UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- A U.N. human rights expert calls on the government of Myanmar, the former Burma, to release detained opposition leaders.
"This will be critical in facilitating national reconciliation and democratic transition to which the Myanmar leadership has committed itself," Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, said Friday.
Pinheiro expressed deep regret at the one year extension of the house arrest of U Tin Oo, the vice-chairman of the National League for Democracy. U Tin Oo has been detained since 2003, the rapporteur said. Pinheiro called for the release of U Tin Oo and all remaining prisoners of conscience.
On Jan. 8, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made a similar statement asking Myanmar leaders to free all political prisoners including Nobel Peace winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, said his spokesman.
However, four days later, China and Russia vetoed a Security Council resolution calling on Myanmar to release political prisoners and end its military attacks and human rights abuses, said a Security Council statement.
