Political exiles from Burma are hoping to establish a radio station here to broadcast into their home country.
Mr Khin Maung Win, deputy director of the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) radio, will meet officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs as well as the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland today. The service is currently being broadcast from Norway.
The station is supported by Trócaire and Burma Action Ireland.
Mr Maung Win said the station was looking at two countries - Sweden and Ireland - as possible bases.
Although broadcasting from Norway since 1992, those behind DVB radio would like to move because the humanitarian basis on which they are allowed to stay in Norway depends on their leaving every four years and reapplying for their visas.
"Also we would like to be in the EU so we can travel around more easily. We need to be able to travel to south-east Asia to make contact with people working for us."
Twelve Burmese exiles staff the Oslo office, and there are up to 80 journalists working in Thailand and also within Burma, said Mr Maung Win.
Since the first military coup in 1962 in Burma, independently-run newspapers, journals and magazines were either closed down or became organs of the military government, he said.
"The government in Burma see free speech as the number one enemy. They hate the media."
The station broadcasts for two hours a day - an hour in the morning and another in the afternoon - on short wave, by satellite and on the internet.
He said the station has an audience of about 13 million people.
"Our mission is to provide accurate and unbiased news to the people of Burma, and impart the ideals of democracy and human rights.
"The sound quality is much better on the satellite than on short wave, and we get about 3,000 visitors a day to the website.
"We are hoping we will get approval and support - political, practical and moral support from the Irish Government.
"We decided to try Ireland because it has a good record on supporting the people of Burma and human rights. We think of Bono and Mary Robinson."
Mr Maung Win was forced to leave Burma after taking part in the massive pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988.
They ultimately forced the resignation of military dictator Ne Win in July and the formation of a provisional democratic government in September.
This was quickly followed, however, by a second military coup, which saw the junta retake power, and the violent suppressing all dissent, with hundreds of deaths.
Human rights leader Mr Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest by the dictatorship."The idea of a free radio station is very important. It is the most powerful expression," said Mr Maung Win.
Radio DVB can be listened to at www.dvb.no
