As reforms stall, US and Myanmar to discuss human rights

The United States will hold a high-level human rights dialogue with Myanmar next week, hoping to nudge the quasi-civilian government on stalled reforms.  International scrutiny of Myanmar's rights record is intensifying as it gears up for its first nationwide vote since a repressive junta ceded power in 2011. Optimism that greeted its initial political opening has faded, and skepticism is growing over its transition to democracy.   The visit by top State Department human rights envoy Tom Malinowski begins Sunday with a trip to northern Kachin state, where he'll see villagers displaced by fighting between ethnic insurgents and government forces.  On Friday a U.N. human rights envoy in Myanmar visited minority Muslims who have been stuck in dirty camps in western Myanmar since sectarian violence broke out three years ago. (Source: AP)