The judiciary in Burma is not independent. It's widely known, everybody knows that.

If you can make people understand why freedom is so important through the arts, that would be a big help.

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.

Kindness can change the lives of people.

I would like to have seen my sons growing up.

I think I was the healthiest prisoner of conscience in the world.

It is the love of ordinary people, in Burma, in Japan or anywhere else in the world, for justice and peace and freedom that is our surest defense against the forces of unreason and extremism.