Aung San Suu Kyi:A Woman Free From

Fear

By: Katie J.

Promising from the Beginning• Her Father, Aung San

– Burmese independence leader– 1947: Assassinated

• Her Mother, Khin Kyi

– Burmese Ambassador to India– Prominent political leader after Aung

San’s death

Higher Education• 1960

– Graduates from high school

• 1964 – Lady Shri Ram

College in New Delhi

• 1965 – Oxford; earns B.A. in

philosophy, politics, and economics

Life Develops Further• 1966

– Meets Michael Aris while at Oxford

• 1969 – Moves to New York for

graduate study• 1971

– Joins U.N. as assistant secretary

• 1972– Marries Michael Aris and

moves to Bhutan– Heads Ministry of Foreign

Affairs

Starting a Family• 1973

– Move back to England for Birth of Alexander

– Michael Aris teaches at Oxford

• 1977– Birth of second son, Kim– Suu Kyi begins writing father’s biography

• 1984 – Begins Publishing Books

Mounting Political Turmoil Back Home

• Resignation of long time military dictator

• Mass Uprisings

• Violent Military suppression kills thousands

• Military establishes State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)

Turning Point• 1988:

– March 1st: • Mother’s Stroke

– August 15th:• First political action

– August 26th:• First public speech

– September 18th:• Military establishes stringent political control

Formation of the NLD• 1988:

– September 24th:• National League for Democracy (NLD) formed• Suu Kyi general-secretary• Policy of non-violence and civil disobedience

– October – December:• Defies political ban and embarks on speech-

making tour throughout country

– December 27th:• Khin Kyi’s death• Suu Kyi’s declaration

Recognition• October 12, 1990

– Awarded the Rafto Human Rights Prize

• July 10, 1991– Awarded Sakharov human rights prize by

European Parliament

• October 12, 1991– Norwegian Nobel Committee announces

• December 10, 1991– Alexander and Kim accept prize in lieu of their

Mother who remains in detention

• 1992– Announces intentions for $1.3 million prize money

A Rising Political Influence• 1989

– January – July:• Continues campaign despite

harassment

– February 17th:• Prohibited from running for

election

– July 20th:• Placed under house arrest

• 1990– May 27:

• NLD wins election with 82% of votes

• Results not recognized

Appeals For Freedom

• Various groups begin taking action to free Suu Kyi

– Group of Nobel Peace Laureates

– UN Commission for Human Rights in Geneva

– U.S. congressmen

– New York Times reporters

Current Status

• Past 4 years:– Movements still restricted

– NLD members under attack

– Denounced by government-controlled media

– Discourages tourists and investing in Burma

– March 27, 1999• Michael Aris dies

To this day, she fights for Democracy and human rights for the people of Burma.