The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, has expressed deep satisfaction that the government has made human rights a priority.
Asked in an exclusive interview with Mizzima if he had any regrets after his six years a special rapporteur, Mr Ojea Quintana said: “We are all human beings, but overall I’m very happy. I’m happy that the human rights agenda was near the top of the reform agenda of the government.”
Mr Ojea Quintana also expressed satisfaction with what had been achieved during his mandate as special rapporteur, which encompassed the transition from military dictatorship to President U Thein Sein’s reformist government.
“I think the mandate helped a lot of people. Not always with concrete results. But it encouraged people on the path to democracy,” he said.
Mr Ojea Quintana, who was appointed to the UN role in May 2008, was interviewed in Bangkok by Mizzima’s Hans Hulston February 20, a day after he left Myanmar for the last time as special rapporteur.
The wide-ranging interview will appear in the coming issue of Mizzima Business Weekly, which goes on sale in Yangon each Thursday.