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ÐÌÌÓ=Óò òÓ  ÓViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óÐ $à" ÐÓ…ÓÓÓÌ1.1.€€€€€€The€petitioner€is€Mr.€S.€T.,€a€citizen€of€Sri€Lanka,€born€on€3€January€1979,€currently€residingÐ p&À!$ Ðin€a€shelter€for€asylum-seekers€in€the€Netherlands.€He€claims€that€his€forcible€return€to€Sri€LankaÐ `'°"% Ðwould€constitute€a€violation€by€the€Netherlands€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andÐ P( #& ÐOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.Ð @)$' ЀÌ1.2.€€€€€€On€5€December€2000,€the€Committee€forwarded€the€communication€to€the€State€party€forÐ  +p&) Ðcomments€and€requested,€under€Rule€108,€paragraph€9€of€the€Committee's€rules€of€procedure,€notÐ ,`'* Ðto€return€the€petitioner€to€Sri€Lanka€while€his€petition€was€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.Ð -P(+ ÐThe€State€party€acceded€to€this€request.€Ð ð-@), Їò òFacts€as€submitted€by€the€petitioner€ó óÐ ° ÐÌ2.1€€€€€€The€petitioner€is€a€Tamil€from€the€area€of€Ô_ÔJaffnaÔ_Ô€in€the€North€of€Sri€Lanka.€For€two€monthsÐ à Ðin€1994,€he€claims€to€have€worked€for€the€Tamil€Tigers€("Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô")€in€an€auto-repair€shop€inÐ €Ð ÐÔ_ÔKillinochiÔ_Ô.€During€this€time€he€also€took€care€of€the€wounded€and€distributed€food€supplies.€Ð pÀ ÐÌ2.2€In€1996,€he€moved€to€Ô_ÔVavuniyaÔ_Ô.€In€April€2000,€there€was€an€attack€by€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€on€a€Ô_ÔPLOTEÔ_ÔÐ P   Ð(an€organisation€that€works€closely€with€the€Sri€Lankan€army)€camp.€The€petitioner,€along€withÐ @  Ðmany€others€in€the€area,€was€detained€by€Ô_ÔPLOTEÔ_Ô€forces€after€this€incident.€He€was€allegedly€torturedÐ 0 € Ðusing€hot€instruments€which€caused€scars€on€his€body.€He€did€not€bring€this€event€nor€the€fact€thatÐ  p  Ðhe€had€scars€as€a€result€of€this€alleged€ill-treatment€to€the€attention€of€the€Dutch€authorities€until€hisÐ `  Ðappeal.€Ð P  ÐÌ2.3€€€€€€On€10€October€2000,€the€petitioner€was€detained€for€one€day€by€Ô_ÔPLOTEÔ_Ô,€interrogatedÐ à0  Ðregarding€his€involvement€with€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€and€assaulted.€Ð Ð  ÐÌ2.4€€€€€€On€15€October€2000,€he€was€arrested€and€detained€by€the€Sri€Lankan€army€for€one€day.Ð ° ÐDuring€the€day€he€was€allegedly€kicked,€hung€upside€down€and€beaten.€He€allegedly€still€has€painÐ  ð Ðin€his€stomach€from€this€incident€particularly€when€he€bends€over.€He€bears€no€scars€from€thisÐ à Ðincident.€A€member€of€his€family€intervened€and€-€after€payment€-€he€was€freed.€Upon€release€heÐ €Ð Ðwent€to€stay€with€his€aunt.€Ð pÀ ÐÌ2.5€€€€€€On€17€October€2000,€a€Ô_ÔPLOTEÔ_Ô€soldier€called€at€the€petitioner's€home€inquiring€about€hisÐ P  Ðwhereabouts.€On€24€October€2000,€the€petitioner€travelled€to€Colombo.€Ð @ ÐÌ2.6€€€€€€On€25€October€2000,€and€because€of€the€incidents€of€10€and€15€of€October,€the€petitioner€leftÐ  p ÐSri€Lanka€and€on€26€October€2000,€arrived€in€the€Netherlands,€having€passed€through€anotherÐ ` Ðcountry.€The€petitioner€does€not€know€which€country€he€passed€through.€When€he€arrived€in€theÐ P ÐNetherlands€he€called€his€sister,€who€told€him€that€the€Sri€Lankan€army€and€Ô_ÔPLOTEÔ_Ô€were€againÐ ð@ Ðmaking€inquiries€about€his€whereabouts.€Ð à0 ÐÌ2.7€€€€€€On€arrival€in€the€Netherlands,€the€petitioner€applied€for€asylum,€whereupon€he€had€his€firstÐ À! Ðinterview€with€the€Immigration€and€Naturalisation€Service€("IND"),€which€is€under€the€responsibilityÐ °"  Ðof€the€State€Secretary€for€Justice.€On€the€basis€of€this€interview€and€with€reason€to€believe€that€theÐ  #ð! Ðapplication€was€unfounded,€the€IND€decided€to€deal€with€the€asylum€request€in€an€acceleratedÐ $à" Ðprocedure.€The€petitioner€was,€however,€detained€while€his€application€was€being€considered.€HeÐ €%Ð # Ðwas€released€from€detention€on€26€February€2001,€and€since€then€has€been€residing€in€a€shelter€forÐ p&À!$ Ðasylum-seekers.€Ð `'°"% ÐÌ2.8€€€€€€On€27€October€2000,€the€petitioner€had€a€second€interview€with€the€IND.€On€28€OctoberÐ @)$' Ð2000,€his€request€for€asylum€was€refused€on€the€grounds€that€it€was€manifestly€unfounded.€On€theÐ 0*€%( Ðsame€day,€the€petitioner's€lawyer€lodged€an€appeal€against€this€decision€and€against€the€decision€toÐ  +p&) Ðkeep€him€in€custody.€By€judgement€of€13€November€2000,€The€Hague€District€Court,€declared€theÐ ,`'* Ðappeal€unfounded.€According€to€counsel,€this€decision€was€unfair€for€the€following€main€reasons:€Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), Ðà0  àð ðà ` àThe€Court€indicated€that€the€petitioner's€scars€alleged€to€have€been€caused€in€AprilÐ ° Ð2000,€but€not€mentioned€by€the€petitioner€or€his€lawyer€until€the€appeal€hearing,€did€notÐ  ð Ðprove€that€the€petitioner€would€be€personally€at€risk€of€torture,€as€the€incident€occurred€asÐ à Ðpart€of€a€general€enquiry€into€the€death€of€Ô_ÔPLOTEÔ_Ô€soldiers.€Counsel,€however,€contends€thatÐ €Ð Ðscars€on€one's€body€constitute€a€risk€factor,€since€they€can€cause€suspicion€of€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_ÔÐ pÀ Ðinvolvement€by€the€Sri€Lankan€authorities.€Counsel€explains€that€the€incident€in€April€2000Ð ` ° Ðwas€not€mentioned€prior€to€the€appeal€as€it€was€not€because€of€these€incidents€but€theÐ P   Ðincidents€in€October€that€the€petitioner€had€fled€Sri€Lanka.€Apparently,€in€his€interview€withÐ @  Ðthe€Ministry€the€petitioner€had€been€asked€what€had€made€him€flee.€Ð0 €(#(# ÐÌà0  àð ðà ` àCounsel€also€submits€that€such€misunderstandings€are€unavoidable€when€theÐ `  Ðaccelerated€procedure€is€employed.€He€says€that€this€procedure,€where€an€asylum€applicationÐ P  Ðmay€be€considered€in€48€hours€from€the€time€of€arrival,€where€the€exhausted€asylum-seekerÐ ð@  Ðis€detained€with€little€privacy€and€spends€only€three€hours€with€a€legal€advisor€after€the€firstÐ à0  Ðinterview€with€the€Ministry,€during€which€there€are€inevitably€problems€with€interpretation,Ð Ð  Ðis€obviously€not€conducive€to€receiving€a€correct€version€of€the€facts€of€the€case€from€theÐ À Ðasylum-seeker.а(#(# ÐÌò òThe€complaint€ó óÐ à ÐÌ3.€€€€€€Counsel€claims€that,€in€view€of€the€earlier€treatment€received€by€the€petitioner€at€the€hands€ofÐ pÀ ÐÔ_ÔPLOTEÔ_Ô€and€the€Sri€Lankan€army,€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€beÐ `° Ðpersonally€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€on€return€to€Sri€Lanka€and,€therefore,€theÐ P  ÐNetherlands€would€be€violating€article€3€of€the€Convention€if€he€were€returned€there.€Counsel€pointsÐ @ Ðout€that€according€to€respected€sources,€"a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€ofÐ 0€ Ðhuman€rights",€prevails€in€Sri€Lanka,€and€refers€in€this€regard€to€article€3(2)€of€the€Convention.Ð  p ÐCounsel€also€claims€that€given€the€human€rights€situation€in€Sri€Lanka,€it€is€inappropriate€to€decideÐ ` Ðon€such€cases€in€an€accelerated€procedure.€Ð P ÐÌò òThe€State€party's€observations€on€admissibility€and€merits€ó óÐ à0 ÐÌ4.1€€€€€€On€1€June€2001,€the€State€party€submitted€its€comments€on€the€admissibility€and€merits€of€theÐ À! Ðcommunication.€The€State€party€does€not€contest€the€admissibility€of€the€communication.€Ð °"  ÐÌ4.2€€€€€€As€to€the€merits,€the€State€party€begins€by€describing€the€refugee€determination€process€in€theÐ $à" ÐNetherlands.€Asylum€applications€are€dealt€with€by€the€IND.€If€an€application€for€admission€as€aÐ €%Ð # Ðrefugee€can€be€assessed€within€48€hours,€it€is€dealt€with€at€the€application€centre,€of€which€there€areÐ p&À!$ Ðfour.€Asylum€seekers€are€interviewed€with€the€aid€of€a€questionnaire,€which€contains€no€questionsÐ `'°"% Ðregarding€the€applicant's€reasons€for€seeking€asylum.€An€interpreter€is€also€made€available€ifÐ P( #& Ðnecessary.€Ð @)$' ÐÌ4.3€€€€€€The€next€step€consists€of€an€in-depth€interview€prior€to€which€the€applicant€has€an€opportunityÐ  +p&) Ðto€prepare€with€the€assistance€of€a€legal€advisor€for€two€hours.€If€the€preparation€for€the€secondÐ ,`'* Ðinterview€takes€more€than€two€hours€the€time€limit€of€48€hours€within€which€a€decision€must€beÐ -P(+ Ðtaken€on€the€application€is€extended€commensurately.€The€second€interview€focuses€mainly€on€theÐ ð-@), Ðreasons€for€leaving€the€country€of€origin.€The€applicant€is€given€an€opportunity€to€correct€or€addÐ ° Ðinformation€to€the€report€of€this€interview€with€the€assistance€of€his/her€legal€advisor€and€with€aÐ  ð Ðpreparatory€time€of€three€hours,€but€this€period€may€be€extended,€if€necessary.€Subsequently,€anÐ à Ðofficer€from€IND€takes€a€decision€on€the€application.€Ð €Ð ÐÌ4.4€€€€€€The€State€party€submits€that€to€assist€IND€officials€in€assessing€asylum€applications,€theÐ ` ° ÐMinister€of€Foreign€Affairs€regularly€issues€country€reports€on€the€situation€in€countries€of€origin.Ð P   ÐIn€drawing€up€these€reports,€the€Minister€makes€use€of€published€sources€and€reports€byÐ @  Ðnon-governmental€organisations,€as€well€as€reports€by€Dutch€diplomatic€missions€in€the€countriesÐ 0 € Ðof€origin.€Ð  p  ÐÌ4.5€€€€€€The€State€party€states€that€asylum€seekers€staying€at€an€application€centre€have€access€toÐ P  Ðmedical€care.€Basic€facilities€are€also€available€at€such€centres,€including€a€dormitory,€daytimeÐ ð@  Ðactivities€and€the€provision€of€hot€and€cold€meals.€The€State€party,€states€that€if€an€application€isÐ à0  Ðrefused€the€asylum-seeker€may€request€the€Minister€of€Justice€to€review€the€decision€and€then€appealÐ Ð  Ðto€the€District€Court.€In€cases€where€the€individual€has€been€deprived€of€his/her€liberty€or€whoseÐ À Ðliberty€has€been€restricted,€the€petitioner€may€lodge€an€appeal€immediately€with€the€District€Court.€Ð ° ÐÌ4.6€€€€€€With€respect€to€the€general€human€rights€situation€in€Sri€Lanka,€the€State€party€submits€thatÐ à Ðthe€current€policy€on€asylum-seekers€from€Sri€Lanka€is€based€on€the€Minister€of€Foreign€Affairs'Ð €Ð Ðcountry€report€of€28€July€2000,€which€describes€recent€developments€there.€The€State€Secretary€forÐ pÀ ÐJustice€concluded€from€this€report€that€the€return€of€rejected€asylum-seekers€is€still€a€responsibleÐ `° Ðcourse€of€action.€Though€the€ethnic€conflict€in€Sri€Lanka€did€intensify€significantly€inÐ P  ÐOctober/November€1999,€creating€a€very€unstable€situation€in€the€north€and€east€of€the€country,€inÐ @ Ðgovernment-controlled€areas,€Tamils€can€still€find€alternative€places€of€residence.€Ð 0€ ÐÌ4.7€€€€€€The€State€party€also€states€that€the€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€takes€the€view€that€asylum-seekers€from€SriÐ ` ÐLanka€whose€application€for€asylum€are€refused€after€careful€consideration€can€be€returned€to€theirÐ P Ðcountry€of€origin.€According€to€the€State€party,€the€Minister's€country€report€of€22€August€2000Ð ð@ Ðindicates€that€this€position€has€not€changed.€In€addition,€the€State€party€quotes€from€the€Minister'sÐ à0 Ðreport,€dated€27€April€2001,€which€discusses€the€risk€of€detention,€prolonged€or€otherwise,€thatÐ Ð  ÐTamils€with€scars€are€exposed€to.€It€states€that€"All€sources€consulted€say€that€external€scars€canÐ À! Ðprompt€further€interrogation,€but€not€on€their€Ô_ÔownNoneÔ_Ô€of€the€sources€consulted€was€of€the€opinionÐ °"  Ðthat€a€scar€would€constitute€a€risk€factor€for€someone€who€had€the€necessary€documents€and€aÐ  #ð! Ðcredible€reason€for€being€in€Colombo.."€Ð $à" ÐÌ4.8€€€€€€The€State€party€refers€to€the€Committee's€jurisprudence€that€an€individual€must€provideÐ p&À!$ Ðspecific€grounds€indicating€that€he/she€would€be€personally€at€risk€of€being€tortured€if€returned€toÐ `'°"% Ðthe€receiving€country.òò1óó€€The€State€party€contests€the€allegation€that€the€petitioner€would€be€so€at€risk.Ð P( #& ÐIt€states€that€the€petitioner€has€failed€to€demonstrate€that€he€would€be€under€suspicion€by€either€theÐ @)$' Ðauthorities€or€Ô_ÔPLOTEÔ_Ô,€especially€since€his€alleged€work€for€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€took€place€more€than€sevenÐ 0*€%( Ðyears€ago.€The€State€party€does€not€consider€it€plausible€that€the€petitioner€would€now€encounterÐ  +p&) Ðproblems€as€a€result€to€these€alleged€activities.€Ð ,`'* ÐÌ4.9€€€€€€The€State€party€argues€that€after€his€arrest€by€Ô_ÔPLOTEÔ_Ô€and€the€Sri€Lankan€army€in€OctoberÐ ð-@), Ð2000,€he€was€released€on€both€occasions€after€only€one€day.€The€State€party€finds€it€implausible€thatÐ ° Ðthe€petitioner€would€have€been€released€after€such€a€short€time€if€he€had€been€suspected€of€beingÐ  ð Ðinvolved€with€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô.€In€addition,€the€State€party€finds€it€significant€that€the€petitioner€travelledÐ à Ðto€Colombo€and€then€to€the€airport€with€the€permission€of€the€authorities€after€being€held€in€detentionÐ €Ð Ðin€October€2000€and€being€checked€twice€during€this€trip€without€any€difficulties€from€theÐ pÀ Ðauthorities.€The€petitioner€then€left€the€country€using€his€own€authentic€passport.€This€sequence€ofÐ ` ° Ðevents,€it€is€submitted,€does€not€suggest€that€the€Sri€Lankan€authorities€bear€any€ill-will€towards€theÐ P   Ðpetitioner€personally€or€suspect€him€of€being€involved€with€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô.€Ð @  ÐÌ4.10€€€€€€The€State€party€further€submits€that€the€petitioner's€statement€that€due€to€the€brevity€of€theÐ  p  Ðprocedure€at€the€application€centre€he€was€unable€to€discuss€his€scars,€does€not€detract€from€theÐ `  Ðcorrectness€of€the€decision€on€the€application€for€asylum.€It€is€of€the€opinion€that€the€procedureÐ P  Ðprovides€sufficient€guarantees€that€an€application€for€asylum€will€be€dealt€with€carefully€as€describedÐ ð@  Ðfrom€paragraphs€4.2€to€4.5€above.€With€respect€to€the€assessment€of€the€petitioner's€case,€the€StateÐ à0  Ðparty€submits€that€he€prepared€for€the€second€interview€with€the€assistance€of€a€legal€advisor,€thatÐ Ð  Ðit€was€made€clear€to€him€that€he€should€disclose€all€information€relevant€to€his€application,€he€wasÐ À Ðnotified€of€the€importance€of€the€report€of€this€interview€to€the€asylum€procedure€and€informed€notÐ ° Ðto€withhold€any€information€relating€to€his€application€for€asylum.€During€this€interview,€theÐ  ð Ðpetitioner€was€specifically€asked€if€he€had€scars€from€the€maltreatment€he€had€undergone€and€heÐ à Ðresponded€in€the€negative.€The€petitioner€discussed€the€report€of€the€second€interview€with€his€legalÐ €Ð Ðadvisor€„€which€went€on€for€more€than€three€hours€„€whereupon€corrections€and€additions€to€theÐ pÀ Ðreport€were€submitted.€These€corrections€and€additions€made€no€mention€of€the€alleged€arrest€inÐ `° ÐApril€2000€or€of€the€scars€obtained€as€a€result€of€maltreatment€during€that€arrest.€Thus,€the€StateÐ P  Ðparty€is€of€the€opinion€that€the€petitioner€was€sufficiently€notified€of€the€necessity€to€make€aÐ @ Ðcomplete€statement€and€that€his€asylum€application€was€dealt€with€carefully€at€the€application€centre.€Ð 0€ ÐÌ4.11€€€€€€Further,€on€the€issue€of€the€petitioner's€scars,€the€State€party€is€of€the€view€that€the€petitionerÐ ` Ðhas€not€demonstrated€that€he€was€detained€and€maltreated€in€April€2000€and€that€his€scars€are€a€resultÐ P Ðof€this€maltreatment.€These€claims€have€not€yet€been€corroborated€by€means€of€a€medical€report,€andÐ ð@ Ðit€would€not€be€unreasonable,€the€State€party€submits,€to€expect€such€a€report,€given€the€duration€ofÐ à0 Ðthe€petitioner's€stay€in€the€Netherlands.€The€State€party€also€points€out€that€it€has€not€been€establishedÐ Ð  Ðthat€the€alleged€scars,€gave€rise€to€suspicion€of€involvement€in€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€during€the€two€allegedÐ À! Ðarrests€in€October€2000,€and€that€the€petitioner€himself€was€not€of€the€opinion€that€the€scarsÐ °"  Ðconstituted€a€risk€factor,€since€his€alleged€arrest€and€maltreatment€in€April€2000€were€not€the€reasonÐ  #ð! Ðfor€his€departure€from€Sri€Lanka.€Ð $à" ÐÌ4.12€€€€€€The€State€party€also€adds€that€in€a€letter,€dated€1€February€2001,€the€petitioner€was€given€anÐ p&À!$ Ðopportunity€to€submit€another€application€for€asylum,€in€which€the€statements€regarding€his€arrestÐ `'°"% Ðin€April€2000€could€have€been€included.€He€would€have€been€allowed€to€remain€in€the€NetherlandsÐ P( #& Ðpending€the€results€of€this€application.€The€petitioner€did€not€make€use€of€this€opportunity.€Ð @)$' ÐÌò òPetitioner's€comments€on€the€State€party's€submission€ó óÐ  +p&) ÐÌ5.1€€€€€€€In€his€response,€on€24€July€2001,€to€the€State€party's€submission€the€petitioner€reiterates€theÐ -P(+ Ðclaims€made€in€the€initial€submission,€including€the€claim€about€the€unfairness€of€the€acceleratedÐ ð-@), Ðasylum€procedure.€In€this€regard,€he€also€submits€that€although€a€legal€advisor€may€be€present€at€theÐ ° Ðfirst€interview€he€cannot€participate€by€asking€questions€himself€nor€assist€the€asylum„seeker€in€theÐ  ð Ðpreparation€of€this€interview.€In€practice,€the€legal€advisor€has€no€time€even€to€attend€this€firstÐ à Ðinterview.€This€is€very€important,€as€it€is€after€this€first€interview€that€the€decision€is€made€whetherÐ €Ð Ðto€deal€with€the€case€by€the€accelerated€procedure€or€not€and€whether€the€asylum-seeker€will€be€keptÐ pÀ Ðin€detention.€The€petitioner€further€states€that€he€had€three€different€lawyers€acting€for€him€atÐ ` ° Ðdifferent€times€and€that€neither€of€his€first€two€lawyers€were€familiar€enough€with€the€situation€inÐ P   ÐSri€Lanka€to€ask€him€the€appropriate€questions,€including€a€question€as€to€the€possibility€of€scars€onÐ @  Ðhis€body.€It€was€only€the€petitioner's€third€lawyer€that€recognised€the€importance€of€this€issue€in€SriÐ 0 € ÐLanka.€Ð  p  ÐÌ5.2€€€€€€The€petitioner€contests€the€State€party's€view€of€the€general€human€rights€situation€in€SriÐ P  ÐLanka.€He€questions€the€sources€referred€to€in€the€Ministry's€report€of€July€2000€and€states€that,€theÐ ð@  Ðstatement€in€this€report€that€the€situation€gives€cause€for€concern€is€an€understatement.€He€also€refersÐ à0  Ðto€a€report€by€the€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€which€states€that€if€Tamil€asylum-seekers€with€scars€are€returned€to€SriÐ Ð  ÐLanka€they€may€be€more€prone€to€adverse€identification€by€the€security€forces€and€taken€for€rigorousÐ À Ðquestioning€and€potential€ill-treatment€The€petitioner€also€refers€to€other€reports€from€internationalÐ ° Ðorganisations€to€support€his€view€that€the€presence€of€scars€on€the€body€of€returned€Tamils€to€SriÐ  ð ÐLanka€puts€them€at€particular€risk.€He€states€that€if€returned€to€Colombo€he€runs€the€risk€of€anÐ à Ðidentity€and€background€check€as€he€does€not€have€a€valid€reason€for€wanting€to€stay€in€Colombo,Ð €Ð Ðhas€no€police-registration€in€Colombo€and€does€not€have€a€National€Identity€Card€with€him.€Ð pÀ ÐÌ5.3€€€€€€On€the€State€party's€point€that€if€the€petitioner€had€been€a€suspect€he€would€not€have€been€ableÐ P  Ðto€travel€to€Colombo€and€flee€from€the€country€having€being€checked€in€twice€by€the€authorities€onÐ @ Ðan€authentic€passport,€he€states€that€there€is€no€evidence€showing€that€the€authorities€have€a€centralÐ 0€ Ðsystem€to€register€all€those€suspected€of€involvement€with€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô.€He€says€also€that€this€fact€wasÐ  p Ðconfirmed€by€the€July€2000€report€of€the€Ministry€of€Foreign€Affairs.€Ð ` ÐÌ5.4€€€€€€On€the€State€party's€point€that€a€second€asylum€application€could€have€been€lodged€he€statesÐ ð@ Ðthat€this€would€have€been€pointless€as€the€District€Court€was€informed€about€his€scars€and€stillÐ à0 Ðdecided€that€there€was€no€risk€involved€by€removing€him€to€Sri€Lanka.€Thus,€there€were€no€new€factsÐ Ð  Ðor€circumstances€to€present€on€his€behalf.€He€goes€on€to€say€that€he€did€show€his€scars€to€the€Court,Ð À! Ðincluding€the€prosecution,€and€therefore€a€medical€report€is€an€unnecessary€requirement.€Ð °"  ÐÌò òIssues€and€Proceedings€before€the€Committee€ó óÐ $à" ÐÌ6.1€€€€€€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€against€TortureÐ p&À!$ 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€State€party€has€not€contested€theÐ 0*€%( Ðadmissibility€of€the€communication.€As€the€Committee€sees€no€further€obstacles€to€admissibility,€itÐ  +p&) Ðdeclares€the€communication€admissible€and€proceeds€immediately€to€the€consideration€of€the€merits.€Ð ,`'* ÐÌ6.2€€€€€€The€Committee€must€decide€whether€the€forced€return€of€the€petitioner€to€Sri€Lanka€wouldÐ ð-@), Ðviolate€the€State€party's€obligation,€under€article€3,€paragraph€1€of€the€Convention,€not€to€expel€orÐ ° Ðreturn€(òòÔ_ÔrefoulerÔ_Ôóó)€an€individual€to€another€State€where€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€thatÐ  ð Ðhe€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€In€order€to€reach€its€conclusion€the€CommitteeÐ à Ðmust€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations,€including€the€existence€in€the€State€concerned€ofÐ €Ð Ða€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€The€aim,€however,€is€toÐ pÀ Ðdetermine€whether€the€individual€concerned€would€personally€risk€torture€in€the€country€to€whichÐ ` ° Ðhe€or€she€would€return.€It€follows€that€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massÐ P   Ðviolations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€sufficient€grounds€for€determiningÐ @  Ðwhether€the€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€thatÐ 0 € Ðcountry;€additional€grounds€must€be€adduced€to€show€that€the€individual€concerned€would€beÐ  p  Ðpersonally€at€risk.€Conversely,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€violations€of€human€rightsÐ `  Ðdoes€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€hisÐ P  Ðor€her€specific€circumstances.€Ð ð@  ÐÌ6.3€€€€€€The€Committee€has€noted€the€petitioner's€claim€that€he€is€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÐ Ð  Ðtorture€if€he€is€returned€to€Sri€Lanka€due€to€his€previous€involvement€with€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô,€that€he€hasÐ À Ðallegedly€already€been€maltreated€twice€by€the€authorities,€and€that€he€has€scars€on€his€body€whichÐ ° Ðthe€authorities€would€likely€assume€to€have€been€caused€by€fighting€for€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô.€It€has€alsoÐ  ð Ðconsidered€the€claim€that,€because€of€the€brevity€of€the€accelerated€procedure,€the€petitioner€wasÐ à Ðprevented€from€informing€the€authorities€early€on€in€the€procedure€that€he€had€scars€from€earlierÐ €Ð Ðmaltreatment€and€that€this€information€may€have€allowed€the€authorities€to€consider€his€applicationÐ pÀ Ðmore€favourably.€The€Committee€has€also€noted€the€State€party's€description€of€the€procedure,€itsÐ `° Ðdetailed€account€of€the€measures€in€place,€including€regular€contact€with€a€legal€advisor€and€theÐ P  Ðpossibility€of€appeal,€to€allow€for€due€process€of€the€asylum€applications.€It€also€notes,€that€the€CourtÐ @ Ðof€Appeal€did€consider€the€question€of€the€petitioner's€scars€and€that€it€was€not€solely€on€this€issueÐ 0€ Ðbut€on€a€consideration€of€all€the€facts€at€its€disposal€that€the€Court€decided€not€to€grant€asylum.€Ð  p ÐÌ6.4€€€€€€Although€the€State€party€appears€to€concede€that,€the€petitioner€was€arrested€and€detained€byÐ P Ðthe€authorities€twice€in€October€2000,€the€Committee€notes€that€it€was€not€of€the€view€that€theÐ ð@ Ðpetitioner€is€suspected€of€involvement€with€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô,€considering€the€fact€that€he€was€held€for€onlyÐ à0 Ðone€day€on€each€occasion€of€his€arrest€and€was€never€actually€a€member€of€this€organisation.€TheÐ Ð  ÐCommittee€observes€that€the€petitioner€does€not€contend€that€he€was€a€member€of€the€Ô_ÔLTTEÔ_Ô€nor€doesÐ À! Ðhe€contend€that€he€was€involved€in€any€political€activity.€In€addition,€the€Committee€notes€that€theÐ °"  Ðpetitioner€only€worked€for€two€months€for€this€organisation,€six€years€prior€to€his€first€arrest.€In€theÐ  #ð! ÐCommittee's€view,€the€petitioner€has€not€alleged€any€other€circumstances,€other€than€the€presenceÐ $à" Ðof€scars€on€his€body,€which€would€appear€to€make€him€particularly€vulnerable€to€the€risk€of€beingÐ €%Ð # Ðtortured.€For€the€abovementioned€reasons,€the€Committee€finds€that€the€petitioner€has€not€providedÐ p&À!$ Ðsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€tortured€were€he€to€be€returnedÐ `'°"% Ðto€Sri€Lanka€and€that€such€danger€is€personal€and€present.€Ð P( #& ÐÌ7.€€€€€The€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Convention€againstÐ 0*€%( ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€concludes€that€theÐ  +p&) Ðpetitioner's€removal€to€Sri€Lanka€by€the€State€party€would€not€constitute€a€breach€of€article€3€of€theÐ ,`'* ÐConvention.€Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), Ðò òNotesÐ ° Ðó óÌòò1óó€€The€State€party€refers€to€A€v.€The€Netherlands,€Case€No.€91/1997,€adopted€on13€November€1998,Ð à ÐÔ_ÔE.A.Ô_Ô€v.€Switzerland,€Case€No.€28/1995,€adopted€on€10€April€1997,€and€Ô_ÔK.N.Ô_Ô€v.€Switzerland,€CaseÐ €Ð ÐNo.€94/1007,€adopted€on€15€May€1998.€Ð pÀ ÐÌÓïÓ