UN human rights envoy visits Myanmar amid reform

United Nations Human Rights Envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana arrived here Tuesday on a visit to Myanmar to reassess the country's human rights situation amid series of measures of reform, according to diplomatic sources. It is his second mission to Myanmar after a new government was installed. During his six-day visit in Myanmar, Quintana, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, will meet with speakers of the two houses of the parliament U Shwe Mann and U Khin Aung Myint and a number of ministers including those of foreign affairs, defense, border affairs, home affairs and information. Besides visiting the Insein Prison in Yangon, he will travel to Hpa-an in Kayin state and Mawlamyine in Mon state where he will meet with local authorities and representatives of ethnic minorities, the sources said. During his last trip to Myanmar in August 2011, Quintana attended the then second session of the parliamentary House of Nationalities as an observer. Welcoming the government's reform efforts, Quintana acknowledged Myanmar's steps in improving its human rights situation. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the government of Myanmar for its democratic reforms and said he planned to visit the Southeast Asian nation soon to have further discussions with the Myanmar authorities. "I am very pleased and encouraged by what the current Myanmar authorities led by President Thein Sein have been leading, including the releasing of political prisoners," Ban said in New York.