E/CN.4/2001/66/Add.2 page 13 32. The Special Rapporteur also visited the medical facility located on the second floor of Block Four. He noted the very limited medical resources and the dirty conditions, in particular the poor sanitary facilities, in which sick detainees were treated by a small medical team. According to the nurses who were present, any prisoner could come to the medical wing and would be given medication, if necessary; patients requiring more specialized treatment would be transferred to a hospital. 33. In Block Five, the Special Rapporteur visited the fifth floor where the so-called seguros are detained. They are most commonly referred to as the “yellows” (amarelos) due to the colour of their skin which, because of the lack of natural light, becomes pale to the point of actually turning yellow. These detainees said that they were let out of their cells on Sundays, but only if they had visitors which, for a large number of them, was rare. Otherwise, they were said to be kept in their cells all the time. Ten to fifteen detainees were held in 15 square metres, with thin and dirty mattresses on the floor and a hole for a toilet and a shower. The cells were infested with insects, which were said to cause itching and skin diseases. Some detainees had allegedly been kept for more than six months in these cells without having seen any natural light. A number of them appeared to the Special Rapporteur to be mentally ill or seriously disturbed and a large number alleged that they had been transferred to that section of the prison as a form of punishment. One of them alleged that he had been beaten with iron bars for having asked for medical treatment. Marks consistent with his allegations, in particular on his head and shoulders, were still visible at the time of the visit of the Special Rapporteur. Two others who bore marks of serious recent beatings refused to speak to the Special Rapporteur for fear of reprisals. The Special Rapporteur was later informed that the Secretary of State in charge of the penitentiary system had decided to close this section of the Casa de Detenção. By mid-January 2001, it was reported that 230 out of the 300 prisoners kept there had been transferred to another prison in Sorocaba. 34. In the same block, the Special Rapporteur visited the cells situated on the same floor but on the other side of the corridor, where mainly non-Catholic detainees were kept, reportedly placed together at their own request. There were four prisoners to a cell, which were clean and well-furnished with mattresses and, most of the time, an additional cooker. Two floors below, the Special Rapporteur visited cells holding up to eight prisoners in more than 20 square metres. These cells were clean and contained a separate shower, toilet and sink. Each person had a mattress and some personal items. The detainees explained that they had better conditions because they were working, but no explanation was given as to why they had been selected to perform some manual labour. Before his visit, the Special Rapporteur had received information according to which detainees have to pay or rent their cells through cell leaders collaborating with prison guards. The head of this block categorically denied this allegation. In this and other blocks, detainees who were living in the worst conditions were nevertheless able to quote to the Special Rapporteur the price of better cells. 35. During his visit to the various blocks, the Special Rapporteur was able, most of the time thanks to the hints given by detainees, to find iron and wooden clubs, some with handles. On one of the clubs was written “see you at 19.30”, which was said to be the time the night shift starts. Some clubs were found in the office (chefia) of head of Block Five, behind a refrigerator,