E/CN.4/1998/38 page 36 Rapporteur transmitted four further cases, as well as additional information with regard to the one transmitted in January. On 4 August 1997 the Government replied with regard to the five cases. Observations 175. The information before the Special Rapporteur is consistent with that before the Committee against Torture which continued to receive regular reports of torture and ill-treatment, observing that in spite of legal restrictions on their use, extended periods of incommunicado detention, during which the detainee cannot rely on the assistance of a lawyer of his choice, seem to facilitate the practice of torture (see CAT/C/314). The Special Rapporteur is aware of the difficulties of combating terrorist activities and the possibility that in such situations false, as well as true, but unprovable, allegations of torture may be made. He recommends that the Government give serious consideration to the possibility of introducing a system of video recording of interrogations. This could help substantially not only to protect prisoners from abuse, but also to protect law enforcement officials from false accusations. Sri Lanka 176. The Special Rapporteur transmitted allegations concerning three individual cases. Sudan 177. The Special Rapporteur transmitted eight urgent appeals to the Government, all in conjunction with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan. Two appeals were made on behalf of individual cases. The other six appeals were collective on behalf of a total number of 163 named individuals and one group of 775 unidentified children, reportedly held at Al Huda camp at Abu Dum, a facility for street children. 178. In addition, the Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government a letter on behalf of a group of some 50 women in conjunction with the Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, on violence against women, and on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. 179. The Government responded to one individual urgent appeal, three collective urgent appeals on behalf of 74 persons, as well as to the collective appeal on behalf of the group of children. The Government also provided replies to 19 cases concerning 46 individuals which had been transmitted in previous years. Observations 180. The Special Rapporteur notes the view of the Human Rights Committee which stated that it was troubled by the number of reports of torture in the Sudan (CCPR/C/79/Add.85, para. 12). While appreciating the Government’s replies to information he has transmitted, he is constrained to express his shock at the incident of 1 December 1997 which evidenced unprovoked and