Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The United Nations' Human Rights expert on Burma Tomas Ojea Quintana will begin a six-day visit to military-ruled Burma on Saturday to assess the situation of human rights, the UN said.

The UN, in a press release on Friday said Quintana will be reaching Burma on Saturday to assess developments since his last trip in August 2008.

The special envoy has requested meetings with several political prisoners during his trip from February 14 to 19, and will also visit Arakan, Karen and Kachin states, the UN said.

During his earlier mission, Quintana had suggested to the Burmese ruling junta to implement four core human rights elements including the revision of domestic laws that limit fundamental rights of the people and to implement a progressive release of an estimated 2,000 prisoners of conscience still in detention in the country.

The other two are - to reform and train the military so that it conforms to human rights, and make changes in the judiciary so that it is fully independent.

Quintana said the four elements must be completed before the national elections are to be held in 2010, which is the fifth step of the Burmese ruling junta's seven step roadmap to democracy.

This will be the second visit for Quintana, who was appointed to his post in May 2008 by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council. His first trip was in August 2008.