UN rights envoy returns to Burma

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The United Nations envoy on human rights in Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, has begun his second visit to the country since taking office last May.

A UN statement said Mr Ojea Quintana plans to meet prisoners of conscience and political leaders.

Mr Ojea Quintana visited Karen state, where UN and human rights groups say the military has committed atrocities against rebels and minorities.

He also hopes to visit Rakhine state - home to the Rohingya Muslim minority.

He is hoping that, this time, Burma's military government will let him see the detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the UN said.

Ms Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, expressed disappointment with a recent visit by United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who failed to secure a meeting with Burma's top military leaders.

Rights advice

Mr Ojea Quintana arrived in Rangoon on Saturday on a six-day mission to assess developments in Burma's human rights situation since he last visited the country in August last year.

On his previous visit, he had advised the military rulers to revise domestic laws limiting fundamental human rights and release an estimated 2,000 prisoners of conscience currently in detention.

Instead, jail sentences have been imposed on politicians, artists, bloggers and activists, some ranging up to 65 years.

Burma's generals say they are implementing a seven-step road map to democracy which will turn the country into a democratic nation after multiparty general elections in 2010.

The NLD, winners of the 1990 elections but never allowed to take power, have absented themselves from the re-drawing of the constitution, refusing to take part in what they say is a fundamentally flawed process.

Ten days ago, Mr Gambari made his seventh trip to the country.

After he left, he was assailed both by both sides. The NLD insisted no change could occur until all prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, were freed.

The junta said the UN should focus its efforts on lifting sanctions against Burma before talks on reform could progress.