Ko Ko Ko Gyi answered questions following a seminar held at the Sky Star Hotel, Yangon on May 29 and entitled ‘Participation of Youth in the Activities of Political Parties’.

“If youths participating in political parties and organisations are put into jail, they should not see it as a failure, but they should take pride in it instead”, said Ko Ko Ko Gyi.

Asked what potential consequences might arise from the participation of youths in a political organisation, when they are naive to that party’s policy platform, Ko Ko Ko Gyi said that youth “must engage in politics on their own terms and should not be exploited by political parties or organisations.”

 “Experienced senior politicians should encourage youth involvement by engaging them in appropriate roles, for instance the youth possess modern technology, and this may be an area where they can produce mutually beneficial outcomes,” added the former student leader.

At the same event Minister of the President's Office, U Soe Thein spoke about the role of youth in the future of Myanmar.

“The Youth must work for democracy, peace and to raise living standards as we construct the future Myanmar,”said U Soe Thein.

“The Youth cannot ignore politics. When I last saw the President I told him that he must provide the youth of Myanmar with the opportunity to claim their rightful place in the future of Myanmar and he agreed,” said the minister.