UN rights envoy visits major Myanmar jail ( AFP ) October 27, 2002


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UN rights envoy visits major Myanmar jail

YANGON, Oct 27 (AFP)

UN human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro travelled to a major jail north of the Myanmar capital Sunday to meet with political prisoners being held there, a UN source said.

Pinheiro was scheduled to meet prisoners at Tharwaddy jail, 145 kilometres (90 miles) outside Yangon in Bago Division, as part of his 11-day mission here to investigate the human rights situation in the country, the source said.

The envoy has already interviewed prisoners at Yangon's notorious Insein prison and told reporters they had some complaints about their treatment.International concern has been repeatedly raised over the elderly and sick in Myanmar's jails failing to receive appropriate medical treatment.

Since his arrival here on October 17, Pinheiro has also held talks with top members of the ruling junta, opposition, religious and ethnic minority leaders, UN personnel and diplomats.

He met with opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi last week, and is scheduled to meet with her a second time on Monday afternoon, the UN source said.On Saturday Pinheiro met with home minister Colonel Tin Hlaing, followed by an hour-long discussion with Brigadier General Than Tun, head of the political section of military intelligence.

Than Tun has been one of the top government figures involved in compiling an official response refuting claims made in a report by two Shan organisations which alleged systematic rape by Myanmar's military in eastern Shan state.

"License to Rape", published by two Thai-based Shan rights organisations in July, found that rape was being used as a weapon of war in the state and has evinced angry denials from the junta.

Pinheiro was originally invited by the junta to investigate the allegations firsthand in Shan state, but he cancelled his planned three-day visit there. The envoy said he could not do enough fact-finding in that period of time.

In his most recent report to the UN General Assembly, Pinheiro said the "recent mellowing on the political front" -- referring to the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest in May -- was not enough to improve the human rights situation.He urged the UN to get ready to help with the transition to democracy, saying: "The present delicate situation... needs to be handled with great care and generosity on the part of those who wish the people of Myanmar well."

Aung San Suu Kyi and the junta have been engaged in a dialogue since October 2000 aimed at shifting the country towards democracy. The talks' most substantial outcome to date has been the May granting of the Nobel peace laureate's freedom.

Pinheiro has made three visits to Myanmar since being appointed in April 2001. His last was in February.He is due to depart for Thailand Monday.

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