E/CN.4/1991/17 page 21 Letters and Government replies 65. On 20 September 1990, the Government of El Salvador sent a letter to the Special Rapporteur providing information on cases of the torture and killing of civilians and soldiers which allegedly occurred in the country during the period from May to September 1990. According to the letter, those responsible for such incidents were members of the Frente Farabundo Marti armed irregular group. On 22 October 1990, the Government sent the Special Rapporteur a report on the cases of human rights violations by members of the Armed Forces which have been referred to the courts (from January to July 1990). 66. On 15 October 1990, the Special Rapporteur sent a letter to the Government of El Salvador transmitting information concerning: (a) Avelino Escobar Jimenez, aged 42, member of a co-operative, arrested on 26 March 1990 at El Jicaro Co-operative, Department of Ahuachapan, by 12 soldiers. He stated that he had been tortured in the barracks of Military Unit N7 in Ahuachapan. The torture consisted of being beaten on all parts of the body with a stick and a pistol while he was naked and of being strung up by his hands, which were tied behind his back. Mr. Escobar Jimenez was released on 29 March 1990; (b) Jose Santos Tobar Escobar, aged 32, farm worker in Teotepeque, La Libertad, arrested on 4 May 1990. Alleged that he had been tortured while he was being interrogated in the barracks of the Sixth Military Unit. The torture included blows and kicks to the head, stomach and other parts of the body; being strung up by the arms for 10 minutes; sleep deprivation; and threats. Mr. Tobar Escobar also stated that he had been tortured at the National Guard headquarters in Izalco. He filed an official complaint with the Attorney-General's Office on 25 May 1990; (c) Carlos Gonzalez, a Spanish national, was arrested on 4 June 1990 by members of the National Guard in the outskirts of San Salvador. He states that, during the two and one half days of his detention, he was subjected to torture: during the interrogation, he had his eyes blindfolded and he was repeatedly hit, burned with cigarettes and left out in the very hot sun, as a result of which he suffered first-degree burns. He was also threatened with the electric chair, other types of torture and death. After his release, he was examined by two independent doctors. These medical examinations led to the conclusion that he had wounds which were fully in keeping with his description of the ill-treatment to which he had been subjected. Equatorial Guinea Urgent messages 67. On 6 July 1990, the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent message to the Government of Equatorial Guinea concerning Jose Eneme, former Consul of Equatorial Guinea in Cameroon, who was allegedly arrested in January 1990 and taken to Bata Prison. As a result of the torture to which he was allegedly subjected, particularly by having his head submerged in a toxic solution, his face was disfigured. The message also concerned Juan Eyeme Nguema, former director of the National Social Security Institute, who was allegedly arrested in April 1990 at Malabo Airport and taken to the prison in that city.