E/CN.4/1992/17 page 56 on the soles of the feet, the "aeroplane" method, consisting of hanging the victim from a steel bar with hands and feet tied behind his back, and the "parrot" method, also consisting of hanging the victim from a steel bar with his hands and feet tied, but head downwards. Particular mention was made of the case of Abdellatif Morjane. Confined to Ghbila prison on 18 April 1991, he was allegedly beaten by the prison warders following demands made by a group of detainees known as the "Islamic Group of 71", to which Mr. Morjane is said to belong. According to the source, one prison warder whose name was transmitted to the Government is allegedly responsible, together with other warders, for the torture to which Mr. Morjane was subjected. Mr. Morjane reportedly suffered a cranial traumatism, swellings on his right arm and haematomas over the entire right side of his body. He was then placed in solitary confinement and deprived of all medical care for nine hours. Mr. Morjane is said to have been removed from solitary confinement as a result of pressure by his relatives and the other prisoners and through the intervention of the Prosecutor-General. Myanmar Urgent appeals and Government replies 162. On 21 December 1990 the Government of Myanmar sent a letter to the Special Rapporteur in response to two urgent appeals dated 25 September 1990 and 10 October 1990 (E/CN.4/1991/17, paras. 121 and 122) concerning 13 leading members of the opposition parties National League for Democracy and Democratic Party for a New Society. The Government provided details about the provisions under which these persons were detained and the charges brought against them. Some of these persons had been tried and sentenced. Others were still awaiting trial. No reference was made to the torture allegations and no information was given about their present condition or state of health. 163. On 13 March 1991 the Government of Myanmar provided the Special Rapporteur with details about the charges against U Maung Maung, regarding whom the Special Rapporteur had sent an urgent appeal on 19 October 1990 (see E/GN.4/1991/17, para. 123). It was affirmed that he had not been subjected to torture or ill-treatment while under detention. Letters and Government replies 164. On 28 January 1991 the Government of Myanmar sent a letter to the Special Rapporteur in reply to his letter dated 10 August 1990 (see E/CN.4/1991/17, para. 125) concerning alleged practices of torture in the country and transmitting the cases of Zaw Min, Myo Myint and U Soe Myint. The Government provided the Special Rapporteur with details about the charges against, trials and sentences of these three persons, and affirmed that while serving their prison terms they were neither subjected to any form of torture nor ill-treatment. Attention was also drawn to several laws safeguarding the fundamental rights of Myanmar citizens, in particular, section 43 (f) of the Police Act, which provides that whoever commits torture on any detainee is liable to both imprisonment and fine, and section 24 of the Evidence Act, which provides that any confession made by an accused person is inadmissible in a criminal proceeding if the court deems it was made under inducement, threat or promise relating to the charges against the accused. The Government

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