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Individuals have also fought for women’s rights outside of the United States. Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of the former leader of Burma, Aung San. Burma, officially known as the Republic of Myanmar, is a country in Southeast Asia that has struggled to find a stable government since its independence in 1948. Suu Kyi witnessed student demonstrations and the massacre of demonstrators by government forces in 1988 in Burma. After she began leading opposition to the regime and crusading for democracy, she was placed under house arrest until 2010. In 1991 she received the Noble Peace Prize, and was elected to Parliament in 2012.
Aung San Suu Kyi meets with President Barack Obama after her release in 2010.
Image Source: Official White House photo by Pete Souza via Wikimedia Commons. Opens a new window
In addition to being the daughter of a former military leader and national hero, Aung San Suu Kyi lived in Great Britain for much of her life where she was educated in government and history. Starting in the 1980s, she campaigned for independence for Burmese citizens who had lived under military rule. She fought for human rights for men and women, and for a democratic government. The passages below are from a speech Suu Kyi gave in 1988 opposing the military government, when she was a leader of the National League for Democracy.
As you read the passages from the speech, think about Suu Kyi’s point of view and how her background influenced her messages. In the next activity, you will more closely examine the opinions expressed in the bold sentences in the excerpt below.
”It is the students who have paved the way to the present situation where it is possible to hold such a rally. The occasion has been made possible because the recent demonstrations have been spearheaded by the students and even more because they have shown their willingness to sacrifice their lives. I therefore request you all to observe a minute’s silence in order to show our deepest respect for those students who have lost their lives.”
“I feel strong attachment for the armed forces. Not only were they built up by my father, as a child I was cared for by his soldiers. At the same time I am also aware of the great love and affection which the people have for my father. I am grateful for this love and affection. I would therefore not wish to see any splits and struggles between the army which my father built up and the people who love my father so much. May I also from this platform ask the personnel of the armed forces to reciprocate (give back) this kind of understanding and sympathy? May I appeal to the armed forces to become a force in which the people can place their trust and reliance.”
“For the people’s part they should continue to demonstrate for this through peaceful and disciplined means. May I emphasize again that we have not yet arrived at our cherished goal. Please think in advance of what should be done to bring about a firmly established Union. Please think of the country’s future.”
“What we do need is a multi-party [democratic] system. It should be introduced as quickly as possible by means of free and fair elections. Conditions necessary for the holding of free and fair elections should be created throughout the country. The people have lost their confidence in the government of the day.”
Aung San Suu Kyi, “Speech to a Mass Rally at the Shwedagon Pagoda.”
Source: Freedom from Fear and Other Writings. Retrieved from Women in World History Opens a new window.
In the activity below, explore examples of opinions from Aung San Suu Kyi’s speech, and the impacts her background had on her ideas.
