E/CN.4/1993/26 page 85 was alleged, been brutality during the arrests and subsequently torture had been used during interrogations by the central intelligence service (SCR), the security police and the national gendarmerie. The detention centres where torture was reported to have been most frequently practised were the gendarmerie building in central Kigali known as "central records" and the "criminology service", the Gikondo and Muhima detention centres and the armed forces headquarters at Kigali. The following cases were reported: (a) Charles Mukuralinda was arrested in October 1990 and sent to the national gendarmerie detention centre at Gikondo. He was transferred to the Ruhengeri main prison in north western Rwanda. During questioning the security police whipped and kicked him and electric wires were attached to his right hand. He was confined for a few days in one of the unlighted cells known as black holes; (b) Donatien Rugema was arrested by security police personnel on 16 November 1990 and beaten with an electric cable. He spent a few days manacled in a black hole; (c) Godefroid Nshimiyimana, of the newspaper Kaberinka was arrested on 6 December 1991. He was severely beaten during his three days in detention. (d) Boniface Ntawuyirushintege, of the newspaper Umurange, was arrested in December 1991 and heavily beaten in the Kigali security police headquarters. 387. Torture and maltreatment seems to have been facilitated by the absence of safeguards against arbitrary detention, in particular the refusal to allow families, lawyers and independent doctors to get in touch with detainees. Other factors were the absence of judicial supervision of detentions which lasted for weeks or months after arrest and the fact that when cases came to trial and the accused testified to the torture they had undergone, the state security court did not order an investigation. 388. Further information has reached the Special Rapporteur regarding maltreatment during detention by the military. The armed forces seem to have tied their prisoners up in such a way as to hurt them and even cause injuries. Arms were tightly bound above the elbows and behind the back. In some cases legs were pulled up and secured to handcuffs. In most cases ropes were pulled so tight round arms that they caused injuries. 389. The Special Rapporteur addressed an urgent appeal to the Government on behalf of eight members of the Tutsi ethnic minority - Shabani Gasiwga, Ali Hitimana, Kayziranga, Hadj haruna Maboyi, Louis Nkusi, Evariste Sissi, Bosco Uwizeyimana and Vianney, son of Mbundi. They are reported to have been arrested during June and accused of having helped to recruit supporters of the opposition Rwandan Patriotic Front. They were detained for several days in the Kigali "central records" detention centre and were tortured. They were then transferred to the Kigali central prison. Concern has been expressed that they may again be subjected to maltreatment. 390. The Government informed the Special Rapporteur on 3 September 1992 that the persons mentioned had been arrested and were being tried for offenses