Buthidaung: Visiting UN Human Rights Envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana met with political prisoners at the infamous Buthidaung prison in Arakan State during his tour to the township on Wednesday, said an official from the prison.

He said, "The UN envoy Quintana met with Ko Htay Khwe, Ko Mrat Tun, Ko Kyaw Min, Miha Ahmad, and Ko Tun Nyo in the special hall at Buthidaung prison. But we do not know what they discussed."

Mr. Quintana came to Buthidaung from Sittwe in a speed boat owned by the UNHCR and arrived in Buthidaung at 10 am. Nasaka Commander Colonel Aung Gyi received him at the Buthidaung Jetty.

"He spent at least three hours in meetings with political prisoners. He left the prison at 2 pm," he said.

Quintana also met with some political prisoners at the Sittwe prison on Tuesday soon after he touched down in Arakan from Rangoon.

According to a source, he met with Ko Than Tin, Ko Pyi Pho Hlaing, Ko Aung Tun Myint, and U Sanda Thiri.

At Sittwe prison the authority put up barriers at many entrance roads to prevent people from getting near the prison, but all the barriers were moved by authorities prior to Quintana's visit.

Quintana will leave for Rangoon on Thursday and will fly to Naypyidaw on Friday.

According to local community sources, many Arakanese welcome his visit to Arakan, where human rights violations are widespread.

A politician from Sittwe said, "Everybody knows of his visit to Arakan, so the people of Arakan are closely watching the situation in the state to see what would be changed after his visit."

Human rights group Amnesty International on Tuesday released a report saying many ethnic politicians are oppressed by the military authority and more than 700 activists from Burma's largest ethnic minorities - including the Rakhine, Shan, Kachin, and Chin - have been detained in several prisons since August 2007.

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