ÿWPCp û•XP¢‰„÷¾=í4w=¿)¯ž{T¯§°²ÕÂóè¦ÔÚÉ1–V¾½e UŦçnÙ&(ùœ÷Ô©…*éÔ`…úû3ñ©d- éÂaÜwDòÂì95Äû®èKÊYÿïúdb± 9{Óþ’֔Õ†±Ó”Âã%µAYòžÁÞT­Ö¾sU¹€Ê!YÉø.þ‹ðÝ5_~e5'_ýwb §Â(r¦c%/4ÔÈ[-·€¸B[ųž?ÅPzÇ^T° ÉçÛ¼ÚBÄÓóÁ“*ž˜ŠÎt}3èXÕiÁè"Ž¿´°*;ò/In/‰™4î *]ÜI©ÜºŒ²n’¬fäÙ’N©­¯SfËBMÉEæ§ÖúdîG}»× ÿ:Fã¬õNžþŽŠ]pmQ Š>kÛÉp‘ ðãI–ÿï;#‹øˆÏp°£‘…{ؘÿéFäðˆ µÃøNqJ?«ê2,]¬+t Œ-ã•Bø–Ÿ y 4Û.ÃÏë91æ½ïñéî”;UârÿFMr—2ùe@_HŒeSBcöA‘6ŽÁ©¬I›X*õŸ÷c²@XZì^h0s)Röá&Ž­û7º¤®¶jóÌ22RDÔÅ*#ÁLUN  %[ 0:a 0î› 0ë‰ 0èt 0å\ 0âA 0ß# 0Ü 0ÙÞ 0Ö· 0Ü 0Ùi 0ÖB 0Ó 0Ðë 0Í» 0ʈ 0ÇR 0Ä 0ÛÝ 0ظ 0Õ 0Òe 0Ï7 0Ì 0ÉÒ 0Æ› 0Ãaaaaa^ $w044HW mY˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 5e,,,,0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,Ô2G+J ÿÿ0_level1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2D+J ÿÿ0_level2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2A+J ÿÿ0_level3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>+J ÿÿ0_level4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;+J ÿÿ0_level5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28+J ÿÿ0_level6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25+J ÿÿ0_level7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22+J ÿÿ0_level8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/+J ÿÿ0_level9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2GJ ÿÿ0_levsl1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2DJ ÿÿ0_levsl2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2AJ ÿÿ0_levsl3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>J ÿÿ0_levsl4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;J ÿÿ0_levsl5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28J ÿÿ0_levsl6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25J ÿÿ0_levsl7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22J ÿÿ0_levsl8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/J ÿÿ0_levsl9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2GJ ÿÿ0_levnl1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2DJ ÿÿ0_levnl2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2AJ ÿÿ0_levnl3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>J ÿÿ0_levnl4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;J ÿÿ0_levnl5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28J ÿÿ0_levnl6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25J ÿÿ0_levnl7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22J ÿÿ0_levnl8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/J ÿÿ0_levnl9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó=¾. Dˆ”-Š‚œ3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòU.€S.€v.€Finlandóó€òòó ó1/ò òóóÐ à ÐÌCommunication€No.€197/2002Ð pÀ ÐÌ1€May€2003Ð P   ÐÌCAT/C/30/D/197/2002Ð 0 € ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ P  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€U.€S.Ð Ð  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€U.€S.Ð ° ÐÌòòState€Partyóó:€FinlandÐ à ÐÌòòDate€of€complaintóó:€7€January€2002€(initial€submission)óóÐ pÀ ÐÌÌÓ  ÓòòThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€Article€17€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andÐ @ ÐOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,Ð 0€ ÐÌòòMeeting€onóó€1€May€2003,Ð ` ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€complaint€No.€197/2002,€submitted€to€the€Committee€againstÐ ð@ ÐTorture€by€Mr.€U.€S.€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€InhumanÐ à0 Ðor€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,Ð Ð  ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€the€complaint,€hisÐ °"  Ðcounsel€and€the€State€party,Ð  #ð! ÐÌòòAdopts€the€followingóó:Ð €%Ð # ÐÓ,ÓÌÌÓ  Óòòò òDecision€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionóóó óÐ P( #& ÐÓRÓÓ  ÓÌÌ1.1€The€petitioner€is€Mr.€U.€S.,€a€Sri€Lankan€citizen,€currently€residing€in€Finland,€and€awaitingÐ  +p&) Ðdeportation€to€Sri€Lanka.€He€claims€that€his€forced€return€to€Sri€Lanka€would€constitute€a€violation,Ð ,`'* Ðby€Finland,€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€DegradingÐ -P(+ ÐTreatment€or€Punishment.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.Ð ð-@), Ð1.2€On€10€January€2002,€the€Committee€forwarded€the€communication€to€the€State€party€forÐ ° Ðcomments€and€requested,€under€rule€108,€paragraph€1,€not€to€return€the€petitioner€to€Sri€Lanka€whileÐ  ð Ðhis€communication€was€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.€The€State€party€has€acceded€to€thisÐ à Ðrequest.Ð €Ð ÐÌòòò òThe€facts€as€submitted€by€the€petitioneró óóó:Ð ` ° ÐÌ2.1€The€petitioner€was€a€member€of€the€Peopleððs€Liberation€Organisation€of€Tamil€Ô_ÔEelamÔ_Ô€(Ô_ÔPLOTEÔ_Ô)Ð @  Ðuntil€1985,€when€the€organization€was€forbidden€by€the€Liberation€Tigers€of€Tamil€Elam€(Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô).Ð 0 € ÐIn€1985,€the€LTTE€arrested€the€petitioner€and€detained€him€for€four€months,€during€which€he€wasÐ  p  Ðinterrogated€on€the€location€of€PLOTEððs€weapons.€Subsequently,€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€interrogated€him€onÐ `  Ðseveral€occasions.Ð P  ÐÌ2.2€During€this€period,€the€petitioner€was€working€as€a€bus€conductor€and€Ô_ÔtravelingÔ_Ô€between€areasÐ à0  Ðcontrolled€by€the€LTTE€and€the€Sri€Lankan€army.€In€view€of€his€occupation€and€the€fact€that€he€wasÐ Ð  Ðno€longer€a€member€of€the€PLOTE,€the€PLOTE€suspected€him€of€cooperating€with€the€LTTE€andÐ À Ðinformed€the€Sri€Lankan€army€of€their€suspicion.Ð ° ÐÌ2.3€In€March€1987,€the€petitioner€was€arrested€by€the€Sri€Lankan€army€and€detained€for€almost€twoÐ à Ðyears.€During€his€detention,€the€petitioner€was€allegedly€tortured€on€a€regular€basis€for€a€period€ofÐ €Ð Ðsix€months.€He€was€beaten,€kicked,€hung€in€the€ð ðchicken€positionðð€where€he€was€left€to€hang€fromÐ pÀ Ðhis€left€shoulder,€his€genitals€were€ð ðinjuredðð,€his€hands€were€burned€with€a€hot€object,€and€he€wasÐ `° Ðgiven€electrical€shocks€while€cold€water€was€poured€over€him.Ð P  ÐÌ2.4€After€his€releas€on€2€January€1989,€the€petitioner€was€re„arrested€and€interrogated€3„4€times,€forÐ 0€ Ðup€to€three€days€each,€by€the€Indian€Peace€Keeping€Force€(IPKF).€He€was€also€interrogated€by€theÐ  p ÐLTTE€in€order€to€find€out€what€he€had€told€the€IPKF€about€members€of€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô.Ð ` ÐÌ2.5€In€June€1989,€the€petitioner€escaped€to€Germany,€where€he€applied€for€asylum.€His€applicationÐ ð@ Ðwas€rejected,€and€he€immediately€attempted€to€go€to€France.€French€police€arrested€him€and€returnedÐ à0 Ðhim€to€Germany.€From€Germany,€he€was€returned€to€Sri€Lanka€in€July€1989.€On€his€return,€he€stayedÐ Ð  Ðin€the€LTTE€controlled€area€of€Jaffna€until€1995.€He€was€interrogated€several€times€by€the€LTTE€toÐ À! Ðfind€out€whether€he€had€any€connections€with€the€Ô_ÔPLOTEÔ_Ô.Ð °"  ÐÌ2.6€In€1996,€after€the€Sri€Lankan€army€occupied€Jaffna,€the€petitioner€escaped€to€Ô_ÔVanniÔ_Ô,€where€heÐ $à" Ðlived€with€relatives,€and€then€moved€on€to€Hatton.€During€his€time€in€Ô_ÔHattonÔ_Ô,€he€was€arrested€twiceÐ €%Ð # Ðby€the€Sri€Lankan€army,€as€he€was€new€in€the€area.€In€1998,€he€was€arrested€by€the€Sri€Lankan€policeÐ p&À!$ Ðand€detained€for€three€months€on€suspicion€of€being€a€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€member.€During€his€detention€he€wasÐ `'°"% Ðseverely€beaten;€he€remains€scarred€on€his€lips€and€behind€his€ear,€as€a€result€of€being€hit€by€a€gun.Ð P( #& ÐIn€March€1998,€and€after€bribing€the€police,€he€was€released.Ð @)$' ÐÌ2.7€After€his€release,€the€petitioner€escaped€through€Russia€to€Finland€where€he€arrived€on€21Ð  +p&) ÐDecember€1998.€He€immediately€applied€for€asylum.€On€12€February€2001,€the€Directorate€ofÐ ,`'* ÐImmigration€rejected€his€application€and€issued€a€deportation€order€against€him.€On€13€NovemberÐ -P(+ Ð2001,€the€Helsinki€Administrative€Court€rejected€his€appeal.€The€petitioner€then€applied€for€leaveÐ ð-@), Ðto€appeal€and€suspension€of€the€deportation€order€to€the€Supreme€Administrative€Court.€On€31Ð ° ÐDecember€2001,€his€application€was€rejected.Ð  ð ÐÌ2.8€The€petitioner€underwent€several€physical€and€psychological€examinations€after€his€arrival€inÐ €Ð ÐFinland.€He€has€submitted€six€medical€reports,€three€on€his€physical€condition€and€three€on€hisÐ pÀ Ðpsychological€state€dated€between€9€October€1999€and€7€January€2002.€The€reports€of€21€SeptemberÐ ` ° Ð2000€and€5€October€1999€refer€to€scars€to€his€lip€and€behind€his€left€ear.€The€report€of€7€JanuaryÐ P   Ð2002€states€that€he€suffers€from€post€traumatic€stress€disorder,€that€he€has€a€shoulder€injury€whichÐ @  Ðfits€the€description€of€having€been€hung€from€one€arm,€and€that€he€has€mental€and€physical€traumasÐ 0 € Ðand€scars,€which€were€ð ðpossibly€caused€by€tortureðð.Ð  p  ÐÌò òòòThe€claimóóó óÐ P  ÐÌ3.1€The€petitioner€claims€to€have€exhausted€domestic€remedies€with€the€dismissal€of€his€application,Ð à0  Ðby€the€Supreme€Administrative€Court,€for€leave€to€appeal€against€the€deportation€order.€òò2/óóÐ Ð  ÐÌ3.2€The€petitioner€claims€that€there€are€substantial€grounds€to€believe€that€he€would€be€subjected€toÐ ° Ðtorture€if€returned€to€Sri€Lanka,€in€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€He€stresses€that€theÐ  ð Ðhuman€rights€situation€in€Sri€Lanka€continues€to€be€poor,€particularly€as€concerns€members€of€theÐ à ÐTamil€population,€and€that€persons€suspected€of€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€membership€are€in€danger€of€disappearingÐ €Ð Ðand€being€arbitrarily€detained€and€tortured.Ð pÀ ÐÌò òòòThe€State€partyððs€observations€on€the€admissibility€and€meritsó óóóÐ P  ÐÌ4.1€On€8€March€2002,€the€State€party€submits€that€it€has€no€objections€to€the€admissibility€of€theÐ 0€ Ðcase.€On€9€July€2002,€submits€its€observations€on€the€merits.€The€State€party€contests€the€petitionerððsÐ  p Ðversion€of€the€facts€as€partly€inaccurate,€in€particular€his€statements€relative€to€his€application€forÐ ` Ðasylum€in€Germany€and€the€events€thereafter.€It€directs€the€Committee€to€the€decision€of€theÐ P ÐDirectorate€of€Immigration€which€is€alleged€to€refer€to€a€number€of€inconsistencies€in€the€petitionerððsÐ ð@ Ðdescription€of€events.€The€State€party€submits€that€the€petitionerððs€claims€have€been€considered€fairlyÐ à0 Ðin€the€domestic€proceedings.€It€refers€to€particular€asylum€cases€where€the€Supreme€Court€repealedÐ Ð  Ðits€decision€on€deportation,€to€demonstrate€that€every€case€is€assessed€on€its€relevant€circumstances.Ð À! ÐÌ4.2€By€decision€of€22€October€2001,€the€Directorate€of€Immigration€assessed€the€petitionerððsÐ  #ð! Ðpersonal€situation.€It€found€that€the€course€of€events€from€1983€to€1989€had€no€immediate€impactÐ $à" Ðon€the€petitionerððs€decision€to€leave€his€country€of€origin.€According€to€the€petitioner,€he€returnedÐ €%Ð # Ðto€his€home€town,€Jaffna,€after€his€application€for€asylum€had€been€refused€by€the€GermanÐ p&À!$ Ðauthorities.€He€resided€there€without€problems€until€1996,€when€the€Sri€Lankan€army€occupiedÐ `'°"% ÐÔ_ÔJaffnaÔ_Ô,€and€when€most€of€the€local€residents€had€to€move€to€Vanni.€The€alleged€torture,€which€tookÐ P( #& Ðplace€approximately€ten€years€before€the€petitioner€arrived€in€Finland,€does€not€as€such€provideÐ @)$' Ðsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€petitioner€would€still€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÐ 0*€%( Ðtorture.Ð  +p&) ÐÌ4.3€The€State€party€submits€that€the€arrests€which,€according€to€the€petitioner,€took€place€in€1998Ð -P(+ Ðgive€no€reason€to€believe€that€the€Sri€Lankan€authorities€would€be€particularly€interested€in€theÐ ð-@), Ðpetitionerððs€activities,€as€according€to€the€petitioner€himself,€they€were€due€to€the€fact€that€he€wasÐ ° Ðnew€in€the€area€and€a€suspected€LTTE€militant.€The€State€party€notes€that,€upon€release€after€hisÐ  ð Ðsecond€arrest,€he€continued€to€stay€two€more€weeks€in€Hatton,€where€he€had€been€arrested,€andÐ à Ðthereafter€in€other€government„controlled€areas,€until€he€left€the€country.€The€State€party€concludesÐ €Ð Ðthat€there€is€no€indication€that€the€petitioner€is€personally€targeted€by€the€Sri€Lankan€authorities.Ð pÀ ÐÌ4.4€The€State€party€emphasizes€that€since€the€end€of€the€1980ððs,€the€petitioner€has€not€beenÐ P   Ðpolitically€active,€nor€has€he€participated€in€the€activities€of€the€LTTE.€Thus,€there€are€no€substantialÐ @  Ðgrounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€country€ofÐ 0 € Ðorigin.Ð  p  ÐÌ4.5€Although€the€State€party€concedes€that€the€medical€reports€largely€support€the€petitionerððsÐ P  Ðstatements€concerning€his€injuries,€it€argues€that€they€indicate€that€some€healing€has€alreadyÐ ð@  Ðoccurred,€and€that€the€petitioner€no€longer€requires€anti„depression€medication.€It€acknowledges€thatÐ à0  Ðhe€still€needs€regular€psychiatric€treatment€and€physiotherapy,€but€submits€that€the€relevance€of€theÐ Ð  Ðmedical€reports€must€be€assessed€in€conjunction€with€the€other€facts€of€the€case.Ð À ÐÌ4.6€The€State€party€submits€that€the€petitioner€does€not€display€symptoms€that€could€not€be€treatedÐ  ð Ðin€his€country€of€origin,€and€that€his€state€of€health€is€no€obstacle€to€the€enforcement€of€theÐ à Ðdeportation€decision.€Considering€that€the€events€which€allegedly€affected€the€petitionerððs€healthÐ €Ð Ðtook€place€in€the€1980ððs,€his€state€of€health€does€not€provide€substantial€grounds€for€believing€thatÐ pÀ Ðhe€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€country€of€origin.Ð `° ÐÌ4.7€The€State€party€submits€that,€in€the€past€few€years,€the€human€rights€situation€in€Sri€LankaÐ @ Ðsituation€has€significantly€improved.€It€refers€to€a€document€prepared€by€the€UNHCR€in€1999€to€theÐ 0€ ÐEU€High€Level€Working€Group€on€Asylum€and€Migration,€which€stated€that€asylum€seekers,€whoÐ  p Ðhave€not€been€found€to€fulfill€refugee€criteria€may€be€returned€to€Sri€Lanka.€It€refers€to€the€cease„fireÐ ` Ðreached€on€23€February€2002,€with€which€the€armed€forces€of€Sri€Lanka€and€the€LTTE€have€sinceÐ P Ðcomplied.€Since€then,€residents€need€no€longer€report€at€military€checkpoints.€It€also€refers€to€aÐ ð@ Ðstatement€by€a€UNHCR€representative€of€21€May€2002,€according€to€which€71,000€Tamil€refugeesÐ à0 Ðreturned€home€that€year,€including€more€than€half€of€whom€returned€to€the€Jaffna€area.€In€the€StateÐ Ð  Ðpartyððs€view,€therefore,€in€light€of€the€continuing€improvement€in€the€situation€in€Sri€Lanka€there€isÐ À! Ðno€foreseeable,€real€and€personal€risk€that€the€petitioner€will€be€tortured€on€return.Ð °"  ÐÌòòò òPetitionerððs€Comments€on€the€State€Partyððs€Submissionóóó óÐ $à" ÐÌ5.1€In€his€response,€the€petitioner€reiterates€the€facts€as€stated€in€his€initial€submission€and€providesÐ p&À!$ Ðnew€information.€He€submits€that€in€August€1985,€he€buried€arms€belonging€to€the€Ô_ÔEelamÔ_Ô€LiberationÐ `'°"% ÐOrganization€(TELO),€another€organization€banned€by€the€LTTE,€in€the€garden€of€his€family€home.Ð P( #& ÐAs€the€LTTE€in€effect€controls€the€lives€of€Jaffna€residents,€the€petitioner€is€afraid€of€the€seriousÐ @)$' Ðconsequences€both€he€and€his€family€will€face€should€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€receive€information€on€these€arms.Ð 0*€%( ÐHe€claims€that€the€LTTE€consider€the€hiding€of€weapons€and€ammunition€as€a€serious€offenceÐ  +p&) Ðagainst€the€organization€and€would€react€harshly€to€such€an€act.€In€addition,€as€this€act€constitutesÐ ,`'* Ða€crime€under€Sri€Lankan€law€he€risks€being€prosecuted€by€the€authorities.€He€claims€that€it€was€dueÐ -P(+ Ðto€fear€that€he€did€not€provide€this€information€during€the€asylum€procedure.€In€only€bringing€up€thisÐ ð-@), Ðmatter€at€this€stage,€the€petitioner€refers€to€the€jurisprudence€of€the€Committee,€with€which€a€victimÐ ° Ðof€torture€cannot€be€expected€to€give€a€full€and€coherent€account€of€his€past€experiences€during€theÐ  ð Ðasylum€procedure.€He€also€refers€to€the€acceptance€by€the€UNHCR€that€a€person,€who€owing€to€hisÐ à Ðexperiences€was€afraid€of€the€authorities€in€his€country€of€origin,€may€be€distrustful€of€all€authorities.Ð €Ð ÐÌ5.2€In€addition,€the€petitioner€submits€that€after€escaping€from€Sri€Lanka€he€received€information€thatÐ ` ° Ðsome€of€his€Tamil€friends€had€been€killed,€some€had€joined€the€army€and€some€had€left€Sri€Lanka.Ð P   ÐThe€PLOTE€was€disbanded€in€2000,€when€its€leader€was€assassinated€in€Vavuniya.€He€also€submitsÐ @  Ðthat€as€he€does€not€hold€a€National€Identity€Card,€he€will€be€placed€in€an€extremely€risky€situationÐ 0 € Ðas€demonstrated€by€a€report€from€April€2002€from€the€UK€Home€Office€Immigration€and€NationalityÐ  p  ÐDirectorate.Ð `  ÐÌ5.3€On€the€current€human€rights€situation€in€Sri€Lanka,€the€petitioner€denies€that€the€situation€hasÐ ð@  Ðimproved€significantly€and€invokes€reports€to€this€effect€of€both€Human€Rights€Watch€(July€2002)Ð à0  Ðand€the€U.S.€Department€of€State€(Country€Report€on€Human€Rights€Practices,€2001).€AccordingÐ Ð  Ðto€the€former€report,€there€has€been€little€formal€attention€to€human€rights€concerns€in€the€contextÐ À Ðof€the€peace€process,€in€spite€of€the€fact€that€the€civil€war€has€been€driven€by€grave€abuses€of€humanÐ ° Ðrights€committed€by€all€sides.€Most€of€the€hundreds€of€detainees€are€Tamils€arrested€on€suspicionÐ  ð Ðof€being€linked€with€the€LTTE,€the€Memorandum€of€Understanding€is€not€a€human€rights€instrumentÐ à Ðand€there€has€been€evidence€of€continuing€abuse€since€its€acceptance.€According€to€the€latter€report,Ð €Ð Ðthere€have€been€serious€human€rights€problems€in€some€areas€and€the€ongoing€war€with€the€LTTEÐ pÀ Ðcontinued€to€lead€to€serious€human€rights€abuses€by€both€sides.€The€security€forces€and€policeÐ `° Ðcontinue€to€torture€and€mistreat€detainees€in€police€custody€and€prisons,€particularly€TamilsÐ P  Ðsuspected€of€supporting€the€LTTE.€For€these€reasons,€the€petitioner€expresses€the€view€that€there€isÐ @ Ðno€credible€evidence€that€the€human€rights€situation€has€permanently€and€significantly€changed€inÐ 0€ Ðorder€to€argue€justifiably€that€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€no€longer€occur€inÐ  p ÐSri€Lanka.Ð ` ÐÌ5.4€With€respect€to€the€medical€reports,€the€petitioner€acknowledges€that€some€healing€has€occurredÐ ð@ Ðbut€that€this€is€immaterial€in€assessing€whether€he€has€been€a€victim€of€torture.€To€him,€the€StateÐ à0 Ðparty€fails€to€acknowledge€that€he€was€tortured€not€only€in€the€1980ððs€but€also€during€his€three„Ð Ð  Ðmonth€detention€in€1998.€He€argues€that€it€is€improbable€that€the€Sri€Lankan€health€care€systemÐ À! Ðcould€provide€him€with€the€specialized€treatment€he€needs.€On€this€issue,€although€he€acknowledgesÐ °"  Ðthat€his€state€of€health€may€not€per€se€constitute€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€is€in€dangerÐ  #ð! Ðof€being€subjected€to€torture,€it€does€constitute€a€relevant€fact€within€the€meaning€of€article€3,Ð $à" Ðparagraph€2€of€the€Convention€in€assessing€the€existence€of€such€a€danger.Ð €%Ð # ÐÌ5.5€The€petitioner€submits€that€ð ðthe€issue€at€hand€is€whether€...€[there€is]ð8ð.€a€substantial€danger€ofÐ `'°"% Ðbeing€subjected€to€torture€in€Sri€Lanka,€not€whether€he€has€had€a€fair€asylum€procedure€in€Finland.ððÐ P( #& ÐThus,€the€issue€touches€on€the€interpretation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,€not€whether€the€FinnishÐ @)$' Ðasylum€decision€has€been€procedurally€and€materially€legal.Ð 0*€%( ÐÌ5.6€The€petitioner€argues€that€the€criteria€applied€by€the€Committee€in€the€òòÔ_ÔElmiÔ_Ô€v.€Australia€òòóó3/óó€€caseÐ ,`'* Ðon€the€broadened€notion€of€ð ðpublic€official€or€other€person€acting€in€an€official€capacityðð€applies€alsoÐ -P(+ Ðto€the€role€of€the€LTTE€in€the€areas€under€its€control€in€Sri€Lanka.€He€refers€to€the€exercise,€by€theÐ ð-@), ÐLTTE,€of€quasi„governmental€powers€in€the€north€and€east€of€the€country€where€it€has€been€inÐ ° Ðcontrol,€the€fact€that€it€has€been€accepted€as€a€negotiating€party€to€the€peace€negotiations,and€that€itÐ  ð Ðhas€recently€opened€a€political€office€in€Jaffna,€with€the€support€of€the€Sri€Lankan€government.€Thus,Ð à Ðthe€petitioner€argues,€the€fear€of€torture€he€fears€from€the€LTTE€is€material€in€assessing€the€risk€ofÐ €Ð Ða€breach€of€article€3.Ð pÀ ÐÌ5.7€The€petitioner€reiterates€that€his€past€experiences€of€torture€caused€him€severe€mental€sufferingÐ P   Ðand€physical€injuries.€He€argues€that€due€to€the€unsettled€situation€in€Sri€Lanka€it€is€justified€to€stateÐ @  Ðthat€he€would,€in€addition€to€a€substantial€risk€of€torture,€feel€extremely€anxious€about€life€in€SriÐ 0 € ÐLanka.€He€points€out€that€according€to€his€psychiatrist€he€is€in€need€of€specialized€treatment€and€isÐ  p  Ðthus€mentally€vulnerable€to€the€emotional€stress€life€in€Sri€Lanka€would€inevitably€cause€him.€Thus,Ð `  Ðthis€in€itself€may€constitute€suffering€tantamount€to€torture.Ð P  ÐÌò òòòState€Partyððs€Supplementary€Commentsó óóóÐ à0  ÐÌ6.1€On€28€February€2003,€the€State€party€submits€that€the€new€information€provided€by€the€petitionerÐ À Ðon€his€activities€on€behalf€of€the€TELO€is€unreliable€as€it€had€never€been€mentioned€by€the€petitionerÐ ° Ðuntil€his€letter€to€the€Committee€of€4€November€2002.€His€explanation€that€he€was€afraid€that€theÐ  ð ÐLTTE€would€find€out€about€his€activities€does€not€explain€his€failure€to€mention€this€incident€earlierÐ à Ðin€the€same€way€that€he€mentioned€his€activities€carried€out€on€behalf€of€the€PLOTE,€which€alsoÐ €Ð Ðacted€against€the€LTTE.€Moreover,€given€that€the€alleged€activities€took€place€nearly€twenty€yearsÐ pÀ Ðago,€it€would€be€unlikely€that€the€petitioner€would€be€subject€to€retaliation€by€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô.Ð `° ÐÌ6.2€The€State€party€also€submits€that€the€fact€that€the€petitioner€returned€to€Sri€Lanka€without€anyÐ @ Ðadverse€consequences€after€being€refused€asylum€in€Germany,€supports€the€view€that€he€would€notÐ 0€ Ðbe€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€Sri€Lanka.€It€refers€to€the€reportsÐ  p Ðsubmitted€by€the€petitioner€on€the€human€rights€situation€in€Sri€Lanka€and€observes€that€theÐ ` ÐDirectorate€of€Immigration€as€well€as€the€national€courts€already€took€these€reports€into€accountÐ P Ðwhen€considering€his€application€for€asylum.€It€also€observes€that,€at€least€on€two€occasions,€theÐ ð@ ÐCommittee€found€that€the€LTTE€may€not€be€considered€an€authority€within€meaning€of€article€3€ofÐ à0 Ðthe€Convention.€òò4/óóÐ Ð  ÐÌòòò òIssues€and€Proceedings€Before€the€Committeeóóó óÐ °"  ÐÌ7.1€The€Committee€has€considered€the€communication€in€the€light€of€all€the€information€madeÐ $à" Ðavailable€to€it€by€the€parties,€in€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Convention.Ð €%Ð # ÐÌ7.2€The€issue€before€the€Committee€is€whether€or€not€the€forced€return€of€the€petitioner€to€Sri€LankaÐ `'°"% Ðwould€violate€the€obligation€of€Finland€under€article€3€of€the€Convention€not€to€expel€a€person€toÐ P( #& Ðanother€State€where€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€beingÐ @)$' Ðsubjected€to€torture.Ð 0*€%( ÐÌ7.3€In€reaching€this€decision,€the€Committee€must€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations,Ð ,`'* Ðpursuant€to€article€3,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention,€including€the€existence€of€a€consistent€patternÐ -P(+ Ðof€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€The€aim€of€this€determination,€however,€is€toÐ ð-@), Ðestablish€whether€the€individuals€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€tortureÐ ° Ðin€the€country€to€which€he€or€she€would€return.€It€follows€that€the€existence€of€a€consistent€patternÐ  ð Ðof€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€aÐ à Ðsufficient€ground€for€determining€that€a€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÐ €Ð Ðtorture€upon€his€return€to€that€country;€additional€grounds€must€exist€to€show€that€the€individualÐ pÀ Ðconcerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€grossÐ ` ° Ðviolations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€danger€of€beingÐ P   Ðsubjected€to€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.Ð @  ÐÌ7.4€The€Committee€observes€its€general€comment€on€the€implementation€of€article€3€which€reads:Ð  p  Ð"Bearing€in€mind€that€the€State€party€and€the€Committee€are€obliged€to€assess€whether€there€areÐ `  Ðsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€petitioner€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€tortureÐ P  Ðwere€he/she€to€be€expelled,€returned€or€extradited,€the€risk€of€torture€must€be€assessed€on€groundsÐ ð@  Ðthat€go€beyond€mere€theory€or€suspicion.€However,€the€risk€does€not€have€to€meet€the€test€of€beingÐ à0  Ðhighly€probable"€(A/53/44,€annex€IX,€para.€6).Ð Ð  ÐÌ7.5€The€Committee€observes€that€the€State€party's€obligation€to€refrain€from€forcibly€returning€aÐ ° Ðperson€to€another€State€where€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€or€she€would€be€inÐ  ð Ðdanger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€is€directly€linked€to€the€definition€of€torture€as€found€in€articleÐ à Ð1€of€the€Convention.€For€the€purposes€of€the€Convention,€according€to€Article€1,€"the€term€'torture'Ð €Ð Ðmeans€any€act€by€which€severe€pain€or€suffering,€whether€physical€or€mental,€is€intentionallyÐ pÀ Ðinflicted€on€a€person€for€such€purposes€as€obtaining€from€him€or€a€third€person€information€or€aÐ `° Ðconfession,€punishing€him€for€an€act€he€or€a€third€person€has€committed€or€is€suspected€of€havingÐ P  Ðcommitted,€or€intimidating€or€coercing€him€or€a€third€person,€or€for€any€reason€based€onÐ @ Ðdiscrimination€of€any€kind,€when€such€pain€or€suffering€is€inflicted€by€or€at€the€instigation€of€or€withÐ 0€ Ðthe€consent€or€acquiescence€of€a€public€official€or€other€person€acting€in€an€official€capacity".Ð  p ÐÌ7.6€As€to€the€possibility€of€the€petitioner€suffering€torture€at€the€hands€of€the€State€upon€his€returnÐ P Ðto€Sri€Lanka,€the€Committee€has€taken€due€note€of€the€petitionerððs€claim€that€he€was€previouslyÐ ð@ Ðdetained€and€tortured€by€members€of€the€Sri€Lankan€army.€It€further€observes€that€the€petitionerÐ à0 Ðprovided€medical€reports€attesting€to€injuries€that€were€ð ðpossibly€caused€by€tortureðð,€though€noneÐ Ð  Ðof€the€reports€conclusively€confirms€that€he€was€tortured€during€his€detention€in€1998.€The€StateÐ À! Ðparty€does€not€challenge€the€authenticity€of€these€reports€but€notes€that€the€reports€themselves€attestÐ °"  Ðto€a€gradual€improvement€of€the€authorððs€health€and€that€treatment€for€his€current€medical€conditionÐ  #ð! Ðwould€be€available€in€Sri€Lanka.€The€State€party€does€not€concede€that€such€torture€as€the€authorÐ $à" Ðmight€have€been€subjected€to€was€suffered€at€the€hands€of€the€Sri€Lankan€army€ð!ð€in€any€event,€suchÐ €%Ð # Ðevents€would€have€occurred€over€the€years€ago.Ð p&À!$ ÐÌ7.7€The€Committee€notes€the€relevance€of€the€ongoing€peace€process,€which€led€to€the€conclusionÐ P( #& Ðof€the€February€2002€cease„fire€agreement€between€the€Government€and€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô,€and€theÐ @)$' Ðnegotiations€between€the€parties€to€the€conflict€which€have€taken€place€since...€It€further€recalls€theÐ 0*€%( Ðresults€of€the€proceedings€concerning€its€inquiry€on€Sri€Lanka€under€article€20€of€the€Convention€andÐ  +p&) Ðits€conclusion€that,€although€a€disturbing€number€of€cases€of€torture€and€ill„treatment€as€defined€byÐ ,`'* Ðarticles€1€and€16€of€the€Convention€are€taking€place,€its€practice€is€not€systematic€in€the€State€partyÐ -P(+ Ð(Report€A/57/44,€Chapter€IV.B.,€paragraph€181).€It€finally€notes€the€opinion€of€the€Office€of€the€HighÐ ð-@), ÐCommissioner€for€Refugees€of€March€1999,€according€to€which€those€who€do€not€fulfill€refugeeÐ ° Ðcriteria,€including€those€of€Tamil€origin,€may€be€returned€to€Sri€Lanka,€and€that€a€large€number€ofÐ  ð ÐTamil€refugees€returned€to€Sri€Lanka€in€2001€and€2002.€In€this€context,€it€should€also€be€noted€thatÐ à Ðthe€petitioner€has€not€been€politically€active€since€the€mid„1980ððs.Ð €Ð ÐÌ7.8€The€Committee€recalls€that€,€for€article€3€of€the€Convention€to€apply,€the€individual€concernedÐ ` ° Ðmust€face€a€foreseeable€and€real€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he/she€isÐ P   Ðbeing€returned,€and€that€this€danger€must€be€personal€and€present.€In€the€light€of€the€observations€inÐ @  Ðparagraphs€7.6€and€7.7€above,€the€Committee€does€not€consider€that€the€existence€of€a€personal€andÐ 0 € Ðreal€risk€has€been€established€by€the€petitioner.Ð  p  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 ð@  Ðpetitionerððs€removal€to€Sri€Lanka€by€the€State€party€would€not€constitute€a€breach€of€article€3€of€theÐ à0  ÐConvention.Ð Ð  ÐÌÌ[Adopted€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Ð  ð ÐSubsequently€to€be€issued€also€in€Arabic€and€Chinese€as€part€of€the€Committee's€annual€report€to€theÐ à ÐGeneral€Assembly.]Ð €Ð ÐÌ____________________Ð `° Ðòòò òNotesóóó óÐ P  ÐÌòò1/óó€€The€petitioner€has€specifically€requested€that€his€name€not€be€used€in€the€published€decision€orÐ 0€ Ðany€other€public€document€in€which€this€petition€is€reproduced.€His€name€should€thus€be€removedÐ  p Ðonce€the€Committee€has€decided€the€case.Ð ` ÐÌòò2/óó€€The€decisions€are€enclosed€in€the€Finnish€language€only.Ð ð@ ÐÌòò3/óó€€òòCommunication€No.€120/1998.óóÐ Ð  ÐÌòò4/óó€€The€State€party€refers€to€òòCommunication€No.€49/1996,€SV€et€al€v.€Canada,€Decision€of€15€MayÐ °"  Ð2001€óóand€òòCommunication€No.€138/1999,€MPS€v.€Australia,€Decision€of€30€April€2002.óó