United Nations Radio

The Human Rights Council's new Special Envoy on Myanmar, Tomas Olea Quintana, hopes the Myanmar government will say yes to his request for a visit.

Mr Olea Quintana cites diplomats in Geneva as saying the response had been held up by the government's preoccupation with cyclone relief.

The rapporteur made the remarks at a news conference in Geneva on Monday.

He presented his first report to the Human Rights Council at the end of last week.

The Argentinian jurist told reporters he is urging the Myanmar Government to keep its pledge to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to give aid workers and supplies unhindered access to people and areas affected by cyclone Nargis.

Mr. Olea Quintana also expressed concern about the arrest of a Myanmar actor who had been trying to help cyclone victims.

He said police took the actor, who is known as Zarganar, from his home on Wednesday night and his family has had no news of him since.

Zarganar had earlier been part of a group that had taken relief items to cyclone survivors in the Irrawaddy Delta.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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