It is not power that corrupts but fear.

Because of rampant inflation, living standards have been dropping for the great majority of the population. The people are poorer because standards of health and education have fallen. And conditions in the rural areas are worse off than they have ever been. So, you cannot equate the so-called open-market economy adopted by the SLORC with any real development that benefits people.

I still oppose "Visit Myanmar Year," and I would ask tourists to stay away. Burma is not going to run away. They should come back to Burma at a time when it is a democratic society where people are secure - where there is justice, where there is rule of law. They'll have a much better time. And they can travel around Burma with a clear conscience.

The people of my country want the two freedoms that spell security: freedom from want and freedom from fear.

If you want to bring an end to long-standing conflict, you have to be prepared to compromise.

Government leaders are amazing. So often it seems they are the last to know what the people want.

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.