E/CN.4/2000/9 page 86 419. Carmelo Yeck Bohopo allegedly died in hospital. He was arrested in Malabo on 6 February 1998 upon leaving church and taken to the police station, where he was reportedly beaten severely. He is said to have died on 9 February 1998. No autopsy was performed. 420. The Special Rapporteur and the Special Representative also received information on the following individual cases. 421. Teófilo Osam Mbomio was reportedly arrested on 30 May 1998 in Añisok. He allegedly remained in detention for a week, during which he was given 150 blows on the soles of the feet. He is alleged to have publicly refused to sign a sworn statement asserting that he was in the Government party. 422. In September 1997, members of the opposition party, including six women, were reportedly detained in Akurenam while they were preparing songs to welcome their leaders. The women were undressed and beaten. They were not given a trial but were forced to pay very high fines to obtain their freedom. Urgent appeals and replies received 423. On 17 March 1999, the Special Rapporteur transmitted an urgent appeal concerning Teótimo Mbo Edó, Fidel Abesó, Marcos Esimi, Felix Ngomo, Juan Miquibi, Francisco Nguema, Gaspar Nculu, Luis Mba Bayeme, Juan Ebuna, Manuel Nzo, Zacharías Esimi and Santiagi Ndong, who had been in incommunicado detention since 7 March 1999 in Nsok Nsomo, eastern Equatorial Guinea. At the time of their detention, they had been acting as electoral observers for their political parties, the Unión Popular and the Convergencia para la Democracia Social, during the legislative elections of 7 March 1999, which are now finished. In the course of the elections, there were reportedly cases of physical ill-treatment and beating of persons who refused to vote for the Government party and of detentions and forced displacement in order to avert the presence or voting of political opponents. 424. By letter dated 28 May 1999, the Government responded to this urgent appeal. Concerning the information on torture of electoral observers for the Unión Popular and the Convergencia para la Democracia Social and of persons refusing to vote for the Government party during the legislative elections of 7 March, the Government declared that they are false accusations. It pointed out that affiliation with a political party and exercise of the right to vote are neither offences nor against the country's interests. As evidence, it pointed to the participation in the elections as independent observers of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the francophone ACP countries, various non-governmental organizations, the United States of America and others, all of whom indicated that the elections had been very well organized and did not mention any incidents. 425. On 28 October 1999, the Special Rapporteur transmitted an urgent appeal jointly with the Special Representative on the situation of human rights in Equatorial Guinea concerning Emilio Ribas Esada, Gregorio Bomuagasi, Milagrosa Cheba and Alehandro Mbe Bita Rope, who were being held in Malabo prison. They had reportedly requested medical treatment for their ailments, but such treatment had so far not been provided. Gregorio Pancho Borapa is said not to have received medical treatment although he is suffering from a jaw broken, according to the source, by a police officer at the time of his arrest in January 1998.