That the vic�m was abducted by persons or groups of persons ac�ng
with the authorisa�on of the State;
52.4.
That the vic�m was abducted by persons or groups of persons ac�ng
with the support of the State; or
52.5.
That the vic�m was abducted by persons or groups of persons ac�ng
with the acquiescence of the State.
53.
In the case of Amri Che Mat, the first degree of culpability is not relevant. There
is no evidence to indicate that Amri Che Mat was arrested or detained by State
agents in the exercise of their lawful powers. The evidence is that he was taken
away or “disappeared”. As such, the degrees of the State’s culpability that are
relevant in the case of Amri Che Mat, are the second to fi�h degrees of
culpability.
54.
Therefore, the Panel is required to determine whether the evidence, direct
and/or circumstan�al, proves on a balance of probabili�es that he was either
abducted by State agents or abducted by non-State agents with the
authorisa�on, support or acquiescence of the State.
55.
Further, the Panel is required to determine whether the evidence, direct and/or
circumstan�al, proves on a balance of probabili�es, that a�er the disappearance
of Amri Che Mat had occurred, the State has refused to acknowledge the
depriva�on of liberty of the person or has concealed the fate or whereabouts of
the disappeared person as provided under Ar�cle 2 of ICPPED men�oned above.20
56.
In a case of an enforced disappearance, there is an indivisible connec�on
between the ini�al disappearance and the refusal to acknowledge the
depriva�on of liberty or concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the
disappeared person. This is stated by the European Court of Human Rights in the
case of Varnava & Ors v Turkey 21 :
"148. A disappearance is a dis�nct phenomenon, characterised by
an ongoing situa�on of uncertainty and unaccountability in which
there is a lack of informa�on or even a deliberate concealment
20
Refer to paragraph 35 above.
Appl. nos. 16064/90, 16065/90, 16066/90, 16068/90, 16069/90, 16070/90, 16071/90, 16072/90 and 16073/90, Council
of Europe: European Court of Human Rights, 18 September 2009
21
97
AMRI CHE MAT
52.3.