But it's something I must be prepared for, because it wouldn't look good if I didn't know what to say if I was invited to take part in a dialogue. So I don't mind if people say that this is something that might happen. But sometimes I wanted to laugh a bit at some of the speculation I heard, some of which was quite funny.
Q: Can you recall anything that struck you as particularly funny?
A: I won't elaborate, but some things people said seemed a bit funny and ambitious to me. Sometimes people said these things because they wanted to see changes for the better in the country. But some have had quite pessimistic and radical views, such as that the situation will never get any better. In fact, things sometimes turn out very differently from what we expect. We must always be ready and prepared for whatever happens.
Q: So do you know what you will say to Snr-Gen Than Shwe if you meet him again?
A: It depends on the situation. Whatever I say will depend on the circumstances and the reason for our meeting.
Q: Some have expressed the view that the military cannot be excluded from Burmese politics. The new Constitution guarantees the military a dominant role in future politics. What do you think about the military and its political role?
A: No one should be excluded from politics, since it is related to everyone. However, it is important to have the correct relationship to politics.
Q: We have heard that there are some in the military who support you and the democracy movement. What is your message to army officers and their families and others in the military who want to see change?
A: If they want change, they have to make it happen. As I said earlier, I don't believe in just imagining how things might be better. If we hope for something, we must strive to achieve it.
Q: The election was neither free nor fair. The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) appears to have won, although the results have not yet been announced. It will soon form a new government. Some in the international community think that this will herald a new political landscape in Burma. How will you face this situation?
A: I don't know what people mean when they talk about a new political landscape. Are they referring to the new Parliament? In any case, there are always some who participate in politics inside Parliament, and others who are involved in politics outside Parliament. We will be in the latter category. Since we have some experience with how they [the USDP] engage in political activities, we will use various means to carry out our political activities outside the Parliament.
Q: Before the election was held, some members of the international community, particularly in Europe, said that taking part in it was the only option for the opposition. Now that it is over, however, those who backed the election have been embarrassed by the way it was carried out by the regime. It didn't happen as they expected. What would you like to say to these people?
A: Perhaps this was a good lesson for them. [Laughs]
Q: The international community has welcomed your release. The US government has said it will continue its existing policy on Burma, combining sanctions and engagement. What kind of pressure do you think the international community should exercise on the Burmese regime, and what kind of relationship should it have with the junta? What would you like to say to China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)?
A: I want Asean and China to have close relations with us. I want them to know that we are not people they can't deal with. I think the fact that sanctions remain in effect is related to what you said earlier—the new political landscape. I think they are waiting to see if this really is a new landscape or not.
Q: The exiled Burmese community is becoming larger and larger. Hundreds of thousands of Burmese have left their country illegally, most of them from the younger generation. You have often spoken about the importance of education and helping the young to realize their potential.
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