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Aung San Suu Kyi
In this feature we travel to Burma to profile one of the most internationally recognised political prisoners in the world today.
This remarkable lady has spent 9 of the last 15 years of her life either in jail or under house arrest for speaking out against the military government who rule her native Burma through fear and oppression.
For the people of Burma she is a symbol of hope that the military repression, widespread corruption and ethnic warfare that plagues this southeastern Asian country will one day come to an end. They know that despite her detention, Suu Kyi continues to push for democratic change and peaceful negotiations with Burma's many ethnic groups.
Due to her family lineage, Suu Kyi holds a unique position in Burma. Her father Aung San is revered as a hero of the country's independence struggle for uniting Burma's diverse peoples against the British. During the colonial era the British ruled through a ruthless policy of divide and conquer.
Aung San was assassinated in 1947; just 6 months before Burma finally gained it's independence. Aung San Suu Kyi was only 2 years old at the time but one day she would be called upon to stand up against oppression and unite the people just as her father had.
Suu Kyi's early life
Her early life, however, took her on a much different path. In 1964 aged 19, Suu Kyi went to Oxford University to study. While there she would meet her future husband. After stints working abroad in Japan and Bhutan she returned to England, married British scholar Michael Aris and had 2 children. Despite her new life, her native Burma was never too far from her thoughts.
Return to Burma
In 1988 she returned to the city of Rangoon to look after her critically ill mother. Burma was in the middle of a political upheaval and thousands of students, workers and monks took to the streets demanding democratic change and an end to the ruthless military dictatorship of General Ne Win. Suu Kyi was seen as the natural figurehead to lead the new movement for freedom. Despite her privileged position and family back in England she chose to risk her life and freedom for the welfare of the Burmese people. She is quoted as saying at the time "I could not, as my father's daughter, remain indifferent to all that was going on".
The pro-democracy protests were brutally suppressed and the military seized power in a coup that same year. Inspired by the non-violent campaigns of Martin Luther and Gandhi, Suu Kyi continued to travel around Burma speaking at rallies and calling for free elections.
In 1990 the military government finally called national elections. Despite being barred from standing in elections and under house arrest, Suu Kyi remained leader of the main opposition party the (NLD), which won a landslide 82% of votes.
The military government were shocked by the results and refused to hand over power. They have ruled Burma through fear and the British colonial policy of divide and conquer ever since. In 1991 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her selfless devotion to the pro-democracy struggle in Burma.
Aung San Suu Kyi recently celebrated her 60th birthday. Despite calls for her release from international leaders and spiritual figures such as the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, she remains under house arrest. It seems certain that Suu Kyi will continue her peaceful struggle for democratic reform and give precious hope to the people of Burma.
By: Keith Corcoran
