Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said she is still "fond" of the country's army despite it putting her under house arrest for 15 years.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner, whose father Aung San is considered the father of modern-day Burma and founded its army, told Desert Island Discs host Kirsty Young that her Buddhist faith helped her defy the dictatorship that ran the country and later face them when she took her seat in parliament.
She said: "It's genuine, I'm fond of the army. 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."
Speaking on the Radio 4 show, recorded in December at her home in Burma, she said the army had done "terrible" things in the country, but she hoped they would redeem themselves.
Suu Kyi said she very much hoped she would win the 2015 general election. “People are always very modest when they [discuss elections], but I think that’s a lot of nonsense. If you’re a politician and you’re the leader of a party, then you should want government power in your hands.”
The programme also provided a Desert Island Discs first when she picked a record - Green, Green Grass Of Home by Tom Jones - despite never having heard it after it was recommended by her personal assistant.
She said: "I asked her which piece of music she'd like to choose and she said the Green, Green Grass Of Home and she explained to me when she was working as a doctor in England it used to remind her of Burma and I hope I like it."
Suu Kyi said she would take the Buddha-Dharma to the desert island as her only book. Her luxury item would be a rose plant.