E/CN.4/2000/9
page 139
14 September 1998, on suspicion of having plotted to provoke an armed attack
during the December 1997 presidential campaign. Oh Jeung-Eun was allegedly
strangled and hit on his chest, cheeks and lips, suffered a number of wounds,
particularly to his lips and mouth and later appeared in court violently
shaking. Han Sung-Ki was allegedly also severely beaten, in order to extract a
confession. He reportedly suffered wounds to his chest, scars on both of his
knees and around his waist, and severe bleeding. Jang Suk-Jung was allegedly
beaten on his stomach, legs, feet and face with a bottle. Both of his feet were
allegedly smashed. He reportedly suffered damaged bowels and severe bruising to
his face and body, especially his legs. The three men reportedly appeared before
a Seoul District Court judge on 3 October 1998 in relation to their alleged
treatment at the Seoul District Prosecution Office. The Government replied on
14 December 1999 that the three men were tried and subsequently released on
bail, on charges of having plotted to induce North Korea to armed provocation
during the December 1997 presidential campaign. The Government indicated that
the men had made a complaint alleging that they were tortured by National
Intelligence Service investigators during their interrogation and that the
complaint was currently being investigated by the Prosecutor's Office.
Observations
710.
The Special Rapporteur appreciates the response from the Government. He
draws attention to and shares the concern of the Human Rights Committee in its
concluding observations on the review of the country's periodic report under the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Specifically, the
Committee "takes note of the procedures for monthly monitoring of conditions in
detention centres by prosecutors, but it is concerned that these and other
mechanisms are not adequate to prevent instances of torture and cruel, inhuman
and degrading treatment of detainees. The small percentage of cases in which
complaints of torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment lead to action
against officials calls into question the credibility of the existing procedures
of investigation." (CCPR/C/79/Add.114, para. 14)
Kyrgyzstan
Regular communications and replies received
711.
By letter dated 29 November 1999, the Special Rapporteur advised the
Government that he had received information according to which the conditions
(in particular, sanitary conditions) in pre-trial detention centres (SIZOs) are
very poor. There is a reported lack of food and medicine. Owing to severe overcrowding, prisoners must reportedly sleep in shifts. Poor conditions in two
juvenile correctional facilities were also reported: the Belovodskoe
correctional facility and Vosnesenovski correctional facility. Detainees in
these two facilities are reportedly deprived of adequate food, clothing and
footwear and many are ill.
712.
The Special Rapporteur also transmitted the following cases.
713.
I.I. Skorokhodov, a Russian, was reportedly arrested on 25 May 1998 by
militia officers in Chui-Tokmok. He was reportedly taken to a nearby house,
where, for 30 minutes, officers allegedly kicked him, particularly in the area
of his liver and kidneys, and hit his head causing him to lose consciousness. He
was reportedly taken to City Militia Station No 4. An officer and the militia
captain allegedly hit his head. They reportedly told him to get out of
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