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Then Ko Aung Myo Pai arrived, followed by Ko Zaw Min, Ko Myo Min, Ko Tun Min Aung and 65-year-old political prisoner U Chit Khin. So that's a total of six political prisoners who were detained in Kawthaung Prison while I was there. Ko Tun Min Aung was released in 2009, and U Chit Khin was released in December 2010.

Q: Did you happen to speak with Ko Pyone Cho?

A: There were two prison wards. Ko Aung Myo Pai, Ko Myo Min and Ko Zaw Min were in one ward, and Ko Pyone Cho and I were in another. I didn’t see the others, but I often had a chance to talk to Ko Pyone Cho, since we were in the same ward.

Q: What did you talk about with Ko Pyone Cho?

A: I would rather not say. Even disclosing the fact that I was able to chat with Ko Pyone Cho could have a detrimental effect on his situation in prison.

Q: Please tell us about your prison life.

A: Prison has its own rules and regulations, which everyone must follow. Whatever hardship I faced in prison, I tried to overcome it by holding on to my beliefs and convictions.

Q: What was the human rights situation like in Kawthaung Prison?

A: I was in a separate ward that had its own compound and wall, so there was no way for me to know what was going on outside my compound. As far as I was concerned, the most urgent need was for health care. For instance, Ko Pyone Cho was suffering hypertension and was instructed by the prison doctors to have his blood pressure checked daily and to report if he felt anything unusual. But for the past six months, there has been no health care in the prison.

Q: Do you want to say anything to your fellow artists who have been imprisoned for their political convictions?

A: Ko Win Maw was arrested before me. He served a seven-year sentence before this time, and is now serving 14 years in prison. There are other artists behind bars, such as Ko Zarganar. He shouldn’t have been locked up for the things he did, especially not in the 21st century. No one should be imprisoned for holding different political opinions. Diversity can be achieved through talking to each other. Putting such people behind bars will not have any positive effect for the country now or in the future.

Q: What would you like to do for the release of other political prisoners?

A: There are so many prisoners of conscience in prisons across Burma. I will try my best to help win their release.

Q: What do you think of the activities of Generation Wave, of which you are one of the founders?

A: I really don’t know what GW has been doing and what they are up to now since I’ve just walked out of prison. I trust them. I believe they were doing something useful for the country. There are so many GW members behind bars, so I want to help them get out of prison, too.

Q: Have you ever sung any songs making fun of the government?

A: I myself didn’t sing such songs, but I helped others who wanted to do so. These songs were not in fact cracking jokes about the government, but were trying to point out things that were wrong about the way this country is governed.

Q: Are they anti-government songs or just products of freedom of expression?

A: They were not just songs but, in fact, attempts to draw attention to the reforms that we urgently require. This is indeed freedom of expression that one can exercise. Condemning alone will not work. We should not just let them know what things are not right. If we can show them the right things to do, we may have better conditions for all of us.

Q: Do you plan to compose and sing again?

A: Music is in my blood. The only question is whether I can perform in front of my fans. I will continue to create. I want to say that as an artist and as an ordinary Burmese citizen, I am committed to working for the betterment of the people and the country to the best of my ability.