UN rights envoy arrives in Burma
Sunday, 11 Nov 2007 07:53
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro is to investigate the recent violence in Burma.
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United Nations (UN) rights envoy Paulo Pinheiro has arrived in Burma to look into the effects of last month's violent crackdown by the government.
The AFP news agency reports the senior diplomat as saying that he was happy to return to the country.
He did not reveal details of his schedule upon his arrival at Rangoon airport only saying: "I hope that I will have a very productive stay."
The Burmese government has been under pressure to institute democratic reforms ever since it violently suppressed protests against fuel increases that turned into a democracy movement. It has acknowledged the death of ten people in the violence but analysts and human rights groups fear a much higher number of casualties.
Commentators expect Mr Pinheiro to visit parts of the country to ascertain the impact of the government action and to push the ruling junta towards political reforms.
Mr Pinheiro's visit to the south
Asian country follows UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari's recent trip during which detained opposition leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi met with members of her party and a senior military official. Ms Kyi has been prevented from forming a government even though she won elections held in the country in 1990.
Previously the Burmese government has expelled a UN official from the country, Charles Petrie, for his criticism of the country's leadership. Mr Petrie was appointed by the UN as the Burma country chief and was the top diplomat to the country.
Mr Pinheiro - the UN's special rapporteur on human rights in Burma - has been refused entry to the country since November 2003, but has been given permission to visit from today (November 11th until Thursday November 15th).
"The special rapporteur notes that this invitation sends a positive indication of the desire of the authorities to co-operate with his mandate," his office said in a statement following the invitation from Burma's military rulers.
However he warned recently he must have free, unrestricted access to prisoners if he is to establish an accurate picture of the country's human rights situation.
"If they don't give me full co-operation, I'll go to the plane, and I'll go out," he said earlier this week, after his visit was announced.