A/HRC/22/53/Add.4 injury, and respect and preserve human life; (c) Ensure that assistance and medical aid are rendered to any injured or affected persons at the earliest possible moment and (d) Ensure that relatives or close friends of the injured or affected person are notified at the earliest possible moment.” The Special Rapporteur urges the Government to continue to investigate any allegations of excessive use of force by law enforcement officials and to take appropriate action against the responsible officials. The Special Rapporteur encourages the Government of the Republic of the Maldives to continue its engagement with the Mandate. (b) JUA 22/03/2012 Case No. MDV 3/2012 State reply: None to date Allegations of continuous excessive use of force by law enforcement authorities against, and the arrest and detention of protesters belonging to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). 90. The Special Rapporteur regrets that the Government of Maldives has not responded to this communication, thereby failing to cooperate with the mandate established by the Human Rights Council. The communication referred to the alleged continuous, excessive use of force by law enforcement authorities against, and arrest and detention of, protestors belonging to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). These allegations were the subject of a previous communication dated 29 February 2012 however, we regret that to date no reply has been transmitted. We would like to refer to Human Rights Council resolution 16/23 which “[c]ondemns all forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including through intimidation, which are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever and can thus never be justified, and calls upon all States to implement fully the absolute and non-derogable prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” With regard to the alleged excessive use of force, the Special Rapporteur reiterates Principle 4 of the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Officials, which provides that, “[l]aw enforcement officials, in carrying out their duty, shall, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms.” Based on the information received and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, the Special Rapporteur determines that the incommunicado detention and use of excessive force by the Maldives Security Forces violated the rights of protestors, some of whose whereabouts remain unknown. The Special Rapporteur urgently calls on the Government to guarantee the physical and mental integrity of all protestors. The Special Rapporteur urges the Government to ensure a prompt and independent investigation of mistreatment and, should the allegations be correct, hold any persons responsible for the violations accountable and provide redress to all victims of ill treatment or torture. Additionally, he requests the Government to adopt effective measures to prevent the recurrence of these acts by Maldives Security Forces and calls on the Government to abolish the practice of incommunicado detention. Mali (a) JAL 31/08/2012 Case No. MLI 2/2012 State reply: None to date Allegation d‟execution par lapidation d‟un couple non marie au Nord du Mali 91. Le Rapporteur spécial regrette, au moment de la finalisation du présent rapport, l‟absence de réponse de la part du Gouvernement du Mali à la communication envoyée le 31 Août 2012 concernant l‟exécution par lapidation d‟ un couple non-marié au Nord du Mali. Selon les informations re��ues, le 29 juillet le couple de Aguelhok, auraient été tues par lapidation dans cette même ville par un groupe islamiste armé. A cet égard, le Rapporteur spécial aimerait renvoyer le Gouvernement du Maroc au paragraphe 1 dans la résolution adoptée par le Conseil des Droits de l‟Homme 16/23, qui dit « [c]ondamne toutes les formes 51