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November 15, 2007

UN Rights Expert Visits Notorious Burmese Prison
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A425A9:A6F02AD83191E16059B81F5AD713657BC030207A0BD70133& Paulo Sergio
Pinheiro allowed to visit same facility on Monday, but only permitted
to meet with prison officials





UN rights investigator Paulo Sergio Pinheiro (l) along with Resident
Coordinator Charles Petrie, speaks at a press conference prior to his
departure, 15 Nov 2007U.N. human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro
has visited Burma's notorious Insein Prison Thursday in an effort to
talk with political detainees before wrapping up his first visit to
the country in four years.

It was not immediately clear whether he was able to meet with any
inmates.

Pinheiro was allowed to visit the same facility on Monday, but was
only permitted to meet with prison officials. U.N. officials later
said they have been assured that Pinheiro would be able to meet with
political detainees.

Burma arrested several more activists this week while Pinheiro was in
the country, openly challenging international calls for the release of
prisoners and a halt to detentions.

On Wednesday, Pinheiro met with the top U.N. diplomat in Burma,
Charles Petrie, as well as more than 20 members of the diplomatic
corps.

Petrie said the special envoy was "disturbed" by this week's arrest of
a prominent labor activist, Su Su Nway, whose whereabouts are unknown.

Burma's military government crushed pro-democracy protests in
September. Pinheiro is in the country to investigate how many people
were killed or jailed during the crackdown.

According to Burmese officials, 10 people were killed and nearly 3,000
detained in the September crackdown. Diplomats and human rights groups
say the true figures are much higher.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and  AP.




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