E/CN.4/2000/9 page 70 threatened her with abduction and she was taken from her workplace, located at the intersection of Carretera Central and Avenida de Céspedes, to the police station on Calle 10, Rpto. Zaldive, where the individuals identified themselves as police officers with the surnames Elmes and Oyles. Ms. Grillot is said to have been beaten by these officers even though she had a three-month-old girl in her arms. The reasons for the ill-treatment may be related to the revulsion she expressed when the same police officers mistreated a minor at the intersection of Carretera Central and Calle 8. 342. Salvador Tamargo Jerez was allegedly subjected to a brutal beating by First Lieutenant Alcides Fajardo de las Mangas on 11 June 1998 at the prison known as Centro Típico Las Mangas in Bayamo, Granma province. The lieutenant is said to have assaulted Mr. Tamargo Jerez with a stick measuring one metre long and three inches wide, causing a head wound that required six stitches. While the prisoner lay unconscious, he was reportedly kicked and his hand fractured with the stick described above. The events reportedly caused a number of antigovernment placards to go up in the prison at dawn on 13 June 1998. 343. In the same letter, the Special Rapporteur recalled a number of allegations submitted in 1995, 1996 and 1997 regarding which no reply had been received. The Government responded concerning some of these cases in its letter dated 27 October 1999 (see below). 344. By letter dated 27 October 1999, the Government responded concerning some of the cases transmitted by the Special Rapporteur in 1999. 345. Concerning the serious deficiencies in the treatment of prisoners, the Government indicated that access to medical treatment is a constitutional right accorded to every Cuban. 346. Concerning units of the Youth Labour Army, it indicated that they constitute an honourable form of social service and that conditions are similar to those in other army units. 347. The Government pointed out that Guantanámo prison and others throughout the country were inspected by the competent authorities and the ProcuratorGeneral's Office, something which made any type of ill-treatment impossible. 348. It indicated that the allegation of harassment of human rights defenders and journalists was without substance, because true human rights defenders had all the scope they needed for their activities through their participation in the Cuban Parliament. 349. The Government further indicated that all guarantees of due process were provided. As for individual cases, it announced that it would carry out the necessary investigations. Follow-up to previously transmitted communications 350. By letter dated 27 October 1999, the Government replied that the allegations of torture transmitted by the Special Rapporteur in 1995, 1996 and 1997 were not substantiated in his report and that the rigorous investigations carried out demonstrated that they were false.