Citation: 2019 RLLR 58
Tribunal: Refugee Protection Division
Date of Decision: May 1, 2019
Panel: J. Pollock
Counsel for the claimant(s): A. Mejia-Arias
Country: Colombia
RPD Number: TB8-07483
ATIP Number: A-2020-01274
ATIP Pages: 000129-000138
REASONS FOR DECISION
[1] MEMBER: We are back on record. All the same parties are present, except Madam Interpreter has been excused while we were off record.
[2] While we were off record, while Madam Interpreter was still present, I advised the claimant and counsel that I would be granting the claim here today. Madam Interpreter indicated that she has a headache and is unable to remain in the hearing room. So with — well, I discussed this issue with counsel.
[3] And Counsel, my understanding is you have no objection to me providing my reasons and waiving off interpretation.
[4] COUNSEL: I have no objection.
[5] MEMBER: Thank you so much.
[6] All right. While we were off record, I also provided the original documents back to Counsel.
[7] I have considered your testimony and the other evidence that you presented here today, and I am ready to render my decision.
[8] This is a decision for Ms. [XXX].
[9] The claimant claims to be a citizen of Columbia and is making her claim protection pursuant to sections 96 and 97(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
[10] In considering your claim here today and in rendering my decision, I have considered and applied the Chairperson’s Guideline 4 on women refugee claimants fearing persecution.
[11] I find that you are a convention refugee as you have established a serious possibility of persecution upon return to Colombia based upon your particular social group as a religious community worker who was imputed to be opposed to the ELN.
[12] Your allegations are set out in detail in your basis of claim form which we have at Exhibit 2.
[13] You allege that you worked in the evangelical sense by providing community religious work to various underserved communities in Columbia.
[14] You indicated that you provided literacy lessons to adults and children and that you taught people about the bible.
[15] You allege that the person who you referred to as your spiritual father, Pastor [XXX] (ph), was murdered in [XXX] 2015 by the ELN. You allege that you, along with his now widow, witnessed this murder, and that ever since this time you received multiple threats from the ELN.
[16] So specifically, you indicate that you were personally approached while you were in [XXX] (ph) in Sincelejo.
[17] You were approached by members of the ELN, who identified themselves as members of the ELN who demanded that you cease your religious work, and that you were interfering in the community. They ordered you to leave. They explained that they would kill you if you didn’t do as they told you.
[18] You further allege you experienced two more threatening phone calls, one in [XXX] 2016, the next in [XXX] 2016. You allege that during these calls they again threatened your life and demanded that you cease your evangelical work. They also demanded that you leave the city.
[19] As a result, you fled the city where you were living in Manaure and you resided with family. You then fled Columbia for Canada where you remained on a visa.
[20] You allege that even after you fled Columbia, your family members continued to receive telephone threats regarding you specifically.
[21] Just for clarity purposes, the full name of the ELN is National Liberation Army, hereinafter referred to as the ELN.
[22] I find your personal identity as a national of Columbia is established on a balance of probabilities by your Columbian passport, which I have at Exhibit 1.
[23] Regarding the issue of nexus, I do find that the ELN targeted you for reasons beyond the expansion of their criminal enterprise. I am satisfied that on the particular facts of your case, the ELN targeted you because of your community religious work.
[24] I would note that even if the ELN has expanded into drug trafficking and other criminal enterprises throughout Colombia, it remains at its core a guerilla group with violent political aspirations and a left-wing political ideology that is known to target community workers.
[25] In my view, from the perspective of the agent of persecution, your particular religious community activities were in opposition to the objectives of the ELN and, as a result, they imputed to you an anti-ELN political opinion.
[26] And I am satisfied that your religious work in the community is central to your human rights and, therefore, that you do comprise a particular social group as a community religious worker.
[27] Regarding your credibility, I find you to be generally credible. I did have some credibility concerns. However, I found you to be extremely credible when it came to your commitment to your religious work in Columbia and your continuing religious work here in Canada.
[28] I do believe that you acted as a religious worker, that you engaged underserved communities in lessons about literacy, as well as lessons about the bible.
[29] You provided very detailed testimony in this respect which I found compelling. You spoke about the importance of your faith to you personally.
[30] You spoke in detail about what led you to become involved in this work back in 1997 and I found that to be credible as well.
[31] You spoke about why you were motivated to engage in this work after you first met your spiritual father, who then later on was murdered. I would note that this testimony was very difficult for you as it required you to remember this very important person in your life. And as a result, an additional break was offered to you today. I did find that to be very credible.
[32] I also found to be credible your allegation that you witnessed your spiritual father’s murder. Your testimony about this was consistent and it was detailed and very spontaneous.
[33] I would note that there was a minor inconsistency in your testimony.
[34] So when I had asked you about what was told to you during the first telephone threat you received from the ELN, you didn’t mention that they indicated they knew where you were living. However, you did mention the vast majority of every other single thing that you allege that they told you on that day.
[35] And so I have weighed this omission against the consistent nature of your testimony for that threat in particular, and I find that it is minor in nature. You indicated that you may have forgotten this detail and I am affording you the benefit of the doubt with respect to this inconsistency. I haven’t drawn an adverse inference.
[36] I do find that you were threatened in person, as alleged, and over the phone as alleged in your narrative.
[37] However, I did and I am drawing an adverse inference based on your submission of a national attorney general report. Specifically, this report appears at Exhibit 6. So it begins at page 25 and it ends at page 28.
[38] You tendered this report in evidence and you also provided a purported original document to a company, the copy that you put in evidence. However, upon my review of this original document, I noted there were no signatures apparent.
[39] However, on the copy in the disclosure package, at page 26, your signature appears above the phrase “reporting party”. I wasn’t sure why this was and so I asked for your comment on this.
[40] You indicated that you signed this document in Canada. When it was asked why you had done this, you indicated you believed you were supposed to do this. However, I find that this alteration of a document undermines its veracity before me here today and I am drawing an adverse inference as to your credibility.
[41] In addition to the fact that the original document doesn’t match the document in evidence, I would note that there is no indication that this report was even filed with the authorities. There is no stamp. There is no signature by the receiving party. You indicated they didn’t sign it. However, I am not satisfied on a balance of probabilities that this report was filed
[42] I also did have some concerns about the appearance of the report. However, I won’t draw an adverse inference on that basis, given that the comparison report may indeed be a different report and that specifically, the report example specimen that I am referring to is at Exhibit 3, Item 9.5.
[43] So we do have an example of a report to the national attorney general appears to be generally and we know that there is no variation in the format of reports because they are established by the attorney general in Columbia. However, given that the title of the report is different from the title of the specimen, I won’t draw an adverse inference.
[44] But I do draw an adverse inference based on the fact that you signed this document and I have no credible evidence before me to indicate that it was ever filed. So I have drawn an adverse inference on this basis.
[45] However, it’s my job to weigh the evidence before me. Even considering the minor inconsistency about the telephone threat, and the fact that I don’t find this report that you have given me to be credible, I do find that the balance of your evidence is credible and I believe what goes to the core of your claim, which is that you were a community religious worker and that you were threatened by the ELN.
[46] In addition to these credibility concerns, I also asked you about why you delayed two years in making your claim. So you entered Canada in XXXX or, sorry, in XXXX of 2016 and you made your claim in XXXX of 2018.
[47] When I asked you for an explanation, you indicated that you — well, first of all, you indicated that your visa did not expire. But then I confronted you with your stamp which indicates it expired in XXXX of 2016. At that point you indicated that in fact you did try and renew your temporary status. But there is no evidence before me that you did engage in an attempt to renew your status
[48] I have examined the GCMS notes at Exhibit 1 and I note that there is no reference to an extension being filed. The only dates that are after 2015, that I can see in these notes, refer to your claim in 2018 and refer to the file being archived in 2017.
[49] And so I don’t find that you have established, on a balance of probabilities that you made an attempt to extend your status here in Canada
[50] I note that by remaining in Canada without authorization for one and a half years following the expiration of your six months upon entering Canada, you were at risk of removal to Columbia. And I find it unreasonable for you not to have made your claim sooner.
[51] I have considered your explanation, which is that you remained hopeful that the peace process in Columbia — and I do appreciate that and I have weighed that explanation. However, this is a significant delay.
[52] While I may be in a position to accept that as a reasonable explanation for a shorter delay, I simply don’t find it reasonable for two years, especially when I am finding that you were without status for one and a half of those years and at risk of removal.
[53] So while I do draw an adverse inference against your credibility based on the significant delay, I don’t find that this failure puts your general credibility in doubt. Indeed, I am mindful that it’s not advisable to deny a claim solely based on an adverse inference as to a claimant’s subjective fear.
[54] I find even when combining this to your delay with my adverse inference as to your submission of the report that I don’t find credible, I still find that the credible evidence in your claim outweighs these adverse inferences.
[55] And so I do find you credible on a balance of probabilities and I do find that you face the harm that you have alleged in support of your claim.
[56] So in addition to your generally credible testimony, you did provide a number of documents which I did find to be credible before me here today.
[57] So you provided me with a letter from your employer in Columbia. I didn’t see the original of that document. However, I saw a copy.
[58] You provided me with the original church letter and I found that to be very credible. Your testimony about the name of the church, who your pastor was; all of that was consistent and I placed weight on that letter. I do find that you attended the church you have alleged and that you engaged in the community work that is included in that letter.
[59] I have also considered the affidavit from your mum. I know that this corroborates your allegations and is also accompanied by information about (inaudible) and also a photograph of her upon making the affidavit.
[60] I have also considered to be quite credible the affidavit from the friend who you had from the church, Ms. [XXX] (ph) and so that appears at page 19 of Exhibit 6, also an affidavit accompanied by a photo of her commenting on that declaration
[61] I found that to be consistent with your allegations and that it corroborates the specific allegation where you were personally approached by the ELN.
[62] I have also considered the affidavit from your sister. And while I note that this doesn’t refer to her seeking police protection or protection from the authorities as you have alleged, I am mindful that evidence should be taken for what it does say and not for what it does not say and, I further note, that it does corroborate your allegation that she received threatening telephone calls. So I have waived this in your favour as well.
[63] Perhaps one of the most compelling pieces of evidence that you provided, however, is the affidavit from the widow of your spiritual father. I found this to be very credible and I placed significant weight on this document.
[64] I found that its description of the murder of your spiritual father to be very consistent with what you have alleged and I also found it to be written in a very compelling manner as well.
[65] So specifically, she mentions that, “This was the most horrible moment of my life. I’m sure it was the most terrible experience also for XXXX and my daughter.”
[66] I just found this to be a very credible and compelling document and I accorded it significant weight.
[67] Okay. So in addition to this personal evidence, I also have considered the objective evidence before me.
[68] I would note that while the Columbian government has signed a final peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, also known as the PARC, and they have completed PARC demobilization in XXXX 2017, in contrast, the peace process with the ELN has stalled in Columbia.
[69] The ceasefire with the ELN ended in XXXX 2018 after the armed group resume attacks and the government suspended the peace negotiations.
[70] So since the end of the ceasefire with the ELN the armed conflict has intensified in many regions in Columbia and, indeed, many FARC dissidents have been joining the ELN, expanding its territory and its operations.
[71] The ELN is described as Columbia’s biggest guerrilla group with somewhere between 1,500 and 2,500 combatants, which operate in war fronts or urban militias. The ELN continues to regularly carry out kidnappings, extortion, assassinations, bombings and other terrorist activities.
[72] Indeed, I am also mindful of counsel’s disclosure of recent documentary evidence which indicates that the ELN took responsibility for targeted attacks in January 2019; an attack against a police academy killing 21 people.
[73] So these more recent reports can be found at Exhibit 6 at page 29.
[74] Okay. I further acknowledge that the country condition evidence is clear regarding the consequences of being declared a military objective. So you indicate that during the last telephone call they declared you a military objective.
[75] The national documentation package indicates that when a person is declared a military objective it means that they have been issued a threat to be killed and that their life, physical integrity and freedom are endangered, and also indicates that these objectives are commonly made by guerilla groups such as the ELN.
[76] The NDP also corroborates that the persecution of social leaders and community workers in Columbia is increasing. Indeed, scores of activists have been murdered and there is widespread impunity for their killers in Columbia. The problem is getting worse, not getting better, according to the objective evidence.
[77] Moreover, there is specific reference in the documents to the targeting of religious workers.
[78] So counsel has provided a very recent report which indicates the murder of a religious worker. That appears at page —
[79] COUNSEL: Thirty-five (35).
[80] MEMBER: — oh, 35. Thank you so much, Counsel. At page 35.
[81] And we also know from the objective evidence that there is intimidation, violence and killing and targeting of religious leaders and members of religious communities, that Columbia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world in which to be a community leader, including a religious community worker, that non-governmental organizations in Columbia continue to report that in many areas of the country, illegal armed groups threatened leaders and members of religious organizations.
[82] So I do find based on all this evidence that your claim is objectively well founded and that you face more than a mere possibility of persecution upon return to Columbia.
[83] Regarding state protection, I find on a balance of probabilities and, in light of your particular circumstances, that there is clear and convincing evidence that the Columbian state would be unable to provide you with adequate protection.
[84] You allege that you made no less than three attempts to obtain protection in Columbia by contacting the police unsuccessfully and also the attorney general in Columbia in three specific occasions.
[85] I find that the objective evidence, in your particular circumstances, supports the inadequacy of state protection in Columbia.
[86] I would note that the Columbian government has undertaken significant efforts to combat the ELN, including through the bombing of ELN camps and the capture of ELN members. However, the documents also indicate that when victims of armed groups complain to Columbian authorities, the state is often unable to provide them with protection. This is especially so for cases like yourself in which you are not high profile.
[87] I would note that the National Protection Unit, or UNP in Columbia, focuses on persons given their position or activities who may be subjected to extraordinary or extreme risk, such as well known human rights defenders. I don’t find on a balance of probabilities that you are of a particularly high profile or that you are a well-known human rights worker. You are a community religious worker.
[88] I would note that while this program is in place, there is evidence in the documents to show that four social leaders, who were provided with UNP protection, were killed while under protection of that unit in 2017, despite all four of them having been assigned bodyguards.
[89] The NDP goes on to note that budgetary cuts affecting the unit have negatively impacted protection schemes and that perpetrators of abuses against rights defenders and community workers are rarely held accountable.
[90] And so while I note that the state isn’t expected to provide or afford perfect protection at all times, authorities must be able and willing to implement law and procedure.
[91] So based on my review of the objective evidence and, in your particular circumstances, I find on a balance of probabilities that the evidence is clear and convincing and rebuts the presumption of state protection in your own specific particular circumstances.
[92] I have also considered whether you have a viable internal flight alternative in Columbia. I proposed the city of Sincelejo and the department of Sucre (ph). I would note that the maps that we have in evidence at Items 1.2 as well as Item 7.23 indicate that the ELN is not present or active in Sincelejo or anywhere in the department of Sucre and that’s why I proposed this specific location.
[93] I asked you a number of questions about whether you could safely relocate there. You indicated that you fear that the ELN are active throughout Columbia that they operate without people knowing that they are there and that you fear for your life and your safety throughout the country.
[94] In determining whether the ELN has the means and motivation to locate you in Sincelejo, I have considered their area of operation as well as their interest in you in particular. I would note that the most recent response to information request from April 2018 — that’s Item 7.23 — indicates that information about the ELN’s ability to track people is scarce.
[95] However, the same document quotes the Amnesty International Americas director’s observation that, “It is possible that the ELN can monitor a target across Columbia.”
[96] In addition, I note that you were declared a military target and the NDP is clear that for those who are declared a military objective, relocation within Columbia is not an option. This appears at Item 7.21.
[97] I do note that the ELN has undertaken sustained efforts to find you and that they have located you in a number of different locations in Columbia. So they have called you and your family members.
[98] They have called you while you were in Manaure. They have in Antioquia, the department of Antioquia. They have also located you in Nort Des Centendre. You were also targeted in Centendre when your spiritual father was murdered.
[99] And so I have weighed all of this in the evidence in determining whether you have a viable IFA as well.
[100] However, perhaps most importantly, I am mindful that you remain committed to your religious social work in Columbia and based on my assessment of your credibility.
[101] I have also considered whether you would be able to freely participate in these religious activities in Sincelejo without facing a serious possibility of persecution. I find that you could not.
[102] In making this determination, I have considered the level of violence and harm directed at religious community workers from armed groups in operation throughout Columbia.
[103] So based on the evidence before me and based on your particular circumstances, I find that you would face a serious possibility of persecution throughout Columbia and that there is no viable internal flight alternative for you in Columbia, including in Sincelejo.
[104] So I am accepting your refugee claim and I find you to be a convention refugee, pursuant to sections 96 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
[105] Thank you so much. Thank you.
[106] Thank you, Counsel.
[107] COUNSEL: Thank you.
[108] MEMBER: Thank you.
– – – DECISION CONCLUDED – – –