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UN envoy finds hidden
microphone in Myanmar prisoner interview: sources
YANGON (AFP) - A
United Nations human rights envoy to Myanmar has complained of finding bugging
equipment in a room where he was conducting private interviews of political
prisoners, official sources said.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, in the midst of a week-long visit to the
military-ruled state, apparently discovered a concealed microphone Saturday
while interviewing inmates of the Insein prison Yangon.
"A special investigation is being conducted at this moment because of Mr.
Pinheiro's discovery of the microphone," a prison official told AFP on condition
of anonymity.
"He (Pinheiro) has filed a complaint," the official added.
The microphone was described by prison sources as typical of the kind of
equipment used to record inmates' meetings with family members.
It remained unclear whether the equipment was left in the room by mistake or
intended to record Pinheiro's discussions.
Sources said Pinheiro had already been in the jail several hours before
making his discovery, and left soon afterwards.
The incident may have rankled the UN envoy, on his fifth mission to update
his report on Myanmar, as there has been a tacit understanding with authorities
that he could meet anyone he chooses in absolute privacy.
"It was regrettable that such an incident happened, because we have been
giving full cooperation to Pinheiro during his visit here," a foreign ministry
source said, also on condition of anonymity.
"There has been a tacit understanding with Pinheiro that he could go anywhere
and interview anyone in total privacy."
Pinheiro did not mention the incident when contacted Sunday.
"I have decided not to speak until the end of my mission," he told AFP by
telephone. "It is impossible to assess my trip drop by drop."
The UN said his trip ends Wednesday.
The envoy, a Brazilian academic, has already met Myanmar's number three,
Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, and Foreign Minister Win Aung, as well as
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel peace laureate who heads the
National League for Democracy (NLD).
Another UN envoy, Razali Ismail, has helped broker national reconciliation
talks between the junta and the NLD leader, but most diplomats and analysts say
the talks have stalled.
Pinheiro has reiterated his call for countries to engage and not isolate
Myanmar.
Western governments have imposed a raft of sanctions on Myanmar in efforts to
pressure the military rulers to make concessions to the democratic opposition.
Pinheiro has stressed his top priority is the release of some 1,200 to 1,300
political prisoners. |