People from all over the world have their eyes laid upon this incredible woman Aung San Suu Kyi, who is struggling hard to establish democracy in Burma and relieve the country from the clutches of military dictatorship. She is the leader of National League for Democracy (NLD) in Burma. Well, by now she should have been the elected P.M. of Burma, but the military dictators are not letting it happen.
Suu Kyi was born on 19 June,1945 in Rangoon, Burma. She finished her B.A. in Philosophy, Poltics & Economics at Hugh's College, Oxford (1969) and Ph.D at School of oriental and African Studies, university of London (1985). Meanwhile in 1972, she got married to Dr.Michael Aris (scholar of Tibetan culture) who lived in Bhutan. She gave birth to two sons.
In 1988, she returned to Burma to take care of her ailing mother. In the same year, agitated by the military rule, she addressed half million people and stressed the need for a democratic govt. as their right. The NLD was formed and she took responsibility as its General Secretary on 27th Sep, 1988. Thus paved the way for pro-democracy movement.
Displeased by these awakening spirits, the military officials put her under house arrest on 20th July, 1989. In 1990, general elections were called for and Suu Kyi was massively elected as the P.M. But the military refused to hand over the power and she was continued to be kept under house arrest.
SInce her house arrest, her husband Michael could help himself in making out only five visits to meet her in Burma. He had his last visit in 1995 after which he was denied of entry visa. In 1997, Michael was confirmed to be suffering from cancer. In spite of the pleadings made by UN, Pope John Paul ll, he was not allowed the entry visa. Instead Suu Kyi was made free from house arrest and was given the chance to meet Michael abroad. But she refused it since she knew that once she left Burma, she wont be allowed to enter again. In 1999, Michael died.
Suu Kyi's struggle is still going on. Suu Kyi is a great believer of Buddhist concepts and non violence preached by Gandhiji. Suu Kyi was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. Her sons who live in UK received the award on her behalf. She dedicated those received 1.3 million dollars in the establishment of health and education trust for the people of Burma. She has been awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Peace Prize in 1992. In May, 2008 US awarded her the Congressional Gold Medal. GOrdon Brown (British P.M.), in his book 'Courage: Eight Portraits', talks about her selflessness and the way she has given her own life for the Burman people.
Suu Kyi is now on a trial, accused of violating the terms of her house arrest. The charges against her talk about her secret visit with an uninvited American man at the lake near her house. The western Govts and international human rights org. see upon these charges as a travesty. Police officers have blocked the road near the Insein prison thus not allowing anyone to observe the trial. Members of NLD are found to be protesting outside the prison. With all these happenings on one hand, the people of Burma on the other are praying for the best for their hero, Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi was born on 19 June,1945 in Rangoon, Burma. She finished her B.A. in Philosophy, Poltics & Economics at Hugh's College, Oxford (1969) and Ph.D at School of oriental and African Studies, university of London (1985). Meanwhile in 1972, she got married to Dr.Michael Aris (scholar of Tibetan culture) who lived in Bhutan. She gave birth to two sons.
In 1988, she returned to Burma to take care of her ailing mother. In the same year, agitated by the military rule, she addressed half million people and stressed the need for a democratic govt. as their right. The NLD was formed and she took responsibility as its General Secretary on 27th Sep, 1988. Thus paved the way for pro-democracy movement.
Displeased by these awakening spirits, the military officials put her under house arrest on 20th July, 1989. In 1990, general elections were called for and Suu Kyi was massively elected as the P.M. But the military refused to hand over the power and she was continued to be kept under house arrest.
SInce her house arrest, her husband Michael could help himself in making out only five visits to meet her in Burma. He had his last visit in 1995 after which he was denied of entry visa. In 1997, Michael was confirmed to be suffering from cancer. In spite of the pleadings made by UN, Pope John Paul ll, he was not allowed the entry visa. Instead Suu Kyi was made free from house arrest and was given the chance to meet Michael abroad. But she refused it since she knew that once she left Burma, she wont be allowed to enter again. In 1999, Michael died.
Suu Kyi's struggle is still going on. Suu Kyi is a great believer of Buddhist concepts and non violence preached by Gandhiji. Suu Kyi was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. Her sons who live in UK received the award on her behalf. She dedicated those received 1.3 million dollars in the establishment of health and education trust for the people of Burma. She has been awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Peace Prize in 1992. In May, 2008 US awarded her the Congressional Gold Medal. GOrdon Brown (British P.M.), in his book 'Courage: Eight Portraits', talks about her selflessness and the way she has given her own life for the Burman people.
Suu Kyi is now on a trial, accused of violating the terms of her house arrest. The charges against her talk about her secret visit with an uninvited American man at the lake near her house. The western Govts and international human rights org. see upon these charges as a travesty. Police officers have blocked the road near the Insein prison thus not allowing anyone to observe the trial. Members of NLD are found to be protesting outside the prison. With all these happenings on one hand, the people of Burma on the other are praying for the best for their hero, Suu Kyi.
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