€committed€before€departure€from€Viet€Nam€have€beenÐ `° Ðsentenced€for€crimes€of€violence€and€none€for€political€crimes.€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€has€been€able€to€visit€all€ofÐ L œ Ðthem€in€private.€Finally,€the€State€party€points€out€that€several€children€of€former€leaders€of€the€SouthÐ 8 ˆ ÐVietnamese€Army€travel€between€Sweden€and€Viet€Nam€without€encountering€any€difficulties€withÐ $ t Ðthe€Vietnamese€authorities.€Ð  ` ÐÌ5.15€As€for€the€assessment€of€the€individual€risks€of€the€authors€of€being€subjected€to€torture,€theÐ è 8  ÐState€party€recalls€that€according€to€the€jurisprudence€of€the€Committee€this€risk€must€be€foreseeable,Ð Ô$  Ðreal€and€personal,€and€submits€the€following.€Ð À  ÐÌòòThe€case€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔV.X.N.Ô_Ôóó€Ð ˜è  ÐÌ6.1€The€State€party€recalls€that€the€author€has€invoked€three€different€reasons€why€he€would€beÐ pÀ Ðexposed€to€a€risk€of€torture€if€expelled€to€his€country€of€origin.€He€maintains€that€he€would€beÐ \¬ Ðapprehended€and€tortured€by€the€Government€or€some€governmental€agency€for€having€escaped€fromÐ H˜ Ðprison,€where€he€was€serving€a€12„year€sentence€for€having€killed€two€policemen€and€injured€four.Ð 4„ ÐSecondly,€some€of€the€pursuing€soldiers€may€have€been€injured€or€shot€to€death€when€the€author€andÐ  p Ðothers€escaped€Viet€Nam€by€boat.€Thirdly,€the€author€has€also€stated€that€he€has€received€deathÐ  \ Ðthreats€from€the€owner€of€the€boat€which€he€stole€in€order€to€escape.€The€State€party€draws€theÐ øH ÐCommittee's€attention€to€the€fact€that€the€author€of€the€present€communication€has€not€belonged€toÐ ä4 Ðany€political€organisation,€nor€has€he€been€politically€active€in€his€home€country.€Ð Ð  ÐÌ6.2€The€State€party€submits€that€during€the€examination€of€the€author's€case,€contradictions,Ð ¨ø Ðinconsistencies€and€peculiarities€concerning€essential€points€raised€serious€doubts€as€to€the€credibilityÐ ”ä Ðof€the€author's€claims.€Firstly,€it€seems€that€the€author€did€not€raise€the€subject€of€torture€until€heÐ €Ð Ðsubmitted€his€complaint€to€the€Committee€at€the€beginning€of€1999.€During€the€interview€conductedÐ l¼ Ðwith€him€by€the€local€police€authority€in€1992,€the€author€did€not,€according€to€the€State€party,Ð X ¨ Ðmention€that€he€had€previously€been€ill„treated€or€tortured€nor€that€he€feared€being€tortured€uponÐ D!” Ðreturn.€Similarly,€no€mention€of€torture€was€made€during€the€proceedings€before€the€District€CourtÐ 0"€  Ðand€the€Court€of€Appeal,€in€his€request€to€the€Supreme€Court€for€leave€to€appeal,€or€in€his€requestÐ #l! Ðto€the€Government€in€January€1999€to€quash€the€expulsion€order.€Ð $X" ÐÌ6.3€Although€noting€the€medical€certificate€submitted€by€the€author€to€support€his€claim,€the€StateÐ à%0!$ Ðparty€points€to€inconsistencies€as€regards€the€author's€account€of€the€nature€and€extent€of€his€allegedÐ Ì&"% Ðprevious€torture.€During€the€medical€examination€of€March€1999,€the€author€stated€that€he€had€beenÐ ¸'#& Ðin€custody€for€eight€months€and€was€tortured€on€a€daily€basis€during€the€first€two€months.€In€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðinterview€held€by€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board€on€21€May€1999,€the€author€stated€that€he€wasÐ )à$( Ðtortured€daily€during€one€month€and€thereafter€three€times€a€week.€Finally,€during€the€last€interviewÐ |*Ì%) Ðheld€by€the€Board€on€1€June€1999,€the€author€stated€that€he€was€in€custody€for€six€months€andÐ h+¸&* Ðtortured€almost€every€day.€In€addition,€the€author's€description€of€the€alleged€torture€has€becomeÐ T,¤'+ Ðincreasingly€dramatic€during€the€proceedings.€Initially€the€author€only€mentioned€that€he€had€beenÐ @-(, Ðkicked€and€beaten,€while€in€the€last€interview€he€mentions€for€the€first€time€electric€shocks€andÐ ° Ðhaving€been€forced€to€drink€water€mixed€with€detergent.€Ð œì ÐÌ6.4€The€State€party€draws€the€Committee's€attention€to€the€fact€that€during€the€initial€local€policeÐ tÄ Ðinterview€in€1992,€the€author€did€not€mention€that€he€had€been€sentenced€to€12€years'€imprisonment,Ð `° Ðnor€that€he€had€escaped€from€prison.€His€account€at€that€time€was€that€he€had€tried€to€escape€fromÐ L œ ÐViet€Nam€in€March€1981€but€failed€in€his€attempt€and€was€sentenced€to€three€years'€imprisonment,Ð 8 ˆ Ða€sentence€which€he€served.€According€to€the€records€of€1992,€the€author€claimed€that€he€again€triedÐ $ t Ðto€leave€the€country€in€October€1984€but€was€sentenced€to€prison€for€two€years€and€ten€days€uponÐ  ` Ðdiscovery.€In€his€petition€to€the€Government€submitted€in€January€1999€he€stated€that€he€had€beenÐ ü L  Ðsentenced€to€12€years'€imprisonment€because€he€had€run€away€from€the€place€in€the€jungle€to€whichÐ è 8  Ðhis€family€had€been€forcibly€moved€and€had€participated€in€the€organization€of€a€group€which€aimÐ Ô$  Ðwas€to€help€others€who€were€still€left€in€the€jungle€to€escape.€He€then€claimed€that€he€was€caughtÐ À  Ðtogether€with€four€others,€three€of€whom€were€sentenced€to€death€and€one€to€17€years€in€prison.€ItÐ ¬ü  Ðis€also€noted€by€the€State€party€that€the€author€has€provided€no€evidence€to€substantiate€his€claim€thatÐ ˜è  Ðhe€was€sentenced€to€12€years'€imprisonment.€Ð „Ô  ÐÌ6.5€The€State€party€also€refers€to€other€peculiarities€and€inconsistencies,€such€as€the€fact€that€if€theÐ \¬ Ðauthor's€most€recent€account€is€true,€his€three€eldest€children€must€have€been€conceived€in€prison,Ð H˜ Ðand€that€it€is€unlikely€that€any€uninhabited€islands€are€to€be€found€in€the€area€where€the€author€claimsÐ 4„ Ðto€have€hidden€after€his€escape€from€prison.€The€State€party€maintains€that€these€inconsistencies€areÐ  p Ðreasons€to€doubt€the€credibility€and€veracity€of€the€first€claim€of€the€author,€based€on€his€alleged€pastÐ  \ Ðexperience€of€torture€and€escape€from€prison.€Ð øH ÐÌ6.6€With€reference€to€the€inconsistencies€mentioned,€the€State€party€submits€that€all€three€interviewsÐ Ð  Ðheld€with€the€author€were€conducted€in€the€presence€of€a€Vietnamese€interpreter€and€that€the€authorÐ ¼  Ðstated€that€he€understood€the€interpreter€well.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ6.7€With€reference€to€the€author's€flight€from€Viet€Nam,€the€State€party€draws€the€attention€of€theÐ €Ð ÐCommittee€to€the€fact€that€the€author€has€only€mentioned€pursuing€soldiers€having€been€injured€orÐ l¼ Ðkilled€in€his€submission€to€the€Committee€and€in€his€request€to€the€Government€for€leave€to€appeal,Ð X ¨ Ðand€that€no€information€to€this€effect€was€given€during€the€initial€police€interview,€the€judicialÐ D!” Ðproceedings€or€during€the€interview€conducted€by€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board€in€May€1999.€TheÐ 0"€  ÐState€party€submits€that€this€indicates€that€the€author€does€not€attach€any€particular€importance€to€theÐ #l! Ðcircumstance€and€that€he€does€not€fear€that€it€will€entail€any€serious€consequences€for€him,Ð $X" Ðparticularly€as€it€has€not€been€asserted€that€the€author€himself€is,€or€is€suspected€of€being,€personallyÐ ô$D # Ðresponsible€for€the€shooting.€Furthermore,€it€is€submitted€that€accounts€of€shootings€in€connectionÐ à%0!$ Ðwith€escapes€from€Viet€Nam€in€the€1980s€are€common€but€that€in€no€case€has€it€been€possible€toÐ Ì&"% Ðverify€this€information.€Ð ¸'#& ÐÌ6.8€As€regards€the€risk€of€the€author€being€ill„treated€by€a€private€person,€i.e.€the€owner€of€the€boatÐ )à$( Ðwhich€the€author€stole€in€order€to€escape,€the€State€party€recalls€the€definition€of€torture€as€containedÐ |*Ì%) Ðin€article€1€of€the€Convention,€as€well€as€the€Committee's€views€regarding€the€case€of€òòÔ_ÔG.R.B.Ô_Ô€v.Ð h+¸&* ÐSwedenóó€(communication€No.€83/1997)€adopted€on€15€May€1998.€The€State€party€submits€that€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðrisk€of€ill„treatment€by€a€private€person,€without€the€consent€or€acquiescence€of€the€Government€ofÐ @-(, Ðthe€country€to€which€expulsion€is€to€take€place,€falls€outside€the€scope€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð ° ÐÌ6.9€The€State€party€submits€that,€according€to€the€Swedish€Embassy€in€Hanoi,€there€is€no€indicationÐ ˆØ Ðthat€the€author€is€of€any€particular€interest€to€the€Vietnamese€authorities€at€present.€No€evidence€hasÐ tÄ Ðbeen€brought€forward€by€the€author€to€support€the€claim€that€he€is€wanted€by€the€police€after€hisÐ `° Ðescape€from€Viet€Nam.€Reiterating€its€doubts€as€to€the€veracity€of€the€author's€claim,€the€State€partyÐ L œ Ðsubmits€that€even€if€this€information€was€to€be€considered€as€credible€and€if€it€was€assumed€that€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðauthor€would€in€fact€be€detained€and€imprisoned€upon€his€return,€the€risk€of€detention€andÐ $ t Ðimprisonment€as€such€is€not€sufficient€to€prompt€the€absolute€protection€provided€for€in€article€3€ofÐ  ` Ðthe€Convention.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€recalls€that€there€is€little€evidence€that€torture€isÐ ü L  Ðpractised€in€Viet€Nam.€Ð è 8  ÐÌ6.10€Finally,€the€State€party€informs€the€Committee€that€one€of€the€Vietnamese€nationals€who€wereÐ À  Ðconvicted€of€gross€rape€in€the€same€trial€as€the€author€was€expelled€to€Viet€Nam€in€April€1998.Ð ¬ü  ÐAlthough€the€expelled€person€claimed€that€he€had€left€the€country€illegally€and€had€committed€aÐ ˜è  Ðcrime€in€connection€with€his€escape,€the€information€received€by€the€State€party€regarding€his€currentÐ „Ô  Ðsituation€does€not€indicate€that€he€has€been€treated€badly€by€the€Vietnamese€authorities€since€hisÐ pÀ Ðreturn.€Ð \¬ ÐÌòòThe€case€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔH.N.Ô_Ôóó€Ð 4„ ÐÌ7.1€The€State€party€recalls€that€the€author€has€invoked€three€different€reasons€why€he€would€beÐ  \ Ðexposed€to€a€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€expelled€to€his€country€of€origin.€He€maintains€thatÐ øH Ðhe€would€be€apprehended€and€tortured€by€the€Government€or€some€governmental€agency€for€havingÐ ä4 Ðrun€away€from€the€mine€clearance€work€that€he€was€forced€to€perform.€Secondly,€the€author€claimsÐ Ð  Ðthat€he€belonged€to€a€resistance€movement€and€was€suspected€of€carrying€out€hostile€activitiesÐ ¼  Ðagainst€the€Government,€such€as€putting€up€posters.€Finally,€the€authors€fears€reprisals€for€havingÐ ¨ø Ðkilled€several€policemen€in€connection€with€his€escape€from€Viet€Nam.€Some€of€the€pursuingÐ ”ä Ðsoldiers€may€have€been€injured€or€shot€to€death€when€the€author€and€others€escaped€Viet€Nam€byÐ €Ð Ðboat.€Ð l¼ ÐÌ7.2€The€State€party€notes€that€the€author€has€alleged€that€he€was€apprehended€and€subjected€to€tortureÐ D!” Ðin€1985.€According€to€the€medical€certificate€issued€after€an€examination€of€the€author€by€aÐ 0"€  Ðpsychiatrist€in€April€1999,€it€is€very€likely€that€the€author€was€subjected€to€cruel€and€inhumanÐ #l! Ðtreatment€and€torture€in€his€country.€However,€the€State€party€draws€the€attention€of€the€CommitteeÐ $X" Ðto€the€fact€that€no€mention€is€made€of€the€author€suffering€from€a€post„traumatic€stress€disorder,€norÐ ô$D # Ðis€there€any€reference€to€physical€signs€of€torture.€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ7.3€The€State€party€submits€that€during€the€examination€of€the€author's€case,€contradictions€andÐ ¸'#& Ðinconsistencies€concerning€essential€points€raised€serious€doubts€as€to€the€credibility€of€the€author'sÐ ¤(ô#' Ðclaims.€The€Committee's€attention€is€drawn€to€the€fact€that€the€author,€when€interviewed€by€theÐ )à$( Ðpolice€authorities€in€1991,€did€not€mention€that€he€had€been€apprehended€and€tortured€in€Viet€Nam.Ð |*Ì%) ÐNor€did€the€author€bring€up€the€subject€of€torture€during€the€proceedings€in€the€District€Court,€theÐ h+¸&* ÐCourt€of€Appeal€or€in€his€request€to€the€Supreme€Court€for€leave€to€appeal.€Not€until€January€1998,Ð T,¤'+ Ðin€his€petition€to€the€Government,€did€the€author€claim€that€he€had€previously€been€tortured€and€thatÐ @-(, Ðhe€feared€imprisonment€if€expelled.€Ð ° ÐÌ7.4€Further,€the€State€party€points€out€that€the€author€has€given€the€following€different€versions€asÐ ˆØ Ðto€why€he€was€apprehended€and€tortured€by€the€police€in€1985:€(a)€in€his€petition€to€the€GovernmentÐ tÄ Ðin€January€1998€he€stated€that€he€was€discovered€when€planning€his€escape€from€Viet€Nam;€(b)Ð `° Ðaccording€to€the€medical€report€of€April€1999,€he€was€interrogated€and€tortured€to€reveal€the€namesÐ L œ Ðof€his€comrades€in€the€resistance€movement;€(c)€during€the€interview€before€the€SwedishÐ 8 ˆ ÐImmigration€Board€in€May€1999,€the€author€claimed€that€he€was€apprehended€for€carrying€arms€andÐ $ t Ðevading€mine€clearance€duty;€(d)€during€the€interview€before€the€Board€in€June€1999,€the€authorÐ  ` Ðstated€that€he€was€suspected€of€revolutionary€activities€and€of€putting€up€posters;€and€(e)€in€theÐ ü L  Ðauthor's€complaint€to€the€Committee,€he€invokes€his€escape€from€mine€clearance€duty€as€the€reasonÐ è 8  Ðfor€having€been€tortured.€Ð Ô$  ÐÌ7.5€The€State€party€draws€the€attention€of€the€Committee€to€the€fact€that,€when€interviewed€by€theÐ ¬ü  Ðpolice€in€1991,€the€author€mentioned€that€he€had€been€forced€to€perform€hard€work€in€a€place€whereÐ ˜è  Ðthere€were€mines,€but€made€no€mention€of€having€evaded€mine€clearance€duty.€When€interviewedÐ „Ô  Ðin€June€1999,€the€author€stated€that€he€risked€being€tortured€upon€return€to€Viet€Nam€for€having€shotÐ pÀ Ðpolicemen€and€for€being€an€opponent€of€the€regime.€In€view€of€the€fact€that€the€author€did€notÐ \¬ Ðexpressly€refer€to€the€escape€from€mine€clearance€duty€as€a€reason€why€he€would€be€in€danger€ofÐ H˜ Ðbeing€tortured,€the€State€party€concludes€that€the€author€himself€does€not€fear€that€this€circumstanceÐ 4„ Ðwill€entail€any€serious€consequences€for€him.€In€addition,€the€State€party€submits€that€there€is€noÐ  p Ðinformation€indicating€that€such€an€act€would€be€considered€a€punishable€offence€in€Viet€Nam€today,Ð  \ Ðlet€alone€be€punished€with€imprisonment.€Ð øH ÐÌ7.6€With€reference€to€the€author's€claim€to€have€engaged€in€activities€within€the€resistanceÐ Ð  Ðmovement,€the€State€party€points€out€that€during€the€initial€interview,€in€1991,€the€author€did€notÐ ¼  Ðmake€any€such€claim;€nor€were€political€activities€expressly€mentioned€in€the€author'sÐ ¨ø Ðcommunication€to€the€Committee,€they€were€only€mentioned€in€the€medical€certificate€issued€inÐ ”ä ÐApril€1999.€The€records€of€the€medical€examination€further€indicate€that€the€author€claimed€to€haveÐ €Ð Ðbeen€"organized"€in€the€resistance€movement€and€was€apprehended€for€hostile€activities€against€theÐ l¼ ÐGovernment€and€put€in€a€labour€camp.€After€having€escaped€he€allegedly€again€joined€the€resistance,Ð X ¨ Ðafter€which€he€was€apprehended€and€tortured.€However,€the€State€party€points€out€that€during€theÐ D!” Ðinterview€before€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board€in€May€1999,€the€author€submitted€that€he€was€"theÐ 0"€  Ðfounder"€of€the€resistance€movement€which€consisted€of€five€members.€Ð #l! ÐÌ7.7€Apart€from€the€above€inconsistencies,€the€State€party€points€out€that€the€author€himself€has€statedÐ ô$D # Ðbefore€the€Board€that€if€the€Vietnamese€authorities€had€known€anything€about€the€resistanceÐ à%0!$ Ðmovement,€the€author€would€have€been€executed.€According€to€the€State€party,€this€clearly€indicatesÐ Ì&"% Ðthat€the€movement€was€unknown€to€the€authorities.€In€addition,€the€State€party€submits€thatÐ ¸'#& Ðaccording€to€information€from€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€and€human€rights€organisations€in€the€area€of€Ô_ÔNhaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔTrangÔ_Ô,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðno€armed€resistance€movement€or€any€resistance€group€devoting€itself€to€putting€up€posters€in€theÐ )à$( Ðcity€has€ever€been€heard€of.€It€is€also€emphasized€that€the€Vietnamese€authorities€would€not€atÐ |*Ì%) Ðpresent€have€an€interest€in€punishing€a€person€for€writing€and€putting€up€anti„governmental€postersÐ h+¸&* Ðabout€15€years€ago.€Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð7.8€With€reference€to€the€author's€escape€from€Viet€Nam,€the€State€party€draws€the€attention€of€theÐ ° ÐCommittee€to€the€fact€that€during€the€initial€police€interview,€in€1991,€the€author€did€not€mention€thatÐ œì Ðhe€had€fired€at€policemen€in€connection€with€his€escape.€Not€until€July€1998,€in€his€petition€to€theÐ ˆØ ÐGovernment,€and€in€subsequent€interviews,€did€the€author€indicate€that€he€had€shot€and€killed€oneÐ tÄ Ðor€several€policemen.€The€State€party€underlines€that€according€to€the€author,€there€were€a€largeÐ `° Ðnumber€of€people€on€the€boat€and€the€escape,€which€took€place€from€a€big€city,€was€tumultuous.€InÐ L œ Ðsuch€circumstances,€it€would,€according€to€the€State€party,€be€surprising€if€the€police€were€able€toÐ 8 ˆ Ðidentify€a€perpetrator.€Further,€the€State€party€draws€the€attention€of€the€Committee€to€the€fact€thatÐ $ t Ðthe€author€has€not€asserted€he€is€being€sought€by€the€police€in€connection€with€the€alleged€killingsÐ  ` Ðand€that€there€is€no€indication€that€the€police€have€issued€a€warrant€for€his€arrest.€Ð ü L  ÐÌ7.9€The€State€party€also€submits€that€the€author€has€given€inconsistent€and€contradictory€informationÐ Ô$  Ðòòinter€aliaóó€regarding€his€family€in€Viet€Nam€and€whether€or€not€his€wife€was€with€him€when€he€wasÐ À  Ðhiding€from€the€authorities€between€1985€and€1988.€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ7.10€With€reference€to€the€inconsistencies€mentioned,€the€State€party€submits€that€all€three€interviewsÐ „Ô  Ðwith€the€author€were€conducted€in€the€presence€of€a€Vietnamese€interpreter.€The€State€partyÐ pÀ Ðacknowledges€that€during€the€last€interview€before€the€Board,€held€in€June€1999,€the€author€statedÐ \¬ Ðthat€the€interpreter€spoke€a€different€dialect€and€that€there€were€certain€things€he€had€not€understood,Ð H˜ Ðwithout€specifying€what.€However,€the€State€party€underlines€that€the€interpreter€had€no€difficultiesÐ 4„ Ðunderstanding€the€author€and€that€it€has€been€informed€that€speakers€of€different€Vietnamese€dialectsÐ  p Ðcan€easily€understand€each€other.€Ð  \ ÐÌ7.11€The€State€party€submits€that€according€to€the€Swedish€Embassy€in€Hanoi,€there€is€no€indicationÐ ä4 Ðthat€the€author€is€of€any€particular€interest€of€the€Vietnamese€authorities€today.€No€evidence€has€beenÐ Ð  Ðbrought€forward€by€the€author€to€support€the€claim€that€he€is€wanted€by€the€police€following€hisÐ ¼  Ðescape€from€Viet€Nam.€Reiterating€its€doubts€as€to€the€veracity€of€the€author's€claim,€the€State€partyÐ ¨ø Ðsubmits€that€even€if€this€information€were€credible,€it€would€not€be€sufficient€to€prompt€the€absoluteÐ ”ä Ðprotection€provided€for€in€article€3€of€the€Convention€(see€para.€6.9€above).€Ð €Ð ÐÌ7.12€Finally,€the€State€party€refers€to€the€case€of€another€Vietnamese€national,€convicted€of€grossÐ X ¨ Ðrape€in€the€same€trial€as€the€author€and€expelled€to€Viet€Nam€in€April€1998€(see€para.€6.10€above).€Ð D!” ÐÌòòAdditional€observations€by€the€State€partyóóÐ #l! ÐÌ8.1€In€its€supplementary€submissions€dated€5€and€19€October€1999,€the€State€party€draws€theÐ ô$D # Ðattention€of€the€Committee€to€a€letter€from€the€Ministry€of€Public€Security€of€Viet€Nam€to€theÐ à%0!$ ÐSwedish€Embassy€in€Hanoi,€stating€that€neither€of€the€authors€have€any€criminal€record€in€Viet€Nam.€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ8.2€It€is€further€submitted€that€the€second€of€the€Vietnamese€nationals€expelled€to€his€country€ofÐ ¤(ô#' Ðorigin€after€servicing€a€prison€sentence€in€Sweden€for€a€crime€committed€together€with€the€authorsÐ )à$( Ðhas€addressed€a€petition€to€the€Government€of€Sweden€to€be€reunited€with€his€family€in€Sweden.€TheÐ |*Ì%) ÐState€party€informs€the€Committee€that€before€his€expulsion,€this€Vietnamese€national€claimed€thatÐ h+¸&* Ðhe€was€suspected€of€stealing€a€police€boat€and€murdering€two€policemen€in€connection€with€hisÐ T,¤'+ Ðescape€from€Viet€Nam.€He€also€maintained€that€he€had€previously€been€imprisoned€three€times€inÐ @-(, ÐViet€Nam€and€that€he€had€been€tortured.€The€State€party€draws€the€attention€of€the€Committee€to€theÐ ° Ðfact€that€in€his€new€petition,€made€more€than€a€year€after€his€return€to€Viet€Nam,€there€is€noÐ œì Ðindication€that€he€has€been€of€interest€to€the€Vietnamese€authorities€since€his€return.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌòòCounsel's€commentsóóÐ `° ÐÌ9.1€Counsel€dismisses€the€State€party's€argument€that€the€authors'€communications€should€beÐ 8 ˆ Ðconsidered€inadmissible€in€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a)€of€the€Convention.€It€isÐ $ t Ðsubmitted€that€there€is€no€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€procedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement€providedÐ  ` Ðfor€by€the€1951€Refugee€Convention.€In€addition,€the€issue€considered€by€the€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€RegionalÐ ü L  ÐRepresentative€for€the€Baltic€and€Nordic€Countries€was€the€compatibility€of€the€expulsion€decisionÐ è 8  Ðwith€article€33€of€the€1951€Refugee€Convention€and€not€the€question€which€is€pending€before€theÐ Ô$  ÐCommittee,€i.e.€whether€the€authors'€face€a€risk€of€torture€upon€return€to€Viet€Nam.€Ð À  ÐÌ9.2€Counsel€informs€the€Committee€that€although€the€Ministry€of€Public€Security€of€Viet€NamÐ ˜è  Ðaccepted€the€repatriation€of€the€authors€in€December€1998,€Viet€Nam€had€a€few€months€earlierÐ „Ô  Ðrefused€such€repatriation.€According€to€a€Swedish€newspaper,€the€reason€for€the€refusal€was€said€toÐ pÀ Ðthat€the€authors€were€accused€of€committing€serious€crimes€in€Viet€Nam€prior€to€their€escape.€Ð \¬ ÐÌ9.3€With€reference€to€the€interviews€conducted€with€the€authors€by€the€Swedish€Immigration€BoardÐ 4„ Ðin€May€and€June€1999,€counsel€draws€the€attention€of€the€Committee€to€the€fact€that€these€took€placeÐ  p Ðafter€the€submission€of€the€authors'€communications€to€the€Committee,€and€only€after€the€submissionÐ  \ Ðof€a€request€by€counsel€to€the€Ministry€of€Justice,€stating€that€"the€written€opinion€of€the€SwedishÐ øH ÐImmigration€Board€which€was€the€basis€of€the€Court€of€Appeal's€decision€to€expel€[the€authors],Ð ä4 Ðcontains€only€general€statements".€Ð Ð  ÐÌ9.4€Counsel€recalls€that€when€the€authors€were€initially€interviewed€by€the€police,€in€1992€and€1991Ð ¨ø Ðrespectively,€they€were€already€accepted€as€quota€refugees€and€did€not€applied€for€asylum€under€theÐ ”ä Ðsame€circumstances€as€normal€asylum„seekers€arriving€in€Sweden.€During€the€interviews€noÐ €Ð Ðquestions€were€asked€about€previous€torture€and€ill„treatment€in€Viet€Nam,€nor€were€the€authorsÐ l¼ Ðasked€about€the€risks€they€would€face€should€they€be€returned.€Ð X ¨ ÐÌ9.5€In€the€case€of€the€first€author,€Mr.€Ô_ÔV.X.N.Ô_Ô,€counsel€submits€that€the€subject€of€past€or€future€riskÐ 0"€  Ðof€torture€was€never€brought€up€during€the€criminal€proceedings,€either€by€the€courts,€or€by€theÐ #l! Ðauthor's€defence€counsel€and€the€author€therefore€did€not€know€that€the€issue€would€be€of€anyÐ $X" Ðsignificance.€In€Mr.€Ô_ÔH.N.Ô_Ô's€case,€counsel€submits€that€the€author's€defence€brought€the€issue€to€theÐ ô$D # Ðattention€of€the€District€Court.€However,€in€the€District€Court's€decision€not€to€expel€the€authors,Ð à%0!$ Ðreference€was€only€made€to€the€fact€that,€even€though€conditions€in€Viet€Nam€had€recently€improvedÐ Ì&"% Ðconsiderably,€it€could€not€be€maintained€that€the€defendants€were€no€longer€refugees.€The€issue€ofÐ ¸'#& Ðfear€of€future€torture€was€not€brought€up€by€the€defence€counsel€before€the€Court€of€Appeal,€as€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðdefence€counsel,€in€view€of€the€decision€made€by€the€District€Court,€did€not€believe€that€the€CourtÐ )à$( Ðof€Appeal€would€agree€to€expulsion.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ9.6€Counsel€further€draws€the€attention€of€the€Committee€to€the€fact€that,€although€a€VietnameseÐ T,¤'+ Ðinterpreter€was€present€during€all€interviews€with€the€authors,€it€is€claimed€by€the€authors€that€thereÐ @-(, Ðis€a€considerable€difference€between€the€dialects€of€the€north€and€those€of€the€south€of€Viet€Nam.€TheÐ ° Ðinterpreters€used€by€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board€are€normally€from€the€north,€whereas€theÐ œì Ðauthors€are€from€the€south.€According€to€counsel,€this€circumstance€explains€some€of€theÐ ˆØ Ðinconsistencies€referred€to€by€the€State€party.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ9.7€In€response€to€the€State€party's€argument€that€the€numerous€accounts€of€shootings€in€connectionÐ L œ Ðwith€escapes€from€Viet€Nam€in€the€1980s€have€in€no€case€been€possible€to€verify,€counsel€submitsÐ 8 ˆ Ðthat€this€is€logical.€He€submits€that€Vietnamese€nationals€already€repatriated€would€have€no€interestÐ $ t Ðin€having€this€information€confirmed€and€that€it€would€be€inappropriate€for€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€to€investigateÐ  ` Ðand€search€for€evidence€against€the€very€people€they€are€assisting.€Ð ü L  ÐÌ9.8€Counsel€emphasizes€that€the€reference€of€the€State€party€in€its€initial€observations€and€itsÐ Ô$  Ðsupplementary€comments€dated€19€October€1999€to€the€cases€of€two€other€Vietnamese€nationals€whoÐ À  Ðhave€been€returned€to€Viet€Nam€should€not€be€taken€into€account€by€the€Committee,€as€everyÐ ¬ü  Ðindividual€claim€should€be€examined€on€its€own€merits.€Ð ˜è  ÐÌ9.9€Apart€from€counsel's€comments€applicable€to€both€authors,€he€submits€the€following€regardingÐ pÀ Ðthe€merits€of€the€respective€cases.€Ð \¬ ÐÌòòThe€case€of€Ô_ÔV.X.N.Ô_Ôóó€Ð 4„ ÐÌ10.1€Counsel€argues€that€in€its€assessment€of€the€risks€faced€by€the€author,€the€State€party€neglectsÐ  \ Ðto€attach€due€importance€to€the€result€of€the€medical€examination.€The€description€of€the€physicalÐ øH Ðsufferings€of€the€author€indicates€that€the€inconsistencies€referred€to€by€the€State€party€to€raise€doubtsÐ ä4 Ðas€to€the€author's€credibility€are€to€be€expected€from€a€person€who€tries€to€recount€his€experiencesÐ Ð  Ðof€torture.€Ð ¼  ÐÌ10.2€Counsel€notes€the€State€party's€argument€that€the€author€has€not€provided€any€evidence,€i.e.€aÐ ”ä Ðjudgement€that€he€was€in€fact€sentenced€to€12€years'€imprisonment€and€that€it€refers€to€certainÐ €Ð Ð"peculiarities"€in€relation€to€the€author's€stay€in€and€escape€from€prison.€Counsel€submits€that€theÐ l¼ Ðjudgement€in€Viet€Nam€was€never€transmitted€directly€to€the€author,€but€only€to€his€defence€counselÐ X ¨ Ðat€the€time,€whose€name€he€does€not€remember€after€23€years.€However,€the€author€has€given€detailsÐ D!” Ðabout€the€trial€itself,€i.e.€that€it€took€place€in€the€city€of€Ô_ÔNhaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔTrangÔ_Ô€and€that€the€investigation€wasÐ 0"€  Ðdone€by€the€Ô_ÔKhanhÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHoaÔ_Ô€county€authorities.€Ð #l! ÐÌ10.3€As€to€the€"peculiarities"€referred€to€by€the€State€party,€counsel€submits€that€there€is€no€reasonÐ ô$D # Ðto€doubt€the€author's€affirmation€that€his€three€eldest€children€were€in€fact€conceived€during€theÐ à%0!$ Ðauthor's€imprisonment.€Prison€guards€could€be€bribed€to€leave€prisoners€and€their€visiting€wivesÐ Ì&"% Ðalone€for€some€privacy,€although€it€was€formally€forbidden.€As€to€the€unlikelihood€to€find€anyÐ ¸'#& Ðuninhabited€islands€in€the€area€where€the€author€claims€to€have€hidden€after€his€escape€from€prison,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðthe€existence€of€the€thinly€populated€Ô_ÔVungÔ_Ô€Me€island,€outside€Ô_ÔNhaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔTrangÔ_Ô,€where€the€author€hid€canÐ )à$( Ðeasily€be€confirmed.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ10.4€Counsel€further€submits€that€the€statements€regarding€prison€sentencing€attributed€to€the€authorÐ T,¤'+ Ðduring€his€initial€interview€in€1992€are€the€result€of€misunderstandings€due€to€the€fact€that€the€author,Ð @-(, Ðafter€his€sentencing€in€1976,€served€the€time€until€his€escape€nine€years€later€in€three€differentÐ ° Ðprisons.€Counsel€maintains€that€no€other€inconsistencies€relating€to€the€author's€account€of€torture,Ð œì Ðsentencing,€imprisonment€and€escape€from€prison€are€of€substantial€value,€and€should€be€seen€in€theÐ ˆØ Ðlight€of€the€considerable€time€which€has€elapsed€since€the€events€took€place.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ10.5€Counsel€further€states€that€the€protection€provided€for€in€article€3€of€the€Convention€does€notÐ L œ Ðonly€apply€to€the€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€by€the€Vietnamese€State€authorities,€but€also€ifÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€authorities€are€not€able€to€provide€the€individual€with€necessary€protection€against€criminalÐ $ t Ðactions€in€Viet€Nam.€Counsel€refers€in€this€context€to€the€jurisprudence€of€the€European€Court€ofÐ  ` ÐHuman€Rights.€Ð ü L  ÐÌ10.6€Finally,€counsel€refers€to€the€State€party's€supplementary€observations€of€5€October€1999,Ð Ô$  Ðstating€that€the€information€provided€by€the€Vietnamese€authorities€as€to€the€author's€criminal€recordÐ À  Ðis€incorrect€and€maintaining€that€the€author€was€sentenced€by€a€court€in€Ô_ÔNhaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔTrangÔ_Ô€in€1976€to€12Ð ¬ü  Ðyears'€imprisonment.€Ð ˜è  ÐÌòòThe€case€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔH.N.Ô_Ôóó€Ð pÀ ÐÌ11.1€Counsel€submits€that€the€inconsistencies€referred€to€by€the€State€party€with€regard€to€theÐ H˜ Ðinformation€provided€by€the€author€are€not€of€substantial€character€but€are€merely€a€matter€ofÐ 4„ Ðsemantics.€The€inconsistencies€can€be€explained€simply,€by€the€fact€that€different€interpreters€wereÐ  p Ðused€during€the€different€interviews€or€that€the€author's€statements€may€have€been€written€downÐ  \ Ðdifferently€on€different€occasions.€As€an€example,€counsel€notes€the€State€party's€argument€that€theÐ øH Ðauthor's€petition€to€the€Government€in€January€1998,€in€which€he€stated€that€he€was€discovered€whenÐ ä4 Ðplanning€his€escape€from€Viet€Nam€and€was€thereafter€apprehended€and€tortured,€diminishes€theÐ Ð  Ðcredibility€of€the€author.€In€this€respect,€counsel€submits€that€this€statement€in€no€way€contradicts€theÐ ¼  Ðauthor's€claim€that€he€was€of€interest€to€the€authorities€for€having€escaped€mine€clearance€duty€or€forÐ ¨ø Ðhaving€been€active€in€the€resistence,€or€for€a€combination€of€the€two.€Ð ”ä ÐÌ11.2€With€reference€to€the€author's€activities€in€the€resistance,€counsel€disputes€that€individuals€fromÐ l¼ Ðdifferent€human€rights€organisations€and€from€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€referred€to€by€the€State€party€wouldÐ X ¨ Ðnecessarily€have€any€knowledge€about€the€activities€of€a€small€anti„Communist€resistance€groupÐ D!” Ðoperative€in€Ô_ÔNhaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔTrangÔ_Ô€14€years€ago.€Ð 0"€  ÐÌ11.3€Counsel€disputes€the€indication€by€the€State€party€that€the€author's€account€of€his€escape€andÐ $X" Ðthe€shootings€in€connection€with€it€has€been€"escalating".€Counsel€argues€that€rather€it€is€theÐ ô$D # Ðquestioning€during€the€various€interviews€which€escalated€and€recalls€that€during€the€initial€policeÐ à%0!$ Ðinterview,€in€1991,€the€author€was€not€asked€in€detail€about€his€escape.€Counsel€further€disputes€theÐ Ì&"% ÐState€party's€assertion€that€there€is€no€indication€that€an€arrest€warrant€for€the€author€has€been€issued,Ð ¸'#& Ðand€reminds€the€Committee€of€the€initial€refusal€by€the€Vietnamese€authorities€to€accept€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðrepatriation€of€the€authors€because€they€had€committed€crimes€in€Viet€Nam€prior€to€their€escape.€Ð )à$( ÐÌ11.4€Counsel€submits€that€it€would€not€be€possible€for€the€author€to€submit€any€evidence€other€thanÐ h+¸&* Ða€medical€certificate€to€support€his€claim,€given€the€circumstances€of€his€escape.€Counsel€argues€thatÐ T,¤'+ Ðit€would€not€seem€appropriate€for€the€author€to€contact€the€Vietnamese€authorities€requestingÐ @-(, Ðdocumentary€evidence€and€that€the€police,€for€obvious€reasons,€does€not€supply€written€evidence€thatÐ ° Ðtorture€has€occurred.€Ð œì ÐÌ11.5€Finally,€counsel€refers€to€the€State€party's€supplementary€observations€of€5€October€1999,€inÐ tÄ Ðwhich€it€is€stated€that€the€author€has€no€criminal€record€in€Viet€Nam,€submitting€that€this€is€inÐ `° Ðaccordance€with€the€author's€statements€that€he€has€not€been€sentenced€by€a€Vietnamese€court€for€anyÐ L œ Ðcrime.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌòòFurther€comments€by€the€State€partyóóÐ  ` ÐÌ12.1€In€its€complementary€submission€dated€8€February€2000,€the€State€party€states€that€there€wasÐ è 8  Ðnever€any€refusal€on€the€part€of€Viet€Nam€to€accept€the€repatriation€of€the€authors.€The€State€partyÐ Ô$  Ðadds€that€for€many€years€it€has€been€faced€with€difficulties€when€trying€to€repatriate€VietnameseÐ À  Ðcitizens,€and€that€the€acceptance€of€the€Vietnamese€authorities€in€this€respect€was€a€result€of€lengthyÐ ¬ü  Ðdiscussions€between€the€two€countries€concerned€regarding€a€large€number€of€repatriation€cases.€Ð ˜è  ÐÌ12.2€The€State€party€states€that€the€Swedish€Embassy€in€Hanoi€has€confirmed€that€although€theÐ pÀ ÐVietnamese€language€has€different€dialects,€with€differences€in€pronunciation€and€sometimesÐ \¬ Ðvocabulary,€these€differences€are€not€significant.€The€State€party€further€points€out€that€the€writtenÐ H˜ Ðlanguage€is€the€same€in€all€parts€of€the€country.€Ð 4„ ÐÌ12.3€Finally,€with€reference€to€Mr.€Ô_ÔV.X.N.Ô_Ô's€claim€that€he€would€risk€ill„treatment€by€a€privateÐ  \ Ðperson,€the€State€party€wishes€to€underline€that€no€evidence€has€been€brought€forward€to€suggest€thatÐ øH Ðthe€Vietnamese€authorities€would€be€incapable€of€affording€the€author€appropriate€protection€againstÐ ä4 Ðsuch€treatment.€The€State€party€states€that€the€jurisprudence€mentioned€by€counsel€in€this€respectsÐ Ð  Ðconcerns€solely€the€interpretation€of€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights€and€is€notÐ ¼  Ðapplicable€to€the€Convention€against€Torture.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€CommitteeóóÐ €Ð ÐÌ13.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€against€TortureÐ X ¨ Ðmust€decide€whether€or€not€the€communication€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.Ð D!” ÐWith€reference€to€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€takes€note€of€theÐ 0"€  ÐState€party's€view€that€the€cases€of€the€authors€have€already€been€examined€by€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€to€ascertainÐ #l! Ðwhether€or€not€an€expulsion€would€be€compatible€with€the€State€party's€obligations€under€article€33.2Ð $X" Ðof€the€1951€Refugee€Convention.€The€Committee€notes,€however,€that€neither€the€1951€RefugeeÐ ô$D # ÐConvention€nor€the€Statute€of€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€provides€for€the€establishment€of€a€procedure€of€internationalÐ à%0!$ Ðinvestigation€or€settlement.€The€Committee€considers€that€a€written€opinion€or€advice€given€by€aÐ Ì&"% Ðregional€or€international€body€on€a€matter€of€interpretation€of€international€law€in€relation€to€aÐ ¸'#& Ðparticular€case€does€not€imply€that€the€matter€has€been€subject€to€international€investigation€orÐ ¤(ô#' Ðsettlement.€Ð )à$( ÐÌÐ Ð13.2€The€Committee€is€further€of€the€opinion€that€all€domestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted€andÐ T,¤'+ Ðfinds€that€no€further€obstacles€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communications€exist.€Since€both€the€StateÐ @-(, Ðparty€and€the€authors'€counsel€have€provided€observations€on€the€merits€of€the€communications,€theÐ ° ÐCommittee€proceeds€with€the€consideration€of€those€merits.€Ð œì ÐÌ13.3€The€Committee€must€decide,€pursuant€to€article€3,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention,€whetherÐ tÄ Ðthere€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€authors€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÐ `° Ðtorture€upon€return€to€Viet€Nam.€In€reaching€this€decision,€the€Committee€must€take€into€account€allÐ L œ Ðrelevant€considerations,€pursuant€to€article€3,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention,€including€the€existenceÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€The€aim€of€theÐ $ t Ðdetermination,€however,€is€to€establish€whether€the€individuals€concerned€would€be€personally€at€riskÐ  ` Ðof€being€subjected€to€torture€in€the€country€to€which€they€would€return.€It€follows€that€the€existenceÐ ü L  Ðof€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€asÐ è 8  Ðsuch€constitute€a€sufficient€ground€for€determining€that€a€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€ofÐ Ô$  Ðbeing€subjected€to€torture€upon€his/her€return€to€that€country;€additional€grounds€must€exist€to€showÐ À  Ðthat€the€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistentÐ ¬ü  Ðpattern€of€gross€violations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€beÐ ˜è  Ðin€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.€Ð „Ô  ÐÌ13.4€The€Committee€recalls€the€absolute€character€of€the€obligation€of€State€parties€contained€inÐ \¬ Ðarticle€3,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention.€In€this€connection€the€Committee€notes€that€pursuant€toÐ H˜ Ðthe€Swedish€1989€Aliens€Act€there€is€an€absolute€impediment€to€expulsion€an€alien€to€a€countryÐ 4„ Ðwhere€there€are€reasonable€grounds€for€believing€that€he/she€would€be€in€danger€of€suffering€capitalÐ  p Ðor€corporal€punishment€or€of€being€subjected€to€torture€or€other€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment€orÐ  \ Ðpunishment.€Ð øH ÐÌ13.5€The€Committee€notes€that€the€decision€by€the€Court€of€Appeal€to€expel€the€authors€was€takenÐ Ð  Ðon€the€basis€of€what€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board€characterized€as€"scanty"€available€informationÐ ¼  Ðregarding€the€authors'€personal€circumstances.€It€is€further€noted€that€the€complementary€interviewsÐ ¨ø Ðwith€the€authors,€conducted€to€provide€a€basis€for€a€risk€assessment,€were€not€conducted€until€afterÐ ”ä Ðthe€submission€of€the€authors'€communications€to€the€Committee€and€only€upon€request€from€counselÐ €Ð Ðto€the€Ministry€of€Justice.€Ð l¼ ÐÌ13.6€Having€noted€the€above,€the€Committee€considers€that€the€authors'€activities€in€Viet€Nam€andÐ D!” Ðtheir€history€of€detention€and€torture€are€relevant€in€determining€whether€they€would€be€in€dangerÐ 0"€  Ðof€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€their€return.€The€Committee€notes€in€that€respect€that€the€StateÐ #l! Ðparty€has€pointed€to€inconsistencies€in€the€authors'€accounts€of€events€and€has€contested€the€generalÐ $X" Ðveracity€of€their€claim.€In€the€present€case,€although€a€number€of€disparities€may€be€explained€byÐ ô$D # Ðdifficulties€in€translation,€the€considerable€time€which€has€elapsed€since€the€authors'€escape€fromÐ à%0!$ ÐViet€Nam€and€the€procedural€circumstances,€the€Committee€considers€that€some€doubts€as€to€theÐ Ì&"% Ðauthors'€credibility€remain.€Ð ¸'#& ÐÌ13.7€Notwithstanding€the€above,€the€Committee€is€aware€of€the€human€rights€situation€in€Viet€Nam,Ð )à$( Ðbut€considers€that€given,€òòinter€aliaóó,€the€considerable€time€which€has€elapsed€since€the€escape€of€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðauthors€and€the€fact€that€the€illegal€departure€from€Viet€Nam€in€the€middle€of€the€1980s€is€no€longerÐ h+¸&* Ðconsidered€an€offence€by€the€Vietnamese€authorities,€the€authors€have€not€substantiated€their€claimsÐ T,¤'+ Ðthat€they€will€personally€be€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€returned€to€Viet€Nam€at€present.Ð @-(, ÐIn€this€connection€the€Committee€notes€that€a€risk€of€being€imprisoned€upon€return€as€such€is€notÐ ° Ðsufficient€to€trigger€the€protection€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð œì ÐÌ13.8€The€Committee€recalls€that,€for€the€purposes€of€the€Convention,€one€of€the€prerequisites€forÐ tÄ Ð"torture"€is€that€it€is€inflicted€by€or€at€the€instigation€of€or€with€the€consent€or€acquiescence€of€aÐ `° Ðpublic€official€or€other€person€acting€in€an€official€capacity.€The€Committee€considers€that€the€issueÐ L œ Ðwhether€a€State€party€has€an€obligation€to€refrain€from€expelling€a€person€who€might€risk€pain€orÐ 8 ˆ Ðsuffering€inflicted€by€a€private€person,€without€the€consent€or€acquiescence€of€the€State,€falls€outsideÐ $ t Ðthe€scope€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð  ` ÐÌ14.€The€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Convention€againstÐ è 8  ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€is€of€the€view€that€theÐ Ô$  Ðfacts€as€found€by€the€Committee€do€not€reveal€a€breach€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð À  ÐÌÌ[Done€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.]