A/HRC/7/3/Add.6 page 3 With regard to conditions of detention in police stations, the Special Rapporteur observed that detainees are locked up in basic cells, often without natural light and sufficient ventilation, and sleep on concrete floors. While he is not concerned about such conditions for criminal suspects held in police custody for up to 24 hours, these conditions become inhuman for suspects held in these cells under the Emergency Regulations for periods of several months up to one year. Under the Emergency Regulations, most of the safeguards against torture either do not apply or are simply disregarded, which leads to a situation in which torture becomes a routine practice in the context of counter-terrorism operations. The non-applicability of important legal safeguards in the context of counter-terrorism measures, as well as excessively prolonged police detention, opens up the doors for abuse. The Special Rapporteur is concerned about the reported links between the Government and the Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP)-Karuna group, which were confirmed by the representative the Special Rapporteur met in Trincomalee. The TMVP-Karuna group has been accused of particularly brutal human rights abuses. Accordingly, on the basis of his findings the Special Rapporteur recommended to the Government a number of measures to prevent and combat torture and ill-treatment.