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Treatment of Political Prisoners Improves in Burma VOA News 22 Feb 2002 10:49 UTC 
United Nations human rights envoy to Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, says political prisoners are being treated better since Red Cross visits began two years ago.
Mr. Pinheiro told reporters in Bangkok Friday that he had urged Burma's military leaders to release all political detainees. He estimates there are at least 1,500 political prisoners in Burma.
Mr. Pinheiro, who wrapped up a 10-day visit to Burma this week, said none of the prisoners he interviewed said they had been abused. He said he had been given unfettered access to prisoners.
He also said that he had urged the military government to allow opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy to carry out political activities. The NLD won a landslide victory in 1990 elections, but has not been allowed to govern.
The Brazilian academic will deliver a report on the human rights situation in Burma to the United Nations.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.
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