Human rights condition improving in Myanmar: UN envoy

Nepal National (IANS) Sunday 5th February, 2012

The human rights situation was improving in Myanmar but serious challenges still remained and needed to be addressed, UN special envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana has said.

Quintana, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, told a press briefing at the Yangon international airport Sunday before wrapping his six-day visit that he was encouraged by the country's concrete progress in improving its human rights situation.

He called on the international community to remain engaged and assist the Myanmar government during this important time, Xinhua reported.

Quintana cited a continuing wave of reforms in the country since his last visit in August 2011, and said the speed of the reforms has surprised many international observers.

"The impact of these reforms on the country and on its people is immediately perceptible," he said.

He said he was told that a new draft media law would abolish censorship and provides some guarantees for the freedom of opinion and expression.

On the coming elections April 1, he said he was informed that international observers were under consideration to ensure credible polling.

Quintana will present his assessment report to the UN Human Rights Council in March.

During his mission, Quintana met the speakers of the two houses of parliament and a number of ministers, the attorney-general, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, officials the Union Election Commission and presidential advisors.

He also met Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD).

It was Quintana's fifth visit to Myanmar since being appointed UN envoy in March 2008.