The Burmese comedian Zarganar; director and actor Zin Wine;  directors Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi and Kyi Phyu Shin and former intelligence chief and prime minister Khin Nyunt met for a conversation on January 15. On Monday, Zarganar, along with Zin Wine, met with San Pwint, a former major in Military Intelligence who arrested Zarganar two times. Khin Nyunt was ousted and arrested in 2004 and sentenced to 44 years in prison in 2005 on various corruption charges. San Pwint was arrested and charged in the same case. Mizzima correspondent Ko Wild talked with Zarganar about his visit with Khin Nyunt at his home.

Abbot Ashin Wayponela,  aka Win Tin of Shwebonetha monastery in Mandalay, was released from Yamethin Prison under the recent amnesty. He was arrested in connection with a communal riot case between Buddhists and Islamists in Taungoo and received a 22-year prison term; he served more than 10 ½  years in Taungoo, Mandalay and Yamethin prisons. Mizzima reporter Ko Wild interviewed him on his prison experience and his future plans.

(Interview) – The abbot of Maggin Monastery, U Einda, 52, has been a monk for 32 years. He was released from Lashio Prison on Friday. He was arrested in connection with his support of the 2007 “Saffron Revolution.” Mizzima reporter Phanida talks to him about prison life, being re-ordained as a monk, President Thein Sein, Aung San Suu Kyi and the future of Burma.

(Interview) – 88-Generation Students met with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday to talk about their statement: “The Attitude of 88-Generation Students on the current political atmosphere and landscape” issued on December 5. The group will not run candidates elections until all political prisoners are released. Suu Kyi and former army captain Win Htein of the National League for Democracy (NLD) attended the meeting. 88-Generation Students included Soe Tun, Tun Myint Aung, Sanchaung Ko Ko Gyi, Mi Mi Lwin, Nu Nu Aung and others. Mizzima reporter Tun Tun talks with Tun Myint Aung about the current political landscape, the by-election, Parliament, ethnic issues and the group’s future plans.  

The following are the excerpts from the interview with the Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) spokesman Maj Lao Hseng on Monday, 19 December:

(Interview) – Derek Mitchell, the special representative and policy coordinator for Burma, talked with reporters at the U.S. embassy in Beijing on Tuesday, at the end of his visit to brief Chinese officials on recent U.S. talks with Burmese officials. The interview includes the U.S. view of recent reforms by the new Burmese government, regional security, ethnic minorities and cooperation between the U.S. and China regarding reforms in Burma. The interview, provided by the U.S. State Department, has been edited for length.

A ceremony marking the 62nd anniversary of the Pa O people’s revolution against feudalism was held on 11 December in Kawng Moong Mong, opposite Maehongson. The following is the interview with Khun Thurein of PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO).

The Burmese deputy foreign minister Maung Myint tells Mizzima that human rights and press freedom are essential to democracy and the National Human Rights Commission plans to provide assistance and relief supplies to war refugees in Kachin State.  Editor-in-chief Soe Myint interviewed Maung Myint while he attended a democracy forum in Indonesia. The minister discusses a wide range of issues including political prisoners, economic sanctions and press freedom.

(Interview) – U.S. Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma Derek Mitchell met with Commander in Chief of the Burmese Defense Forces  Lt. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing during his third visit to Naypyitaw. It was the first time in 23 years that a high U.S. official met with the Burmese armed forces chief. The state newspaper reported that they discussed "cooperation between the two nations' armies" during their meeting on November 3, 2011. As the relationship has seemed to improve dramatically, the US has resumed humanitarian assistance to Burma and appears to be moving ahead with military cooperation between the two armies. Mizzima reporter Ko Pauk interviewed Burmese military analyst U Htay Aung, who has observed the Burmese military for decades.

(Interview) – The leadership of the National League for Democracy (NLD) has said party leaders will meet very soon to consider re-registering as a political party. On April 29, 2009, the NLD declared that it would take part in elections only if all political prisoners were released, the undemocratic principles in the 2008 Constitution were amended, and international groups monitored the election. The NLD boycotted the November 2010 general election because those conditions were not met. Mizzima reporter Ko Pauk interviewed WinTin, a central executive member and a co-founder of the NLD, on whether the NLD requirements are still valid.

(Interview) – Burma VJ, a Thai-based news group, says it will continue to expose human rights violations in Burma by using media as a tool to make positive changes. Burma VJ, previously affiliated with the Democratic Voice of Burma, said that is now an independent group and it will publish its videos and photographs on Facebook (Burma VJ Media Network) to reveal violations of human rights in Burma. Burma VJ was formed in 2006. During an issue involving the loss of US$ 300,000 at DVB in early October 2011, Burma VJ members resigned from DVB. Mizzima correspondent Tun Tun talked with Burma VJ member Aung Gyi about the group’s new posture, its future plans and financial matters.