August 5 (AFP) - The Democratic Voice of Burma, DVB radio station that currently operates from Norway may move its broadcasting base to Ireland, a spokesman said on Thursday.
"We at DVB feel that working from within an EU country with a strong commitment to human rights and education would be of even greater benefit to us," Deputy Director of DVB, Khin Maung Win, said.
"The people of Ireland have always shown great solidarity for the plight of the people in Burma and we hope that an agreement can be arrived at," he added on a visit to Ireland.
DVB broadcasts an hour of programmes twice daily into Burma, now named Myanmar, presenting the views of the opposition National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) and the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB).
Khin Maung Win said the radio had been operating from Oslo for 12 years and they were grateful for the Norwegian government's support.
"With an aim of strengthening our operation as a professional radio, DVB is looking for a new host country," he added.
Part of the strategy of Trocaire, the overseas development agency of Ireland's Roman Catholic Church which has supported DVB's move, is to back Myanmar's government in exile.
Last year the charity backed 16 projects at a cost of more than 300,000 euros (360,000 dollars) both inside the country and in the refugee camps on the Thai/Myanmar border.
"Burma has been ruled by a brutal military government for over 40 years," said Trocaire's director Justin Kilcullen.
"With the absence of free press, no other political parties can express their views or disseminate their political ideas and programmes," he said.
Four years ago, Myanmar's imprisoned democratic opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was conferred in her absence with the freedom of Dublin, the city's highest accolade.
She was given the award for her "bravery in standing up for democracy and the fact that they had won the election and had not been allowed to lead the government of the country".