E/CN.4/2000/9 page 54 to the Tibet Autonomous Region Prison she repeatedly engaged in separatist activities for which her sentence was increased by the court three times (June 1993, June 1996 and October 1998) to a total of 15 years' imprisonment and deprivation of political rights for three years. It indicated that she had refused to submit to discipline in prison, but that her rights were being fully respected, including the right to maintain health and to report any alleged ill treatment by prison staff to the Procurator's Office or court. The Government denied that she had been subjected to any beatings or ill-treatment by prison guards or that her physical condition was deteriorating. It replied that all prisoners received free medical treatment, including annual check-ups, and were given timely care in the event of illness. The Government also replied that all female inmates at the prison were supervised by female guards, and that the claim that Buddhist nuns are subjected to sexual violations was entirely untrue and malicious. In relation to alleged violent demonstrations inside Drapchi prison in May 1998, the Government replied that no such incidents had taken place. The Government stated that there had not been a demonstration by offenders since the Tibet Autonomous Region Prison was founded. 238. Concerning Ngawang Choesom, the Government reported that there was no person named Ngawang Choesom at the Tibet Autonomous Region Prison. Observations 239. By letter of 15 February 1999, the Government formally invited the Special Rapporteur to undertake a visit to the country in the second half of 1999 or the first half of 2000. At the time of writing, the Special Rapporteur was still awaiting confirmation of specific dates that had been under discussion with the Permanent Mission of China. Colombia Urgent appeals and replies received 240. On 16 April 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal jointly with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions concerning the indigenous population of Nasa, Paeces. According to his information, from 7 to 10 April 1999 there had been fighting on land and in the air, including bombings, between the Colombian army and the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which had endangered the civilian population of the indigenous community of Paeces, causing deaths, damage to property and displacement of indigenous families from the areas of La María, el Maco and la Mina in Jambaló and Villa Hermosa, San Juanito, Granadillo and El Carmen in Pioyá. The reservations in which the above-mentioned military operations were carried out were reported to be Caldono, Pioyá, Jambaló and la Aguada de San Francisco. Although the deceased could not be identified and their bodies could not be recovered, it was reported that around 600 peasants and indigenous persons had gathered in Pioyá and that 250 more families had been caught in the middle of the bombing and fighting, with no food whatsoever, owing to the controls imposed by the armed groups. Isidro Campo Ulcue and Rómulo Guetia Yatacue, two members of indigenous communities residing in the town of Jambaló on the Indian reservation of Jambaló, were allegedly arrested. They had both been in their homes when they were taken prisoner by the Third Brigade of the National Army during the confrontation that occurred in Vereda Solapa on 10 April 1999, at 9 a.m. They were reportedly accused of collaborating with the guerrilla forces.