Burma's Suu Kyi meets rights group

Burma has been vilified for its human rights record

Two representatives from the human rights group Amnesty International have begun a landmark visit to Burma and met with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

It is the first official visit by the group, which has consistently criticised Burma's military government for its human rights record.

Burma invited Amnesty to visit as part of the government's efforts to convince the international community it is serious about improving its human rights record.

But Mike Jendrzejczyck, of the campaign group Human Rights Watch, warned that the invitation could be a cosmetic gesture.

"Clearly the Burmese government will use this for maximum publicity benefit, to try to demonstrate that it is co-operating on human rights when its' human rights record remains dismal," he said.

There are also concerns that the two Amnesty representatives will not have enough time to make a thorough assessment, as they have only been granted visas for ten days.

Little progress

Hopes were raised of meaningful progress in Burma last year when the government released Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, but there has been little progress since.

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won 1990 elections by a landslide, but the military government ignored the result.

The United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on Burma, which is isolated politically and economically.

Amnesty International's representatives are hoping to speak to a range of people from the government and the opposition.

But fears have been expressed for the safety of any Burmese people they interview, who could become targets for state harassment after the international observers leave.