Who is she?:
The prime minister-elect of Burma (Myanmar) who was imprisoned by the military junta after winning 1990 elections. The daughter of General Aung San, a Burmese revolutionary and nationalist considered the father of modern-day Burma. A symbol of the struggle for democracy and freedom, and the recipient of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize. Frequently referred to as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, with "daw" being an honorific title for older women meaning "aunt."
Birthdate:
June 19, 1945, in Rangoon. At the time, Burma was under British control. Two years later, her father was assassinated by a political rival. The next year, the Burmese won their independence. Suu Kyi was the youngest of three children born to the general and his wife, Khin Kyi. Suu Kyi's surviving brother, Aung San Oo, is an engineer in the United States and has been accused of close ties to the military junta. He is estranged from Suu Kyi.
Personal life:
A Buddhist, Suu Kyi was educated in English-language Catholic schools. She got a degree at Oxford in philosophy, politics and economics. She married Michael Aris, a scholar in Tibetan issues and former tutor to Bhutan's royal family, in 1972. The couple had two sons, and a visit to Burma in 1988 would mark Suu Kyi's formal entrance into opposition politics. From the time of her house arrest to Michael's death from prostate cancer in 1999, Michael was only allowed five visits into Burma to see his wife. The last time was Christmas 1995, two years before he was diagnosed with cancer. Her children live in the U.K.
Political affiliation:
General secretary of the National League for Democracy
Career:
After Suu Kyi returned to Burma to care for her mother in 1988, the junta violently cracked down on mass democracy demonstrations (known as the 8888 Uprising). The National League for Democracy was formed, with General Secretary Suu Kyi as the party's candidate in 1990 elections. Though the NLD won the vote, the ruling junta refused to hand over power and put Suu Kyi under house arrest on charges of subversion against the state. Suu Kyi is the only Nobel Laureate currently in detention, and many world leaders and bodies have called for her release.
Future:
Suu Kyi was sentenced to additional time under house arrest in August 2009 as a result of an American swimming to her home. Though the man was uninvited and she tried to get him to leave, the junta eagerly charged Suu Kyi with violating the terms of her house arrest. The junta claims it's on a democracy "road map," and claims elections will take place in 2010, but the extension of Suu Kyi's imprisonment effectively takes her off the campaign trail. The 1990 election winners operate the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma in exile in Rockville, Maryland.
Quote:
“Human beings the world over need freedom and security that they may be able to realize their full potential.”