United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tomas Ojea Quintana

Yangon, August 24 -- On the fourth day of his five-day official visit to Myanmar, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tomas Ojea Quintana held one and a half hour talks with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi at her residence this afternoon.

Asked by newsmen who surrounded Quintana and Aung San Suu Kyi, the democracy icon said: “I am very much satisfied with my talks with Mr. Quintana. I look upon him as a dependable person with sincere goodwill for promotion of human rights in Myanmar.”

As for Mr. Quintana, he reserved his comments on his talks with Aung San Suu Kyi as well as on the results of his five-day mission for the press conference he will be giving tomorrow evening at the Yangon International Airport before departing Myanmar.

Since his appointment to the post of United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar in May 2008, Quintana has previously come here three times – the first time in August 2008, second time in February 2009 and the third time in February 2010.

In all these three previous visits, Quintana was barred from seeing Aung San Suu Kyi by the previous military government. Thus this is the first time Quintana has the chance to hold talks with Aung San Suu Kyi.

On arrival in Nay Pyi Taw on the first day of his visit on August 21 this year, Quintana was cordially received by Myanmar Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin.

The state media said Quintana and Wunna Maung Lwin held talks discussing progress of improvement of human rights in Myanmar.

The same day he was received by Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Ko Ko, who happens to be the Chairman of the Myanmar Human Rights Committee.

On his second day of his visit on August 22, Quintana has met and separately held talks with Chief Justice U Tun Tun Oo, Attorney-General U Tun Shin, Minister for Labour U Aung Kyi, Minister for Defence Maj-Gen Hla Min.

The next day on August 23, Quintana separately met and held talks with Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw Thura U Shwe Mann and Speaker of Amyotha Hluttaw U Khin Aung Myint. Quintana also met and held talks with chairmen of various parliamentary committees.

Political observers here commented that the way Quintana was eagerly received by the authorities of Thein Sein government contrasted with the way he was not warmly received by the previous military government.
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