freedom fighters OF Burma - Aung San Suu Kyi

One of the world's most popular political prisoners and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi Burma's pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace laureate, has come to symbolise the struggle of Burma’s people to be free. She has spent more than 15 years in detention, most of it under house arrest. Suu Kyi is one of the world's most renowned freedom fighters and advocates of nonviolence. Aung San has spent most of her time under several house arrests and bans.

Aung San Suu Kyi has won many national and international awards including Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament in 1990, United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Jawaharlal Nehru Award from India and Rafto Human Rights Prize and was awarded the honorary Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent struggle against the dictatorship in year 1991.

Aung San Suu Kyi was born on June 19th, 1945, daughter of Burma’s independence hero, Aung San, in capital city of Myanmar (then Burma). She received a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from St. Hugh's College, Oxford in 1969. after spending four years in India, where her mother served as Burma's ambassador. Suu Kyi completed her formal education with a PhD from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies in 1985. Later attended graduate school in New York and worked briefly at the United Nations.

After that she married Dr. Michael Aris. The couple had two children, Alexander and Kim. During 1985-86, Suu Kyi studied at the Center of Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, as a visiting scholar. Suu Kyi completed her fellowship at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, in 1987.

Suu Kyi felt compelled to join the Burma's pro-democracy movement in 1988 after returning to visit her mother who was in ill health. In the 1990 general election the NLD, under the leadership of Suu Kyi, challenged the ruling party and won with an overwhelming 80% majority. In September 1988, Aung San Suu Kyi, in her first political move, joined the National League for Democracy as its secretary-general. The party was pushing for political reforms in the country. Suu Kyi gave numerous speeches calling for freedom and democracy. On July 20, 1989 Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest in the city of Rangoon. Suu Kyi continues her work for human rights in Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest in July of 1995, but she was not allowed to travel outside of Rangoon. The military always offered her to leave the country and settle abroad but Suu Kyi rejected. After her release Suu Kyi continued the struggle for democracy in Myanmar. This increased her popularity across the world and international political powers were compelled to intervene to resolve the issue. Though the western countries tried to put pressure on the ruling junta by curtailing economic aid, the neighboring countries continued to encourage the commerce.

In 2000 Aung San Suu Kyi was again placed under house arrest after repeated attempts to leave the capital, Rangoon, to hold political meetings in other parts of the country. In 2002, she was released from house arrest and with freedom to travel around the country. The release was part of a deal negotiated by UN Envoy on Burma. She was again arrested and placed behind bars in May 2003 after the Depayin massacre, during which up to 100 of her supporters were beaten to death by the regime's cronies.

On May 30th 2003 members of the USDA attacked a convoy of vehicles Aung San Suu Kyi was travelling in. Following the attack, Aung San Suu Kyi was held in detention, and then placed back under house arrest. During this period of detention, conditions were much stricter than in the past. Her phone line was cut, her post stopped and National League for Democracy volunteers providing security at her compound were removed in December 2004.

Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. The decision of the Nobel Committee mentions. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 1991 to Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar (Burma) for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights. Suu Kyi announces that she will use $1.3 million prize money to establish health and education trust for Burmese people.

She has spent more than 15 years in detention, most of it under house arrest. Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace laureate, has come to symbolise the struggle of Burma’s people to be free.