Troops of the Burma Army were conspicuous by their absence in Rangoon on the eve of the arrival of the UN rights expert, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro. The Burmese military junta took pains to see that there is no military presence in the former capital, a source close to the military establishment said.

Pinheiro, expected to travel to Burma’s new jungle capital of Naypyitaw on Sunday arrived in the country and kick-started his investigations into the crackdown on protesters by visiting the notorious Insein prison in Rangoon, two Buddhist monasteries and met several officials at a government ministry office on Monday.

The Burmese authorities had swept under the carpet its military presence in Rangoon prior to the arrival of the UN rights expert so as to show case the situation in Rangoon as normal, said the source, who wished to remain unidentified.

About 20 truck loads of soldiers were seen leaving Rangoon on Sunday morning before the UN envoy’s arrival in the former capital, the source said.

“They [the trucks] headed to undisclosed locations, passed Pegu and was expected to head to Naypyidaw or their bases,” the source added.

Pinheiro, who arrived in Burma on Sunday to probe the government’s use of violence on protesters in September, is accompanied by Major Hla Soe (retired), secretary of Rangoon division Peace and Development Council, the source said.

The regime has adopted a new policy of letting civilian officials receive state guests and many military officials including the Rangoon division commander are maintaining a low profile during Pinheiro’s visit, the source added.

“All military [officials] are to be out of sight during the UN [envoy's] visit. They [are] worried [that there might be] demonstrations during his [Pinheiro's] visit,” added the source.

However, the UN envoy is being closely watched by plainclothes police, junta-backed civilian organization Swan Are Shin and USDA, and Township chairmen, added the source.

Meanwhile, the UN Chief in New York on Monday expressed hope that the process initiated by his special envoy to Burma , Ibrahim Gambari, will lead to a meaningful dialogue within an agreed time-frame.

Mr. Ban Ki-moon issued a press statement on Monday, after he was briefed by his envoy on telephone.

Mr. Gambari, who visited Burma twice following the September crackdown on protesters in Rangoon, is scheduled to brief the UN Security Council on his latest trip to the Southeast Asian country on Tuesday, according to the Security Council report.

“The meeting will be a public debate that will include participation of selected parties such as Myanmar and Singapore, as ASEAN chair, and will be followed by closed consultations,” the Council report said.

“A presidential statement to be adopted within next week is a probable outcome,” added the report.

Following Gambari’s latest visit to Burma, from November 3 to 8, detained Burmese opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet her party – National League for Democracy – leaders for the first time in more than three years.

The Noble Peace Laureate, who after meeting her party leaders and meeting the government’s Liaison Minister Aung Kyi twice, said she has decided to cooperate with the ruling junta for a process of dialogue.