E/CN.4/2000/9 page 105 course of the investigation, Abdul Sattar is said to have confessed to his crime and to the involvement of the two other persons. Furthermore, the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that several cases of sexual exploitation had been registered by women against the organization for which they were working. Finally, the Government indicated that the allegations of torture were baseless and that a National Human Rights Commission team was currently thoroughly investigating the whole matter. 526. By letter dated 5 November 1999, the Government responded to two cases transmitted by the Special Rapporteur in November 1999 (see E/CN.4/1999/61). Concerning Humagaut Rongmei (ibid., para. 302) and Kerhing Zaliang (ibid., para. 303), the Government confirmed their arrest by personnel of the Assam Rifles, but, in the light of medical reports and investigations by the relevant authorities, denied the allegations of torture as baseless. Observations 527. The Special Rapporteur appreciates the responses of notes that they cover only a small proportion of the cases He again regrets the absence of an invitation to visit the clearer picture of a situation that has been of continuing years. the Government. He transmitted in 1998. country to obtain a concern over many Indonesia Regular communications and replies received 528. By letter dated 29 November 1999, the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had continued to receive information according to which acts of torture were widely used by the police and security forces to coerce confessions or information from victims in Indonesia, particularly in the areas of East Timor, Irian Jaya and Aceh. 529. The police allegedly frequently use excessive force when responding to peaceful demonstrations. Information about the following protests which were allegedly dispersed by police using force was transmitted to the Government. 530. On 8 May 1998, thousands of students and local residents reportedly gathered at a local university in central Java to participate in a demonstration. When they reportedly tried to march off campus, the police allegedly beat them with rattan canes. Some students are said to have responded by throwing rocks at the police, which reportedly prompted the police to fire tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets. When the demonstrators did not disperse, the police reportedly attacked the demonstrators with rattan canes, reportedly severely injuring hundreds of the demonstrators. 531. On 12 June 1998, approximately 1,500 East Timorese students conducted a reportedly peaceful demonstration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta. The demonstrators were reportedly beaten with batons, kicked and put into military buses and taken to the Cibubur military camp outside Jakarta, where they were reportedly detained for questioning and beaten. According to the information received, some were also stabbed with bayonets. Some of the injured were reportedly taken to St Carolus Hospital for treatment, including Maria Fatima, who was reportedly vomiting blood and suffering from a bleeding nose,