E/CN.4/1997/7 page 35 147. The Special Rapporteur transmitted seven individual cases and reminded the Government of the cases sent in 1995 regarding which no reply had been received. He also sent six urgent appeals, five of which were joined by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, on behalf of 31 persons. The Government replied to four of the appeals concerning 24 persons. The Government also replied to two urgent appeals concerning four persons that had been transmitted in 1995. Observations 148. The information available to the Special Rapporteur leads him to share the conclusion of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar that “the practice of torture, portering and forced labour continue to occur in Myanmar” (A/51/466, annex, para. 149). He draws particular attention to that Special Rapporteur’s recommendations (2), (3), (8), (9), (15), (16) and (17). Nepal 149. By letter dated 24 September 1996 the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information according to which persons arrested in the course of police operations against Maoist political activists in the Rapti region of mid-western Nepal had been subjected to torture or other ill-treatment by police. Such arrests were said to have been made on a widespread basis following an attack on the Halori police station in Rolpa district, reportedly by members of the Samyukta Jana Morch (SJM) and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN(M)). The methods of torture reported include repeated beatings, beatings to the soles of the feet, the placing of nettles (Shishnu ) on the body and the use of rollers on the thighs. The constitutional provision limiting the duration of detention to 24 hours before remand was said to be frequently ignored. Many persons detained beyond the 24-hour period were said to be held incommunicado without relatives being informed of their detention, a condition which facilitates torture. In addition to that, the Special Rapporteur transmitted 22 individual cases. Nigeria 150. By letter dated 6 May 1996 the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information according to which the use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment against persons detained for political reasons in Nigeria was widespread. Under State Security (Detention of Persons) Decree No. 2 of 1984, such detainees may be held indefinitely, incommunicado and without an opportunity to challenge the legality of their detention. In practice, the detainees were allegedly held incommunicado in overcrowded and unsanitary cells, with inadequate food and washing facilities and without exercise or exposure to fresh air. Persons suffering from injuries or illnesses were reportedly frequently denied necessary medical treatment. 151. The Special Rapporteur transmitted five individual cases. He made an urgent appeal in conjunction with the Chairman of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of 19 persons. He also made two other urgent appeals on behalf of two persons.