WPCg0 =]yJAsw"ҾOcP_Lme-6 n%[YnZȪ ~E4 \E p& ik~`rD=Gi]>=$S@.+Nֹ)t&@v@Y!nLy9c[\DGU WPR_l:9Egnc5p <8cGqL#\4mr3X>.RԖ,mv* mXW$na,zLY_\Bb*xO2hYMC9S\j$bS9Xh ]O@!UA?*1iv&J8aX1^ d/0w}˒[BLj"O"Mqeg06kQmRz1 b:&+7KnDrZ9ݩ!ϼD9qҙJ# UN % 0:! 0[ 0O 0@ 0. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0e 0D 0  0 0 0 0r 0? 0  0 0 0 0{ 0P 0" 0 0 00 0< 0 0> 0v 0`d! 0`! 0`$" 0`" 0`" 08D# 0|# 02N$ 0$ 0:|% 0Y% 0_& 0 n& 0jx' 0( B*f* D/* D+* 0* D/n, 0, 06k- 0- 0:. 0^. 0<A/U6}/U>/U*///^ 0w'04+0?0N0 mP0HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($UKUS.,2J+M 0_level1  X 2( ` hp x 223  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2G+M 0_level2   /%` ` hp x /23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2D+M 0_level3   ," hp x ,23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2A+M 0_level4  ` ) hp x )23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2>+M 0_level5   &hhp x &23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2;+M 0_level6   #p x #23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  28+M 0_level7  h  p x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  25+M 0_level8   pp x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  22+M 0_level9    x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2JM 0_levsl1  X 2( ` hp x 223  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2GM 0_levsl2   /%` ` hp x /23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2DM 0_levsl3   ," hp x ,23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2AM 0_levsl4  ` ) hp x )23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2>M 0_levsl5   &hhp x &23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2;M 0_levsl6   #p x #23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  28M 0_levsl7  h  p x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  25M 0_levsl8   pp x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  22M 0_levsl9    x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2JM 0_levnl1  X 2( ` hp x 223   5+ ` hp x 5  2GM 0_levnl2   /%` ` hp x /23   5+ ` hp x 5  2DM 0_levnl3   ," hp x ,23   5+ ` hp x 5  2AM 0_levnl4  ` ) hp x )23   5+ ` hp x 5  2>M 0_levnl5   &hhp x &23   5+ ` hp x 5  2;M 0_levnl6   #p x #23   5+ ` hp x 5  28M 0_levnl7  h  p x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  25M 0_levnl8   pp x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  22M 0_levnl9    x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  0.Normal<:Definition T<AA:Definition L , 5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 586Definition(''&H1      XXX(&H2  XXX(&H3  XXX(&H4 XXX XXX(&H5  XXX(&H6  XXX20Address8MM6Blockquote , , 5+ ` hp x 5   5+ ` hp x 5,*CITE,dl*CODEK?<6X9`(Courier NewKXXXS@\  `&Times New RomanS42Emphasis64Hyperlink    <:FollowedHype    4go2Keyboard K?<6X9`(Courier NewK XXXS@\  `&Times New RomanS<:Preformatted/%  ,Kk %#/K?<6X9`(Courier NewKXXXS@\  `&Times New RomanS/%  ,Kk %#/<:zBottom of 75(X7  ?A%2A`Arial?76(X7  XXXS@\  `&Times New RomanS&  d d4)1dxd'dxd<:zTop of For78(X7  ?A%2A`Arial?76(X7  XXXS@\  `&Times New RomanS4)2dxd0KS.SampleK?<6X9`(Courier NewKS@\  `&Times New RomanS0.Strong 8dl6TypewriterK?<6X9`(Courier NewKXXXS@\  `&Times New RomanS42Variable: 8HTML MarkupB      2 0CommentB  <6X9`(Courier New\  `&Times New Roman%2A`Arial%kd- :PB-К 3|xU !UKUS.,  _  COMMITTEEAGAINSTTORTURE  M.S.v.Australia  CommunicationNo.154/2000 p 23November2001 P  CAT/C/27/D/154/2000 0  VIEWS  P  Submittedby:M.S.(namewithheld)[representedbycounsel]   Allegedvictim:Thepetitioner  Stateparty:Australia  Dateofcommunication:25January2000 p TheCommitteeagainstTorture,establishedunderarticle17oftheConventionagainstTortureand @ OtherCruel,InhumanorDegradingTreatmentorPunishment, 0 Meetingon23November2001, ` HavingconcludeditsconsiderationofcommunicationNo.154/2000,submittedtotheCommittee @ againstTortureunderarticle22oftheConventionagainstTortureandOtherCruel,Inhumanor 0 DegradingTreatmentorPunishment,   HavingtakenintoaccountallinformationmadeavailabletoitbythepetitionerandtheStateparty, "  AdoptsitsViewsunderarticle22,paragraph7,oftheConvention. $" 1.1Thepetitioneris_M.S._,anAlgeriannational,currentlydetainedintheImmigrationDetention `'"% CentreinChesterHill,Australia.HeclaimsthathisremovaltoAlgeriawouldentailaviolationof P(#& article3oftheConventionagainstTortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegradingTreatmentor @)$' PunishmentbyAustralia.HeisrepresentedbytheRefugeeAdviceandCaseworkService(Australia) 0*%( Inc.  +p&) 1.2Inaccordancewitharticle22,paragraph3,oftheConvention,theCommitteebroughtthe -P(+ CommunicationtotheattentionoftheStatepartyon28January2000.Atthesametime,acting -@), underrule108,paragraph9,ofitsrulesofprocedure,theCommitteerequestedtheStatepartynot  toexpelthepetitionertoAlgeriawhilehiscommunicationwasbeingconsidered.  Thefactsassubmittedbythepetitioner  2.1On24August1998,comingfromSouthAfrica,thepetitionerarrivedinAustraliawithoutvalid `  traveldocuments.InhisinterviewattheairportherequestedtheStateparty'sprotectionasarefugee. P  2.2On3September1998,thepetitionermadeanapplicationforrefugeestatus(protectionvisa) 0  withtheDepartmentofImmigrationandMulticulturalAffairsundertheMigrationAct.On2  p  October1998,adelegateoftheMinisterforImmigrationandMulticulturalAffairsdelivereda `  decisiondenyingaprotectionvisa.On14December1998,theRefugeeReviewTribunalRRT) P  affirmedthisdecision.On30April1999,theFederalCourtofAustraliadismissedthepetitioner's @  requestforjudicialreview. 0  2.3On22March1999,thepetitionerrequestedtheMinisterforImmigrationandMulticultural  AffairstointerveneandsetasidethedecisionoftheRRTinthepublicinterest,pursuanttosection  417oftheMigrationAct.Inanundatedletter,theMinisterrespondedthathedecidednottoexercise  thispower.On13September1999,counselagainwrotetotheMinisterrequestingthatthepetitioner  bepermittedtosubmitasecondapplicationforaprotectionvisapursuanttosection48Bofthe  MigrationAct.Counselhasnotreceivedaresponsetothisrequest. p 2.4ThepetitionersubmitsthathewasinvolvedinthesocialassistanceactivitiesoftheFront P islamiquedusalut(FIS)since1990,i.e.afterwork,thepetitionersuedtogotothelocalFISoffice @ andassesswhattogivetofamiliesinneed.InJanuary1992,aftertheresultsofthegeneralelection 0 fortheNationalPeoples'Assemblywerecancelled,thelocalFISofficewasclosedandthepetitioner  p wascalledbythepolice(gendarmerie)andquestionedformorethantwohours.Thepetitioner ` submitsthatafterhisrelease,hewasrequiredtoreporttothegendarmerieonadailybasisandnot P toleavehishometown,Ngaos.On16September1994,supportedbyafriend,heleftAlgeriaforthe @ SyrianArabRepublicbyplane.Thedayafterhisdeparture,andagaininOctober,thegendarmerie 0 questionedhisfatherabouttheresidenceoftheallegedvictim.Itisfurthersubmittedthatthe   petitioner'sfathersubsequentlyadvisedhimnottoreturntoAlgeriabecausethepoliceaccusedhim ! ofavoidinghismilitaryrecall. "  2.5ThepetitionersubmitsthatheleftAlgeriain1994afterheheardofanofficialdecreecallingup $" reservistswhohadonlyserved18monthsofmilitaryserviceforanextrasixmonths.Thepetitioner % # hadservedintheNationalRepublicArmyfromMay1988toMarch1990.Thepetitionersubmits p&!$ thatinMarch1994itwasreportedthattheAlgerianMinisteroftheInteriorannouncedthe `'"% Government'sintentiontodraftthousandsofarmyreservistsandthatthesereportswerenotbefore P(#& theRRTwhenitreviewedthecase. @)$' 2.6Thepetitionersubmitsthat,in1996,heobtainedacopyofacourtverdict,dated17November  +p&) 1996,convictinghimofformingaterroristgroupand,inabsentia,sentencinghimtodeath.1 ,`'*  -@), Thecomplaint  3.1ThepetitionercontendsthathisdeportationtoAlgeriawouldviolatearticle3oftheConvention  againstTortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegradingTreatmentorPunishment.Thepetitioner  arguesthattherearesubstantivegroundsforbelievingthathewouldbeindangerofbeingsubjected p totorturewhendeportedtoAlgeria,becausehehasbeenperceivedasanFISsympathiser. `  3.2Thepetitionerclaimsthat,uponhisreturn,hewouldbetargetedasadraftevaderandanti @  Governmentopinionswouldautomaticallybeattributedtohimforavoidingmilitaryservice. 0  3.3Thepetitionerclaimsfurtherthatuponhisreturnhewouldbearrestedandtorturedin `  connectionwiththecourtverdictof1996.Itissubmittedthatthejudgementisconsistentwith P  counsel'sknowledgeofpenaltiesfordesertioninconnectionwithperceivedaffiliationwiththe @  Islamists. 0  3.4Thepetitionerclaimsthat,uponhisreturn,hewillbeinterviewedattheairportabouthistime  spentoutsideAlgeriaandhisactivities.Hemaybequestionedonwhetherheappliedforrefugee  statusoutsideAlgeria.ThepetitionerquotesaBritishnewspaperreportofJune1997onthedeath  ofarefusedasylumseekerdeportedtoAlgeria.  3.5ThepetitionerclaimsthatAlgeriaiscommittinggrossviolationsofhumanrights,whichtake p placenotonlywithtotalimmunity,butarealsosanctionedatthehighestlevel.Recallingeventsthat ` haveoccurredinAlgeriasince1992,hefurtherclaimsthatthereisacustomarydisregardbyAlgeria P ofitsobligationsunderinternationalhumanrightstreaties. @ 3.6Thepetitionerclaimsthatallavailabledomesticremedieshavebeenexhausted.Notwithstanding  p theoutstandingresponsefromtheMinisterforImmigrationandMulticulturalAffairsandpursuant ` totheMigrationAct,theallegedvictimcouldbedeportedfromAustraliaassoonasreasonably P practical. @ Stateparty'sobservationsonadmissibilityandmerits   4.1Initsreplyof14November2000,theStatepartysubmitsthattheapplicationisinadmissible, "  becauseitlackstheminimumsubstantiationasrequiredbyarticle22oftheConvention. #! 4.2ShouldtheCommitteefindthattheapplicationisadmissible,theStatepartysubmitsthatitlacks % # merit,asgroundsforbelievingthattheallegedvictimwouldbesubjecttotortureuponhisreturnto p&!$ Algeriaareneithersubstantial,personalnorpresent. `'"% 4.3WhiletheStatepartyacknowledgestheseriousnessofthehumanrightssituationinAlgeria,it @)$' submitsthatrecentreportsindicatethatthesituationhasimproved.TheStatepartyreferstothe 0*%( adoptionoftheCivilHarmonyLawin1999andtheagreementoftheAlgerianMinistryofthe  +p&) Interiortoinvestigatecasesofdisappearances.TheStatepartysubmitsthatAmnestyInternational, ,`'* HumanRightsWatchandtheUnitedStatesDepartmentofStatereportedadidemthatthenumber -P(+ ofdisappearances,arrests,torture,andextrajudicialkillingscarriedoutbyagentsofAlgeriadeclined -@), in1999.TheStatepartynotesthatAlgeriaaccededtotheInternationalCovenantonCiviland  PoliticalRights,theConventionagainstTorture,withthedeclarationunderarticles21and22,and  theAfricanCharteronHumanandPeoples'Rights.  4.4TheStatepartysubmitsthatthereisnosubstantialreasonforbelievingthatthepetitionerwill p besubjectedtotortureuponhisreturntoAlgeriaresultingfromhisclaimedinvolvementwiththe `  FIS.TheStatepartyrequeststheCommitteetoaccordappropriateweighttothefindingsoftheRRT P  inthisregard,sincethepetitionerdidnotprovidenewinformationinrespecttothisclaim.TheState @  partyrecallsthefindingsoftheRRTthatthepetitionerhasneverbeenamemberoftheFISandhad 0  nointerestorinvolvementinitspoliticalactivitiesandthattheAlgerianpolicehadnointerestinhim  p  whatsoever.TheRRTarguedthatthepetitioner'ssubmissionthathewasrequiredtoreporttothe `  policeandrestrictedinhistravelwasnotplausibleinthelightoftheevidenceofthetreatmentof P  FISmembersduringthetimeinquestion.Furthermore,inthelightofrecentdevelopmentsin @  Algeria,theStatepartysubmitsthatsympathywiththeFISisunlikelytodrawtheattentionofthe 0  Algerianauthorities.   4.5Withregardtothemilitaryrecallofthepetitioner,theStatepartypointsatthefindingsbyRRT  thattherewasnomilitaryrecalluntilMarch1995.CountryinformationreceivedbytheStateparty  indicatesthattherewasanearlierrecallofreservistsin1991,butnofurtherrecalluntilMarch1995.  TheStatepartyrecallsfurtherthattherewasnoevidencethatthepetitionerwasrecalledatall,while  independentevidenceindicatedthatanoticewouldhavebeensenttothepetitioner'shome.Evenin p theeventthatthepetitionerhadfailedtorespondtoarecallofreservists,theallegedvictimdidnot ` produceanyspecificinformationthatheislikelytobesubjectedtotorture.TheStatepartypoints P toUNHCRguidelinesinrespectofAlgerianasylumseekersandsubmitsthatthelikelihoodofarrest @ alonedoesnotsupportallegationsofthelikelihoodoftorture. 0 4.6TheStatepartysubmitsthatthecopyofthecourtverdictpresentedbythepetitionerisunlikely ` tobegenuine,giventhatthepetitioner'sownaccountofwhentheorderwasissuedisinconsistent P withthedateoftheorderandthesentenceimposedisinconsistentwithinformationreceived @ concerningpenaltiesimposedonreservistsforthefailuretorespondtorecall,i.e.arrestand 0 imprisonmentforaperiodofbetween3monthsandupto10years,dependingonthecircumstances.   TheStatepartyfurtherrecallsAmnestyInternational'sreportsthatAlgeriahashadamoratoriumon ! carryingoutdeathsentencessinceDecember1994andthatnonehasbeencarriedoutsincethattime. "  4.7Insofarasthepetitionerclaimsthatheisatriskofbeingsubjectedtotorturebecauseofa $" suspicionthathehasappliedforrefugeestatusorsoughtasylum,itissubmittedthatthealleged % # victimdidnotprovideanyevidencetosupporttheobservationthatAlgerianauthoritieshavebeen p&!$ madeawareofhisapplicationsinAustraliaorSouthAfrica.Countryinformationreceivedbythe `'"% Statepartyindicatesthat,eveniftheAlgerianauthoritieswereawareofthepetitioner'sapplications, P(#& thereisnosubstantialreasonforbelievingthathewouldbesubjectedtotorture. @)$' Commentsbythepetitioner  +p&) 5.1ThepetitionersubmitsthatthehumanrightssituationinAlgeriaremainscritical.Hearguesthat -P(+ Algeriacontinuestoignoreorisunabletorespondtoallegationsoftortureandilltreatmentofthose -@), peoplearrestedonsuspicionofhavinglinkswitharmedgroups.Thepetitionerrecallsthenotein  theconcludingobservationsoftheHumanRightsCommitteein1998thattherewerenumerous  sourcesofinformationthattorture,disappearancesandsummaryexecutionsoccurredinAlgeria.In  addition,thepetitionernotesAmnestyInternational'scontinuingconcernregardingtortureofthose,  whohavebeeninterrogatedaboutpossiblecontactswithmembersofarmedgroups. p 5.2ThepetitionersubmitsthatthedistinctionmadebetweenhisinvolvementwithFISandactive P  membershipintheorganizationisartificial.Inaddition,noevidentiarybasisispresentedforthe @  conclusionthatsocialassistanceactivities,whichhaveobviouspoliticalsignificance,arenot 0  regardedaspoliticalbytheAlgerianauthorities.  p  5.3Thepetitionersubmitsthat,inthelightofrecentdevelopments,itistoosimplistictoarguethat P  thepetitioner'ssympathywiththeFISisunlikelytodrawtheattentionoftheAlgeriangendarmerie @  tohiscase.Itisarguedthatthosewhohavenotclaimedtheamnestyorwhofalloutsideitsterms 0  asprovidedforbytheCivilHarmonyLawarelikelytobepursuedrigorously.   IssuesandproceedingsbeforetheCommittee  6.1TheCommitteenotestheinformationfromtheStatepartythatthedeportationofthepetitioner  hasbeensuspended,inaccordancewiththeCommittee'srequestunderrule108,paragraph9,ofits  rulesofprocedure. p 6.2Beforeconsideringanyclaimscontainedinacommunication,theCommitteeagainstTorture P mustdecidewhetherthecommunicationisadmissibleunderarticle22oftheConvention.The @ Committeehasascertained,asitisrequiredtodounderarticle22,paragraph5(a),ofthe 0 Convention,thatthesamematterhasnotbeenandisnotbeingexaminedunderanotherprocedure  p ofinternationalinvestigationorsettlement.TheCommitteenotesthattheStatepartyconsidersthe ` communicationinadmissibleforlackofsufficientsubstantiation.However,theStatepartydidnot P submitfurtherargumentsinthisregard,butargumentsonthemeritsshouldtheCommitteefindthe @ communicationadmissible.TheCommittee,therefore,isoftheopinionthattheStateparty's 0 argumentsraiseonlysubstantiveissues,whichshouldbedealtwithatthemeritsandnotthe   admissibilitystage.SincetheCommitteeseesnofurtherobstaclestoadmissibility,itdeclaresthe ! communicationadmissible. "  6.3TheCommitteemustdecide,pursuanttoarticle3,paragraph1,oftheConvention,whetherthere $" aresubstantialgroundsforbelievingthatthepetitionerwouldbeindangerofbeingsubjectedto % # tortureuponreturntoAlgeria.Inreachingthisdecision,theCommitteemusttakeintoaccountall p&!$ relevantconsiderations,pursuanttoarticle3,paragraph2,oftheConvention,includingtheexistence `'"% ofaconsistentpatternofgross,flagrantormassviolationsofhumanrights.Theaimofthe P(#& determination,however,istoestablishwhethertheindividualconcernedwouldbepersonallyatrisk @)$' ofbeingsubjectedtotortureinthecountrytowhichheorshewouldreturn.Itfollowsthatthe 0*%( existenceofaconsistentpatternofgross,flagrantormassviolationsofhumanrightsinacountry  +p&) doesnotassuchconstituteasufficientgroundfordeterminingthataparticularpersonwouldbein ,`'* dangerofbeingsubjectedtotortureuponhisreturntothatcountry;additionalgroundsmustexist -P(+ toshowthattheindividualconcernedwouldbepersonallyatrisk.Similarly,theabsenceof_a -@), consistentpatternofgrossviolationsofhumanrightsdoesnotmeanthatapersoncannotbe  consideredtobeindangerofbeingsubjectedtotortureinhisorherspecificcircumstances.  6.4Inthepresentcase,theCommitteenotesthatthepetitioner'ssocialactivitiesforthe_FIS_Ԁdate  backtothebeginningof1992,atwhichtimehewasdetainedandinterrogatedfortwohours.Itis p notsubmittedthatthepetitionerwastorturedorprosecutedforhisactivitiesfor_FIS_Ԁbeforeleaving `  forSyria. P  6.5TheCommitteenotesthatthepetitionerinvokestheprotectionofarticle3onthegroundsthat 0  heispersonallyindangerofbeingarrestedandtorturedinconnectionwiththedisputedcourtverdict  p  of1996.However,thepetitionerdoesnotsubmitanyinformationsupportingtheclaimthatthe `  petitionerwillbeexposedtotheriskoftorture.TheCommitteeconsidersthat,evenifitwerecertain P  thatthepetitionerwouldbearrestedonhisreturntoAlgeriabecauseofapriorconviction,themere @  factthathewouldbearrestedandretriedwouldnotconstitutesubstantialgroundsforbelievingthat 0  hewouldpersonallybeindangerofbeingsubjectedtotorture.2   6.6WithregardtotheclaimthatthepetitionerwillbetargetedandthatanantiGovernmentopinion  willautomaticallybeattributedtohim,theCommitteenotesthatthepetitionerdidnotpresent  evidencethattherewas,infact,amilitaryrecallofthepetitioneratall.Fromtheevidencebeforethe  Committee,italsocannotbeestablishedthatthepetitionerisatriskofbeingtorturedifinterviewed  attheairportuponhisreturntoAlgeria. p 6.7TheCommitteerecallsthat,forthepurposesofarticle3oftheConvention,aforeseeable,real P andpersonalriskmustexistofbeingtorturedinthecountrytowhichapersonisreturned.Onthe @ basisoftheconsiderationsabove,theCommitteeconsidersthatthepetitionerhasnotpresented 0 sufficientevidencetoconvincetheCommitteethathefacesapersonalriskofbeingsubjectedto  p tortureifreturnedtoAlgeria. ` 7TheCommitteeagainstTorture,actingunderarticle22,paragraph7,oftheConventionagainst @ TortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegradingTreatmentorPunishment,concludesthatthe 0 removalofthepetitionertoAlgeria,onthebasisoftheinformationsubmitted,wouldnotentaila   breachofarticle3oftheConvention. ! Notes $" 1󀀀Thetranslatedtextofthedecisionsubmittedbythepetitionerreadsinitsrelevantpart:"The p&!$ Courthasindefaultsentencedaccused'M.S.'todeath..." `'"% 2󀀀See_P.Q.L._Ԁ_v._Ԁ_Canada,_ԀcommunicationNo.57/1996,para.10.5. @)$' =____