WPCg0 FEڝL`_:O>{֫kZq,MC'}"p_ٴWc9ALy_z,b0X]UW#`%B'@7u<"a{ 2X\G[+^-L9SŧE#.Nk_+)~_ji!! /5.;qGR&٨jMZAe!VPHk*V޾i#[yTUd+6'!`FdXTnCoô$=3"Z|86MQeϤR2TGa„5&^.DC2|#SJ @"z)Gda.f}VOV֫cuBC Η-&t[2[ GKD0nF?_F&^敼/`#{8' T1;˘'i`̿CΩ&RhuJɀJ# UN % 0:! 0[ 0O 0@ 0. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0e 0D 0  0 0 0 0r 0? 0  0 0 0 0{ 0P 0" 0 0 00 0< 0 0> 0v 0`d! 0`! 0`$" 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`Arialod- :PB-JE3|xU !UKUS.,  _  COMMITTEEAGAINSTTORTURE  H.M.H.I.V.Australia  CommunicationNo177/2001 p 1May2002 P  CAT/C/28/D/177/2001 0  VIEWS  P  @X XXXSubmittedby:_H.M.H.I._Ԁ(namewithheldbydecisionoftheCommittee)   Representedby:Mr.SimonJeans  Stateparty:Australia  Dateofcomplaint:12December2000 p TheCommitteeagainstTorture,establishedunderarticle17oftheConventionagainstTortureand @ OtherCruel,InhumanorDegradingTreatmentorPunishment, 0 Meetingon1May2002, ` HavingconcludeditsconsiderationofcomplaintNo.177/2001,submittedtotheCommitteeagainst @ Tortureunderarticle22oftheConventionagainstTortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegrading 0 TreatmentorPunishment,   Havingtakenintoaccountallinformationmadeavailabletoitbythecomplainant,hiscounseland "  theStateparty, #! AdoptsitsDecisionunderarticle22,paragraph7,oftheConvention. % # 1.1ThecomplainantisMr._H.M.H.I._Ԁ(namewithheldbydecisionoftheCommittee),aSomali P(#& nationalborninSomaliaon1July1960.Thecomplainantallegesthathisproposedexpulsionto @)$' Somaliawouldviolatearticle3oftheConvention.Thecomplainantisrepresentedbycounsel. 0*%( 1.2Inaccordancewitharticle22,paragraph3,oftheConvention,theCommitteetransmittedthe ,`'* complainttotheStatepartyon25January2001.Atthesametime,theStatepartywasrequested, -P(+ pursuanttorule108oftheCommittee'srulesofprocedure,nottoexpelthecomplainanttoSomalia -@), whilehiscomplaintwasunderconsiderationbytheCommittee.On20September2001,theState  partyinformedtheCommitteethatthecomplainantwouldnotberemoveduntiltheCommitteehad  consideredthecomplaint.  Thefactsassubmittedbythecomplainant p 2.1Thecomplainantisamemberofthe_Dabarre_Ԁsubclanofthe_Rahanwein_Ԁclan.Hisunclewasa P  MinisterforHigherEducationoftheformerSaidBarreregime.Upontheoutbreakofclanviolence @  in1991,thecomplainantandhisfamilyresidedin_Baidoa_,largelypopulatedby_Rahanwein_,but 0  controlledbySaidBarre'sbrotherinlaw,amemberofthe_Marehan_Ԁsubclanofthe_Darod_Ԁclan.  p  Accordingtothecomplainant,acompetingsubclandestroyedthecity,killingmany,onlyfor `  _Rahanwein_Ԁforcestoreturn,followedbypillaging_Marehan_Ԁforces. P  2.2Followingthedestructionofthecomplainant'shouse,_Marehan_Ԁforcesdetainedthecomplainant 0  andhiswife.Uponlearningtheywere_Rahanwein_,theyweretakenprisonerandforcedtoworkon   localfarms.Thecomplainantallegesthathiswifewasraped,buttheyescapedinApril1992.After  thedeathofhisbrotheratthehandsoftheforcesofamilitiawarlord,Hussain_Aideed_,ofthe_Hawiye_  clan,thecomplainantandhiswifereachedanareawheresomeofhis_Dabarre_Ԁsubclanlivedand  wherehelefthisfamily.Hedepartedtheareaas_Aideed_Ԁforceshadkilledmanyofhisrelatives.In  November1992,closetothenationalborder,thecomplainantheardthathis_Dabarre_Ԁsubclanhad  beenattackedbyanothersubclanofthe_Rahanwein_.InDecember1994,heheardthathisuncle,the p formerMinister,haddiedatthehandsof_Aideed_Ԁforces. ` 2.3On25December1997,thecomplainantreachedSydney,Australia,viaThailand,withoutvalid @ documentation.Fromthatpointhehasremainedinimmigrationdetention.On2January1998,the 0 complainantappliedfora"protectionvisa"(refugeestatus)andwasgrantedlegalrepresentation.He  p claimedtofeartreatmentamountingtopersecutioninSomalia(tortureorexecution)onthebasisof ` eitherhisraceor,alternatively,onthebasisofhisnationality,politicalopinionormembershipof P aparticularsocialgroupduetohisclanmembershipandfamilialtiestoapoliticalfigureofthe @ formerBarreGovernment.On15January1998,thecomplainant'sapplicationwasrefused. 0 2.4On8July1998,followingahearingwiththecomplainanton9April1998,theRefugeeReview ! Tribunal(_RRT_)refusedhisapplicationforreviewofthefirstinstancedecision.The_RRT_Ԁfoundthe "  complainanttobecredibleandacceptedhisaccountofhisclan'sandsubclan'sexperiences. #! However,itfoundthatthehumanrightsviolationshefearedwerenot"persecution"withinthe $" meaningofthe1951ConventionrelatingtotheStatusofRefugeessincehewas,instead,avictim % # ofcivilwar. p&!$ 2.5On15October1998,theFederalCourtofAustraliadismissedthecomplainant'sapplicationfor P(#& reviewofthe_RRT_'sdecision.On9April1999,theFullFederalCourtupheldthecomplainant's @)$' appealagainsttheFederalCourtdecision.On26October2000amajorityoftheHighCourtupheld 0*%( anappealbytheMinisterofImmigrationandMulticulturalAffairsagainstthedecisionoftheFull  +p&) FederalCourt,andaffirmedthe_RRT_'sdecision. ,`'* 2.6On30November2000and2February2001,theDepartmentofImmigrationandMulticultural -P(+ AffairsrejectedapplicationsforadiscretionaryministerialwaiverundertheMigrationActofthe -@), _RRT_Ԁdecision.  Thecomplaint  3.1Thecomplainantcontendsthattherearesubstantialgroundsforbelievingthathewillbe p subjectedtotortureifreturnedtoSomalia,placingtheStatepartyinbreachofitsobligationsunder `  article3oftheConvention.HestatesthatthereisnosafeplaceforhiminSomalia,asMogadishu P  airportand_Baidoa_Ԁarecontrolledby_Aideed_'s_Hawiye_Ԁclan.Other_Rahanwein_Ԁsubclansarein @  conflictwithhissubclan.Furthermore,heclaimstobepersonallyatriskbyreasonofbeinga 0  relativeofaformerMinisterinSaidBarre'sregime.HefearsthatuponreturntoMogadishu,the  p  _Hawiye_Ԁclanwouldascertainhisclanmembershipimmediatelyandattempttoextortmoneyfrom `  him.Hefearsthattheywilltorturehimorsummarilyexecutehimifheisunabletomeettheir P  demandformoney.Ifheavoidsdetentionorexecutionattheairport,hecontendsitissimplya @  matteroftimebeforehostileclanswoulddetainandtorturehimashehaslostallcontactwith 0  relativesandfriends.   3.2Astothebroadersituation,thecomplainantcitesaletterfromAmnestyInternational(Australia)  ofOctober1998,a_UNHCR_ԀreportofSeptember1999,areportoftheSpecialRapporteurofthe  CommissiononHumanRightsofJanuary2000,aUnitedStatesDepartmentofStatereportof  February2000andaUSCommitteeforRefugeesreportofAugust2000forthegeneralproposition  thatpersistentandcurrentpatternsofgrosshumanrightsabusescontinueinmanyareasofthe p country.Astoapersonalriskoftorture,thecomplainantarguesthathisandhisfamily'sexperiences, ` includingtheirforcedlabour,therapeofhiswifeandthedeathofhisbrotherinlaw,areevidence P thathisfearsarejustifiedandthathewouldbetorturedifreturnedtoSomalia. @ ObservationsoftheStateparty  p 4.1Bynote_verbale_Ԁof20September2001,theStatepartycontestedboththeadmissibilityandthe P meritsofthecommunication. @ 4.2Astoadmissibility,theStatepartycontendsthatthecommunicationisinadmissible,eitheras   thefactsoftheclaimfalloutsidethescopeoftheConvention_ratione_Ԁ_materiae_Ԁand/ortheclaimsare ! insufficientlysubstantiated,contrarytorule107(b)oftheCommittee'srulesofprocedure.TheState "  partyobservesthattheissuesraisedhavealreadybeenextensivelyexaminedatalljudiciallevelsand #! bytheMinister.Itarguesthatthecomplainant'sclaimforinternationalprotectionhasbeen $" exhaustivelyexamined,andthatthecomplainantisattemptingtoutilizetheCommitteetoreview % # aclaimforasylum. p&!$ 4.3TheStatepartysubmitsthatthecommunicationisinadmissible_ratione_Ԁ_materiae_Ԁonthebasis P(#& thattheConventionisnotapplicabletothefactsallegedinthecommunicationinavarietyof @)$' respects.Firstly,theactsthecomplainantallegesthathewillfaceifheisreturnedtoSomaliadonot 0*%( fallwithinthedefinitionoftorturesetoutinarticle1oftheConvention,whichreferstoacts  +p&) involving"apublicofficialoranyotherpersonactinginanofficialcapacity".TheStatepartyalso ,`'* referstothe_travaux_Ԁ_prparatoires_oftheConventionforthepropositionthattortureforthe -P(+ purposesoftheConventionrequirestheresponsibilityforactsoftortureattributabletotheState. -@), Ї4.4TheStatepartyreferstotheCommittee'sjurisprudenceforsupport.In_G.R.B._Ԁv.Sweden,1the  Committeeconsideredthatactsinflictedbyanongovernmentalentity,withouttheconsentor  acquiescenceoftheStateparty,felloutsidethescopeofarticle3.In_Elmi_Ԁv.Australia,2the  CommitteequalifiedthisprincipleintheexceptionalcaseofaStatewithoutacentralGovernment  forsometime,wheretheinternationalcommunityhadnegotiatedwithwarringfactionsandsome p factionsoperatedquasigovernmentalinstitutions,consideringthatactsofgroupsdefactoexercising `  prerogativesofgovernmentcouldfallwithintheConvention. P  4.5TheStatepartyemphasizesthatthereareimportantfactualandlegaldifferencesthatdistinguish 0  thecurrentcasefromthesituationin_Elmi_.TheStatepartynotesthatcentralGovernmentwasre  p  establishedinSomaliainAugust2000and245membersofaTransitionalNationalAssembly(_TNA_) `  wereelectedalongstrictclanlineswithminorityaswellasdominantclansrepresented.InOctober P  2000,thenewPrimeMinisterappointedaCabinetof22ministersfromallmajorclans._Rahanwein_ @  clanmembersholdseveralimportantpositions,anda_Dabarre_Ԁsubclanmemberisalsoaminister. 0  Moreover,thecurrentPresidentandPrimeMinisterwereformerministersintheBarreregime.The   TransitionalNationalGovernment(TNG)isrecognizedbytheinternationalcommunityasthe  effectiveGovernmentofSomaliaand,therefore,asamatterofinternationallaw,theTNGisthe  relevantStateauthorityforthepurposesoftheConvention.Accordingly,groupsactingoutsidethe  TNG,whichwasestablishedinMogadishuandisseekingtoestablisheffectivecontroloverthe  wholeofSomaliaandrestorecompletestability,lawandorder,cannotberegardedas"public  officialsorotherpersonsactinginanofficialcapacity"forthepurposesofarticle1.Noristhereany p suggestionthattheTNGconsentsoracquiescestotheactsofthesegroups. ` 4.6TheStatepartyemphasizesthedistinctionbetweenprivateandpublicactsunderinternational @ law,andthecircumstancesunderwhichprivateactsmaybeimputedtotheState.Citinglearned 0 commentary3anddecisionsoftheInternationalCourtofJustice4andtheIranUnitedStatesClaims  p Tribunal,5aswellasdecisionsofhighnationalcourts6,theStatepartypointstotheclosedegreeof ` connectionwithaState,includingtheknowledgeandacquiescenceoftheStateorpursuitofState P policy,beforetheactsofprivategroupsmaybeattributedtotheState. @ 4.7Turningtothefactsofthecase,theStatepartyreferstoavarietyofdocumentaryevidence7that   theincidentsallegedbythecomplainantweretheresultoffactionalfightingandcivilunrest,rather ! thanonaccountofhisfamilymembershiporonthebasisofanindividualprofile.Inparticular,there "  isnoevidencethatthedestructionofthecomplainant'shousewastheactofpersonscarryingout #! _Marehan_Ԁleaders'orderstoharmformermembersoftheBarreregime,especiallysinceBarre's $" brotherinlawcontrolledthissubclan.Similarly,regardingthecomplainant'scaptureby_Marehan_ % # andforcedlabour,theevidenceisthatthecircumstancesofcapturewouldhavebeenthesameeven p&!$ ifhehad_had_Ԁanothertribalaffiliation,dependingonthecircumstancesatthetime.Astothedeath `'"% ofthecomplainant'sbrother,andlaterhisbrotherinlaw,atthehandsof_Aideed_Ԁforces,thereisno P(#& evidencethatthecomplainantwaspursuedbyanyoneonaccountofhisfamilylinktotheformer @)$' Barreregime.Inanyevent,suchretributionshavediminishedandareeconomicallyratherthan 0*%( politicallymotivated.Accordingly,theStatepartysubmitsthatsomethingfurtherisrequiredto  +p&) engagearticle3andtheallegationoftortureasaconsequenceofreturn. ,`'* 4.8Secondly,thecommunicationshouldbedeemedinadmissible_ratione_Ԁ_materiae_Ԁasthe -@), complainanthasfailedtosubstantiatethattherearesubstantialgroundsforfearingtortureinthecase  ofhisreturn.Theallegationsare,inanyevent,ofextortionnotoftorture.Moreover,the  complainant'sfearsareconcentratedonasmallsectionofMogadishuandnotallofSomalia,and,  inaccordancewithstandardremovalpractice,thecomplainanthastheoptionofchoosinghis  destinationinSomaliawhenreturned.ItisnottheStateparty'sintentiontoreturnthecomplainant p toMogadishu. `  4.9Astothemerits,theStatepartysubmitsthattherearenosubstantialgroundsforbelievingthat @  thecomplainantwouldfaceareal,foreseeableandpersonalriskoftorturebythenewGovernment 0  ofSomaliaonthebasisofhisfamilymembership.TheStatepartynotesthatthegeneralsituation  p  isimprovingandthattheassessmentofthecomplainant'sclaimsmustbemadeinthelightofcurrent `  conditions.TheStatepartypointsagaintothenewgovernmentalarrangementsinSomaliaandthe P  connectionswiththeBarreregimeofmanymembersoftheGovernment.Inthelightofthenewly @  establishedGovernmentandtherelativestabilitynowemerginginthecountry,thereisnoreason 0  tobelievethatthecomplainantwouldfaceariskoftorturefromtheGovernmentifreturned,either   onthebasisofhisfamilylinktoBarreorhisclanmembership,oranyotherreason.  4.10Noristhereareal,foreseeableandpersonalriskoftortureby_Aideed_Ԁforcesorothersubclans.  TheStatepartynotesthatsincetheestablishmentofthenewGovernment,prolongedfightinginthe  capitalappearsoveranditwoulddisputeanyclaimthatcurrentarmedfactionsthereexerciseany  quasigovernmentalauthority.Since1999,theBayareahasexperiencedrelativepeaceand, p accordingtotheindependentexpertoftheCommissiononHumanRightsonthesituationofhuman ` rightsinSomalia,8lifein_Baidoa_Ԁwasresumingnormality.Thereisnoevidence,whateverthepast P situation,ofcurrentthreatsfromthe_Marehan_Ԁclanor_Aideed_'sforces.Indeed,_Aideed_Ԁisthe @ ChairpersonoftheSomaliReconciliationandRestorationCouncil,establishedinMarch2001,of 0 which_Rahanwein_Ԁandotherclansarepart.Clanstrengthsandloyaltiesaremuchchangedfromthe  p situationexistingatthetimeofthecomplainant'sflight.TheStatepartyarguesthat,whilethere ` remaindangersinMogadishuandsouthernSomaliaoffallingvictimtofactionalviolence,withthe P establishmentofcentralGovernmenttheserisksarefacedbythepopulationatlargeanddonot @ supportanyallegationofapersonalriskoftorture. 0 4.11EvenifthecomplainantwerereturnedtoMogadishu,whichtheStatepartydoesnotpropose, ! thecomplainantcouldrelocateinternallytotherelativelystablenorthwestornortheastofthecity. "  TheStatepartyproposesratherthatthecomplainantbereturnedtoKenyaandthen,takingadvantage #! ofthe_UNHCR_Ԁvoluntaryrepatriationprogramme,thereturntoastableareaofthecomplainant's $" choice. % # Commentsbythecomplainant `'"% 5.Bysubmissionof27March2002,thecomplainantcommentedontheStateparty'ssubmissions. @)$' Astotheadmissibilityofthecase,thecomplainantconcedesthathisclaimshavebeenexamined 0*%( inAustraliapriortothelodgingofthecommunication,butwiththeexhaustionofthoseremedies  +p&) theCommitteeshouldexaminetheclaims.Thecomplainantclaimsthathiscasefallswithinthe ,`'* principleadoptedin_Elmi_,contendingthattheStateparty'sassessmentoftheSomalipolitical -P(+ environmentfliesinthefaceofgenerallyknownfacts.Heclaimsthereisnocentral_Government, -@), andthatmilitiagroupsareactinginanorganizedcapacitytosuppressotherclans.  5.2Astothemerits,thecomplainantrejectstheStateparty'ssubmissions,contendinginsteadthat  thepoliticalandmilitaryenvironmentremainsunstableandthatheriskstorture.Thecomplainant  disagreesthatthesituationissufficientlyalteredtoallayhisfearsandthatmostviolencenow p occurringisprivatelymotivated.Thecomplainantreferstoavarietyofreportsfortheproposition `  thatthereisapictureofcontinuinginstabilityandanenvironmentofriskofhumanrightsabuses. P  ThecomplainantcontendsthattheTNGhaslimitedauthorityinthecountry,beingratherconfined @  toMogadishu.ThecomplainantgoesontoarguethattheStateparty'sstatementsthatthereexists 0  acentralGovernmentarecontradictedbyrecenttraveladvisoriesissuedbytheStatepartywhich  p  warnagainsttraveltoSomalia. `  5.3Thecomplainantalsodisagreesthatheshouldshowdirectevidencethathewouldbesubjected @  totortureinSomalia,contendinginsteadthatitisrarethatcorroborationofspecificthreatscanbe 0  provided.ThecomplainantdisagreesthathecouldberelocatedtoapartofSomaliaotherthanthe   Bayregionwhereheoriginates,notingsimplythat_UNHCR_Ԁdoesnotcurrentlyrepatriatepersons  inthecomplainant'spositiontoeitherthe_Puntland_ԀorSomalilandregions.  IssuesandproceedingsbeforetheCommittee  6.1TheCommitteehasconsideredthecommunicationinthelightofalltheinformationmade p availabletoitbytheparties,inaccordancewitharticle22,paragraph4,oftheConvention. ` 6.2Beforeconsideringanyclaimscontainedinacommunication,theCommitteeagainstTorture @ mustdecidewhetherornotitisadmissibleunderarticle22oftheConvention.TheCommitteehas 0 ascertained,asitisrequiredtodounderarticle22,paragraph5(a),oftheConvention,thatthesame  p matterhasnotbeenandisnotbeingexaminedunderanotherprocedureofinternationalinvestigation ` orsettlement.TheCommitteehasalsoascertained,asitisrequiredtodounderarticle22,paragraph P 5(b),oftheConvention,thatavailabledomesticremedieshavebeenexhausted. @ 6.3TheCommitteeconsidersthatthecommunicationhasbeensubstantiatedforpurposesof   admissibility,sufficientlyelaboratingthefactsandthebasisoftheclaimforadecisionbythe ! Committee.AstotheStateparty'sargumentsastoinadmissibility_ratione_Ԁ_materiae_Ԁofthe "  communication,theCommitteeconsidersitpreferabletoexamineissuesofthescopeofarticles1 #! and3,andtheapplicationthereoftotheinstantfacts,atthemeritsstageofthecommunication. $" Accordingly,theCommitteefindsthatnoobstaclestotheadmissibilityofthecommunicationexist. % # SinceboththeStatepartyandthecomplainanthaveprovidedobservationsonthemeritsofthe p&!$ communication,theCommitteeproceedsimmediatelywiththeconsiderationofthemerits. `'"% 6.4TheCommitteerecallsitsjurisprudencethattheStateparty'sobligationunderarticle3torefrain @)$' fromforciblyreturningapersontoanotherStatewheretherearesubstantialgroundsofariskof 0*%( torture,asdefinedinarticle1oftheConvention,whichrequiresactionsby"apublicofficialorother  +p&) personactinginanofficialcapacity".Accordingly,in_G.R.B._Ԁv.Sweden9theCommitteeconsidered ,`'* thatallegationsofariskoftortureatthehandsof_Sendeero_Ԁ_Luminoso_,anonStateentitycontrolling -P(+ significantportionsofPeru,felloutsidethescopeofarticle3oftheConvention.In_Elmi_Ԁ_v. -@), Australia10,theCommitteeconsideredthat,intheexceptionalcircumstanceofStateauthoritythat  waswhollylacking,actsbygroupsexercisingquasigovernmentalauthoritycouldfallwithinthe  definitionofarticle1,andthuscallfortheapplicationofarticle3.TheCommitteeconsidersthat,  withthreeyearshavingelapsedsincethe_Elmi_decision,SomaliacurrentlypossessesaState  authorityintheformoftheTransitionalNationalGovernment,whichhasrelationswiththe p internationalcommunityinitscapacityascentralGovernment,thoughsomedoubtsmayexistasto `  thereachofitsterritorialauthorityanditspermanence.Accordingly,theCommitteedoesnot P  considerthiscasetofallwithintheexceptionalsituationin_Elmi_,andtakestheviewthatactsofsuch @  entitiesasarenowinSomaliacommonlyfalloutsidethescopeofarticle3oftheConvention. 0  6.5Moreover,theCommitteehastakenintoaccountallrelevantconsiderations,includingthe `  existenceintheStatepartyofaconsistentpatternofgross,flagrantormassviolationsofhuman P  rights,althoughtheexistenceofsuchapatterndoesnotassuchconstitutesufficientgroundsfor @  determiningwhethertheparticularpersonwouldbeindangerofbeingsubjectedtotortureuponhis 0  returntothatcountry;additionalgroundsmustbeadducedtoshowthattheindividualconcerned   wouldbepersonallyatrisk.Inthiscase,theCommitteeconsidersthatthecomplainanthasfailed  toshowthattherearesubstantialgroundsforbelievingthatheispersonallyatariskofbeing  subjectedtotortureintheeventofreturntoSomalia.  6.6TheCommitteealsotakesnotethattheStatepartydoesnotintendtoreturnthecomplainantto  Mogadishu,andthatthecomplainantwillbeatlibertytoavailhimselfofthe_UNHCR_Ԁvoluntary p repatriationprogrammeandchoosetheareaofSomaliatowhichhewishestoreturn. ` 7.TheCommitteeagainstTorture,actingunderarticle22,paragraph7,oftheConventionagainst @ TortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegradingTreatmentorPunishment,isoftheviewthatthe 0 removalofthecomplainantfromAustraliawouldnotentailabreachofarticle3oftheConvention.  p Notes @ 1󀀀CommunicationNo.83/1997.   2󀀀CommunicationNo.120/1998. "  3󀀀Jennings,R.;Watts,A.(eds.):Oppenheim'sInternationalLaw(9thedition),1992,at550. $" 4󀀀CaseConcerningUnitedStatesDiplomaticandConsularStaffinTehran,_ICJ_ԀRep.(1980),at3 p&!$ ("TehranHostages"). `'"% 5󀀀Shortv.IslamicRepublicofIran82(1988)_AJIL_Ԁ140andYeagerv.IslamicRepublicofIran82 @)$' (1988)_AJIL_Ԁ353. 0*%( 6󀀀R.v.BowStreetMetropolitanStipendiaryMagistrateexpartePinochet[2001]1AC61(United ,`'* Kingdom);MarcosI806F.2d358,Alfred_Dunhill_ԀofLondonInc.v.RepublicofCuba425US682, -P(+ Sharonv.TimeInc.599_F.Supp_.538,and_Jimenez_Ԁ_v._Ԁ_Aristeguista_311F.2d547,UnitedStates_v. -@), Noriega746_F.Supp_Ԁ1506(UnitedStatesofAmerica).  7󀀀UnitedStatesDepartmentofStateCountryReportonHumanRightsPractices1992;Refugee  SurveyQuarterly,vol.15,No.1,p.484;VictimsandVulnerableGroupsinSomalia,Research  DirectorateDocumentation,InformationandResearchBranch,ImmigrationandRefugeeBoard, p Ottawa;reportoftheSpecialRapporteuronthesituationofhumanrightsinSomalia `  (E/CN.4/2000/110andCorr.1). P  8󀀀Ibid. 0  9󀀀Op.cit. `  10󀀀Op.cit. @  =___#X XX@X G#_