A/HRC/10/19 page 4 I. INTRODUCTION 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 8/14 and covers the human rights developments in Myanmar since the Special Rapporteur’s reports submitted to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/7/24) and the General Assembly (A/63/341). 2. On 23 September 2008, seven prisoners of conscience were released, one of whom was rearrested a day later. The Special Rapporteur welcomed the release, hoping that it would be the first in a series of releases of other prisoners of conscience. On 21 February 2009, 29 more prisoners of conscience were released. 3. From September to December 2008, some 300 prisoners of conscience were given harsh sentences, including a dozen detainees who were given 65-year prison sentences. The Special Rapporteur, together with the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief condemned publicly the severe convictions and unfair trials. On 14 January 2009, a 20-year-old student was sentenced to 104 years of imprisonment. 4. The present report focuses on the Special Rapporteur’s findings during his visit to Myanmar from 14 to 19 February 2009. The Special Rapporteur would like to thank the Government of Myanmar for its hospitality and the cooperation he received during his mission to the country. The objectives of the mission were to assess the development of the human rights situation since the Special Rapporteur’s visit in August 2008 and to discuss with the relevant authorities the implementation of the four core human rights elements. 5. The Special Rapporteur met with the Secretary-General in October 2008 and is in constant contact with his Special Adviser on Myanmar, Professor Ibrahim Gambari. The Special Rapporteur would finally like to thank the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in particular at Geneva, Bangkok and New York for assisting him in discharging his mandate. II. METHODOLOGY AND ACTIVITIES OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR 6. The Special Rapporteur was appointed in March 2008 and officially assumed his functions on 1 May 2008. He presented his first report to the Council in June 2008 (A/HRC/7/24), wherein he announced that his primary task was to cooperate with and assist the Government of Myanmar in its efforts in the field of promotion and protection of human rights. He reiterated his cooperation with the Government to assist in the realization of human rights of the people of Myanmar in his statements to the Council and in his report (A/63/341) and statement to the General Assembly. In the latter report, the Special Rapporteur mentioned that, if after some time, there was no sign of any result on the horizon, he would consider changing his strategy. 7. The Special Rapporteur’s two requests to visit Myanmar were met by the Government. He conducted missions to the country from 3 to 7 August 2008, and from 14 to 19 February 2009. He considers that both missions were constructive since the identified objectives were achieved, namely, the establishment of a cooperative relationship with the Government and other