The name Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in the headlines in August 2007 when thousands of monks took to the streets of Burma in peaceful protest following steep fuel price increases. Suu Kyi, who is currently under house arrest, is a prisoner of conscience who advocates non-violent resistance. She is the leader of the National League for Democracy and is a long-time campaigner for human rights and democracy in Burma.

BACKGROUND: Aung San Suu Kyi was born in 1945. Two years later, her father, Aung San, negotiated Burma’s independence from the United Kingdom but was assassinated
later that year. Her mother, Khin Kyi, was a prominent political figure in the newly formed Burmese government and was appointed ambassador to India in 1960. Suu Kyi followed her mother to India, graduating from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, in 1964.

She went on to study at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, where she obtained a BA in philosophy and met Dr Michael Aris, a scholar of Tibetan culture. They married in 1972 and had two sons, Alexander, born in 1973, and Kim, born in 1977.

CONFLICT: In March 1988, Suu Kyi returned to Burma to look after her dying mother. Her return coincided with protests by students in Rangoon, who took to the streets demanding democracy. Their anger was sparked by the actions of military dictator General Ne Win, who after years of economic mismanagement suddenly cancelled various denomination notes, plunging many people into poverty by virtually wiping out their savings overnight.

General Ne Win, who had been in power for 26 years, resigned on July 23, 1988, but protests by students and monks seeking democracy continued, leading to a mass uprising on August 8, 1988. This was violently suppressed by the military and thousands were killed.

Later that month, Suu Kyi began her political activities. In an open letter to the government, she called for the formation of an independent consultative committee to prepare multi-party elections. She also began making political speeches, calling for a democratic government.

The government agreed to hold parliamentary elections, but expected that a multiplicity of parties would prevent a clear result.

On September 24, 1988, the National League for Democracy (NLD), which advocates a policy of non-violence and civil disobedience, was formed with Suu Kyi as its general
secretary. On February 17, 1989, she was banned from standing for election and shortly afterwards was placed under house arrest.

On May 27, 1990, the NLD won the election with a massive 82 per cent of parliamentary seats, but the military junta refused to recognise the results. Suu Kyi was prevented from becoming prime minister and instead was forced to remain under house arrest.

SACRIFICE: Although encouraged by the Burmese government to join her family abroad, Suu Kyi knows that if she does so she will not be allowed to return to Burma. She is rarely allowed visitors. In 1999, her husband petitioned the Burmese government to be allowed to visit Suu Kyi one last time. His request was denied. He died of prostate cancer on March 27, having last seen her at Christmas in 1995. Suu Kyi regarded this separation as a necessary sacrifice in order to carry on working towards a free Burma.

Suu Kyi has been subjected to travel restrictions and several extended periods of house arrest. Her supporters and NLD party activists have been imprisoned or physically attacked. Foreign journalists have had film and tapes of interviews with her confiscated.

Although she is currently under house arrest in Rangoon, Suu Kyi continues to call upon people around the world to join the fight for freedom in Burma, saying: “Please use your liberty to promote ours.”

INTERNATIONAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Suu Kyi’s commitment to human rights has been recognised globally. In October 1990, she was granted the Rafto Human Rights Prize. In 1991, the European Parliament awarded her its Sakharov Prize for human rights and, in October 1991, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, using the $1.3m prize money to establish a health and education trust for the Burmese people. In December 2007, President Bill Clinton awarded her America’s highest civilian honour, the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Sue Mennell is editor of TJ Online. If you would like to nominate a ‘Great Thinker’, please send your nomination to her at sue@trainingjournal.com 

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