E/CN.4/1990/17
page 42
Later, as he was being interrogated about fellow students, his head and face
were covered with a cloth and electric shocks were applied to various parts of
his body. At the same time, the cloth that covered his face was tightened
around his neck and he was badly beaten in the face. Mr. Nyakane reportedly
also witnessed another student, Daniel Ntsoseng, being put into a locker,
while appearing to be in extreme pain.
136. On 22 August 1989 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the
Government of South Africa concerning information alleging that Reverend Zwo
Calvin Nevhutalu, a Lutheran pastor aged 29, had been arrested on
15 August 1989 by members of the South African Police led by a warrant
officer, whose name was transmitted to the Government, in Louis Trichardt,
Northern Transvaal. Reverend Nevhutalu's present whereabouts were reportedly
not known and according to the source he might be held by the South African
Police or by the security forces of Venda Homeland, where his home was
located. Fears have been expressed that he might be subjected to torture or
ill-treatment while in custody, in view of reports of torture and
ill-treatment of prisoners held in Venda Homeland in the past few years.
137. On 27 November 1989 the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the
United Nations Office at Geneva informed the Special Rapporteur that,
according to information made available by the Public Relations Division of
the South African Police, as of 13 September 1989, Reverend Nevhutalu had not
been arrested by either the South African Police or the Venda Police. There
was, however, a warrant out for his arrest.
Spain
138. On 14 November 1989 the Special Rapporteur sent a letter to the
Government of Spain transmitting information that Mr. Fernando Egileor Ituarte
was picked up by members of the police force in Bilbao on 14 December 1988,
after a general strike in the city. Mr. Egileor said he was walking home and,
at approximately 9.45 p.m. a police car drew up alongside him and five
uniformed policemen got out. When he tried to escape they used their clubs to
beat him on his hands and body. It was reported that medical certificates
show Mr. Egileor suffered serious injuries on the scalp which called for
several stitches. He also had injuries on his left hand, his ribs, right arm
and shoulder. In addition, according to the information, his left hand needed
to be operated on. It was also reported that Mr. Egileor laid a complaint
with the appropriate court in Bilbao, but has still not received any
information on the inquiries into his complaint. According to other
information received, Mr. Jose Askasibar Aperribai was ill-treated and
tortured by members of the Civil Guard on 4 October 1987. Mr. Askasibar was
expelled from France on that date, handed over to the Civil Guard at the
border and held under the anti-terrorist law and taken to the Civil Guard
barracks in Intxaurrondo, San Sebastian. Mr. Askasibar stated that, while he
was being held at Intxaurrondo, a hood was placed over his head and he was
beaten and threatened and tortured with electrical discharges on his shoulders
and testicles and his head was held down in a bath full of water (a practice
known as the "bathtub") until he lost consciousness. According to the
forensic surgeon who examined him while he was in detention, Mr. Askasibar had
injuries on both wrists. After being taken to the prison, he had to be
treated for obstruction in the bronchial tubes, a characteristic problem for
persons who have been subjected to the "bathtub" torture.
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