When I was in London a Kachin youth criticized me for not condemning the Burmese military for their offensive in Kachin State. I answered "condemnation is not the solution." We want to build reconciliation, not condemnation.

My attitude to peace is rather based on the Burmese definition of peace - it really means removing all the negative factors that destroy peace in this world. So peace does not mean just putting an end to violence or to war, but to all other factors that threaten peace, such as discrimination, such as inequality, poverty.

Jobless people will have no self-confidence. And they feel they are worthless because when you don't have a job you have to rely on someone.

I think by now I have made it fairly clear that I am not very happy with the word hope. I don't believe in people just hoping.

What I have experienced is nothing compared to what political prisoners in prisons suffer.

In Burma, under the present Constitution, the Army can always take over all parts of government if they think this is necessary. so until the Army comes out clearly and consistently in support of the democratic process we cannot say that it's irreversible. But I don't think we need fear a reversal too much either.

We're nowhere near democracy. I've been released, that's all.