UN rights expert to visit Myanmar next week
An independent United Nations human rights expert on Myanmar today welcomed an invitation by the country's authorities
to visit from 11 to 15 November.
In a statement released in Geneva, Special Rapporteur Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro said the invitation "sends a positive
indication of the desire of the authorities to cooperate with his mandate and the Human Rights Council."
On 24 October, Mr. Pinheiro, anticipating the visit, said he would use it visit verify allegations of abuses during the
recent Government crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, determine the numbers and whereabouts of those detained or
killed, and collect testimony about what happened.
Meanwhile Secretary-General's Ban Ki-moon's Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari is continuing diplomatic efforts in Myanmar,
where he met yesterday with Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, their second meeting in as many days.
ENDS