Myanmar's pro-democracy icon and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi says she is still "fond" of her country's army, even though it kept her under house arrest for 15 years.
Suu Kyi told BBC her Buddhist faith helped her defy her country's dictatorship, and later face them when taking a seat in parliament.
The Nobel Prize winner's father, Aung San, is considered the father of modern Myanmar, and founded its army.
"It's genuine, I'm fond of the army," Suu Kyi said.
"People don't like me for saying that. There are many who have criticised me for being what they call a poster girl for the army."
"Very flattering to be seen as a poster girl for anything at this time of life, but I think the truth is I am very fond of the army, because I always thought of it as my father's army," she said.
Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest before the 1990 elections in Myanmar.
She had returned to the country from Britain to nurse her mother, and was held after giving a speech.
Suu Kyi had been living in Britain with her husband Michael Aris, and their two sons. Aris was refused a visa to visit her before he died of terminal cancer in 1999.
She was released after the November 2010 polls that formally ended military rule in Myanmar. Her party later rejoined the political process and secured a small presence in parliament after winning the by-elections in April 2012.
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