WPC> ao{ތrmSB* O'fπa*ljI=D[zѴa%WrS#Wq;j)6-&i]Q6 ?uivYEʂVd\&^Z0U!SIzhb=)79@]UjUq> \Hc:칑k1*q#DLHEPM:;jhܩD<Dzx NNrx ҩxׄx]CRTfC/%b8 &yJ{qB^b+BeTd|F8"i/!kenz_uB`pkZ7~`pMYfJBa0Ϡb袳&hRfwskH*[RKT;4]]ϡCH(hGvoK=DVJ$};&bQMINXbƴRm+#ZUN %i 0:o 0 0 0 0j 0O 01 0 0 0 0 0w 0P 0& 0 0 0 0` 0' 0 0 0 0s 0E 0 0 0 0o 02 0 0<N^ w4% m'HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard0(hH  Z6Times New Roman RegularX($UKUS.,2G+J 0_level1  X /%4 4 <DL/23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  2D+J 0_level2   ," <DL,23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  2A+J 0_level3   ) <DL)23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  2>+J 0_level4  ` &<<DL&23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  2;+J 0_level5   #DL#23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  28+J 0_level6    DL 23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  25+J 0_level7  h DDL23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  22+J 0_level8   L23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  2/+J 0_level9    L23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  2GJ 0_levsl1  X /%4 4 <DL/23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  2DJ 0_levsl2   ," <DL,23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  2AJ 0_levsl3   ) <DL)23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  2>J 0_levsl4  ` &<<DL&23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  2;J 0_levsl5   #DL#23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  28J 0_levsl6    DL 23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  25J 0_levsl7  h DDL23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  22J 0_levsl8   L23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  2/J 0_levsl9    L23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  2GJ 0_levnl1  X /%4 4 <DL/23   2( 4 <DL2  2DJ 0_levnl2   ," <DL,23   2( 4 <DL2  2AJ 0_levnl3   ) <DL)23   2( 4 <DL2  2>J 0_levnl4  ` &<<DL&23   2( 4 <DL2  2;J 0_levnl5   #DL#23   2( 4 <DL2  28J 0_levnl6    DL 23   2( 4 <DL2  25J 0_levnl7  h DDL23   2( 4 <DL2  22J 0_levnl8   L23   2( 4 <DL2  2/J 0_levnl9    L23   2( 4 <DL2  6K >4heading 1     UK XXX      US   XXX6@ 34heading 3   UK XXX    US   XXX<:Default Para6(, tQ+ Docume3|xU !UKUS.,  _  COMMITTEEAGAINSTTORTURE  M.R.P.v.Switzerland  CommunicationNo.122/1998 p 24November2000 P  _CAT/C/25/D/122/1998_ 0  VIEWS  P  Submittedby:_M.R.P._Ԁ(namedeleted)      ` [representedbycounsel]  Allegedvictim:Theauthor  Stateparty:Switzerland  Dateofcommunication:7October1998 `     TheCommitteeagainstTorture,establishedunderarticle17oftheConventionagainst 0 TortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegradingTreatmentorPunishment,  p       Meetingon24November2000, P       HavingconcludeditsconsiderationofcommunicationNo.122/1998,submittedtothe 0 CommitteeagainstTortureunderarticle22oftheConventionagainstTortureandOtherCruel,   InhumanorDegradingTreatmentorPunishment, !       Havingtakenintoaccountallinformationmadeavailablebytheauthorofthe #! communicationandtheStateparty, $"       Adoptsthefollowingdecision: p&!$   1.1  TheauthorofthecommunicationisMr.M.R.P.,acitizenofBangladeshbornin1969and P(#& currentlyresidinginSwitzerland,whereheappliedforasylumon29August1997.Hisapplication @)$' havingbeenturneddown,hemaintainsthathisforciblerepatriationtoBangladeshwouldconstitute 0*%( aviolationbySwitzerlandofarticle3oftheConventionagainstTorture.Heisrepresentedby  +p&) counsel. ,`'* 1.2  Inaccordancewitharticle22,paragraph3,oftheConvention,theCommitteetransmittedthe -@), communicationtotheStatepartyon27November1998.Atthesametime,theStatepartywas  requested,pursuanttorule108,paragraph9,oftheCommitteesrulesofprocedure,nottoexpelthe  authortoBangladeshwhilehiscommunicationwasunderconsiderationbytheCommittee.Ina  submissiondated22January1999,theStatepartyinformedtheCommitteethatstepshadbeentaken  toensurethattheauthorwasnotreturnedtoBangladeshwhilehiscasewaspendingbeforethe p Committee. `   Thefactsassubmittedbytheauthor  @  2.1  TheauthorclaimstobeamemberoftheBangladeshNationalParty(_BNP_),themain  p  oppositionpoliticalparty.Hewaspresidentofthe_BNP_ԀUnionfrom1994to1997andvice-president `  ofaregional_BNP_Ԁyouthorganization(theYuba_Dubal_)asof1997. P  2.2  On13January1997,theauthorandhisbrotherwereapparentlyattackedbymembersofthe 0  _Awami_ԀLeague(AL),thepoliticalpartyinpower.Theauthormanagedtoflee,buthisbrotherwas   seriouslyinjured.Acomplaintwaslodgedwiththepolice.Thepolicearrestedoneofthesuspected  attackers,butquicklyreleasedhimwithoutcharge.Membersofthearrestedpersonsfamilyalso  exertedpressureontheauthor,whointheendwithdrewhiscomplaint.  2.3  Afterthatincident,theauthorwasforcedtoleavehishomeduringtheday.Inthenightof  1314June1997,anALmemberwhowasadriverforoneoftheorganizationsleaders, p Mr._Shafijrahman_,waskilled.TheattacksintendedvictimwasapparentlyMr._Shafijrahman_ ` himself,whowaspromptedtolodgeacomplaintagainsttheauthorandfourother P _BNP_ԁsympathizers.Inthatregard,theauthorpointsoutthat,inBangladesh,itiscommonpractice @ for_BNP_Ԁmemberstohavecomplaintslodgedagainstthemandtobechargedonnon-existent 0 grounds;this,infact,constitutedanabuseofpowerbyALmemberstointimidateandeliminate  p politicalopponents.Afterthecomplaintwaslodged,theauthordecidedtoleavehiscountry ` immediately. P 2.4  TheauthorarrivedinSwitzerlandon26August1997andappliedforasylumon29August 0 1997.Hisapplicationwasturneddownon7January1998,essentiallyonthegroundsthattheattack   againsthimandhisbrotherhadnotbeencarriedoutbytheState.Theauthorappealedtherulingto ! theSwissappealscourtdealingwithasylummatters.Theappealwasrejectedon15April1998. "   Meritsofthecomplaint  $" 3.1  TheauthorstatesthatBangladeshisacountrywithgross,flagrantandmasshumanrights p&!$ violations,withinthemeaningofarticle3,paragraph2,oftheConvention.Giventhatacomplaint `'"% hadbeenlodgedagainsthim,thereisseriousreasontobelievethatherisksbeingsubjectedtotorture P(#& shouldhebereturnedtoBangladesh.TortureandilltreatmentarecommonplaceinBangladesh,the @)$' prisonsareovercrowdedandprisonsanitaryconditionsareinhuman.Theauthorclaimsthat,in 0*%( December1997alone,atleastfourpeoplewerekilledwhileremandedincustody.  +p&) 3.2  TheauthoralsorecallsthatthevicepresidentofYuba_Dubal_Ԁhadbeenthetargetof -P(+ intimidationonthepartof_Awami_ԀLeaguemembersmorethanonce.Heconsidersthatthecharge -@), ofmurderagainsthimispartandparceloftheclimateofoppressionprevailinginhiscountryand  thattheaimistoeliminatehimpersonallyasanopponent.Healsoconsidersthat,ifhehadbeen  arrested,hewouldprobablybeinprisonandthevictimofabusivetreatmentandtorture.Sincethe  judiciaryiscontrolledbythoseinpower,itisunlikelyhewouldbeacquittedandhethereforeran  theriskoflifeimprisonmentorthedeathpenalty. p  ObservationsbytheStatepartyontheadmissibilityandmeritsofthecommunication  P  4.1  TheStatepartydidnotcontesttheadmissibilityofthecommunicationand,inaletterdated 0  18June1999,madeobservationsonitsmerits.  p  4.2  TheStatepartypointsoutthatthereremainssomedoubtastotheauthorstrueidentity. P  Thosedoubtsstemnotonlyfromthefactthattheauthorsnameisspelledintwodifferentwaysin @  thetranslationofthedocumentsheproduced,butalsofromtheabsenceofthecertificatethatthe 0  authorundertooktoprovide.Itisthereforedifficulttobecertainthatthedocumentssubmittedto   theSwissauthoritiesrefertotheauthor.  4.3  TheStatepartyalsowishestoinformtheCommitteeaboutthecontradictionsobservedin  thecourseofthetwohearingsduringtheasylumprocedure.Atthefirsthearing,theauthorstated  thatthepersonwhohadbeenkilledwascalledBabu,but,atanotherhearing,hesaidthattheperson  wascalled_Abul_Ԁ_Kalama_Ԁandthatheknewofnoothernameforthatperson.TheStateparty p neverthelessemphasizesthat_that_Ԁcontradictionaloneisnotasufficientbasisforconcludingthatthe ` communicationisunfounded. P 4.4  TheStatepartyconsiders,contrarytotheauthor,thattheBangladeshipolicetookanumber 0 ofmeasurestoprosecutetheperpetratorsoftheattackontheauthorandhisbrother.Inaddition,the  p authorandhisbrothercouldhavetakenthemattertoahighercourt.Lastly,theStatepartypoints ` outthat,aftertheincident,theauthorcontinuedtoliveathome,whichwouldseemtoprovethathe P nolongerstoodingreatfearofhispoliticalenemies. @ 4.5  AlthoughitacknowledgestheexistenceinBangladeshofpoliticallymotivatedcomplaints   (i.e.complaintsthatarenotbasedonfacts,butwhosesoleaimistocausetroubleforapolitical ! adversary),theStatepartyunderlinesthattheadministrativeinquiriesthatfollowonthecomplaints "  arelegitimateandthereforeinnowayreflectpoliticalmotivationonthepartoftheState.TheState #! partyalsopointsoutthattheSpecialPowersAct,whichallowsforunlimiteddetentionwithouttrial, $" isnotapplicableintheauthorscaseandthatthereisthereforelittlelikelihoodthattheauthorwill % # beimprisonedforanindefinitetime. p&!$ 4.6  WithregardtotheauthorsallegationsthatthecourtsandtribunalsofBangladesharecorrupt P(#& andcontrolledbytheGovernment,theStatepartyconsidersthat,whilethatmaybethecasefor @)$' lowercourts,highercourtsareindependentandimpartial.Thereisthereforenoevidencethatthe 0*%( authorwouldnotbegrantedthebenefitofanimpartialandfairtrial.  +p&) 4.7  AccordingtotheStateparty,neithertheriskofbeingtriedbyaBangladeshicourtnorthe -P(+ factthathemightbeimprisoned,andcouldthereforebesubjecttoilltreatment,arereasonsto -@), preventtheauthorsexpulsiononthebasisofarticle3oftheConvention.   Authorscomments   5.1  TheauthorcommentsontheStatepartysobservationsonthemeritsofthecommunication p inaletterdated10August1999. `  5.2  TheauthorpointsoutthattheStatepartyrecognizesthat,inBangladesh,extremistsfrom @  certainpartieslodgecomplaintsagainstopponentsforpurelypoliticalreasonsandthatcertainlower 0  courtsarecorruptandnotindependent.TheStatepartythereforedoesnotdisputethefactthatthe  p  authorwouldprobablybeimprisonedonarrivalinBangladesh,thatherisksbeingill-treatedand `  torturedwhilebeingheld,thathewouldprobablybeconvictedbyalowercourtandthathewould P  havetowaitforahighercourttoconsiderhiscasetoobtainwhatmightbeafairtrial. @   IssuesandproceedingsbeforetheCommittee    6.1  Beforeconsideringanyoftheallegationsinacommunication,theCommitteeagainstTorture  mustdecidewhetherornotthecommunicationisadmissibleunderarticle22oftheConvention.It  hasascertained,asitisrequiredtodoinaccordancewitharticle22,paragraph5(a),ofthe  Convention,thatthesamematterhasnotbeenandisnotbeingexaminedunderanotherprocedure  ofinternationalinvestigationorsettlement.Italsonotesthatalldomesticremedieshavebeen p exhaustedandthattheStatepartyhasnotcontestedtheadmissibilityofthecommunication.It ` thereforeconsidersthatthecommunicationisadmissible.AsboththeStatepartyandtheauthor P haveprovidedobservationsonthemeritsofthecommunication,theCommitteeproceedswiththe @ considerationofthosemerits. 0 6.2  TheissuebeforetheCommitteeiswhethertheforcedreturnoftheauthortoBangladesh ` wouldviolatetheobligationoftheStatepartyunderarticle3oftheConventionnottoexpelorreturn P apersontoanotherStatewheretherearesubstantialgroundsforbelievingthathewouldbeindanger @ ofbeingsubjectedtotorture. 0 6.3  TheCommitteemustdecide,pursuanttoarticle3,paragraph1,whethertherearesubstantial ! groundsforbelievingthattheauthorwouldbeindangerofbeingsubjectedtotortureuponreturn "  toBangladesh.Inreachingthisdecision,theCommitteemusttakeintoaccountallrelevant #! considerations,pursuanttoarticle3,paragraph2,includingtheexistenceofaconsistentpatternof $" gross,flagrantormassviolationsofhumanrights.Theaimofthedetermination,however,isto % # establishwhethertheindividualconcernedwouldbepersonallyatriskofbeingsubjectedtotorture p&!$ inthecountrytowhichheorshewouldreturn.Theexistenceofaconsistentpatternofgross, `'"% flagrantormassviolationsofhumanrightsinacountrydoesnotassuchconstituteasufficient P(#& groundfordeterminingthataparticularpersonwouldbeindangerofbeingsubjectedtotortureupon @)$' hisorherreturntothecountry.Theremustbeothergroundsindicatingthattheindividual 0*%( concernedwouldbepersonallyatrisk.However,theabsenceofaconsistentpatternofgross  +p&) violationsofhumanrightsdoesnotmeanthatapersonmightnotbesubjectedtotortureinhisorher ,`'* specificcircumstances. -P(+  -@), 6.4  TheCommitteerecallsitsgeneralcommentontheimplementationofarticle3,whichreads:  8  9%4 4 <DLX9 BearinginmindthattheStatepartyandtheCommitteeareobligedtoassess  whethertherearesubstantialgroundsforbelievingthattheauthorwouldbeindanger  ofbeingsubjectedtotorturewerehe/shetobeexpelled,returnedorextradited,the p riskoftorturemustbeassessedongroundsthatgobeyondmeretheoryorsuspicion. `  However,theriskdoesnothavetomeetthetestofbeinghighlyprobable(A/53/44, P  annexIX,para.6).@    6.5  TheCommitteenotestheargumentsadvancedbytheauthorandbytheStatepartyregarding  p  theallegedriskoftheauthorsbeingtorturedandconsidersthatthelatterhasnotproducedenough `  evidencetoshowthathewouldrunapersonalrealandforeseeableriskofbeingtorturedin P  Bangladesh. @  6.6  TheCommitteethereforefindsthattheinformationsubmittedtoitdoesnotdemonstratethat   therearesubstantialgroundsforbelievingthattheauthorwouldbeindangerofbeingpersonally  torturedifreturnedtoBangladesh.  6.7  Accordingly,theCommitteeagainstTorture,actingunderarticle22,paragraph7,ofthe  ConventionagainstTortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegradingTreatmentorPunishment,  concludesthatthedecisionoftheStatepartytoreturntheauthortoBangladeshdoesnotconstitute p abreachofarticle3oftheConvention. ` =