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ANG SAN SUU KYI.
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Examines contributions of the Burmese political leader.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Examines contributions of the Burmese political leader. Her struggle to bring democracy and human rights to Burma. How she became a prominent figure. Receipt of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize. Her life and beliefs; the leadership role of her parents in Burma. Her activism. Human Rights violations in Burma. Attacks and her house arrest by Burmese military dictatorship.
Paper Introduction:
When Aung San Suu Kyi received the Nobel Peace Prize in October, 1991, she was the first recipient to win it while under government detention; she was also only the eighth woman to receive the award. The Nobel Committee characterized her struggle for democracy and human rights in her native Burma as "one of the most extraordinary examples of civil courage in Asia in recent decades" (Ling 76). Even before she won the Nobel Peace Prize, Daw Suu (as she is called), had received numerous other prestigious awards honoring her fight and struggle, using non- violent means, to bring democracy to her country at peril to herself. The London Times called her "Burma's Gandhi," and she has also been compared to Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, and even Joan of Arc. In accepting the Nobel Peace Prize
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She became a rallying point for the people as she encouraged them to fight for their rights and a free democratic government (Ling 15). New York: The Feminist Press, 1999.Stewart, Whitney. At this point, DawSuu felt compelled to become actively involved in the protest movement. Daw Suu did not know what was going to happen to her. Much of Daw Suu's prominence in her own country and internationally isbased on her courage, determination and her ability to make theinternational community aware of the severity of human rights violations,including torture and murder, that were taking place in Burma. Her strategy is to protest,to be heard, to negotiate and to finally achieve reconciliation with SLORC.A big part of her strategy is to be prepared at all times to open dialogue,She believes whole heartedly in the power of dialogue, which is the way ofthe Buddha. This has been effective to some degree as several governments,including the United States, have condemned the regime and refused to dealwith it. General AungSan was a Burmese hero, revered by the majority of the Burmese people as asymbol of freedom and justice. Obviously, Daw Suu is perceived by her people, and the internationalcommunity, as a person with great moral authority. She "has captured the imagination of people all over the world.Not only does she represent the hope for the future on the part of themajority of the Burmese people, but also most free-thinking persons in theinternational environment. She cofounded the National League for Democracy (NLD) to run against the military party, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) in the 199 elections. During thatperiod, she was not allowed contact with the outside world, and for overtwo years could not even receive visits from her husband and two sons.While held under house arrest, Daw Suu and her NLD political party won the199 election by a landslide victory (SLORC had removed Daw Suu's name fromthe ballot), but SLORC refused to turn over the government to the legallyelected NLD party (Ling 15-16). Daw Suu'sfather, however, held a more prominent position in Burma. She views herlife as a dynamic process of doing all she can to change her country sothat it can move toward justice and a democratic form of government thatwill benefit all the people, all ethnic groups, and not just the fewrulers. It is a strugglethat encompasses our political, social, and economic aspirations" (Ling1 1). The Voice of Hope also reveals Daw Suu's modesty, a trait thatappeals to many Burmese. Her role had evolved to aleadership role, challenging the junta, and directing her people in a non-violent struggle for democracy. Indeed, she is being held up as an icon ofhumanitarian and democratic values under threat" (Houtman 277). Heranswers reveal not only her philosophy, but the foundations of her strengthand motivations as well as the sources from which she draws emotionalstrength. But her passionate belief in the rightness ofher struggle overcame any misgivings she may have had. Even before she won the Nobel Peace Prize,Daw Suu (as she is called), had received numerous other prestigious awardshonoring her fight and struggle, using non- violent means, to bringdemocracy to her country at peril to herself. Although Daw Suu engaged inthe struggle to bring democracy to her country relatively late in life (shewas 43), her passion for freedom and her concern with the fate of herpeople had been a lifelong involvement. The Nobel Committeecharacterized her struggle for democracy and human rights in her nativeBurma as "one of the most extraordinary examples of civil courage in Asiain recent decades" (Ling 76). Her parents wereboth prominent leaders in Burma. "Mental Culture In Burmese Crisis Politics: Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy." Monograph Series No. She has used -- and continues to use -- her influenceto help bring about political, economic and social liberalization in hercountry. She refused because shebelieved that if she left Burma, she would not be allowed back. These included the Sakharov Freedom of Thought Award in1991, the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, The Annual Award of the InternationalHuman Rights Law Group in 1992, The International Simon Bolivar Award ofUNESCO in 1992, The Freedom of the City Award in Italy in 1995, TheJawaharial Nehru Award in India in 1995, the International Rescue CommitteeFreedom Award in 1995, The Gandhi Memorial Award in 1996, and the U.S.Presidential Medal of Freedom Award in 2 , as well as numerous HonoraryDoctorates (Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Pages). But Aung San Suu Kyi refused to let fear take over (Ling 7 ). On August 26,a general strike was called and Daw Suu addressed a crowd of nearly one-half million people at a rally in front of the famous Rangoon Shwedagonpagoda (Wallechinsky). http://www.amnesty-usa.org/myanmar/aungsan.html Some of these unpaidworkers, especially those from the rural areas, have reported to AmnestyInternational and other human rights organizations that they were forced towork for SLOCRC without wages, or pay a large penalty. Herprominence is based on her image as an international symbol of the struggleagainst repression and brutality at great personal cost and harm toherself. By the year 2 , she had been the recipient of 46 majorawards and honors. 33. Her call to duty andrise to prominence came upon her almost accidentally. To Daw Suu, a democratic form of government that offers peace andjustice is the only way for Burma to achieve economic development and liftthe people out of poverty and oppression.In a speech she gave in May 12, 1999, she said: There are so many obstacles in the way of development without peace. It might even be said that it washer destiny, given her family background and traditions. Aung San Suu Kyi: Fearless Voice of Burma. "As my father's daughter," she told the crowd, "Ifelt I had a duty to get involved" (Stewart 79). Daw Suu contends that "the NLD's cause will prevail because a greatmajority of people in Burma want democracy. Her new leadership role earned Daw Suu the enmity of the Burmesemilitary dictatorship which carried out threats and violent attacks uponher, placing her at peril. Daw Suu's philosophy of achieving change through non-violent means wasalso rooted in her Buddhist faith. "Once you're alone asa political prisoner, then politics is your whole existence" (Stewart 1 7).Shortly after her release from house arrest, she was able to co-author abook with Alan Clements, a British born Burma expert. Her mother encouraged her children notto hate their father's assassins. Married with two children, in March of 1988 Daw Suu, at the age of 43,returned to Burma to care for her ailing mother. She hasattempted to get governments not to support businesses which deal withSLORC. In response to how she felt on becoming theworld's most famous political prisoner after Nelson Mandela was releasedfrom imprisonment, Daw Suu's response was that labels are not important,the work is. Daw Suuknew she had been under house arrest because of her politics and influence,and because of that, politics became her entire life. Her mother, Daw Khin Kyi, was Burma's onlyfemale ambassador -- to both India and Nepal, and previously had beenDirector of Social Welfare for Burma's independent government. The NLD wants to be ready andorganized to provide Burma with a governmental system that includespolitical, administrative, and social branches, and that has legal, health,and educational committees" (Stewart 118). In a five day period -- between August 8 and13 -- the police killed nearly 3 people. The Voice of Hope. Harassment against Daw Suu by SLORC continued even though she wasunder house arrest. Her telephone lines were cut, she was spied on, hersupporters were arrested and threatened, she was cut off from her familyand the world. She is convinced that the majority of Burmese people wantdemocracy, and the government's continued oppression of pro-democracyactivism goes against the will of the people. She clarifies the meaning of non-violence as positive action,not passiveness. Daw Suu realized that the struggle for democracy involved more thanjust civil liberties. It is her prominencethat made the world aware of the brutality of the SLORC regime. She viewed being under housearrest as part of her job to bring democracy to her people. Under the military dictatorship, the economy of Burma sufferedgreatly, especially for the workers as the government used an unpaid workforce as a means of amassing greater profits. The NLD party defied the government's ban on giving Daw Suu aposition in the party, and reappointed her General Secretary. The country lostthe man it trusted, and Daw Suu lost her beloved father at the early age oftwo (Stewart 19-23). Aung San Suu Kyi: Standing Up for Democracy in Burma. Much of DawSuu's power and influence in Burma derives from the Burmese people lookingupon her as "a living link to history" (Wallechinsky). The London Times called her"Burma's Gandhi," and she has also been compared to Martin Luther King,Jr., Nelson Mandela, and even Joan of Arc. Hating one's enemies is also something Daw Suu is against, asshe believes hate takes away personal freedom; if she had hated hercaptors, she would have been at their mercy. She established the Burma Trust for Education with the money, andall other funds she has received with other awards or honors has also beenplaced in the Burma Trust (Ling 97). He was consideredthe father of his nation, as well as the father of Daw Suu. In accepting the Nobel PeacePrize on his mother's behalf, 18-year old Alexander quoted his mother atthe end of his acceptance speech: "To live the full life.. By this time, a brutalmilitary junta ruled Burma after a coup in 1962. Many of the pro-democracydemonstrators carried signs with pictures of her father. Thememory of her father's importance to the Burmese people, and his ideals,were kept alive in the people of Burma as well as in Daw Suu's family.Stories of his heroism engendered her sense of idealism as well asresponsibility to her people. We cannot talk about economic development without talking about peace. It can be said that it was her work alone that made the world aware of thebrutal SLORC regime, and that if Burma is to achieve a democratic form ofgovernment in the future, it will be due to the undaunting, fearlessefforts of Aung San Suu Kyi. This paper willexamine why Daw Suu is considered a prominent figure, how she became aprominent figure, her major contributions, and how she has influenced hercountry, politically, economically and socially. Works CitedClements, Alan and Aung San Suu Khi. Daw Suu's activism resulted in her, as well as other NLD partyleaders, being confined to their homes in 2 on temporary detention, withaccess to her tightly controlled by SLORC. In spite of oppressivegovernment actions against her, and virtually being cut off from her sonsfor so many years, Daw Suu continues her courageous struggle against SLORC. She also married an Englishmannamed Michael Aris, which was unusual for a woman of her class, upbringingand belief in the traditional values of Burmese society and her Buddhistfaith. She felt strongly that if your moral authority and influencedepend solely on you being a prisoner, then you don't have much moralauthority to begin with (Chapter One). The people need a country where they can feelsafe. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 1997.Wallechinsky, David. Cognizant of her duty to her people, and presaging her future rolein life, she put a condition on her marriage. Daw Suu contends thatthese disenfranchised Burmese people are part of the reasons she isfighting for democracy. When Aung San Suu Kyi received the Nobel Peace Prize in October, 1991,she was the first recipient to win it while under government detention; shewas also only the eighth woman to receive the award. Then, onOctober 14, 1991, Daw Suu was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, 1999.Ling, Bettina. In an attempt to get rid of Daw Suu, SLORC told her she could leavethe country and rejoin her family in England. Daw Suu was virtually fated to become a prominent figure. She was,however, kept under close scrutiny and prevented from travel as much aspossible. This was a feat that Daw Suu was ableto achieve when she became a political leader in Burma years later. In spite of her devotion to her country, Daw Suu spent herearly life in other countries, first because of her mother'sambassadorships, and later because she chose to be educated in England andwork for the United Nations in New York. She must have been aware that he was killedbefore his work for the Burmese people was completed.This was a major factor in the development of her own political andhumanist philosophy, and influenced her fight to secure human, economic andsocial rights for her people in her later life. Hewas, however, assassinated before he could take office. This includes the thousands of Burmese students who fled Burma, aswell as the hundreds of thousands of refugees -- most of whom live insqualor, weakened by starvation or dying of disease. Their nine-monthcollaboration was published as The Voice of Hope, and Daw Suu's personaland political beliefs, as well as her strong sense of purpose, became knownto even more people throughout the world. Since she holds that violence begets more violence, sheis against armed struggle to achieve her aims. They denied thatthey had volunteered to work free, a claim that SLORC had made to appeasethe international community (Stewart 1 3). She believed that "the struggle for democracy andhuman rights in Burma is a struggle for life and dignity. In an effort to combat Daw Suu's influence and to improve their owntarnished image, SLORC allowed her to have some contact with the outsideworld, and on July 1 , 1996, she was released from hose arrest. Her hope if that international pressure and economic sanctionsincluding tourism boycotts, will effect political change in Burma (Daw AungSan Suu Khi pages). Daw Suu refused to let SLORC break her spirit, and her undiminishedpopularity with the Burmese people made SLORC even more repressive againsther, and against the people, particularly the ethnic minorities.Ironically, Daw Suu's detention made her better known internationally, andkept the focus of many governments throughout the world on Burma. Before his death, General Aung San had earned the trust of many ofBurma's ethnic minorities, making his importance to Burmese freedom andhuman rights even more significant. As the architect of Burma's independencefrom British Colonial rule, and later from Japanese aggression, GeneralAung San was slated to become the first leader of independent Burma. Her money and food supply were low and she did not haveenough to eat. It would not be possible (Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Pages). How One Woman Became the Voice of Her People. How can we expect economic development in a battle field? "Thesacrifices she's made for her commitment to nonviolence and belief infreedom gained her worldwide admiration and respect (Ling 74). The Voice of Hope is based on Daw Suu's conversations with Clements,in which he asked probing questions about her long, and ongoing struggle toinspire and change the lives of her people by non-violent means. In a letter to her husband-to-be, she asked him "to promise to allowher to help Burma, if need be: I only ask one thing (she wrote), thatshould my people need me, you would help me to do my duty bythem...Sometimes I am beset by fears that circumstances and nationalconsiderations might tear us apart...." (Stewart 34). Peace, development and justice are all connected to each other. Thisprize made her even more prominent in her own country and throughout theworld, and most likely kept her from further harm as SLORC would not bewilling to kill such a prominent person and have the condemnation of theworld fall on their government. In keeping with her desire to help herpeople, Daw Suu used her million dollar Nobel Peace Prize money to help herpeople. Unable to stop hergrowing popularity and influence, the military dictatorship placed herunder house arrest in 1989 and she was detained for six years. Soon after Daw Suu'sreturn, student protests broke out in Rangoon and 2 demonstrators weregunned down by the military. She has asked "foreign governments not to invest in Burma until theaid can be used to benefit citizens and not the SLORC generals...As far asshe can see, the rising inflation, the declining standards of education,and the dismal state of Burma's health care all indicate a failing economyand a misuse of power" (Stewart 12 ). New York: Seven Stories, 1997."Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Pages" http://www.dassk.com/biblioraphy.Houtman, Gustaaf. At any moment, SLORC could decide to take Her to...Prison, or even to kill her...Her life was In their hands. It is this moralauthority that has been the basis of her influence. Daw Suu recognizes the manyproblems in her country, including economic ones. .one must havethe courage to bear the responsibility of the needs of others...one mustwant to bear this responsibility" (Ling 81). She soon became the "first ray of hope forthe oppressed Burmese people: Emerging as a natural leader, Daw Suu led nonviolent protests and gave numerous inspiring speeches across the country. An indication of her prominence is the many awards she has won inrecognition of her efforts to establish freedom in Burma throughreconciliation. Shebegan to make speeches appealing for a democratic government. "Buddhists believe that if you hurtpeople, even for revenge, you will suffer in your next life" (Stewart 25).She was also influenced by the examples of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. MartinLuther King, Jr.
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