The daughter of Burma’s former democratic leader, and a non-violent defender of human rights and freedom, Aung San Suu Kyi (pronounced Ong Son Su She) was elected to the Presidency of Burma in 1990 by more than 80% of the popular vote.

A military junta refused to allow the elected Parliament to convene, and placed Aung San Suu Kyi under arrest.

After years spent under house arrest or restricted movement, she was released in 2002. On 30 May, 2003, following an attack on her convoy and massacre of up to 70 of her supporters, and to the outrage of the international community, Suu Kyi was again arrested and taken into “protective custody” by the country’s military junta. More than 100 supporters who were with her that day are unaccounted for.


A delicate woman who has never been broken and never given up, Aung San Suu Kyi stands for the rest of the world as an example of unswerving integrity and striving for justice in the face of oppression.