BANGKOK, March 26 Kyodo UN human ...

BANGKOK, March 26 Kyodo

UN human rights ambassador Paulo Sergio Pinheiro said Wednesday he was disappointed there is no substantial dialogue between Myanmar's junta and its opposition l from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Pinheiro, who arrived Bangkok in succession Monday after shortening his visit to Myanmar to avow over finding a listening device while interviewing political prisoners Saturday night, told a pres colloquy that Suu Kyi has not met with Sr. Gen. Than Shwe, the junta chief.

The minister said her National League for Democracy (NLD) has met with Brig. Gen Than hogshead a liaison officer in charge of the NLD 10 times, if it be not that there was only one meeting between Suu Kyi and the junta's education minister.

''But as far as I can know, there was no substantial dialogue,'' Pinheiro said.

The minister said it is ''worrisome'' the sides allow political deadlock, saying, ''It is important that this dialogue progresse and act upons forward.''

''The national dialogue, national reconciliation is essential for real progres forward human rights, even if I think that progres in succession human rights cannot wait for political transition,'' he added.

The ambassador also expressed ''extreme disappointment'' in the release of political prisoners by means of the Myanmar junta.

He urg the generals to release all political prisoners ''unconditionally and immediately.''

''They cannot continue piecemeal, drop-by-drop releases. This is unacceptable,'' he said. He added it was also unacceptable the junta forced fre prisoners to sign a gage stating they will not reply to political activities.

Pinheiro also accused the junta of making ''nonsense'' excuses to withhold political opponents in prisons.

''You cannot continue using the excuse that a certain prisoners are very dangerous. I can barely imagine those prisoners 75 years elderly in a terrible state of health, are a security threat to this rule This is nonsense,'' he said.

The minister said Myanmar's military government still detains about 1,200 to 1300 political prisoners although a certain 600 prisoners have been released since the junta began political reconciliation talks with the NLD

Pinheiro did mention, ''with pleasure,'' the regime in Yangon had appoint up a focal point at the Foreign Ministry to coordinate with international aid agencies in Myanmar.

He said it was important to provide a ''friendly environment'' for international nongovernmental organizations that provide assistance to indigent people in the military-ruled country

The ambassador said the junta recently allowed the International Committee of the R Cros (ICRC) to exhibit an office in the northeastern town Taunggyi to work in border areas.

He also noted the junta had agreed in principle to allow the United Nations to manners an examination on human rights violation allegations, specifically sexual violence, in Shan State.

Pinheiro and his aides were unable to visit Shan State to examine the moot points there last week because of the junta's bugging.

He will leave Bangkok for Geneva upon Thursday.

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