UN Human Rights Envoy in Myanmar

It is Paulo Sergio Pinheiro’s first visit to Myanmar in four years. As part of his fact-finding mission, he is scheduled to meet regime leaders, as well as political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.

On Tuesday, he met the junta’s religious affairs and economic development ministers in the new capital Naypyidaw.

Pinheiro’s trip comes amid fierce international criticism of the military junta for cracking down so violently on peaceful demonstrations in September. The expectations from his visit among the international community are high. But there is also scepticism that he will be able to achieve the hoped-for results.

Khin Ohmar is a Burmese activist in Thai exile: "We are still concerned about how much access he will have. Will he have a chance to meet the detainees? It is still early to say what results he will come up with. Personally, I am not sure what he will be able to do in these five days."

Meeting detainees and monks

Earlier this week, Pinheiro visited the notorious Insein prison to meet some of the detainees, who have been arrested over the past two months. He also visited two monasteries to meet some of the country’s highly-revered Buddhist monks, who were at the forefront of the protests.

His mission is to investigate how many people actually died in the military crackdown. So far, the military junta has maintained that the death toll is not more than 10, but rights groups claim it is much higher.

International efforts

Pinheiro's visit follows the recent mission to Myanmar by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, which facilitated a meeting between opposition leader Suu Kyi and a government-appointed liaison official.

On Monday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that he was hopeful to see some concrete results, especially in the wake of Gambari's visit. He has urged Myanmar's ruling junta and opposition to double their efforts towards achieving a substantive and meaningful dialogue.

Ms Ohmar says although international pressure has brought some progress, the way towards national reconciliation is still very long: "There is some level of opening from the political front. But at this stage still it is difficult to say how the genuine dialogue is going to take place, but what is important whether they will release the detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi."