"Burmese pro-democracy advocate and former student leader Min Ko Naing was last month named one of this year?s winners of the Civil Courage Prize, awarded annually by the New York-based Northcote Parkinson Fund. The Fund is a private foundation that supports economic and political liberalism and honors ?steadfast resistance to evil at great personal risk.? Min Ko Naing—nom de guerre of Paw Oo Htun—was arrested in March 1989 and served more than 15 years of a 20-year prison sentence. He declined his share of the Civil Courage Prize—US $25,000—saying he wants the money to be used for humanitarian aid for his country. In a phone interview with The Irrawaddy, Min Ko Naing talked about the current situation in Burma...We need to understand the root cause and immediate context of the problems. We need to clearly examine these two factors; we shouldn?t pretend that we don?t recognise these issues. It is important to accept the reality of our country. In this country, crisis has existed for many years, while the change of democratic reform is delayed. All these things are related to international events. We will continue to endure the current crisis as long as Burma is rejected by the international community and under an economic situation of non-cooperation. Consequently, we will see massive unemployment problems, some people will lose their jobs and many will face everyday hardships. That is why I would like to urge the present government, the political forces and civil society to discuss together how to work towards a solution..."