United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Tomas Ojea Quintana has begun a five-day tour of Myanmar to assess progress on human rights in that country.
Quintana, who arrived in Rangoon Tuesday morning, met with detained Opposition pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyers and inquired about details of her trial.
He also met with his colleagues based in the city, diplomats and Justice Thaung Nyunt.
A UN spokesman in Rangoon said the UN envoy had sought permission to meet with the Nobel laureate.
He plans to meet the British ambassador to Myanmar before leaving for Bangkok.
Quintana is also scheduled to visit a prison in northern Rakhine state on Wednesday.
Before embarking on his third mission to the country, Quintana said he intended to review and report on progress of implementation of the four core human rights elements that he had recommended during his visit last year.
"2010 appears to be a critical time for the people of Myanmar, as the government plans to hold a national election after 20 years," he said in a press release.
Ending months of speculation and showing signs of compliance to calls by the international community, the military regime confirmed last week that it will hold a general election soon, honoring previous commitments.
It was followed by the release of Tin Oo, the veteran vice- chairman of Suu Kyi's political party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), after seven years' detention without trial.
Meanwhile, NLD spokesperson Nyan Win said "Human rights abuses in the country continue unabated even during the visit of the human rights envoy."
He said four women, who were arrested last October after being accused of offering alms to Buddhist monks, were sentenced on Monday to two years imprisonment with hard labor.
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