E/CN.4/1998/38 page 8 Observations 21. The Special Rapporteur considers the observations he made in his report last year (E/CN.4/1997/7, para. 23) remain pertinent. Austria 22. The Government provided additional information concerning two cases which were transmitted and first replied to in 1996. Azerbaijan 23. The Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government two newly reported cases: one individual case and one collective case on behalf of two individuals and a group of unnamed persons. He also retransmitted one individual case already sent in 1996 but to which no reply had been received. Bahrain 24. The Special Rapporteur transmitted one individual case and three urgent appeals. The Government replied to the urgent appeals. Observations 25. The Special Rapporteur appreciates the Government’s responses to his urgent appeals. He would welcome the Government’s reaction to the observations he formulated in his report of last year (E/CN.4/1997/7, para. 29). Bhutan 26. The Special Rapporteur transmitted three urgent appeals, all of which the Government replied to. Bolivia 27. The Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal on behalf of one person, and the Government replied. Observations 28. The Special Rapporteur notes the recommendation of the Human Rights Committee that the Government should institute investigations into human rights violations “to bring to justice the perpetrators and to provide proper compensation to the victims, particularly with respect to continuing occurrences of torture and ill-treatment by the police and security forces” (A/52/40, para. 218). Brazil 29. On 26 May 1997 the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information that the forensic medicine services were subordinate to the security forces, which compromised the independence they ought to enjoy.