E/CN.4/1997/7 page 20 France 78. The Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government allegations about one particular incident involving several persons, as well as one individual case. The Government sent replies on eight cases transmitted in 1995. Germany 79. By letter dated 6 May 1996 the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information according to which a number of persons belonging to ethnic or national minorities residing in Germany had been subjected to severe beatings and other ill-treatment by police officers. A substantial number of such incidents were said to have occurred in Berlin. 80. The Special Rapporteur also transmitted seven individual cases, to which the Government provided replies. Greece 81. The Special Rapporteur transmitted allegations concerning five individual cases, to which the Government provided replies. Guatemala 82. The Special Rapporteur transmitted six individual cases, to which the Government replied. He also sent, together with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, one urgent appeal on behalf of one person, to which the Government also replied. Observations 83. The information continuing to reach the Special Rapporteur leads him to draw attention to the findings of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee against Torture. The Human Rights Committee noted “with alarm the information received of cases of ... torture, rape and other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment ... by members of the army and security forces, or paramilitary and other armed groups or individuals (notably the Civil Defence Patrols (PACs) and former military commissioners)” (A/51/40, para. 232). The Committee was also concerned “that the absence of a State policy for combating impunity has prevented the identification, trial and punishment ... of those responsible, and the payment of compensation to the victims” (para. 229). The Committee against Torture expressed similar concerns (A/51/44, paras. 53-56). Guinea 84. The Special Rapporteur sent one urgent appeal on behalf of three persons, to which the Government replied.