EuropaWorld 27/7/2001 Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi was born in Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar) in 1945. As the daughter of an international diplomat (Daw Khin Kyi) and national leader (General Aung San) her life always promised to be an exceptional one. In the event, few lives have proved more exceptional and today Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel laureate, and internationally acclaimed human rights leader stands as one of the greatest crusaders for peace and justice of our time.

Suu Kyi's father was General Aung San - a leader in the Burmese independence struggle and a national hero. He formed the Burma Independence Army in December 1941and later helped found the independence political party that won a landslide election victory in 1947. The same year he negotiated with London for self-rule within one year. Months later however, along with six other ministers, he was assassinated. Suu Kyi was two years old.

Her father's struggle became a central focus for Suu Kyi as she completed her education first in Burma and later abroad. In 1960, on her mother's appointment as Burmese ambassador to India and Nepal, Suu Kyi left Rangoon and accompanied her mother to Delhi. She studied politics at Delhi University and later sat a BA in philosophy, politics and economics at St. Hugh's College, Oxford. She then joined the United Nations Secretariat in New York, as Assistant Secretary to an Administrative and Budgetary Advisory Committee in 1969.

Suu Kyi returned to scholarly assignments in 1972 when she undertook a research position in Bhutan. It was there that she met and married Dr. Michael Aris, a British scholar. After undertaking further academic assignments in Japan and India, she returned to England, where she lived with her husband and two sons. Her life took a dramatic turn in 1986 however when she travelled back to Burma to care for her ailing mother. She witnessed the severe and violent repression of peaceful pro-democracy protests in Rangoon; a sight which prompted her to devote the rest of her life to leading the Burmese democracy movement.

In 1988 Burma's leader, General Ne Win, stepped down as Chairman of the Burma Socialist Programme Party after 26 years in office. The move triggered massive pro-democracy demonstrations and thousands were killed in the subsequent military crackdown. In response Aung San Suu Kyi formed the National League for Democracy - her outspoken criticism of the military regime, together with the memory of her father, making her a powerful symbol of the desire for political freedom. Her next two years were spent delivering addresses to thousands of supporters during extensive campaign tours of the country. Her message of non-violent resistance and peaceful protest was exemplified when she herself confronted an army unit under orders to fire on her. Perhaps in recognition - or in awe - of this fearless stance, the intervention of an army major prevented her assassination. Several weeks later, however, to prevent her participation in the country's general elections, she was placed under house arrest without trial or charge, for three years.

Despite her incarceration, the National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in the subsequent elections, securing 82 percent of the seats. The military regime refused to recognise the results, enforcing a further crackdown and introducing legislation that would extend Aung San Suu Kyi's period of detention. After condemnation from the international community, the dictatorship issued a statement that Aung San Suu Kyi would be released, should she wish to leave Burma and join her family in England. Despite the enormous personal cost, Aung San Suu Kyi refused to leave the country until it was returned to civilian leaders. In 1991 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Aung San Suu Kyi remained under house arrest for the next ten years despite numerous calls from world leaders for her release. In the late 1990s negotiations were opened between Burma's democratic leader and the military junta and Aung San Suu Kyi was finally released from her detention in 2001. Although the country still remains under a military regime, with one of the worst human rights records in the world, there is hope that her release may indicate that freedom and democracy for Burma are one step closer. The contribution made by Aung San Suu Kyi to these goals is incalculable.