UN Human Rights Expert To Visit Myanmar Sat

GENEVA (AFP)--A U.N. independent expert on human rights will be in Myanmar from Saturday on a six-day visit to assess human rights conditions on the ground, the U.N. said Friday.

"The main objectives of his visit are to assess the development of the situation of human rights since his previous mission last summer," the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement.

During the visit, Tomas Ojea Quintana, the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, will meet officials to discuss the implementation of recommendations he made on his previous visit.

These recommendations include reforms of legislation to ensure human rights protection, the release of political prisoners, independence for the judiciary and training on human rights for the army.

Quintana has asked for those four "core" recommendations to be completed before 2010.

He has also requested private meetings with political prisoners and leaders of political parties during his latest visit which should include travel to three states including Kayin and Kachin, the U.N.human rights office said.