Aung San Suu Kyi is a woman determined to fight for civil liberties for Burma's people. She has been fighting for peace and independence for the country of Burma, and has dedicated her life to the citizens of Burma, so that they can experience the freedom that they deserve.
Aung is a Burmese opposition politician and former General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. This 65-year old Burmese Nobel Peace Prize laureate was once again released from house arrest on November 13, 2010. Aung dares to stand up to the generals who have controlled Burma for nearly five decades, armed only with the principles of non-violent resistance. For 15 of the past 21 years , the military regime kept her locked up. Her continued confinement has turned her into the world's most famous political prisoner of our time.
Early Beginnings
Politics have played a huge role in Aung San Suu Kyi 's life. She was born on June 19, 1945 in the city of Rangoon, Burma. Her father was a national leader of Burma. General Aung Sun was assassinated on July 17, 1947 for his political beliefs. His death may have contributed to her long fight for peace and independence for the country of Burma. Her mother became Burmese ambassador to India and Nepal.
Aung was educated in Rangoo until she was fifteen years old. Then she studied politics in India, at Delhi University. She further went on to continue her education at St. Hugh's College and Oxford University, where she received a BA in politics, economics and philosophy.
The 8888 Uprising
Aung was influenced by Buddhist concepts and Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence. She entered politics to work for the democratization of Burma. In 1988, she came back to Burma, to care for her ailing mother. She attended a rally in Shwedagon Pagoda capital in Rangoo, where she called for a democratic government so that the people of Burma could experience freedom. By coincidence, in that same year, the long-time military leader of Burma and head of the ruling party, General Ne Win, stepped down. Moreover, on September 24, 1988, the National League for Democracy (NLD) was formed, with Suu Kyi as general secretary.
An army unit confronted her almost a year later on April 5, 1989 while she was delivering a speech for democratic freedom. The army unit had firing orders to assassinate her during a speech, but a major called the troops back, which prevented her from being assassinated like her father. Three months later on July 20, 1989 Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest in the city of Rangoon.
The elections were going to be held in May of 1990 but she was declared ineligible. Even though she was unable to run in the election the National League for Democracy had a landslide victory even without her present. The NLD won with overwhelming polls, which would have made Suu Kyi the nation's prime Minister, but the junta ignored the people's verdict. Then, a new constitution was designed to ensure that she will never be able to be Burma's leader. She would spend the next six years of her life at her lakeside villa in Rangoon under house arrest.
Aung San Sunn Kyi has been in and out of prison throughout her life. This has not hindered her fight for democracy and freedom in her country Burma. She is a great warrior!
