E/CN.4/2000/9 page 118 involuntary or enforced disappearance of thousands and the forced displacement of some 200,000 persons. Moreover, individuals were reportedly prevented from fleeing. 602. On 13 September 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions on behalf of Mau Hodu, who was reported to be a member of the National Council of Timorese Resistance and the Central Committee of the Fretlin political party. He was reportedly arrested in Dili on 8 September 1999 by a joint Indonesian National Army (TNI) and militia team and his whereabouts were unknown. Follow-up to previously transmitted communications 603. By letter dated 16 February 1999, the Government replied to an urgent appeal sent by the Special Rapporteur on 17 November 1998 on behalf of 26 prisoners from the territory of East Timor (see E/CN.4/1999/61, para. 352). The Government confirmed that on 30 October 1998, the 26 prisoners named in the urgent appeal were transferred from the Becora Correctional Institution to the Balide Military Prison. The Government explained that the transfer took place because facilities were damaged in a violent demonstration on 10 October 1998. The resulting overcrowded conditions prompted the prison authorities to find another insitution to accommodate the prisoners to avoid further unrest. The Government explained that the transfer was also prompted by requests of some inmates and their families. The Balide military prison was selected for the transfer as it was the nearest facility in Dili which could accommodate a large number of prisoners. The Government denied that the transfer was carried out in a forceful manner or that prisoners were beaten with gun butts or thrown into military vehicles during the transfer. It further stated that the prisoners would remain under the responsibility of the Becora Correctional Institution despite being detained at the Balide Military Prison and that the prisoners would be guaranteed access to their families and lawyers, as well as other rights, in accordance with the law. The Government informed the Special Rapporteur that the International Committee of the Red Cross was due to visit the prison in March 1999. 604. By letter dated 9 March 1999 the Government responded to an urgent appeal sent by the Special Rapporteur in conjunction with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on 9 October 1998 (see E/CN.4/1999/61, para. 350). The Government denied that Marcus Belo was arrested and detained by the Air Force unit of the Baucau military airport since the Air Force has no authority to make arrests and detain prisoners. Moreover, the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that there is no detention facility at the Baucau military airport. The Government informed the Special Rapporteur that Marcus Belo had been summoned, together with three other men, by the security authorities of the Baucau military airport on 30 September 1998 in relation to an alleged theft from airport authorities and a member of the security personnel at the airport. The Government denied that the four men were detained at the airport. The Government further replied that, on 1 October 1998, a member of the Air Force unit of the Baucau military airport went to Marcus Belo's house to collect the goods stolen by one of the other three men, which were being voluntarily returned. While at the house, some army uniforms and an M-16 gun with 18 bullets were found in his illegal possession and confiscated. The Government advised that no legal action was taken against him or against the man who had stolen the goods, since they were voluntarily returned. Furthermore, the Government denied