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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UN envoy in Burma in vital year | UN envoy in Burma in vital year |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A special United Nations Human Rights representative is in Burma for the start of a planned five day trip. | A special United Nations Human Rights representative is in Burma for the start of a planned five day trip. |
| Ahead of what will be his third visit to the country since being appointed, Tomas Ojea Quintana, said Burma was facing a critical year. | Ahead of what will be his third visit to the country since being appointed, Tomas Ojea Quintana, said Burma was facing a critical year. |
| Elections are due to be held sometime in 2010, for the first time in two decades. | Elections are due to be held sometime in 2010, for the first time in two decades. |
| Mr Quintana's visit comes after the release on Saturday of a leading pro democracy campaigner. | Mr Quintana's visit comes after the release on Saturday of a leading pro democracy campaigner. |
| Tin Oo had been detained for almost seven years. | |
| During his trip, Mr Quintana is expected to meet several ministers in the military government. | During his trip, Mr Quintana is expected to meet several ministers in the military government. |
| Detainee's release | Detainee's release |
| But he has not been granted an audience with the man who makes all key decisions in Burma - General Than Shwe. | But he has not been granted an audience with the man who makes all key decisions in Burma - General Than Shwe. |
| The UN envoy is also likely to hold talks with opposition figures, and visit Rangoon's notorious Insein prison. | The UN envoy is also likely to hold talks with opposition figures, and visit Rangoon's notorious Insein prison. |
| He has not yet received a response to his request to meet the detained pro democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. | He has not yet received a response to his request to meet the detained pro democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. |
| The release of political prisoners is one of the main items on Mr Quintana's agenda. | The release of political prisoners is one of the main items on Mr Quintana's agenda. |
| It is perhaps no coincidence then that a high profile detainee won his freedom just ahead of the UN envoy's arrival. | It is perhaps no coincidence then that a high profile detainee won his freedom just ahead of the UN envoy's arrival. |
| Tin Oo, who is 82 years old, is deputy head of the National League for Democracy (NLD) - the party led by Ms Suu Kyi. | Tin Oo, who is 82 years old, is deputy head of the National League for Democracy (NLD) - the party led by Ms Suu Kyi. |
| The Burmese leadership is adept at giving hints of progress on reform when international attention is focussed in its direction. | The Burmese leadership is adept at giving hints of progress on reform when international attention is focussed in its direction. |
| But it is worth noting that Tin Oo was at the end of his latest period of detention and as such his release does not represent a major concession on the part of the government. | But it is worth noting that Tin Oo was at the end of his latest period of detention and as such his release does not represent a major concession on the part of the government. |