A United Nations investigator said today his five-day mission to Burma enabled him to determine the numbers of people killed and detained in the government's September crackdown on protesters, but that he would not immediately reveal the details.
UN human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro said he would report the figures only after drafting a formal report on his trip for the United Nations.
"I'm compiling the documents. In two weeks I will have this number," Mr Pinheiro told reporters in Bangkok, where he flew yesterday on leaving Burma.
UN human rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro
Burma's military government has said 10 people were killed when troops opened fire on crowds of peaceful protesters September 26th and 27th. Diplomats and dissidents say the death toll was much higher.
Mr Pinheiro was sent by the UN to investigate allegations of abuse in connection with the crackdown and to try to get into the country's prisons to pin down the precise numbers of those killed and detained.
During his stay, he was allowed to meet with several prominent political prisoners and said that the authorities had provided him with a list of all detainees and their conditions.
The government has acknowledged detaining nearly 3,000 people who took part in the protests but says it has released most of them. Many prominent political activists, however, remain in custody.
"Of course, I am happy that large numbers of people have been released, but I have my concerns about the situation of those who have not been released," Mr Pinheiro said in Rangoon yesterday.
Before leaving the country, he was taken to Rangoon's infamous Insein Prison, where he met with labour activist Su Su Nway, who was arrested Tuesday.
Mr Pinheiro also met with 77-year-old journalist Win Tin, held since 1989, and members of the 88 Generation Students group, who have been especially active in nonviolent anti-government protests in recent years.