Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi was born on June 19, 1945, in Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma. She is the daughter of Aung San, who is revered as the founder of modern Burma and was instrumental in gaining Burma's independence from British colonial rule. Suu Kyi's mother, Khin Kyi, also played a prominent role in the political landscape of Burma. Her early life was marked by the political turmoil following her father's assassination in 1947, just before Burma officially gained independence. Despite these challenges, she pursued education abroad and later became a pivotal figure in Myanmar's pro-democracy movement.

On August 26, 1988, Aung San Suu Kyi delivered her first major political speech in front of a massive crowd at Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon. The speech marked her official entry into Myanmar's pro-democracy movement. She called for a peaceful revolution against the military dictatorship, drawing on the memory of her father and advocating for nonviolent protest and dialogue. This speech catapulted her into national prominence and eventually led to her house arrest by the ruling junta, who saw her as a threat to their power.

On May 27, 1990, Myanmar held its first free general elections in decades. Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won a landslide victory, securing 392 out of 492 seats. Despite this overwhelming mandate from the people, the military refused to hand over power, nullifying the election results. Suu Kyi remained under house arrest during this period, making her a symbol of the struggle for democracy and human rights in Myanmar.

On October 14, 1991, Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her nonviolent struggle for democracy and human rights in Myanmar. The Nobel Committee recognized her as an important symbol of the fight against oppression and of the power of the powerless. The award brought international attention to the Myanmar pro-democracy movement and highlighted Suu Kyi's personal sacrifices, as she was under house arrest and separated from her family during that time.

On September 22, 2000, the Myanmar military junta once again placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest. This period of arrest was part of ongoing efforts by the military regime to suppress the pro-democracy movement and silence its leaders. The international community, including governments and human rights organizations, condemned the continued detention of Suu Kyi, viewing it as a violation of fundamental rights and a barrier to political progress in Myanmar.

Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest on November 13, 2010. Her release marked the end of a total of 15 years under house arrest, which had been imposed in intermittent phases since 1989 by the military government in Myanmar. Her release was seen as a significant step towards political reform in Myanmar and came just days after a controversial election held by the military government. It was a moment of triumph for Suu Kyi and her supporters who had long campaigned for her freedom.

On April 1, 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won 43 out of 45 seats in the Myanmar by-elections, with Suu Kyi herself winning a seat in the lower house of the Myanmar Parliament. This victory was historic as it marked Suu Kyi's first time holding public office after years of house arrest. The election was seen as a tentative step forward in Myanmar's transition towards democracy after decades of military rule.

On November 8, 2015, general elections were held in Myanmar, which resulted in a landslide victory for Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD). The NLD won approximately 77% of the seats in Parliament, allowing them to form a government and eventually appoint Suu Kyi to a de facto leadership position due to constitutional barriers preventing her from becoming President. This election was a major milestone in Myanmar's political landscape, reflecting the people's desire for democratic governance.

On April 6, 2016, Aung San Suu Kyi was appointed to the role of State Counsellor of Myanmar, a position created specifically for her, allowing her to become the de facto leader of the country. This followed the National League for Democracy's victory in the 2015 general election. As State Counsellor, Suu Kyi was able to exercise significant influence over the government despite not being able to become President due to a constitutional clause. This marked a new chapter in Myanmar's political history.

On February 1, 2021, Myanmar's military seized control of the government, detaining Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior members of her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). The coup took place the day before the new parliamentary session was to begin following the NLD's victory in the November 2020 elections. Suu Kyi's detention marked a sharp reversal of the political reforms and progress made in the past decade, triggering widespread protests and international condemnation.