ÿWPCy ¢Æš×Jül“Ï2b¤“†þ³{Š®È¸Ó¿(1§àÇ+)×¶½¾¶³zBú#ý6†ÁzqZ?Cí׬ê<Æu,¹5OXh‹£í‚"˜xú9Øÿ`pQv²ÍÙEù³§ôv|†hò*/ö9*ó8’æq¹  ¡Ùˆ+ÞÇŽ)E¦·ZÊ÷X[âÕÀ²¦„¬à§äHé¸ó¾â—JoW—GRŒw†•"Ñí á.sZ]3’ûÖÁŒ#¼v«~þn_'.ÄëÕ*•‰wn›É‰ £ôf±8ëÞ/Îü²×b]<,¥ñÍ,ÃÓ!W½7äÓ™‚3,ÜŒµ“€W_ûÙ8Y"ë$Þ ï 0ÊY 0´# 0´× 0a‹ 0´ì 0´  09T 0Ü 02i 0ü› 0:— 0…Ñ 0_V 0 µ 0k¿ 0Ç* B*ñ D3 CN D+h 0Ç“ 0çZ 06A 0w 0: 0h¹ 0F!U6gU>U*Û^ w4)8 m:(Q˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - StandardÈÐððÈÐ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ö\$¡¡ÔCEUS.,Ô0ÿÿ.Normal<ÿÿ:Definition T<GDÿÿ:Definition LÓ , ÓÓ;1ܰÜ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#;ÓÓ  ÓÓ8.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#8Ó8ÿÿ6Definitionòòóó('zÿÿ&H1ò òÔ  ÔÔ‡°°°Ôó óÔ  ÔÔ‡XXXÔ(oÿÿ&H2ò òÔ‡„„„Ôó óÔ‡XXXÔ(oÿÿ&H3ò òÔ‡¼¼¼Ôó óÔ‡XXXÔ(ÿÿ&H4ò òÔ‡XXXÔó óÔ‡XXXÔ(oÿÿ&H5ò òÔ‡ôôôÔó óÔ‡XXXÔ(oÿÿ&H6ò òÔ‡Ôó óÔ‡XXXÔ2ÿÿ0Addressòòóó8SPÿÿ6BlockquoteÓ , ÓÓ , ÓÓ;1ܰÜ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#;ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ8.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#8Ó,ÿÿ*CITEòòóó,dlÿÿ*CODEÔ‡ôôôÔÔK‡%<þ6X9`(Courier NewKÔÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡&ô\  `&Times New RomanSÔ4ÿÿ2Emphasisòòóó6&)ÿÿ4HyperlinkÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeòòÔ €€ ÔóóÔ  Ô4goÿÿ2Keyboardò òÔ‡ôôôÔÔK‡%<þ6X9`(Courier NewKÔó óÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡&ô\  `&Times New RomanSÔ<“›ÿÿ:PreformattedÓ/%° °Ïî ,KkŠ©È (#/ÓÔ‡ôôôÔÔK‡%<þ6X9`(Courier NewKÔÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡&ô\  `&Times New RomanSÔÓ/%° °Ïî ,KkŠ©È (#/Ó<ÃÇÿÿ:z©Bottom of ÓI€4$À˜ ** €€d€dIÓÓ  ÓÔB  ÔÔ € ÔÔ‡ÔÔ?‡'%ä2¼A`Arial?ÔÓ9€*À  €€d€d9ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡&ô\  `&Times New RomanSÔÔ € Ô&ÿÿ0 d d'þÿÈÈÈÈdxd÷ÿdÿÿÿd'ÈÈÈÈdxd<ÃÇÿÿ:z©Top of ForÓI€4$À˜** €€d€dIÓÓ  ÓÔB  ÔÔ € ÔÔ‡ÔÔ?‡'%ä2¼A`Arial?ÔÓ9€*À  €€d€d9ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡&ô\  `&Times New RomanSÔÔ € Ô0Klÿÿ.SampleÔK‡%<þ6X9`(Courier NewKÔÔS‡&ô\  `&Times New RomanSÔ0ÿÿ.Strongò òó ó8dlÿÿ6TypewriterÔ‡ôôôÔÔK‡%<þ6X9`(Courier NewKÔÔ‡XXXÔÔS‡&ô\  `&Times New RomanSÔ4ÿÿ2Variableòòóó:ÿÿ8HTML MarkupÔB  ÔÔ ÿ ÔÔ  Ô2 ÿÿ0CommentÔB  Ô<þ6X9`(Courier Newô\  `&Times New Roman%ä2¼A`ArialGaK- :PB-¢×+003|x ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒö\!ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÓ  Óò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREó óÐ ° ÐÌòòò òY.€H.€A€v.€Australiaó óóóÐ à ÐÌò òCommunication€No.€162/2000Ð pÀ ÐÌ23€November€2001Ð P   ÐÌVIEWSÐ 0 € Ðó óÌÌòòòòSubmitted€by€:óó€Y.€H.€A€(name€withheld)€[represented€by€counsel]€óóÐ P  ÐÌòòòòState€party€concerned:óó€Australia€óóÐ à0  ÐÌòòòòDate€of€registered€communication:óó€14€April€2000€óóÐ À ÐÌÌòòThe€Committee€against€Torture,óó€established€under€Article€17€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andÐ à ÐOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð €Ð ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€23€November€2001,€Ð `° ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€162/2000,€submitted€to€the€CommitteeÐ @ Ðagainst€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€orÐ 0€ ÐDegrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð  p ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€the€communication,Ð P Ðhis€counsel€and€the€State€party,€Ð ð@ ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€its€Views€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Convention.€Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àÌÌÓ-Óò òÓ  ÓViews,€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óÐ  #ð! ÐÓÐÓÓÓÌ1.€€€€€The€petitioner€of€the€communication€is€Mr.€Y€H€A,€a€Somali€national€from€the€Shikal€clan,Ð €%Ð # Ðcurrently€detained€in€a€Detention€Centre€in€New€South€Wales,€and€seeking€refugee€status€inÐ p&À!$ ÐAustralia.€He€claims€that€forcible€return€to€Somalia€would€constitute€a€violation,€by€Australia,€ofÐ `'°"% Ðarticle€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€orÐ P( #& ÐPunishment.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.€Ð @)$' ÐÌ1.2€€€€€€On€20€April€2000,€the€Committee€forwarded€the€communication€to€the€State€party€forÐ  +p&) Ðcomments€and€requested,€under€rule€108,€paragraph€9,€not€to€return€the€author€to€Somalia€while€hisÐ ,`'* Ðcommunication€was€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.€The€State€party€has€acceded€to€thisÐ -P(+ ÐÔ_Ôrequest.Ð ð-@), ЀÌò òFacts€as€submitted€by€the€petitioner€ó óÐ  ð ÐÌ2.1€€€€€€The€petitioner€was€born€on€1€January€1967€in€Mogadishu.€He€has€a€son€who,€at€the€time€ofÐ €Ð Ðhis€application€to€the€Refugee€Review€Tribunal€("Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô"),€was€living€with€the€petitioner's€father€inÐ pÀ ÐKenya.€The€petitioner's€mother€is€dead€and€he€has€four€siblings€all€living€in€Kenya€with€the€exceptionÐ ` ° Ðof€one€living€in€Holland.€Ð P   ÐÌ2.2€€€€€From€1980€to€1987,€the€petitioner€lived€with€his€family€in€Ô_ÔGalkayoÔ_Ô,€in€the€North€East€of€theÐ 0 € Ðcountry,€where€he€was€educated€and€trained€as€a€mechanic.€The€family€then€returned€to€MogadishuÐ  p  Ðwhere€the€petitioner€worked€as€a€shopkeeper€from€1989€to€1991.€Ð `  ÐÌ2.3€€€€€€The€petitioner€left€Somalia€in€1991€because€his€father,€who€had€been€a€police€officer€in€theÐ ð@  Ðformer€Siad€Barre€government,€was€being€sought€after€by€the€United€Somali€Congress€(Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô)€militia.Ð à0  ÐIn€early€1991,€the€members€of€this€militia€came€to€the€petitioner's€family€home€and€raped€and€killedÐ Ð  Ðhis€sister.€The€petitioner€moved€to€Kenya,€where€he€lived€from€early€1991€to€late€1992€and€he€alsoÐ À Ðspent€some€time€there€in€1994.€During€his€time€in€Kenya€he€worked€in€a€restaurant.€Ð ° ÐÌ2.4€€€€€€In€1992,€the€petitioner€returned€to€Somalia€because€his€wife€was€a€member€of€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clanÐ à Ð(the€same€clan€as€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€militia)€and€this€offered€him€some€protection.€From€1992€to€1994,€theÐ €Ð Ðpetitioner€worked€for€the€United€Nations€Operation€in€Somalia€(Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô)€in€Mogadishu€as€anÐ pÀ Ð"informer"€telling€them€where€guns€were€kept.€On€3€October€1993,€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô,€having€found€out€thatÐ `° Ðthe€petitioner€was€giving€information€to€the€Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô,€killed€the€petitioner's€wife€and€shot€theÐ P  Ðpetitioner€wounding€him€in€the€kidney.€Ð @ ÐÌ2.5€€€€€€Subsequently€in€1994,€while€the€petitioner€was€at€his€father-in-law's€house,€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€shot€theÐ  p Ðpetitioner€in€the€shoulder€and€killed€his€sister-in-law.€As€his€father-in-law,€was€a€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clanÐ ` Ðmember€he€was€able€to€prevent€any€further€killing€but€later€told€the€petitioner€he€could€not€protectÐ P Ðhim€any€longer€and€took€him€to€the€airport€where€the€petitioner€flew€to€Kenya€with€his€son.€Ð ð@ ÐÌ2.6€€€€€€The€petitioner€remained€illegally€in€Kenya€until€1997.€Then€he€left€for€Zambia€andÐ Ð  Ðsubsequently€South€Africa€where€he€bought€a€passport€in€a€different€name€and€used€it€to€travel€toÐ À! ÐAustralia.€The€petitioner€arrived€in€Australia€on€16€July€1998€with€no€documents.€On€28€July€1998Ð °"  Ðhe€applied€for€a€protection€visa€to€the€Australian€Department€of€Immigration€and€MulticulturalÐ  #ð! ÐAffairs€("Ô_ÔDIMAÔ_Ô").€On€21€August€1998,€the€petitioner's€application€was€refused.€The€petitionerÐ $à" Ðsought€review€of€this€decision€by€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€which€affirmed€the€decision€not€to€grant€a€protection€visa.€Ð €%Ð # ÐÌ2.7€€€€€€The€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€expressed€reservations€about€the€veracity€of€the€petitioner's€claims€but€it€made€noÐ `'°"% Ðfinding€that€the€events€as€described€by€the€petitioner€did€not€happen.€It€found€that€the€petitioner€couldÐ P( #& Ðreturn€to€Somalia€and€live€outside€Mogadishu,€in€the€Ô_ÔGalkayoÔ_Ô€area€in€North€Eastern€Somalia.€InÐ @)$' Ðmaking€its€decision,€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€took€note€of€independent€reports€that€factions€in€the€North€East€andÐ 0*€%( ÐNorth€West€of€Somalia€would€not€accept€forced€returnees.€It€also€noted€that€the€petitioner€was€notÐ  +p&) Ðwilling€to€return€to€any€area€of€Somalia€including€Ô_ÔGalkayoÔ_Ô.€However,€it€considered€that€these€factorsÐ ,`'* Ðdid€not€convert€his€status€into€that€of€a€refugee.€Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), Ð2.8€€€€€€The€petitioner€sought€judicial€review€of€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€decision€in€the€Federal€Court€of€Australia.Ð ° ÐOn€10€September€1999,€the€Federal€Court€dismissed€the€petitioner's€application€upon€which€theÐ  ð Ðpetitioner€lodged€an€appeal€to€the€Full€Federal€Court€of€Australia.€On€10€March€2000,€the€FullÐ à ÐFederal€Court€dismissed€this€appeal.€The€petitioner€lodged€an€application€for€special€leave€to€appealÐ €Ð Ðfrom€the€decision€of€the€Full€Federal€Court€to€the€High€Court€of€Australia.€The€petitioner€notes€thatÐ pÀ Ðthis€is€the€final€appellate€court€in€Australia.€Ð ` ° ÐÌ2.9€€€€€€According€to€the€petitioner,€Somalia€remains€a€failed€state€and€a€territory€revealing€aÐ @  Ðconsistent€pattern€of€gross€and€flagrant€human€rights€abuses.òò1óó€He€says€that€the€situation€of€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_ÔÐ 0 € Ðin€Somalia€is€well-known.€Amnesty€International€has€described€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€as€being€"vulnerable€toÐ  p  Ðserious€abuses€including€arbitrary€killings",€and€has€stated€that€it€"is€opposed€to€the€return€of€anyoneÐ `  Ðfrom€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan€to€Somalia".€He€states€that€the€facts€of€this€case€are€similar€to€those€in€the€caseÐ P  Ðof€Ô_ÔElmiÔ_Ô€v.€Ô_ÔAustraliaòò2Ô_Ôóó,€where€the€Committee€found€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€TheÐ ð@  Ðpetitioner€also€refers€to€relevant€United€Nations€bodies€which€have€made€it€clear€that€they€areÐ à0  Ðopposed€to€the€involuntary€repatriation€of€failed€asylum€seekers€to€Somalia.òò3óóÐ Ð  ÐÌò òThe€complaint€ó óÐ ° ÐÌ3.€€€€€€The€petitioner€claims€that,€due€to€the€previous€attacks€the€petitioner€has€suffered€at€the€handsÐ à Ðof€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô,€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€petitioner€would€be€in€danger€ofÐ €Ð Ðbeing€subjected€to€torture€on€return€to€Somalia€and,€therefore,€Australia€would€be€violating€articleÐ pÀ Ð3€of€the€Convention€if€he€were€returned€there.€The€petitioner€points€out€that€according€to€respectedÐ `° Ðsources,€"a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights",€prevails€inÐ P  ÐSomalia,€and€refers€in€this€regard€to€article€3(2)€of€the€Convention.€It€is€claimed€that€the€petitionerÐ @ Ðhimself€would€be€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€returned€to€Somalia.€He€also€saysÐ 0€ Ðthat€his€clan€is€a€minority€clan€and,€therefore,€would€be€unable€to€protect€him.€Ð  p ÐÌò òThe€State€party's€observations€on€admissibility€and€merits€ó óÐ P ÐÌ4.1€€€€€€The€State€party€submits€that€this€communication€is€inadmissible€Ô_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔmateriaeÔ_Ô€on€the€basisÐ à0 Ðthat€the€Convention€is€not€applicable€to€the€factual€situation€submitted€by€the€petitioner.€In€particular,Ð Ð  Ðthe€State€party€contends€that€the€treatment€the€petitioner€may€or€may€not€endure€if€he€is€returned€toÐ À! ÐSomalia,€does€not€fall€within€the€definition€of€torture€as€set€out€in€article€1€of€the€Convention.€TheÐ °"  ÐState€party€submits,€that€to€be€classified€as€torture,€the€given€conduct€must€inflict€"severe€pain€orÐ  #ð! Ðsuffering,€whether€physical€or€mental."€The€State€party€is€of€the€opinion€that,€although€past€eventsÐ $à" Ðare€a€guide€to€what€may€occur€in€the€future,€the€past€incidents€alleged€by€the€petitioner€do€notÐ €%Ð # Ðindicate€that€it€is€foreseeable€that€he€would€be€the€subject€of€torture€if€he€returned€to€Mogadishu.€ItÐ p&À!$ Ðconcedes€that€the€political€situation€in€Somalia€makes€it€possible€that€the€petitioner€may€faceÐ `'°"% Ðviolations€of€his€human€rights,€but€contends€that€such€violations€will€not€necessarily€involve€the€kindÐ P( #& Ðof€acts€contemplated€by€article€1€of€the€Convention.€Ð @)$' ÐÌ4.2€€€€€€According€to€the€State€party,€the€petitioner€alleges€that€the€petitioner€will€be€"at€risk€fromÐ  +p&) Ðmembers€of€the€United€Somali€Congress€(Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô)€and€"in€danger€because€he€had€formerly€worked€asÐ ,`'* Ðan€informer€with€the€United€Nations€Operations€in€Somalia€(Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô)"€but€he€does€not€allege€thatÐ -P(+ Ðhe€would€be€at€risk€or€danger€of€such€acts€as€would€contravene€the€Convention.€In€evidenceÐ ð-@), Ðpresented€to€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€the€petitioner€stated€that€"he€could€be€attacked€by€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clans€people€toÐ ° Ðextort€money€from€him€to€support€their€militia,€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô".€However,€the€threat€of€extortion€does€notÐ  ð Ðfall€within€the€definition€of€article€1€of€the€Convention.€Ð à ÐÌ4.3€€€€€€According€to€the€State€party,€the€petitioner€has€not€adduced€substantial€evidence€that€theÐ pÀ Ðpetitioner€is€faced€with€a€risk€of€torture€by€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€that€is€over€and€above€the€risks€faced€by€everyÐ ` ° Ðresident€of€Mogadishu€caught€between€factional€fighting€of€armed€groups.€It€contends€that€theÐ P   Ðdomestic€review€processes€expressed€serious€reservations€as€to€the€veracity€of€the€petitioner'sÐ @  Ðaccount€of€events,€including€conflicting€accounts€of€the€incident€involving€the€death€of€his€wife€andÐ 0 € Ðthe€injury€to€himself.€According€to€the€State€party,€at€the€initial€airport€interview,€the€petitioner€failedÐ  p  Ðto€provide€details€that€either€his€sister€had€been€raped€and€killed€in€1991€or€that€his€sister-in-law€hadÐ `  Ðbeen€killed€in€a€shooting€incident€in€1991€which€also€resulted€in€the€petitioner€being€wounded.€TheÐ P  Ðpetitioner€initially€stated€that€he€had€never€been€outside€Somalia€but€subsequently€stated€that€he€firstÐ ð@  Ðleft€Somalia€in€1991.€In€a€statutory€declaration€made€to€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€on€2€September€1998€the€petitionerÐ à0  Ðadmitted€that€he€made€a€number€of€false€statements€when€he€arrived€in€Sydney.€The€State€party€alsoÐ Ð  Ðstates€that€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€found€it€implausible€that€Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô€would€employ€someone€who€had€been€outÐ À Ðof€the€country€for€some€period€to€locate€arms€caches€in€Mogadishu.€The€State€party€also€referred€toÐ ° Ðthe€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô's€finding€that€the€petitioner€had€attempted€to€prevent€the€Tribunal€from€investigating€hisÐ  ð Ðcase€through€people€who€have€first€hand€information€regarding€his€situation€since€1991.€Ð à ÐÌ4.4€€€€€€Moreover,€the€State€party€submits€that€the€acts€the€petitioner€fears€if€he€is€returned€to€SomaliaÐ pÀ Ðdo€not€fall€within€the€meaning€of€"torture"€in€accordance€with€article€1€of€the€Convention€becauseÐ `° Ðthey€are€not€acts€conducted€by€a€public€official€or€person€acting€in€an€official€capacity.€The€StateÐ P  Ðparty€accepts€that€"members€of€minority€groups€are€subject€to€harassment,€intimidation,€and€abuseÐ @ Ðby€armed€gunmen€of€all€affiliations"òò4óó€but€does€not€accept€that€these€are€committed€by,€or€at€theÐ 0€ Ðinstigation€of,€or€with€the€consent€or€acquiescence€of€a€public€official€or€any€other€person€acting€inÐ  p Ðan€official€capacity"€as€required€under€article€1€of€the€Convention.€It€asserts€that€these€are€actsÐ ` Ðcommitted€by€individuals€in€a€private€capacity€for€reasons€of€personal€gain.òò5óóÐ P ÐÌ4.5€€€€€€The€State€party€refers€to€the€Committee's€View's€in€Ô_ÔElmiÔ_Ô€v.€Australia,€Case€No.€120/1998,Ð à0 Ðadopted€on€14€May€1999òò6óó,€and€accepts€that,€although€some€clans€may€operate€as€quasi-governmentalÐ Ð  Ðinstitutions€in€some€areas€of€Somalia,€this€must€be€clearly€differentiated€from€random€acts€ofÐ À! Ðviolence€committed€by€individuals€acting€in€a€private€capacity.€There€is€no€evidence€to€suggest€thatÐ °"  Ðall€members€of€a€dominant€clan€at€all€times€are€acting€in€a€quasi-governmental€capacity.€It€wouldÐ  #ð! Ðalso€be€difficult€to€determine€whether€militia€are€acting€under€specific€orders€at€any€particular€timeÐ $à" Ðas€"security€forces€are€unreliable,€unpaid,€untrained€for€peaceful€duties€and€often€out€of€control."òò7óóÐ €%Ð # ÐTo€support€its€argument€on€the€necessity€to€consider€whether€acts€are€conducted€in€a€public€capacityÐ p&À!$ Ðor€in€a€private€capacity€in€order€to€determine€whether€those€acts€constitute€torture€the€State€partyÐ `'°"% Ðprovides€academic€commentary€and€views€of€international€and€national€courts€and€tribunals.€Ð P( #& ÐÌ4.6€€€€€€In€addition,€the€State€party€contends€that€there€is€no€evidence€to€suggest€that€the€alleged€actsÐ 0*€%( Ðtook€place€as€a€result€of€either,€decisions€made€by€clan€hierarchy,€or€orders€from€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€leaders.Ð  +p&) ÐNeither€is€there€any€evidence€to€suggest€that€the€alleged€acts€were€instigated€on€behalf€of€the€clanÐ ,`'* Ðor€militia€or€that€either€the€clan€or€militia€acquiesced€or€had€any€knowledge€of€the€alleged€acts.€ToÐ -P(+ Ðsupport€this€argument,€the€State€party€makes€the€following€observations€on€the€author's€descriptionÐ ð-@), Ðof€events.€With€respect€to€the€alleged€rape€and€murder€of€the€petitioner's€sister€at€his€family€home,Ð ° Ðthe€State€party€says€that€the€petitioner's€allegation€that€this€was€at€the€instigation€of€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€whoÐ  ð Ðwere€seeking€out€members€of€the€police€force€of€the€former€regime,€including€the€petitioner's€father,Ð à Ðis€not€consistent€with€a€report€of€the€Assessment€Mission€to€Mogadishu,€in€1991.òò8óó€€The€State€partyÐ €Ð Ðis€of€the€opinion€that€this€incident€was€probably€a€consequence€of€the€general€climate€of€violenceÐ pÀ Ðdescribed€as€prevalent€in€Mogadishu€at€that€time,€rather€than€the€acts€of€persons€carrying€out€ordersÐ ` ° Ðby€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€leaders€to€torture€and€kill€families€of€former€members€of€the€Barre€regime.€Ð P   ÐÌ4.7€€€€€€With€respect€to€the€murder€of€his€wife€and€the€assault€on€the€petitioner€himself,€the€State€partyÐ 0 € Ðpoints€out€that€the€petitioner€gave€two€versions€of€the€incident.€Previously,€he€said€that€his€house€wasÐ  p  Ðstruck€by€a€bomb€during€fighting€between€Ô_ÔAideedÔ_Ô's€forces€(Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô)€and€Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô.€Subsequently,€theÐ `  Ðpetitioner€claimed€that€the€attack€on€his€home€followed€earlier€conversations€with€members€of€theÐ P  ÐÔ_ÔHamiyeÔ_Ô€clan€regarding€his€father's€employment€with€the€Barre€regime,€during€which€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clanÐ ð@  Ðmembers€stated€that€they€wanted€his€house.€In€the€event€that€his€second€recollection€of€events€isÐ à0  Ðcorrect,€it€does€not€appear€that€the€individual€concerned€was€acting€in€an€official€capacity.€InÐ Ð  Ðaddition,€the€petitioner€does€not€say€that€either€his€wife€or€father-in-law€recognised€the€members€asÐ À Ðbeing€leaders€of€the€clan€or€holding€any€position€of€authority€within€the€clan,€despite€the€fact€thatÐ ° Ðthey€were€both€members€of€the€same€clan.€Ð  ð ÐÌ4.8€€€€€€With€respect€to€the€incident€in€his€father-in-laws€house€where€the€petitioner€was€wounded€andÐ €Ð Ðhis€sister-in-law€was€shot,€the€State€party€argues€that€although€it€is€probable€that€members€of€theÐ pÀ ÐÔ_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€militia€were€under€orders€to€arrest,€torture€or€kill€Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô€informants€at€that€time,€there€isÐ `° Ðno€explanation€why€the€sister-in-law€was€killed,€when€there€was€no€allegation€that€she€worked€forÐ P  ÐÔ_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô,€and€the€petitioner€himself€only€wounded.€If€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€militia€was€acting€in€an€officialÐ @ Ðcapacity€the€representations€made€by€the€petitioner's€father-in-law€would€have€been€ignored€unlessÐ 0€ Ðhe€held€some€position€of€authority€within€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€or€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan.€There€is€no€evidence€that€thisÐ  p Ðwas€the€case.€Ð ` ÐÌ5.1€€€€€€On€the€merits,€the€State€party€argues€that€there€is€no€evidence€that€the€petitioner€would€nowÐ ð@ Ðface€a€risk€of€torture€from€the€government€if€he€was€returned€to€Somalia€on€the€basis€of€either€hisÐ à0 Ðfather's€former€involvement€with€the€Barre€regime€or€his€employment€with€Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô.òò9óó€€It€states€thatÐ Ð  Ðthe€evidence€available€to€Australia€suggests€that€the€new€government€of€Somalia,€which€has€beenÐ À! Ðelected€along€strict€clan€lines,€is€headed€by€an€interim€President€who€was€himself€a€Minister€in€theÐ °"  Ðformer€Barre€regime.òò10óó€€The€€President€appointed€a€former€member€of€the€Barre€regime€as€his€PrimeÐ  #ð! ÐMinister,€who€served€as€Ministry€of€Industry€between€1980€and€1982.€The€Transitional€NationalÐ $à" ÐAssembly€consisting€of€245€seats,€includes€representatives€from€minority€clans€as€well€as€theÐ €%Ð # Ðdominant€clans€in€Somalia.€In€addition,€there€are€currently€three€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€representatives€in€thisÐ p&À!$ ÐAssembly€who€are€part€of€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan€allocation€of€representatives.€These€representatives€wereÐ `'°"% Ðalso€closely€linked€with€the€former€Barre€regime.€The€fact€that€both€the€President€and€Prime€MinisterÐ P( #& Ðof€the€newly€formed€government€were€Ministers€in€the€former€Barre€regime€indicates€that€seniorÐ @)$' Ðmembers€of€the€former€regime€are€no€longer€targeted,€although€this€might€have€occurredÐ 0*€%( Ðimmediately€following€the€downfall€of€the€Barre€regime.€Ð  +p&) ÐÌ5.2€€€€€€The€State€party€also€refers€to€the€Interim€President's€address€to€the€United€Nations€GeneralÐ -P(+ ÐAssembly€on€19€September€2000,€in€which€he€"extended€his€appreciation€to€the€UN€for€its€effortsÐ ð-@), Ðto€alleviate€the€plight€of€the€Somali€people€over€the€past€10€years€and€described€the€recent€creationÐ ° Ðof€Somalia's€National€Assembly€as€the€beginning€of€a€new€era€of€peace€and€stability".€Ð  ð ÐÌ5.3€€€€€€Although€the€State€party€does€not€deny€that€the€attacks€on€the€petitioner,€his€wife,€his€sisterÐ €Ð Ðand€sister-in-law€may€have€occurred€and€that€at€that€time€and€immediately€afterwards€the€petitionerÐ pÀ Ðmay€have€felt€particularly€vulnerable€to€attack€by€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€militia,€and€that€this€fear€my€have€caused€himÐ ` ° Ðto€flee€Somalia,€this€is€not€evidence€that€he€would€now€face€a€threat€from€either€of€the€two€factionsÐ P   Ðof€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€i.e.€the€SNA€or€SSA.òò11óó€In€this€context€the€State€party€adds€that€the€leader€of€the€SSA,€isÐ @  Ðalso€a€member€of€the€new€Transitional€National€Assembly€and€has€indicated€that€he€supports€the€newÐ 0 € ÐPresident.€Ð  p  ÐÌ5.4€€€€€€As€to€the€petitioner's€fear€of€torture€because€of€his€position€within€Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô,€the€State€partyÐ P  Ðcontends€that€there€is€no€evidence€that€this€was€a€significant€position€or€that€he€was€known€generallyÐ ð@  Ðas€being€employed€by€Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô€or€contributing€directly€to€the€aims€of€Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô.€Neither€is€thereÐ à0  Ðany€evidence€to€suggest€that€former€employees€of€Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô€are€at€risk€by€either€the€SNA€or€SSA.Ð Ð  ÐFurthermore,€in€the€absence€of€any€central€records€kept€in€Somalia€for€almost€a€decade€it€is€difficultÐ À Ðto€ascertain€how€members€of€either€the€SNA€or€SSA€would€know€about€the€petitioner's€involvementÐ ° Ðwith€Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô€without€the€petitioner's€own€admission.€Ð  ð ÐÌ5.5€€€€€€On€the€allegation€that€the€petitioner€is€a€member€of€a€minority€clan€that€is€unable€to€offer€himÐ €Ð Ðprotection€anywhere€in€Somalia,€the€State€party€observes€that€the€petitioner€did€not€indicate€in€hisÐ pÀ Ðevidence€to€the€Refugee€Review€Tribunal€hearing€that€he€feared€he€would€he€tortured€because€he€wasÐ `° Ða€member€of€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan.€Rather,€he€stated€that€"his€clan€would€not€be€able€to€protect€him€but€heÐ P  Ðcould€be€attacked€by€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan€to€extort€money€from€him€to€support€their€militia,€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô."Ð @ ÐAccording€to€the€State€party,€this€does€not€show€how€he€would€personally€be€at€risk€as€a€member€ofÐ 0€ Ðthe€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan.€Ð  p ÐÌ5.6€€€€€The€State€party€accepts€that€there€has€been€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massÐ P Ðviolations€of€human€rights€in€Somalia€in€general€and€that€members€of€small,€unaligned€and€unarmedÐ ð@ Ðclans,€like€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô,€have€been€more€vulnerable€to€human€rights€violations€than€members€of€largerÐ à0 Ðclans.€Although€there€has€been€continued€violence€and€upheaval,€the€risk€is€faced€by€the€populationÐ Ð  Ðat€large€and€is€particularly€high€in€Mogadishu€and€in€Southern€Somalia.€This€does€not€constituteÐ À! Ðevidence€that€the€petitioner€himself€is€personally€at€risk€of€torture.€In€addition,€the€State€party€statesÐ °"  Ðthat,€although€the€level€of€violence€has€declined€since€the€election€of€the€interim€government,€theÐ  #ð! Ðsituation€remains€tense.€The€interim€government€has€incorporated€many€of€the€militia€into€a€nationalÐ $à" Ðpolice€force.€Although€some€of€the€faction€leaders€in€Mogadishu€have€refused€to€recognise€theÐ €%Ð # Ðinterim€government,€the€Ô_ÔHabrÔ_Ô-Ô_ÔGirdirÔ_Ô€sub-clan€of€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan€supports€the€interim€president.€TheÐ p&À!$ Ðfaction€leaders€currently€in€South€Mogadishu€come€from€the€Ô_ÔHabrÔ_Ô-Ô_ÔGridirÔ_Ô€sub-clan€as€does€theÐ `'°"% Ðinterim€president.€Ð P( #& ÐÌ5.7€€€€€€The€State€party€observes€that€the€domestic€review€processes€found€that€even€if€the€petitionerÐ 0*€%( Ðdid€face€a€danger€of€torture€if€he€was€returned€to€Mogadishu,€he€would€have€the€alternative€ofÐ  +p&) Ðsettling€in€Ô_ÔGalkayoÔ_Ô,€(North€East€Somalia)€where€he€previously€resided€for€a€significant€amount€ofÐ ,`'* Ðtime€and€learned€a€skill.€The€domestic€review€processes€also€found€that€the€authorities€in€that€regionÐ -P(+ Ðaccepted€members€of€other€clans,€that€the€region€was€still€relatively€stable€and€that€the€petitionerÐ ð-@), Ðwould€have€meaningful€protection€from€any€harm€he€claimed€to€fear.€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€militia€or€its€factions€areÐ ° Ðnot€in€control€of€this€area€which€is€controlled€by€the€Somali€Salvation€Democratic€Front€(Ô_ÔSSDFÔ_Ô).Ð  ð ÐTwo€reports€conducted€on€this€region€have€indicated€that€North€Eastern€Somalia€has€been€an€areaÐ à Ðof€relative€peace€and€stability€where€members€of€all€Somali€clans€are€welcome.€Ð €Ð ÐÌ5.8€€€€€€The€State€party€submits€that€this€finding€made€by€the€domestic€review€procedures,€of€theÐ ` ° Ðpossibility€of€the€petitioner€relocating€to€Ô_ÔGalkayoÔ_Ô,€occurred€prior€to€the€formation€of€a€centralÐ P   Ðgovernment€in€Somalia,€now€established€in€Mogadishu.€As€the€petitioner€was€reluctant€to€return€toÐ @  Ðthis€part€of€the€country,€and€given€the€new€political€situation€as€described€in€paragraph€5.1€above,Ð 0 € Ðthe€State€party€submits€that€it€is€now€unlikely€that€there€would€be€any€reason€for€him€to€find€itÐ  p  Ðnecessary€to€relocate€to€Ô_ÔGalkayoÔ_Ô€rather€than€Mogadishu.€Ð `  ÐÌò òPetitioner's€comments€on€the€State€party's€submission€ó óÐ ð@  ÐÌ6.1€€€€€€In€response€to€the€State€party,€the€petitioner€reaffirms€his€claim€that€he€faces€a€substantial€riskÐ Ð  Ðof€torture€in€Somalia€because,€as€a€member€of€the€minority€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan,€he€is€particularly€vulnerableÐ À Ðin€the€lawless€conditions€prevailing€in€the€whole€of€Somalia.€He€says€that€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€accepted€that€theÐ ° Ðpetitioner€was€vulnerable€but€rejected€his€claim€as€there€was€no€nexus€between€the€danger€he€facedÐ  ð Ðand€his€clan€membership.€He€submits€that€no€such€nexus€is€required€under€the€Convention€againstÐ à ÐTorture.€Ð €Ð ÐÌ6.2€€€€€€In€dealing€with€acts€of€torture€from€so-called€"non-State€actors"€or€"quasi-State€actors",€it€isÐ `° Ðsubmitted€that€the€Committee€should€adopt€a€broad€conception€of€the€reach€of€state€responsibility.Ð P  ÐIn€this€regard,€the€petitioner€points€to€the€jurisprudence€on€the€European€Convention€on€HumanÐ @ ÐRights.€It€is€not€necessary,€according€to€counsel,€that€the€persons€carrying€out€the€acts€of€torture€beÐ 0€ Ðsomehow€"charged€with"€or€"authorised"€by€some€competent€organ.€Article€1€of€the€ConventionÐ  p Ðagainst€Torture€extends€liability€for€acts€of€torture€to€include€"acquiescence"€of€the€responsibleÐ ` Ðperson.€Furthermore,€counsel€argues,€that€as€was€recognised€in€Ô_ÔElmiÔ_Ô€v.€Australia,€where€there€hasÐ P Ðbeen€a€breakdown€of€government€authority,€private€groups€Ô_ÔpracticingÔ_Ô€torture€are€in€effect€"acting€inÐ ð@ Ðan€official€capacity"€in€the€area€in€question€and€article€3€relief€should€therefore€be€available.€Ð à0 ÐÌ6.3€€€€€€According€to€the€petitioner,€recent€peace€initiatives€have€not€ended€the€conflict€in€Somalia.Ð À! ÐIn€its€most€recent€report€on€the€situation€of€human€rights€in€Somalia€of€13€March€2001,€the€UnitedÐ °"  ÐNations€Commission€on€Human€Rights€noted€that€Mogadishu€remains€divided€into€fiefdomsÐ  #ð! Ðcontrolled€by€the€Transitional€National€Government€and€a€variety€of€faction€leaders.€He€noted€thatÐ $à" Ðinter-faction€clashes€often€lead€to€civilian€casualties€and€loss€of€property,€and€it€observed€that€thereÐ €%Ð # Ðis€a€sense€of€lawlessness€prevailing€in€the€city.€He€claims€that,€as€a€member€of€the€vulnerable€clan,Ð p&À!$ Ðhe€would€be€particularly€at€risk€in€this€climate.€Even€if€he€were€forcibly€returned€to€the€North€East,Ð `'°"% Ðas€has€been€suggested€by€Australia,€he€would€have€to€pass€through€Mogadishu€and€thereby€be€placedÐ P( #& Ðat€risk.€Ð @)$' ÐÌ6.4€€€€€€Finally,€the€petitioner€adds€that€he€cannot€be€forcibly€returned€to€Ô_ÔGalkayoÔ_Ô€in€any€event,€as€theÐ  +p&) Ðmaterial€before€the€Ô_ÔRRTÔ_Ô€showed€that€forcible€returnees€are€not€accepted€in€that€part€of€Somalia.€InÐ ,`'* Ðany€event,€his€membership€of€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan€leaves€him€just€as€vulnerable€in€the€North€East€ofÐ -P(+ ÐSomalia€as,€the€report€to€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€also€noted,€there€continues€to€be€seriousÐ ð-@), Ðfighting€in€North€Eastern€Somalia,€particularly€around€Ô_ÔGalkayoÔ_Ô.€Ð ° ÐÌò òIssues€and€Proceedings€before€the€Committee€ó óÐ à ÐÌ7.1€€€€€€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€against€TortureÐ pÀ Ðmust€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€In€this€respect€theÐ ` ° ÐCommittee€has€ascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a)€of€the€Convention,Ð P   Ðthat€the€same€matter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€another€procedure€of€internationalÐ @  Ðinvestigation€or€settlement.€The€Committee€also€notes€that€the€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies€isÐ 0 € Ðnot€contested€by€the€State€party.€It€further€notes€the€State€party's€view€that€the€communication€shouldÐ  p  Ðbe€declared€inadmissible€Ô_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔmateriaeÔ_Ô€on€the€basis€that€the€Convention€is€not€applicable€to€theÐ `  Ðfacts€alleged,€since€the€treatment,€the€petitioner€may€or€may€not€suffer€if€he€is€returned€to€SomaliaÐ P  Ðdoes€not€Ô_ÔforeseeablyÔ_Ô€or€necessarily€amount€to€torture,€set€out€in€article€1€of€the€Convention,€andÐ ð@  Ðwould,€in€any€event,€not€be€inflicted€by€or€at€the€instigation€of€or€with€the€consent€or€acquiescenceÐ à0  Ðof€a€public€official€or€person€acting€in€an€official€capacity.€The€Committee,€however,€is€of€theÐ Ð  Ðopinion€that€the€State€party's€argument€Ô_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔmateriaeÔ_Ô€raises€an€issue€which€cannot€be€dealt€withÐ À Ðat€the€admissibility€stage.€As€the€Committee€sees€no€further€obstacles€to€admissibility,€it€declaresÐ ° Ðthe€communication€admissible.€Ð  ð ÐÌ7.2€€€€€€The€Committee€must€decide€whether€the€forced€return€of€the€petitioner€to€Somalia€wouldÐ €Ð Ðviolate€the€State€party's€obligation,€under€article€3,€paragraph€1€of€the€Convention,€not€to€expel€orÐ pÀ Ðreturn€(Ô_ÔrefoulerÔ_Ô)€an€individual€to€another€State€where€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€thatÐ `° Ðhe€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€In€order€to€reach€its€conclusion€the€CommitteeÐ P  Ðmust€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations,€including€the€existence€in€the€State€concerned€ofÐ @ Ða€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€The€aim,€however,€is€toÐ 0€ Ðdetermine€whether€the€individual€concerned€would€personally€risk€torture€in€the€country€to€whichÐ  p Ðhe€or€she€would€return.€It€follows€that€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massÐ ` Ðviolations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€sufficient€grounds€for€determiningÐ P Ðwhether€the€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€thatÐ ð@ Ðcountry;€additional€grounds€must€be€adduced€to€show€that€the€individual€concerned€would€beÐ à0 Ðpersonally€at€risk.€Conversely,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€violations€of€human€rightsÐ Ð  Ðdoes€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€hisÐ À! Ðor€her€specific€circumstances.€Ð °"  ÐÌ7.3€€€€€€The€Committee€notes€the€petitioner's€claim€that€he€faces€a€real€risk€of€being€tortured€ifÐ $à" Ðreturned€to€Somalia€on€the€basis€of€his€father's€position€as€a€police€officer€in€the€previousÐ €%Ð # Ðgovernment,€his€own€position€at€the€Ô_ÔUNOSOMÔ_Ô€and€his€vulnerability€as€a€member€of€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clan.Ð p&À!$ ÐIn€support€of€his€claim,€he€outlines€past€incidents€of€torture€against€himself€and€his€family.€TheÐ `'°"% ÐCommittee€observes€that€the€State€party€does€not€deny€that€these€incidents€may€have€occurred€butÐ P( #& Ðargues€that€the€petitioner€has€not€been€consistent€in€his€description€of€events€and€that€these€attacksÐ @)$' Ðwere€more€likely€to€have€occurred€as€part€of€the€general€climate€of€violence€in€Mogadishu€at€the€timeÐ 0*€%( Ðrather€than€as€a€deliberate€attempt€to€target€the€petitioner€for€the€reasons€outlined€by€him.€TheÐ  +p&) ÐCommittee€also€observes€that€the€petitioner€has€failed€to€explain€the€inconsistencies€in€hisÐ ,`'* Ðdescription€of€the€attacks,€which€raise€doubts€with€the€Committee€as€to€his€credibility.€Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), Ð7.4€€€€€€In€addition,€the€Committee€recalls€that,€even€if€the€evidence€of€past€torture€provided€by€theÐ ° Ðpetitioner€was€not€in€question,€the€aim€of€the€Committee's€examination€of€the€communication€is€toÐ  ð Ðascertain€whether€the€petitioner€would€risk€being€subjected€to€torture€now,€if€returned€to€Somalia.Ð à ÐGiven€the€composition€of€the€new€Transitional€government,€including€members€of€the€Ô_ÔShikalÔ_Ô€clanÐ €Ð Ðitself,€the€Committee€is€of€the€opinion€that€the€petitioner€would€not€now€face€such€a€risk.€In€light€ofÐ pÀ Ðthe€foregoing,€and€while€recognising€the€ongoing€widespread€violations€of€human€rights€in€Somalia,Ð ` ° Ðthe€Committee€finds€that€the€petitioner€has€not€established€that€he€would€face€a€foreseeable,€real€andÐ P   Ðpersonal€risk€of€being€tortured€within€the€meaning€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð @  ÐÌ8.€€€€€The€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Convention€againstÐ  p  ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€concludes€that€theÐ `  Ðpetitioner's€removal€to€Somalia€by€the€State€party€would€not€constitute€a€breach€of€article€3€of€theÐ P  ÐConvention.€Ð ð@  ÐÌò òNotesó óÐ Ð  ÐÌòò1óó€€Counsel€refers€to€the€"1999€Country€Reports€on€Human€Rights€Practices",€Bureau€of€Democracy,Ð ° ÐHuman€Rights,€and€Ô_ÔLaborÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔU.S.Ô_Ô€Department€of€State,€February€25,€2000.€Ð  ð ÐÌòò2óó€€Case€No.€120/1998,€adopted€on€14€May€1999.€Ð €Ð ÐÌòò3óó€€In€this€context,€he€refers€to€the€Report€on€the€Situation€of€Human€Rights€in€Somalia,€in€which€theÐ `° ÐSpecial€Rapporteur€noted€the€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€policy€of€voluntary€repatriation€and€the€"dumping"€in€SomaliaÐ P  Ðof€asylum€seekers€by€some€Western€countries€which€had€led€to€problems€of€safety€for€rejectedÐ @ Ðasylum€seekers.€He€also€refers€to€the€opinion€of€the€same€Special€Rapporteur€who€expressed€alarmÐ 0€ Ðat€a€plan€being€considered€which€would€make€it€difficult€for€Somalis€to€seek€asylum€in€the€EuropeanÐ  p ÐUnion€States,€and€stated€that€in€the€absence€of€recognised€structures€in€Somalia€that€the€internationalÐ ` Ðcommunity€could€formally€call€upon€for€human€rights€protection,€Somalis€should€not€be€forced€toÐ P Ðreturn€to€Somalia.€See€Situation€of€Human€Rights€in€Somalia,€Report€of€the€Special€Rapporteur,€Ms.Ð ð@ ÐMona€Ô_ÔRishmawiÔ_Ô,€submitted€on€accordance€with€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€resolutionÐ à0 Ð1998/59,€at€paragraph€85.€Ð Ð  ÐÌòò4óó€€US€Department€of€State€1999€Country€Reports€on€Human€Rights€Practices€in€Somalia,€p.10.€Ð °"  ÐÌòò5óó€€The€State€party€refers€to€the€US€Department€of€State€Country€Reports€on€Human€Rights€PracticesÐ $à" Ðfrom€1999€which€states€that€"boys€as€young€as€14€or€15€years€of€age€have€participated€in€militiaÐ €%Ð # Ðattacks,€and€many€youths€are€members€of€the€marauding€gangs€known€as€"Ô_ÔmorianÔ_Ô"€or€"parasites€orÐ p&À!$ Ðmaggots".€Ð `'°"% ÐÌòò6óó€€In€Ô_ÔElmiÔ_Ô€v€Australia,€it€was€found€that€"those€factions€exercise€certain€prerogatives€that€areÐ @)$' Ðcomparable€to€those€normally€exercised€by€legitimate€governments.€Accordingly,€the€members€ofÐ 0*€%( Ðthose€factions€can€fall,€for€the€purposes€of€the€application€of€the€Convention,€within€the€phraseÐ  +p&) Ð"officials€or€other€persons€acting€in€an€official€capacity"€contained€in€article€1".€Ð ,`'* ÐÌòò7óó€€Comment€on€Somalia's€quasi-governmental€institutions€by€the€Somali€Researcher,€Dr€Martin€Hill,Ð ð-@), Ðof€the€International€Secretariat€of€Amnesty€International€in€London.€Ð ° ÐÌòò8óó€A€Report€of€the€Assessment€Mission€to€Mogadishu,€Ô_ÔHiranÔ_Ô,€Bay,€Middle€Ô_ÔShabelleÔ_Ô€and€LowerÐ à ÐÔ_ÔShabelleÔ_Ô€Regions€from€February€23rd€to€March€4th,€1991€to€the€Inter-Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€Committee€for€SomaliaÐ €Ð Ð(UK€and€Kenya).€This€report€states€that€"there€are€an€estimated€3,500€people€on€the€police€force€atÐ pÀ Ðthe€moment"€and€that€"police€were€visible€mainly€at€the€airport,€and€sometimes€on€the€street".€TheÐ ` ° Ðreport€also€says€that€there€was€a€significant€problem€of€looting,€killing€and€assaults.€Ð P   ÐÌòò9óó€€The€State€party€refers€the€Committee€to€its€decision€in€X,€Y,€Z€v.€Sweden,€Case€No.€61/1996,Ð 0 € Ðadopted€on€6€May€1998,€in€which€it€stated€that€"past€torture€is€one€of€the€elements€to€be€taken€intoÐ  p  Ðaccount€by€the€Committee€when€examining€a€claim€concerning€article€3€of€the€Convention,€but€theÐ `  Ðaim€of€the€Committee's€examination€of€the€case€is€to€find€whether€the€petitioners€would€risk€beingÐ P  Ðsubjected€to€torture€now,€it€returned.€Ð ð@  ÐÌòò10óó€€According€to€the€State€party,€when€questioned€about€the€Barre€regime€the€President€stated€theÐ Ð  Ðfollowing€"€I€was€a€member€of€Siad€Barre's€government.€Let€me€state€there€are,€right€now€inÐ À ÐSomalia,€there€are€three€generations.€The€first€generation€of€independence€..[Ô_Ôt]heÔ_Ô€second€generationÐ ° Ðis€my€generation,€and€practically€everyone€of€my€generation€had€a€role€in€twenty€years€ofÐ  ð Ðgovernment.€That€was€not€Siad's€government,€it€was€the€nation's€government.€Siad€was€the€president,Ð à Ðthe€man€who€was€leading€Somalia€for€20€years.€Everyone€who€was€in€Somalia€for€20€Years.Ð €Ð ÐEveryone€who€was€in€Somalia€„€intellectual€or€otherwise€„ð!ð€served€in€one€or€other€capacity€in€thatÐ pÀ Ðadministration.€Not€necessarily€as€a€minister,€but€in€any€capacity."Ð `° ÐÌòò11óó€€The€State€party€refers€to€the€petitioner's€fear€that€he€will€be€subjected€to€torture€by€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_ÔÐ @ Ðmilitia.€However,€it€submits,€that€the€Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô€divided€into€two€armed€factions€(the€SNA€and€SSA)Ð 0€ Ðshortly€after€1991€and€it€is€unclear€from€the€case€to€which€faction€the€petitioner€refers€when€usingÐ  p Ðthe€term€"Ô_ÔUSCÔ_Ô".€Both€the€SNA€and€SSA€are€dominated€by€rival€sub-clans,€the€Ô_ÔAbgalÔ_Ô€andÐ ` ÐÔ_ÔHabrÔ_Ô-Ô_ÔGirdirÔ_Ô€of€the€Ô_ÔHawiyeÔ_Ô€clan.Ð P ÐÓ;Ó