Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military toppled an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi early last year and launched a bloody crackdown on peaceful protests and armed resistance movements that followed. .
Noeleen Heyzer arrived in Naypyitaw and was greeted by foreign ministry officials, army-controlled Myawaddy TV reported late Tuesday.
Heyzer is expected to meet junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and senior ministers. It “will endeavor to respond to the deterioration of the situation and to the immediate concerns”, declared the UN in a press release at the beginning of the week.
She did not provide further details of her trip.
A junta spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.
Myanmar’s generals have faced worldwide condemnation most recently for executing four democracy activists who they say participated in “terrorist acts”, in reference to attacks by militias fighting against the military regime. and who seek revenge for a murderous repression of the demonstrations.
Myanmar courts have also handed down lengthy prison terms to Suu Kyi on what critics say are trumped up charges aimed at permanently blocking her return to politics.
She was sentenced to six years in prison on Monday after being found guilty in four corruption cases, a source with knowledge of the proceedings said.
The 77-year-old veteran leader has been charged with at least 18 offenses ranging from corruption to violation of election rules, for combined maximum prison terms of nearly 190 years. Suu Kyi called the accusations absurd and denied all charges against her.
Suu Kyi, who is being held in solitary confinement in a prison in the capital Naypyitaw, had previously been sentenced to 11 years in prison in other cases.
Heyzer did not ask to meet Suu Kyi, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said on Tuesday.
Zaw Min Tun is expected to hold a routine press conference later on Wednesday.