ÿWPC  ¬}l¾5ÀÒÀiÊ,å¡âFÀ«dX½ÜìûÂâËJyq?[!Þw K¸¹X n‚º²]…°cÅ´æ6Uf¦èktõÀn¨?;ñ~ ŽŸûµ0n͘ëq“ij±ŽþO9ˆ ñXÞKK¹gÈðÂT1ŒìBëüÂ*Ùwq›°"Ç× ¹Ûë]„î‘rؾýó€ÅÜ" ù±ОE³Òd"Vñ]¿=eÄçg4oëE!a®ýSĶ.Ô÷`ô$ÿ„|¡ƒfr¶¨Ð2­Ï¹³®G÷:ØÐ‘ÛMeQŽškè†QðòrKrh¾´j¾O·Ê÷¯6ø/vú)’•ý´±¸w®‘Á·•N¸O£AÓŽþ½¾q­NvúÊÛGÆS—¿ØSÜØ!V‡sAƒ‹° 3ÇTŽ 8øÓº‹p˜«æRô k²¬)aHGäCW‡îO‰AIÐ¥ÝÃÓq+u´iW1çAµç–sÍ&£Æ$µù†˜>ÿ­=È‘N»€‚Õ‡lôÀn„”Â…Í,§™(º1*FlܳL„±¤"ß5ôÈqÇE\¤á‰öÃB É“_ýt08Ù:k6pá±Î§{ÞNI‚uí9c„" òÿª#S!ÇU>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(ž%8$¡¡ÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ Xm$XX XÔÔ€Xm$XX Xm$ÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regular{ô* Äpì*è. ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ %8!ÝÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ Xx¨XX XÔÔ€Xx¨XX Xx¨ÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌòòÔ_ÔAduÔ_Ô€v.€CanadaóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No€654/1995Ð H˜ ÐÌ18€July€1997Ð  d ÐÌÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/60/D/654/1995Ð à 0 ÐÌÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÌADMISSIBILITYó óÐ ’â  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Ô_ÔKwameÔ_Ô€Williams€Ô_ÔAduÔ_Ô€[represented€by€Mr.€Stewart€Ô_ÔIstvanffyÔ_Ô]€Ð D”  ÐÌòòVictimóó:€The€author€Ð ` ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€Canada€Ð Ü, ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€28€December€1994€(initial€submission)€óóÐ ¨ø ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó,€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€CovenantÐ Zª Ðon€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€Ð @ ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€18€July€1997,€Ð  \ ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€the€following:€Ð Ø( ÐÌÌÓ¶Óòòò òDecision€on€admissibilityó óóóÐ Š Ú ÐÓÓÌÌ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€Ô_ÔKwameÔ_Ô€Williams€Ô_ÔAduÔ_Ô,€a€Ghanian€national,€at€the€timeÐ <#Œ" Ðof€submission€residing€in€Canada€where€he€requested€recognition€as€a€refugee.€He€claims€toÐ "$r# Ðbe€the€victim€of€violations€by€Canada€of€articles€2,€paragraphs€1€and€3;€6,€paragraph€1;€7;€9;Ð %X $ Ð13;€14,€paragraph€1;€and€26,€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€HeÐ î%>!% Ðis€represented€by€Mr.€Stewart€Ô_ÔIstvanffyÔ_Ô,€a€Montreal€lawyer.€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌòòThe€facts€as€presented€by€the€authoróó€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ2.1€The€author€was€born€on€16€November€1968.€He€claims€that€he€was€a€leading€member€ofÐ l*¼%* Ðthe€Esaase€Youth€Association€in€the€Ashanti€Region,€as€well€as€a€soccer€player€with€aÐ R+¢&+ Ðpopular€local€club;€he€was€well€known€and€a€natural€leader€in€his€area.€His€father€is€a€sub„Ð 8,ˆ', Ðchief€of€the€local€chieftaincy€structure.€In€March€1992,€representatives€of€the€militaryÐ -n(- ÐGovernment€of€Ghana€went€to€Esaase,€to€solicit€support€for€the€candidacy€of€Jerry€RawlingsÐ ° Ðto€the€presidency.€The€author€and€the€President€of€the€Youth€Association€manifested€theirÐ –æ Ðopposition€to€Mr.€Rawlings'€candidacy,€initiating€a€door€to€door€campaign€against€theÐ |Ì Ðgovernment.€That€night,€the€author€was€arrested€and€detained€for€over€five€months€in€badÐ b² Ðconditions.€A€former€coach€of€the€Kumani€soccer€team,€availing€himself€of€bribery,€was€ableÐ H˜ Ðto€secure€the€author's€escape€in€September€1992.€Ð . ~ ÐÌ2.2€The€author€arrived€in€Canada€on€17€September€1992.€He€requested€refugee€status,€on€theÐ ú J Ðgrounds€that€he€had€a€well€founded€fear€of€persecution€based€on€his€political€opinion€andÐ à 0 Ðmembership€in€a€particular€social€group.€His€claim€was€heard€on€10€May€1993,€before€twoÐ Æ   Ðcommissioners€of€the€Refugee€Division€of€the€Canadian€Immigration€and€Refugee€Board,Ð ¬ ü  Ðin€Montreal,€Quebec.€The€Refugee€Division€dismissed€the€author's€request€for€recognitionÐ ’â  Ðas€a€political€refugee.€His€application€for€leave€to€appeal€was€denied€on€28€June€1994.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌòòThe€complaintóó€Ð D”  ÐÌ3.1€The€author€claims€that€he€has€not€received€a€fair€hearing€of€his€refugee€claim,€in€violationÐ ` Ðof€article€14,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Covenant.€He€states€that€one€of€the€commissioners€at€theÐ öF Ðhearing,€a€Mr.€Sordzi,€was€biased€against€him;€the€author€therefore€claims€that€the€hearingÐ Ü, Ðdid€not€meet€the€requirements€for€a€competent€independent€and€impartial€tribunal.€In€supportÐ Â Ðof€his€claim€that€Mr.€Sordzi€was€biased,€the€author€explains€that€there€is€a€serious€ethnicÐ ¨ø Ðconflict€in€Ghana,€and€that€the€military€regime€is€dominated€by€the€Ewe€tribe,€to€which€bothÐ ŽÞ ÐMr.€Sordzi€and€Mr.€Rawlings,€the€President€of€Ghana,€belong,€whereas€the€author€belongsÐ tÄ Ðto€a€different€ethnic€group.€Counsel€contends€that,€contrary€to€the€opinion€of€the€FederalÐ Zª ÐCourt€of€Canada,€tribal€affiliations€in€Ghana€run€deep€and€are€not€extinguished€by€physicalÐ @ Ðdisplacement.€The€author€states€that€for€these€reasons€Ghanian€refugees€are€afraid€to€testifyÐ &v Ðbefore€a€person€of€Ewe€origin,€often€contradicting€themselves;€this€is€then€used€to€discreditÐ  \ Ðthe€veracity€of€their€testimony.€Mr.€Sordzi€is€said€to€have€opined€that€all€so€called€refugeesÐ òB Ðfrom€Ghana€were€economic€migrants.€In€this€respect,€counsel€claims€that€Mr.€Sordzi€is€aÐ Ø( Ðsupporter€of€the€Government€in€Ghana€and€that€the€fact€that€he€sits€as€judge€of€hisÐ ¾ Ðcompatriots€on€Refugee€claims,€violates€the€right€to€a€fair€hearing.€Counsel€adds€affidavitsÐ ¤ô Ðfrom€prominent€members€of€the€Ghanaian€community€in€Montreal€in€order€to€prove€that€Mr.Ð Š Ú ÐSordzi€has€a€long€history€of€antipathy€towards€refugee€claimants€from€Ghana.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ3.2€The€author€argues€that€the€language€used€in€the€decisions€by€the€Refugee€Division€clearlyÐ <#Œ" Ðshows€administrative€bias€against€refugee€claimants€from€Ghana.€In€this€context,€referenceÐ "$r# Ðis€made€to€an€alleged€preconceived€political€line€with€respect€of€Ghana€which€does€notÐ %X $ Ðrecognize€the€factual€situation€in€that€country;€counsel€adds€that€the€panel€went€to€greatÐ î%>!% Ðlengths€to€find€his€client's€story€not€credible€even€though€it€would€appear€to€be€in€line€withÐ Ô&$"& Ðwhat€is€known€to€be€the€current€situation€in€Ghana.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ3.3€Counsel€argues€that€the€above€mentioned€events€and€facts€also€amount€to€a€violation€byÐ †)Ö$) ÐCanada€of€articles€2€paragraph€1€and€26€of€the€Covenant,€as€he€was€treated€in€aÐ l*¼%* Ðdiscriminatory€fashion,€because€of€his€ethnic€origin€and€political€opinions.€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ3.4€The€author€further€argues€that€the€death€penalty€is€frequently€imposed€in€Ghana€onÐ -n(- Ðpeople€convicted€for€political€crimes,€and€that€the€State€party,€by€returning€him€to€GhanaÐ ° Ðwould€place€him€in€a€very€dangerous€situation,€which€could€lead€to€a€violation€of€his€rightÐ –æ Ðto€life,€in€contravention€of€article€6€of€the€Covenant.€Counsel€contends€that€the€deportationÐ |Ì Ðof€an€individual€who€has€not€had€his€claim€to€refugee€status€heard€by€an€impartial€tribunal,Ð b² Ðbut€by€a€biased€one,€amounts€to€cruel,€inhuman€and€degrading€treatment€within€the€meaningÐ H˜ Ðof€article€7,€as€well€as€to€a€violation€of€article€9,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Covenant.€It€is€moreoverÐ . ~ Ðargued€that€the€author's€expulsion€would€not€be€in€pursuance€of€a€decision€reached€inÐ  d Ðaccordance€with€the€law,€as€required€by€article€13€of€the€Covenant,€because€commissionerÐ ú J ÐÔ_ÔSordziÔ_Ô€is€said€to€have€exceeded€his€jurisdiction€by€making€decisions€on€the€credibility€ofÐ à 0 Ðrefugee€claimants€from€Ghana.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ3.5€Counsel€contends€that€the€Federal€Court,€by€dismissing€the€author's€appeal€hasÐ ’â  Ðmisapplied€Canadian€law€and€thereby€eliminated€the€only€effective€recourse€available€to€theÐ xÈ  Ðauthor,€in€violation€of€article€2,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Covenant.€Ð ^®  ÐÌ3.6€Counsel€further€submits€that€Canadian€legislation€provides€for€a€Post„DeterminationÐ *z  ÐReview€and€for€a€Humanitarian€and€Compassionate€review,€but€alleges€that€these€remediesÐ ` Ðare€devoid€of€substance€and€illusory.€He€claims€therefore€that€for€purpose€of€article€5,Ð öF Ðparagraph€2,€of€the€Covenant€domestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted.€Ð Ü, ÐÌòòState€party's€observationsóó€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ4.1€By€submission€of€23€July€1996,€the€State€party€argues€that€the€communication€isÐ tÄ Ðinadmissible€and€provides€information€with€regard€to€its€refugee€determination€process.€Ð Zª ÐÌ4.2€The€State€party€recalls€that€the€author€reported€to€immigration€authorities€in€MontrealÐ &v Ðclaiming€refugee€status€on€17€September€1992.€He€stated€that€he€had€arrived€in€a€truck€fromÐ  \ ÐNew€York,€after€having€left€Ghana€for€Burkina€Faso€by€car€and€then€by€plane€to€New€YorkÐ òB Ðwith€stopovers€somewhere€in€Africa€and€in€Switzerland.€On€5€November€1992,€the€authorÐ Ø( Ðwas€found€to€have€a€òòprima€facieóó€claim€under€the€Refugee€Convention,€and€a€conditionalÐ ¾ Ðdeparture€notice€was€issued€with€obligation€to€leave€Canada€within€one€month€of€anyÐ ¤ô Ðnegative€decision€of€the€Immigration€and€Refugee€Board€concerning€his€claim.€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ4.3€On€10€May€1993,€two€Commissioners€of€the€Refugee€Division€of€the€Immigration€andÐ V"¦! ÐRefugee€Board€heard€the€author€in€order€to€determine€whether€he€met€the€definition€ofÐ <#Œ" ÐConvention€refugee€under€the€Immigration€Act.€The€State€party€explains€that€a€claimÐ "$r# Ðsucceeds€if€either€member€of€the€panel€is€satisfied€that€the€claimant€meets€the€definition.€AtÐ %X $ Ðthe€hearing,€the€author€was€represented€by€counsel€(who€had€been€representing€him€since€theÐ î%>!% Ðinitial€interview€with€immigration€officers€on€13€October€1992),€evidence€on€countryÐ Ô&$"& Ðconditions€was€presented,€the€author€gave€oral€testimony€and€a€number€of€exhibits€wereÐ º' #' Ðfiled.€The€State€party€emphasizes€that€neither€the€author€nor€his€counsel€raised€any€objectionÐ  (ð#( Ðto€the€Ô_Ôconstitution€of€the€panel.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ4.4€On€15€October€1993,€the€panel€decided€that€the€author€was€not€a€Convention€refugee.€ItÐ R+¢&+ Ðfound€the€author€not€credible€because€of€the€inconsistencies€in€his€story€and€because€of€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðimplausibility€of€certain€events€described€by€the€author.€In€particular,€the€panel€noted€thatÐ -n(- Ðat€the€time€that€the€author€claimed€to€have€been€arrested€for€opposing€the€soliciting€of€votesÐ ° Ðfor€the€National€Democratic€Congress'€presidential€candidate€Rawlings,€the€party€did€not€asÐ –æ Ðyet€exist€and€Rawlings'€candidacy€was€not€announced€until€three€months€after€the€eventsÐ |Ì Ðalleged€by€the€author.€The€author€then€applied€for€leave€to€appeal€to€the€Federal€Court€TrialÐ b² ÐDivisionòò€1óó.€The€author€based€his€appeal€on€errors€of€law€and€fact,€including€allegations€ofÐ H˜ Ðreasonable€apprehension€of€bias€of€on€the€part€of€panel€member€Ô_ÔSordziÔ_Ô.€On€28€June€1994,Ð . ~ Ðhis€application€was€denied€with€no€reasons€given.€No€further€appeal€is€available.€Ð  d ÐÌ4.5€On€17€January€1994,€the€author,€represented€by€a€new€counsel,€filed€a€motion€forÐ à 0 Ðreopening€with€the€Refugee€Division€in€order€to€have€new€evidence€considered.€On€22Ð Æ   ÐMarch€1994,€his€request€was€dismissed€since€the€Division€lacked€competence€to€reopen€aÐ ¬ ü  Ðclaim€to€hear€new€evidence,€and€could€only€reopen€a€case€if€the€Division€had€violated€aÐ ’â  Ðprinciple€of€natural€justice€or€committed€an€error€of€fact.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ4.6€Under€the€post„determination€refugee€claimants€in€Canada€class€(Ô_ÔPDRCCÔ_Ô)€reviewÐ D”  Ðprocess,€individuals€determined€not€to€be€Convention€refugees€can€apply€for€residency€inÐ *z  ÐCanada€if€upon€return€to€their€country€they€would€face€a€risk€to€their€life,€of€extremeÐ ` Ðsanctions€or€of€inhumane€treatment.€The€author's€(new)€counsel€made€representations,Ð öF Ðincluding€evidence€not€earlier€presented.€On€23€January€1995,€the€author€was€informed€thatÐ Ü, Ðthe€post„claim€determination€officer€had€concluded€that€he€did€not€belong€to€that€class€ofÐ Â Ðindividuals.€The€author€has€not€sought€judicial€review€of€this€decision.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ4.7€On€12€April€1995,€the€author€failed€to€show€up€at€a€hearing€to€prepare€his€voluntaryÐ tÄ Ðdeparture€from€Canada.€The€State€party€submits€that€it€is€not€aware€of€his€presentÐ Zª Ðwhereabouts.€Ð @ ÐÌ4.8€The€State€party€argues€that€the€author's€communication€is€inadmissible€for€failure€toÐ  \ Ðexhaust€domestic€remedies.€First,€the€author€failed€to€seek€a€humanitarian€and€compassionateÐ òB Ðreview€under€section€114(2)€of€the€Immigration€Actòò€2óó.€The€State€party€contests€the€author'sÐ Ø( Ðclaim€that€this€remedy€and€the€post„determination€review€are€devoid€of€substance.€It€notesÐ ¾ Ðthat€counsel€for€the€author€has€based€himself€on€statistics€showing€a€99%€rejection€rate,€butÐ ¤ô Ðargues€that€these€figures€relate€to€the€situation€before€the€introduction€of€the€Ô_ÔPDRCCÔ_Ô€at€aÐ Š Ú Ðtime€that€such€a€review€was€conducted€as€routine€without€applications€made€on€behalf€of€theÐ p!À  Ðapplicants.€The€State€party€maintains€that€the€review€is€effective€in€particular€cases.€Ð V"¦! ÐÌ4.9€The€author€also€failed€to€apply€for€leave€for€judicial€review€of€the€negative€Ô_ÔPDRCCÔ_ÔÐ "$r# Ðdecision€to€the€Federal€Court€Trial€Division.€The€State€party€explains€that€on€review,€theÐ %X $ Ðauthor€would€have€been€entitled€to€raise€arguments€under€the€Canadian€Charter€of€Rights€andÐ î%>!% ÐFreedoms€similar€to€the€arguments€made€in€his€communication€to€the€Committee.€DecisionsÐ Ô&$"& Ðof€the€Trial€Division€would€have€been€appealable€(with€leave)€to€the€Federal€court€of€AppealÐ º' #' Ðand€from€there€with€leave€to€the€Supreme€Court.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ4.10€Finally,€the€State€party€explains€that€the€author€could€challenge€the€constitutionality€ofÐ l*¼%* Ðany€provision€of€the€Immigration€Act€by€way€of€declaratory€action€or€bring€an€action€in€theÐ R+¢&+ ÐFederal€Court€Trial€Division€for€breach€of€his€Charter€rights.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð4.11€The€State€party€concludes€that€the€domestic€remedies€above€were€available€to€the€authorÐ ° Ðand€that€he€had€a€duty€to€avail€himself€of€these€remedies€prior€to€petitioning€an€internationalÐ –æ Ðbody.€Any€doubts€that€the€author€may€have€about€the€effectiveness€of€the€remedies€wouldÐ |Ì Ðnot€absolve€him€from€exhausting€them.€Ð b² ÐÌ4.12€The€State€party€further€claims€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible€for€failure€toÐ . ~ Ðsubstantiate€violations€of€Covenant€rights.€As€regards€the€author's€claims€under€article€6,€theÐ  d ÐState€party€argues€that€the€author's€exclusion€from€Canada€does€not€constitute€a€prima€facieÐ ú J Ðviolation€of€his€right€to€life,€as€his€claims€were€rejected€by€the€competent€authorities€afterÐ à 0 Ða€full€hearing€with€possibility€of€judicial€review.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€refers€to€theÐ Æ   ÐCommittee's€Views€in€òòÔ_ÔNgÔ_Ô€v.€Canadaóóòò€3óó,€where€the€Committee€found€that€the€extradition€of€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðpetitioner€to€a€country€where€he€faced€the€possibility€of€the€death€penalty€did€not€constituteÐ ’â  Ða€violation€of€article€6(1)€since€the€decision€to€extradite€had€not€been€taken€summarily€orÐ xÈ  Ðarbitrarily.€The€State€party€adds€that€the€author€still€has€available€remedies€to€exhaust.€Ð ^®  ÐÌ4.13€As€regards€the€author's€claims€under€articles€9€and€13,€the€State€party€argues€that€theseÐ *z  Ðarticles€do€not€grant€a€broad€right€to€asylum€or€right€to€remain€in€the€territory€of€a€StateÐ ` Ðparty.€The€author€was€allowed€to€stay€in€Canada€for€the€purpose€of€having€his€refugee€claimÐ öF Ðdetermined€and€was€ordered€deported€only€following€the€rejection€of€his€claim€after€a€fullÐ Ü, Ðhearing€with€possibility€of€judicial€review.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€refers€to€theÐ Â ÐCommittee's€Views€in€òòÔ_ÔMaroufidouÔ_Ô€v.€Swedenóóòò€4óó.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ4.14€As€regards€the€author's€claim€under€article€14,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Covenant,€the€StateÐ tÄ Ðparty€argues€that€refugee€proceedings€are€in€the€nature€of€public€law€and€as€such€notÐ Zª Ðencompassed€by€the€phrase€'suit€at€law'€in€article€14€of€the€Covenant.€In€this€context,€theÐ @ ÐState€party€refers€to€its€submissions€in€respect€of€communication€No.€236/1987€(òòÔ_ÔVRMBÔ_Ô€v.Ð &v ÐCanadaóó)òò€5óó.€Ð  \ ÐÌ4.15€Moreover,€the€State€party€argues€that,€even€if€Immigration€and€Refugee€BoardÐ Ø( Ðproceedings€are€held€to€constitute€a€"suit€at€law",€sufficient€guarantees€of€independenceòò€6óó€Ð ¾ Ðexist€so€that€it€can€reasonably€be€said€to€be€an€independent€tribunal€within€the€meaning€ofÐ ¤ô Ðarticle€14,€paragraph€1.€The€State€party€further€submits€that€the€two€member€panel€whichÐ Š Ú Ðdecided€the€author's€claim€was€impartial.€In€this€respect,€the€State€party€notes€that€theÐ p!À  Ðauthor's€allegations€of€bias€specifically€relate€to€Mr.€Ô_ÔSordziÔ_Ô€and€not€to€the€presiding€memberÐ V"¦! Ðwho€wrote€the€decision.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€recalls€that€the€author's€claim€wouldÐ <#Œ" Ðhave€succeeded€even€if€the€presiding€member€alone€would€have€come€to€the€conclusion€thatÐ "$r# Ðhe€was€a€Convention€refugee.€The€State€party€submits€that€the€author's€allegations€of€biasÐ %X $ Ðare€unfounded,€as€shown€by€the€rejection€of€his€application€for€judicial€review€by€the€FederalÐ î%>!% ÐCourt€Trial€Division,€which€apparently€did€not€consider€that€he€had€established€a€"fairlyÐ Ô&$"& Ðarguable€case"€of€bias.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€refers€to€Federal€Court's€reasonedÐ º' #' Ðdecisions€dealing€with€the€same€allegation€of€bias€against€Mr.€Ô_ÔSordziÔ_Ôòò€7óó.€The€State€party€alsoÐ  (ð#( Ðrefers€to€the€transcript€of€the€hearing,€which€shows€no€improper€interventions€by€Mr.€Ô_ÔSordziÔ_Ô,Ð †)Ö$) Ðand€to€the€text€of€the€decision€where€the€reasons€for€not€finding€the€author€credible€are€wellÐ l*¼%* Ðset€out.€The€State€party€submits€that€the€fact€that€Mr.€Ô_ÔSordziÔ_Ô€was€of€Ghanaian€origin€andÐ R+¢&+ Ðbelonged€to€the€Ewe€tribe€does€not€in€itself€create€a€reasonable€apprehension€of€bias.€In€thisÐ 8,ˆ', Ðcontext,€the€State€party€explains€that€the€Immigration€and€Refugee€Board€relies€on€membersÐ -n(- Ðwho€have€a€personal€knowledge€or€experience€of€the€countries€from€which€refugee€claimantsÐ ° Ðcome€or€who€speak€the€language€of€the€claimants.€According€to€the€Canadian€courts,€this€isÐ –æ Ða€desirable€feature€of€the€refugee€determination€process.€Ð |Ì ÐÌ4.16€As€to€the€author's€claim€under€article€7,€that€his€deportation€amounts€to€cruel,€inhumanÐ H˜ Ðor€degrading€treatment,€because€his€claim€had€not€been€heard€by€an€impartial€tribunal,€theÐ . ~ ÐState€party€refers€to€its€argument€above€and€argues€that€the€tribunal€was€impartial€and€thatÐ  d Ðthe€author's€claim€is€thus€inadmissible.€Ð ú J ÐÌ4.17€As€regards€the€author's€claims€that€he€was€denied€equality€before€the€law€because€oneÐ Æ   Ðof€the€members€of€the€panel€was€of€Ewe€ancestry,€the€State€party€submits€that€the€allegationsÐ ¬ ü  Ðof€denial€of€equality€rights€are€without€any€factual€or€legal€basis€and€should€thus€be€declaredÐ ’â  Ðinadmissible.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌ4.18€The€State€party€finally€argues€that€the€Human€Rights€Committee€is€not€a€"fourthÐ D”  Ðinstance"€competent€to€reevaluate€findings€of€fact€or€to€review€the€application€of€domesticÐ *z  Ðlegislation,€unless€there€is€clear€evidence€that€the€proceedings€before€the€domestic€courtsÐ ` Ðwere€arbitrary€or€amounted€to€a€denial€of€justice.€In€the€absence€of€such€evidence,€the€StateÐ öF Ðparty€argues€that€the€author's€claims€are€inadmissible.€Ð Ü, ÐÌòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeóó€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ5.€The€deadline€for€counsel's€comments€on€the€State€party's€observations€was€30€AugustÐ tÄ Ð1996.€By€letter€of€29€May€1997,€counsel€was€informed€that€the€Committee€would€examineÐ Zª Ðthe€admissibility€of€the€communication€at€its€sixtieth€session,€in€July€1997.€No€submissionÐ @ Ðhas€been€received.€Ð &v ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Human€RightsÐ òB ÐCommittee€must,€in€accordance€with€article€87€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€decide€whether€orÐ Ø( Ðnot€it€is€admissible€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ6.2€The€State€party€has€argued€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible€for€non„exhaustionÐ Š Ú Ðof€domestic€remedies,€while€the€author's€counsel€has€contended€that€the€post„determinationÐ p!À  Ðreview€and€the€humanitarian€and€compassionate€review€are€devoid€of€substance.€TheÐ V"¦! ÐCommittee€recalls€its€jurisprudence€that€mere€doubts€about€the€effectiveness€of€domesticÐ <#Œ" Ðremedies€do€not€relieve€an€author€of€the€duty€to€exhaust€them.€In€the€instant€case€the€authorÐ "$r# Ðfailed€to€avail€himself€of€the€avenue€of€judicial€review€against€the€negative€post„claimÐ %X $ Ðdetermination€decision.€It€follows€that€as€far€as€it€relates€to€the€author's€claim€that€his€returnÐ î%>!% Ðto€Ghana€would€be€in€violation€of€the€Covenant,€the€communication€is€inadmissible€for€non„Ð Ô&$"& Ðexhaustion€of€domestic€remedies.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ6.3€As€regards€the€author's€claim€that€he€did€not€have€a€fair€hearing,€once€the€Federal€TrialÐ †)Ö$) ÐCourt€Division€rejected€the€author's€application€for€leave€to€appeal€which€was€based,€òòinterÐ l*¼%* Ðaliaóó,€on€allegations€of€bias,€no€further€domestic€remedies€were€available.€The€author€claimsÐ R+¢&+ Ðthat€the€hearing€was€not€fair,€as€one€of€the€two€Commissioners€who€participated€was€ofÐ 8,ˆ', ÐGhanaian€origin€and€a€member€of€the€Ewe€tribe€whose€hostile€attitude€towards€GhanaianÐ -n(- Ðrefugees€was€said€to€be€well€known€among€members€of€the€Ghanaian€community€inÐ ° ÐMontreal.€However,€neither€the€author€nor€his€counsel€raised€objections€to€the€participationÐ –æ Ðof€the€Commissioner€in€the€hearing€until€after€the€author's€application€for€refugee€status€hadÐ |Ì Ðbeen€dismissed€despite€the€fact€that€the€grounds€for€bias€were€known€to€the€author€and/or€hisÐ b² Ðcounsel€at€the€beginning€of€the€hearing.€The€Committee€is€therefore€of€the€opinion€that€theÐ H˜ Ðauthor€has€failed€to€substantiate,€for€purposes€of€admissibility,€his€claim€that€his€right€to€aÐ . ~ Ðfair€hearing€by€an€impartial€tribunal€was€violated.€In€the€circumstances,€the€Committee€needÐ  d Ðnot€decide€whether€or€not€the€decision€in€the€author's€refugee€claim€was€a€determination€"ofÐ ú J Ðhis€rights€and€obligations€in€a€suit€at€law",€within€the€meaning€of€article€14,€paragraph€1,€ofÐ à 0 Ðthe€Covenant.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ7.€The€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decides:€Ð ’â  ÐÌ(a)€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible€under€articles€2€and€5,€paragraph€2(b),€of€theÐ ^®  ÐOptional€Protocol;€Ð D”  ÐÌ(b)€that€this€decision€shall€be€communicated€to€the€State€party€and€to€the€author's€counsel.€Ð ` ÐÌÌ______________€Ð  ÐÌ*€The€following€members€of€the€Committee€participated€in€the€examination€of€the€presentÐ ŽÞ Ðcommunication:€Mr.€Ô_ÔNisukeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAndoÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Ô_ÔPrafullachandraÔ_Ô€N.€Ô_ÔBhagwatiÔ_Ô,€Mr.€ThomasÐ tÄ ÐÔ_ÔBuergenthalÔ_Ô,€Ms.€Christine€Ô_ÔChanetÔ_Ô,€Lord€Ô_ÔColvilleÔ_Ô,€Ms.€Elizabeth€Ô_ÔEvattÔ_Ô,€Ms.€Pilar€Ô_ÔGaitanÔ_Ô€deÐ Zª ÐÔ_ÔPomboÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Ô_ÔEckartÔ_Ô€Klein,€Mr.€David€Ô_ÔKretzmerÔ_Ô,€Ms.€Cecilia€Medina€Ô_ÔQuirogaÔ_Ô,€Mr.€FaustoÐ @ ÐÔ_ÔPocarÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Martin€Ô_ÔScheininÔ_Ô€and€Mr.€Danilo€Ô_ÔTrkÔ_Ô.€Ð &v ÐÌ**€Mr.€Maxwell€Ô_ÔYaldenÔ_Ô€did€not€participate€in€the€adoption€of€the€decision,€pursuant€to€ruleÐ òB Ð85€of€the€Committee's€rules€of€procedure.€Ð Ø( ÐÌ1/€€In€the€immigration€context,€the€Court's€stated€test€for€granting€leave€is€that€an€applicantÐ ¤ô Ðshow€"a€fairly€arguable€case"€or€"a€serious€question€to€be€determined".Ð Š Ú ÐÌ2/€€The€State€party€explains€that€this€is€a€broad€discretionary€review€by€an€immigrationÐ V"¦! Ðofficer€to€determine€whether€a€person's€admission€to€Canada€should€be€facilitated€forÐ <#Œ" Ðhumanitarian€and€compassionate€reasons.€A€wide€range€of€circumstances€may€be€taken€intoÐ "$r# Ðaccount,€including€risk€of€unduly€harsh€treatment,€conditions€in€the€country€concerned€andÐ %X $ Ðany€new€developments.Ð î%>!% ÐÌ3/€€Communication€No.€469/1991,€Views€adopted€5€November€1993.Ð º' #' ÐÌ4/€€Communication€No.€58/1979,€Views€adopted€on€9€April€1981.Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ5/€€Declared€inadmissible€on€18€July€1988.Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ6/€€Members€are€appointed€by€the€Governor€in€Council€for€terms€of€up€to€seven€years€andÐ -n(- Ðdrawn€from€all€segments€of€Canadian€society.€They€may€only€be€removed€on€limitedÐ ° Ðgrounds€by€an€inquiry€procedure€presided€over€by€a€judge,€supernumerary€judge€or€formerÐ –æ Ðjudge€of€the€Federal€Court€of€Canada.€The€Immigration€and€refugee€Board€operatesÐ |Ì Ðautonomously€and€has€its€own€budget.€Decisions€of€the€Refuge€Division€can€be€overturnedÐ b² Ðin€a€court€of€law.Ð H˜ ÐÌ7/€€In€particular,€the€State€party€quotes€from€the€Federal€Court's€decision€in€òòÔ_ÔBaduÔ_Ô€v.€MinisterÐ  d Ðof€Employment€and€Immigrationóó,€15€February€1995,€where€the€judge€stated:€Ð ú J ÐÌà0 4 à"It€is€an€aberration€to€suggest€that€Mr.€Ô_ÔSordziÔ_Ô,€who€arrived€in€Canada€in€1968€andÐ Æ   Ðbecame€a€Canadian€citizen€in€1976,€cannot,€by€reason€of€ancestral€warfare€andÐ ¬ ü  Ðconflict,€carry€out€properly,€objectively€and€judicially€the€duties€and€responsibilitiesÐ ’â  Ðwhich€Parliament€has€imposed€upon€him."€ÐxÈ 4ü!4ü! ÐÌThe€Court€concluded€that€the€affidavits€submitted€in€evidence€were€highly€subjective€andÐ D”  Ðprovided€no€objective€corroboration€or€support.Ð *z  ÐÌ[Adopted€in€English,€French€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Ð öF ÐSubsequently€to€be€issued€also€in€Arabic,€Chinese€and€Russian€as€part€of€the€Committee'sÐ Ü, Ðannual€report€to€the€General€Assembly.]€Ð  ÐÓÓ