E/CN.4/1997/7/Add.3 page 10 Sabaneta prison in Maracaibo, on charges of guerrilla activities. The report of the prison doctor who examined them confirmed that Mario Landino had several broken ribs, burns, and injuries to his eyes. Mario Landino remained in prison until March 1994, when he was released on bail, while at the close of this report Henry was still in prison awaiting trial. 28. On 26 February 1995 members of the Colombian guerrilla group Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) (National Liberation Army) crossed the border into Venezuela and attacked the Cararabo naval base in the State of Apure, killing eight members of the navy. In the days following the attack the navy arrested 24 local residents on charges of involvement in the attack; all except one, however, were released without charge in the course of the following two weeks. Many of those arrested were allegedly subjected to torture or ill-treatment such as beatings with peinillas , simulated executions, near suffocation by placing plastic bags over their heads, burns and death threats. Among them were two minors, 14 and 17 years of age, who allegedly received broken legs and other injuries, and a pregnant woman who reportedly lost her baby as a result of her treatment. According to witnesses, one of those arrested, Juan Vicente Palmero, died as a result of his treatment, but his body has not been found. The Director of the Human Rights Department of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Republic travelled to Puerto Ayacucho, State of Amazonas, on 10 March 1995 to meet with the individuals concerned, and later told the press that they bore marks of torture. Several days later, the Ministry of Defence ordered an investigation. Investigations by the military examining magistrate in Puerto Ayacucho resulted in the detention of four members of the navy in connection with the disappearance of Juan Vicente Palmero. At the time this report was drafted, the case was in the hands of the Standing Military Court in Maracay. The Minister of Defence and the President of the Republic assured the Special Rapporteur that this case would not go unpunished. 29. Members of the theatre of operations made up of the GN, PTJ, Military Intelligence Directorate (DIM) and DISIP arrested a group of people in the autonomous municipality of Páez, State of Apure, in the month of July 1995 in connection with investigations into the alleged kidnapping of the town’s mayor. The following individuals were allegedly tortured: José Hernández, arrested at La Capilla shanty town, who was held at PTJ headquarters for five days; Miguel Angel Guerrero, also arrested in La Capilla; Francisco Lara, arrested in Montillero and allegedly held at PTJ headquarters; Martín Alvarez, arrested in Santa Rosa, Juan Gómez, arrested in Montillero, held at the DISIP in Guasdualito; Rodolfo Alvarez, arrested in Los Arenales; Antonio Domínguez, arrested in La Capilla; Justo Pereira, arrested in Los Arenales; José Ballona, arrested in La Capilla; Alvaro Ballona, arrested in La Capilla; Guillermo López and his wife, arrested in Las Canoas and held at PTJ headquarters; Luis Argüello, arrested in La Victoria; Isabelino Bustamante, arrested in La Victoria and Marcos Sánchez, arrested in Santa Rita. Their treatment allegedly included beatings with blunt objects, near suffocation by placing plastic bags over their heads, blows to the ears with the palms of the hands, sleep deprivation and death threats. Some were hung by their wrists. All were coerced into signing statements to the effect that they had not been ill-treated. They also reportedly received no medical treatment, and, in those cases where they were seen by a forensic physician, the physician certified that the individuals were in perfect physical condition.