E/CN.4/1990/17 page 33 method), loss of sleep, forcing a person's head into a basin filled with water and filth. The purpose was to extract confession or obtain information on various movements and on any participation by non-student groups in the strike. Testimony concerning the following students was brought to the knowlege of the Special Rapporteur; all are Baid to have been subjected to the above-mentioned tortures: (a) Bechir El Hassen, Chairman of the Students Association, University of Nouakchott. He was arrested on 28 December 1988 and released on 1 January 1989. He reportedly had to 6pend a week in bed after the tortures and ill-treatment inflicted on him during his detention; (b) Abdallah Ould Bah Nagi Ould Kebd, a member of the University of Nouakchott's Co-ordination Commission (an urgent message was sent in connection with him on 25 July 1989). As a result of tortures and ill-treatment inflicted while he was under detention, he had to go to the National Orthopaedics and Functional Rehabilitation Centre, where medical care was prescribed for 10 days; (c) Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Hamma Khattar, University of Nouakchott. After being released, he 6aid that doctors contacted by students who, like him, had suffered torture and ill-treatment, refused to issue health certificates for fear of reprisals by the police; (d) Boubacar Ould Ethmane, known as Nah, University of Nouakchott. 103. On 27 November 1989 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent message to the Government of Mauritania stating that at least 12 black Mauritanians, including Daha Ba, aged 21, Ibrahima Ba, aged 23, Ali Djibi Gaye, Mamadou Koundio and Ladji Traore, aged 53, all from Nouakchott, were arrested in October 1989 and held incommunicado, without charge or trial, in houses in the Nouakchott region used by the security forces as interrogation centres. Fears have been expressed about their physical integrity, in view of reports of tortures of black Mauritanians held in Nouakchott. Morocco 104. On 19 June 1989 the Moroccan Government addressed a letter to the Special Rapporteur, in reply to a letter addressed to the Government on 17 July 1986, concerning a number of cases of detainees reportedly tortured after being arrested in October and November 1985. In its reply the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that six of these detainees, Said Mesbahi, Abdellatif Saoui, Mohamed Saadi, Mohamed Schrado, Mohamed Daiby and Abdelbaki Yousfi, were released by royal amnesty in connection with the feast of Aid Al Fitre, on 7 May 1989. Myanmar 105. On 23 December 1988 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government of Myanmar concerning the case of U May Min, 42 years old, lawyer, who was detained on 21 October 1988 under provisions of the 1975 State Protection Law. It was reported that he was being held in Mingaladon detention centre, north of Yangon. It was alleged that U May Min eppeared twice in court, on 7 and 24 November 1988. On the second occasion he was remanded for further detention and complained of ill-treatment. Fears had been expressed that he might be subjected to torture.