Aung San Suu Kyi

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (born June 19, 1945 in Rangoon, now known as Yangon) is a nonviolent pro-democracy activist in Burma, now known as Myanmar. In 1990 the devout Buddhist won the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. In 1991 she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her peaceful and non-violent struggle under a repressive military regime.

Detention in Myanmar

In 1990, the military junta called general elections, which the National League for Democracy won decisively. Under normal circumstances, she would have assumed the office of Prime Minister. Instead the results were nullified, and the military refused to hand over power. This resulted in an international outcry and partly led to Suu Kyi winning the Sakharov Prize that year and the Nobel Peace Prize in the following one. She used the Nobel Peace Prize's US$1.3 million prize money to establish a health and education trust for the Burmese people.

Related Topics:
1990 - Junta - Prime Minister - US$ - Health - Education

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She was released from house arrest in July 1995, although it was made clear that if she left the country to visit her family in the United Kingdom, she would be denied re-entry. When her husband Michael Aris, a British citizen, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997, the Burmese government denied him an entry visa. Aung remained in Burma, and never saw her husband again. He died in March 1999. She remains separated from their children, who remain in the UK.

Related Topics:
1995 - United Kingdom - Prostate cancer - 1997 - 1999

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She was repeatedly prevented from meeting with her party supporters, and in September 2000 was again put under house arrest. On May 6, 2002, following secret confidence-building negotiations led by the United Nations, she was released; a government spokesman said that she was free to move "because we are confident that we can trust each other." Aung San Suu Kyi proclaimed "a new dawn for the country." However on May 30, 2003, her caravan was attacked in the northern village of Depayin by a government sponsored mob, murdering and wounding many of her supporters. Aung San Suu Kyi fled the scene with the help of her driver, Ko Kyaw Soe Lin, but was arrested upon reaching Ye-U. She was imprisoned at Insein Prison in Yangôn. After a surgical operation in September 2003, she was again placed under house arrest in Yangôn.

Related Topics:
May 6 - 2002 - United Nations - May 30 - 2003 - September

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International supporters

On December 2, 2004, the United States pressured the Myanmar government to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after an announcement that her house arrest would be extended. (BBC)

Related Topics:
December 2 - 2004 - United States - Opposition - House arrest

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On June 17, 2005, several countries from around the world held protests outside Myanmar embassies, in recognition of Suu Kyi's 60th birthday, which took place on June 19, 2005. The protests received international attention.

Related Topics:
June 17 - 2005

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In 2001, Irish rock band U2 released the single "Walk On", which was written about and dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi. "Walk On" was banned by the Junta. During concerts in London and Glasgow (June 19 and June 21 2005 respectively) U2 dedicated performances of "Running to Stand Still" to Aung San Suu Kyi. Other artists such as Coldplay, R.E.M., and Damien Rice have also been publicly supportive of Aung San Suu Kyi's cause.

Related Topics:
2001 - U2 - London - Glasgow - June 19 - June 21 - Coldplay - R.E.M. - Damien Rice

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She is featured prominently in John Boorman's 1995 film Beyond Rangoon, starring Patricia Arquette.

Related Topics:
John Boorman - 1995 - Beyond Rangoon

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Aung San Suu Kyi has been an honorary board member of International IDEA and ARTICLE 19 since her detention, and has received support from these organizations.

Related Topics:
International IDEA - ARTICLE 19

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