DATE=05/06/02

TYPE=INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

TITLE=ZARNI/FREE BURMA COALITION

NUMBER=3-174

BYLINE=STEVE NORMAN

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

/// EDITORS: THIS INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN DALET UNDER SOD/ENGLISH NEWS NOW INTERVIEWS IN THE FOLDER FOR TODAY OR YESTERDAY ///

VOA INTERVIEW WITH MR. ZARNI

Founding Director of The Free Burma Coalition

BY V-O-A'S STEVE NORMAN - MAY 5, 2002

HOST: Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi -- head of the National League for Democracy -- was freed today (Monday) after 19 months of house arrest. The military government made the announcement of her release, calling it a breakthrough toward ending the country's political deadlock.

VOA News Now's Steve Norman spoke with Zarni (zahr-knee) (uses only one name) -- the founding director of The Free Burma Coalition -- who said this would be an historic day, only if the release of Aung San Suu Kyi leads to national reconciliation, which he defines from the pro-democracy point of view:

MR. ZARNI: We would know if the genuine dialogue between Aung San Suu Kyi, the N-L-D leadership, and the ruling military junta goes forward and brings about concrete results, in the form of liberalizing the economy, relaxing draconian measures with respect to civil liberties and political freedoms.

MR. NORMAN: These are the issues that have separated the pro-democracy people and the junta?

MR. ZARNI: Those are among the issues. There are other issues, such as the systematic arrest of political dissidents across the country and the persecution of ethnic minorities that are bent on seeking autonomy -- not necessarily secession, but autonomy for their regions.

MR. NORMAN: We know that Aung San Suu Kyi has been the most notable detainee over recent Burmese history, but are there not other people who are also detained?

MR. ZARNI: My understanding is that there are about 2,000 political prisoners. And some of the very prominent and able people include U Win Tin and the student leader Min Ko Naing. They have been given long prison sentences. Some of them are ailing and they are basically dying behind bars. And I think Aung San Suu Kyi is rightly very concerned about the situation of these able advisors of hers and colleagues of hers, as well as the general conditions of other lesser-known political dissidents.

MR. NORMAN: Do you think there is any chance that she will be able to voice publicly, wherever she feels like, her particular points of view and the points of view of groups like yours?

MR. ZARNI: We are hopeful that this release, the latest development, signals a new chapter in the history of the country. And I think the military itself has articulated that this is an historic day for Burma. And so we cannot at this point say for sure what type of conditions or the terms of her release are, but we are hopeful that both sides are sincere and genuine and willing to work toward national reconciliation.

HOST: That is Zarni -- founding director of The Free Burma Coalition. He spoke with News Now's Steve Norman from his office in the U-S city of Chicago, Illinois.