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concluded that "the applicant's uncorroborated testimony

will be insufficient to meet the evidentiary burden unless

it is credible. . . . Credibility is enhanced when the

applicants describe events with specificity, coherence,

internal consistency, and clarity.  Credibility is undercut

by generalities, avoidance of eye contact, evasiveness and

apparent uncooperation in answering questions (some of

which) may be the consequence of the experiences that caused

the applicant to seek asylum."  In addition, physicians have

found that asylum seekers' "shame and humiliation, anxiety,

memory impairments and lack of trust often lead to confusing

and apparently contradictory statements."  Therefore, asylum

applicants may need to undergo extensive treatment and

prepare thoroughly before they are able to communicate

coherently about their persecution.  Physicians for Human

Rights, Medical Testimony on Victims of Torture, p. 13.

50. See Rose Collantes Peters, "Applying for Asylum," Ameri-

can University Journal of International Law and Politics 9

(1994): 245.

51. Moreover, the lawyer must meet with the client to ascer-

tain the details of the claim (which often takes numerous

meetings), and the applicant must be rehearsed and prepared

for the interview.  All of that may take longer than one

might initially expect, given that many asylum applicants do

not speak English fluently and suffer from the side effects

of PTSD.

52. Mark Krikorian, "Who Deserves Asylum?" Commentary, June

1996, pp. 52-54.

53. Pamela Constable, "Togolese Teen Criticizes Detainment,"

Washington Post, April 30, 1996, p. A3.

54. Interview of Fauziya Kasinga on ABC's Nightline, May 3,

1996.

55. Board of Immigration Appeals, "In re Kasinga," Interim

Decision no. 3278, Falls Church, Virginia, 1996.  See Musa-

lo, "In re Kasinga: A Big Step Forward for Gender-Based

Asylum Claims," Interpreter Releases 73 (July 1, 1996): 853.

56. Pamela Goldberg, "U.S. Law and Women Asylum Seekers:

Where Are They and Where Are They Going?" Interpreter Re-

leases 73 (July 8, 1996): 889, 896-97.  Over the two years

ending December 31, 1995, 40,000 refugee claims were filed,

483 of which were granted on the basis of gender claims.