(b) Credible reports that such acts commonly occur before formal charges are made, and during pretrial detention, when the detainee is deprived of fundamental safeguards, in particular access to legal counsel. This situation is exacerbated by the reported use of internal regulations which in practice permit procedures contrary to published laws; (c) The failure to conduct prompt and impartial investigations into such allegations of breaches of the Convention; and (d) Allegations that persons held as witnesses are also subjected to intimidation and coercive interrogation and in some cases reprisals. The State party should apply a zero-tolerance approach to the continuing problem of torture, and to the practice of impunity. The State party should: (a) Publicly and unambiguously condemn practices of torture in all its forms, directing this in particular to police and prison staff, accompanied by a clear warning that any person committing such acts, or otherwise complicit or participating in torture be held personally responsible before the law for such acts and subject to criminal penalties; (b) Immediately adopt measures to ensure in practice prompt, impartial and effective investigations into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment and the prosecution and punishment of those responsible, including law enforcement officials and others. Such investigations should be undertaken by a fully independent body; (c) Bring all suspected perpetrators to justice in order to eliminate impunity for law enforcement officials and others responsible for breaches of the Convention; and (d) Ensure in practice that complainants and witnesses are protected against any ill-treatment or intimidation as a consequence of his/her complaint or any evidence given. (7) The Committee is also concerned at the numerous allegations of excessive use of force and ill-treatment by Uzbek military and security forces in the May 2005 events at Andijan which resulted, according to the State party, in 187 deaths and according to other sources, 700 or more, and in hundreds of others being detained thereafter. Notwithstanding the State party’s persistent response to all allegations that the measures taken were in fact appropriate, the Committee notes with concern the State party’s failure to conduct full and effective investigations into all claims of excessive force by officials. (8) The Committee is further concerned that the State party has limited and obstructed independent monitoring of human rights in the aftermath of these events, thereby further impairing the ability to obtain a reliable or credible assessment of the reported abuses, including ascertaining information on the whereabouts and reported torture or ill-treatment of persons detained and/or missing. (9) The Committee has also received credible reports that some persons who sought refuge abroad and were returned to the country have been kept in detention in unknown places and possibly subjected to breaches of the Convention. The Committee notes that the State party has not agreed to requests made to set up an independent international commission of inquiry into these events, as requested by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, endorsed by the Secretary-General and reiterated by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. The State party should take effective measures: (a) To institute a full, effective, impartial inquiry into the May 2005 events at Andijan in order to ensure that individuals can lodge complaints and all persons responsible for violations of the Convention are investigated and brought to justice. In accordance with the recommendation of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and others, the Committee recommends that credible, independent experts conduct this inquiry in order to examine all information thoroughly and reach conclusions as to the facts and measures taken; 35