E/CN.4/1995/34 page 48 district of Apopa by members of the National Police. Edwin Antonio Cebillas was allegedly beaten severely before arriving at police headquarters. Other detainees at the headquarters, urged on by the police officers, were said to have beaten the newcomers and burned them with molten plastic. 248. Roberto Carlos Velázquez Flores, an 18-year-old student, was arrested on 27 October 1993 in the San Emigdio Uno district of Apopa, San Salvador by members of the National Police, who accused him of theft. He was first taken to the Apopa police headquarters and later transferred to the local mayor’s office where he was reportedly beaten and burned on the neck. A medical report noted the existence of various bruises, scratches and ecchymoses caused by a blunt instrument. 249. Gregorio Menjía Espinoza, Secretary-General of the Tonacatepeque section of the Movimiento Popular Social Cristiano, was arrested on 23 May 1993 in the street in San Salvador by persons suspected of having links with government forces. He was taken to a detention centre that he was unable to identify, as he had been kept continuously blindfolded. He was allegedly beaten and burned with a metal object, resulting in multiple wounds to his chest. Threats were allegedly made to kill him and shots were fired at him. Equatorial Guinea Information transmitted to the Government 250. By letter dated 21 October 1994 the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information indicating that persons detained by the authorities were frequently subjected to torture. Persons detained for political reasons were said to be particularly vulnerable to torture and ill-treatment. 251. The Special Rapporteur informed the Government that he had received information on the cases summarized in the following paragraphs. 252. Benjamín Balinga, the leader of the Partido Social Demócrata (PSD), was arrested along with several other opposition leaders in January 1993 in Ebebiyín and allegedly beaten severely with truncheons on the soles of his feet. He was said to have been unable to walk for several weeks as a result of his ill-treatment. 253. Gaspar Mba Oyono, Jesus Abeso Nguema, Efrén Osa Ovono, Elancio Esayong Andeme and Francisco Andeme Nguema, Unión Popular (UP) party members from the village of Andom Onvang, Nsok-Nsomo district, were arrested in late June 1993, in connection with a protest against the siting of a health post on a local football field. The arrest was said to have been carried out by the local representative of the central Government, the chief of police, the district coordinator of the ruling Partido Democrático de Guinea Equatorial (PDGE) and 10 soldiers. On the way to the prison in Nsok-Nsomo, the detainees were reportedly forced out of the cars, tied to trees and severely beaten. They were said to have sustained serious injuries, including fractures of the legs and arms. Gaspar Mba Oyono was reportedly so ill that he was released into the care of his family, who brought him to Ebebiyín hospital, where he died in July as a result of his injuries. The other four detainees were reportedly