YANGON – United Nations human rights expert Paulo Sergio Pinheiro visited
Myanmar’s Insein prison yesterday to probe abuses and uncover how many
died during the junta’s suppression of September’s pro-democracy protests.

Mr Pinheiro, who was allowed back into Myanmar by the regime for the first
time in four years, visited the jail for about an hour. He was joined by
UN and government officials, and escorted by police, witnesses said.

Human rights groups have urged him to push for reform and press for the
release of all political prisoners. Amnesty International estimates 700
are still in detention.

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was secretly held at Insein in 2003.
Former political prisoner Ko Aung said the British-built prison was known
as the “darkest hell-hole in Burma”.

Earlier yesterday, Mr Pinheiro met home affairs officials in Yangon and
was scheduled to meet senior Buddhist monks.

Monks were at the forefront of the protests, which eventually swelled into
the biggest anti-government demonstrations in two decades.

Mr Pinheiro had been expected to travel yesterday to the Myanmar’s capital
Naypyidaw to meet government ministers, but that trip has been postponed,
the official said.

It was not immediately clear if Mr Pinheiro, who will leave Myanmar on
Thursday, would meet Ms Aung San Suu Kyi. – AFP