E/CN.4/1997/7 page 34 requesting the Government to provide further details about investigations carried out. In addition, the Government transmitted information on 10 cases, some of them collective, transmitted by the Special Rapporteur in 1995. Finally, the Special Rapporteur sent 4 urgent appeals on behalf of 22 persons to which the Government also replied. Observations 142. As the Government had announced to the Commission at its fifty-second session, it invited the Special Rapporteur to visit the country, offering a date in December that was not reconcilable with the Special Rapporteur’s existing commitments. However, at the time of writing, it is hoped that the visit will be able to take place early in 1997. Morocco 143. The Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government one newly reported case. He also retransmitted eight cases regarding which he had received comments from the sources which were in contradiction with the Government's reply. The Government, however, reiterated its previous response. Myanmar 144. By letter dated 11 June 1996 the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information according to which a number of persons detained for political reasons at Insein prison in Yangon had been held in exceedingly small “dog cells”, intended for the keeping of military dogs. Some persons detained for political reasons at Insein had also allegedly been subjected to torture under interrogation by Military Intelligence (MI) officers, even after they had been sentenced. The interrogation was said to take place usually with the prisoner in leg irons and to be accompanied by severe beatings. Other forms of ill-treatment reported include being kept in the hot sun for prolonged periods and being forced to crawl on the ground over sharp stones. 145. The Special Rapporteur also continued to receive information indicating that members of ethnic minorities had been forced against their will to perform portering duties for the army ( tatmadaw ). Many such persons were reportedly subjected to torture or other ill-treatment while serving as porters. In this connection, it was alleged that porters were given inadequate food and medical care and were beaten when seen not to be working with sufficient rapidity. The situation was reported to be particularly grave with respect to ethnic Karens forced to porter during army operations against the Karen National Union (KNU). 146. The Special Rapporteur also received numerous allegations regarding Karenni villagers subjected to torture, including beatings, rape and other ill-treatment during army operations against the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). Some of the alleged abuses were said to have been carried out by the Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army, which is reported to receive logistical, tactical and other support from the tatmadaw . However, the alleged victims had requested that their names be withheld for fear of reprisals against them.