UN human rights envoy visits Myanmar

United Nations human rights envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana arrived here Sunday for the first time in more than a year to assess the human rights situation in Myanmar after a new government was installed, according to diplomatic sources. He will proceed to the new capital of Nay Pyi Taw. During his five-day stay in the country, Quintana, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, is to meet with senior government officials in Nay Pyi Taw including Foreign Minister U Wuuna Maung Lwin, Home Minister Lieutenant-General Ko Ko and Police Chief Kyaw Kyaw Tun, according to U.N. Office in Yangon. Quintana will also meet the speakers of both parliamentary houses U Shwe Mann and U Khin Aung Myint, attend the upcoming session of the House of Nationalities as observer, and visit Yangon's Insein Prison, the sources said. Quintana last visited Myanmar in February 2010 and traveled to western Rakhine state where he met with some local ethnic leaders.