Q : Let me just briefly introduce our university. Kyoto Seika University was founded 30 years ago. This interview is a part of a series for our 30-year anniversary, beginning with you, and then Dr Ramos Horta, who is active in support of East Timor, and lastly, the Dalai Lama. Our goal, and our ideal, is "freedom and autonomy". Therefore, we'd like to ask you some questions. First, how was your school-days life, and your university life?

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi : Well, I think I was just an average school-girl, in the sense that I was not that overjoyed to go to school every day, but I liked my teachers, and I liked learning. My universities were very interesting. I think I prefer university education to school education, because I am not so fond of learning by rote. I like the kind of education that is stimulating, and that invites ideas from the students, as well as of course teaching them a lot. I spent some time in Kyoto, with Kyoto University, and that I found very very interesting, because I think education is not just something that you get out of books, it's learning about the world around you, and I had an opportunity to do that in Kyoto.

Q : Could you describe a little about the conditions and situation of Burma's universities?

ASSK : Well at the moment the universities in Burma are closed, because the authorities are nervous that if they open the universities there will be trouble among the students. This is a very sad reflection on our society. In any country where universities have to be kept shut to keep the students quiet, there have to be very very grave problems. So there are grave problems in Burma, and our standards of education have been dropping steadily over the years. At one time we were one of the most progressive countries, educationally, in our part of the world. Now we are about the most backward.

Q : As you mentioned, we know you spent a year in Japan. What is your impression of Japanese spirit, and Japanese universities?

ASSK : Well, in Kyoto of course I was only working with post-graduates and with members of the faculty, but I did visit Osaka University at one time, to speak about Burmese literature, to some students who were studying Burmese there. I have to say that I was a little surprised to find that the Japanese students are less respectful towards their teachers than Burmese students. The university of course was far better equipped than anything that you would find in Burma, so there is no doubt about it that Japanese students have far better opportunities than Burmese students of acquiring knowledge and of furthering their education.

Q : Let's go on to the question of the problem of freedom and liberty, and the problems in Burma. Currently, what do you think about freedom? What is freedom for you?

ASSK : Freedom I think is the opportunity to develop your full potential, but always of course in the context of the freedom of other people. You can't just think about your own freedom. If the exercise of your own freedom infringes on the freedom of other people then it's not freedom,it's injustice. So I think freedom and justice have to be balanced.

Q: We know that you have worked and persevered under this condition for about ten years. What is your motivation, and what supports you to go ahead, under these severe conditions?

ASSK : Well, there are a number of factors that help me to continue. The reason why I entered the movement for democracy is because I believe in such concepts as peace and freedom, and basic human rights, but what helps me to go on is the fact that there are many people, many colleagues, who are prepared to make all kinds of sacrifices and face all kinds of difficulties for what they believe in, and that helps me to go on. I must also say that I'm inspired by people like my father, leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, and also I'm helped by the plight of the ordinary people of Burma, their helplessness, their poverty, the fact that they are so afraid, the fact that so very few of them even have any hope of escaping from this trap of fear and poverty, all these help me to go on. And I suppose there must be something in me basically that keeps me determined to continue along the road of something in which I believe.

Q : We would like to have your comment to the 21st Century generation, including especially university students. What would you like to say to the younger generation?

ASSK : Well, first of all, I think the most important thing is that they should be broad-minded, that they should have a largeness of spirit, that will enable them to embrace the whole world as a brotherhood, and which will enable them to feel for the difficulties of others. I think selfishness is one of the most frightening things in this world. It is selfishness and lack of understanding of other people's troubles that are responsible for the cruelties and terrible tragedies that take place in this world. So I would recommend largeness of spirit as the first goal towards which young people should work.

Q : Any special comment for Japanese university students?

ASSK : I think Japanese students particularly have a duty to work towards a largeness of spirit, because they are so fortunate, they are so much more privileged that many other students in the world. Compared to Burmese students, they are almost like people from another planet, because they have so many opportunities, they have material goods that many Burmese students will never never see in their lives. Because they have so much, they also have a responsibility to give. The more you have, the greater a responsibility you have to give. And you cannot give unless there is something in your spirit that urges you to give to others.

Q : We would like you to have some time at our university after Burma is democratized -- if we invite you after democracy is achieved, could you accept our invitation?

ASSK : Oh, I'd love to come!

Q : Thank you! Thanks very much for saying so!

ASSK : Not at all!