lonely-planet-myanmar-burma-11-edition

It was at this point, as the street demonstrations continuedto mount, that Suu Kyi decided to join the movementfor democracy. Her speech at Shwedagon Paya on26 August 1988, with her husband and sons by her side,electrified the estimated crowd of half a million, and sentripples of excitement and hope throughout the country.Elegantly attired, the trademark flowers in her hair, the43-year-old Suu Kyi brought a hitherto-unseen sophisticationto Myanmar politics as she launched what shecalled ‘the second struggle for national independence’.The brutal reaction of the military brought the proteststo an end a month later.Braving the GeneralsSuu Kyi, however, was just getting started, and in September1988 she joined several former generals and seniorarmy officers (including Tin Oo, army chief of staff in the1970s, who had been jailed for his role in an abortive coupin 1975) to form the NLD. As the party’s general secretary,she travelled around the country attending rallies.Her assistant at the time, Win Htein, a former armycaptain, recalls how she had ‘a real ability to connect tothe people’, while a diplomat quoted in the New YorkTimes said her very name was ‘magic’ among the public.In April 1989, while campaigning in the town ofDanubyu, she came up against soldiers who threatenedto shoot her and her supporters; with great courage shecontinued to move forward and calmly asked that theybe allowed to pass. Only at the last minute did a seniorofficer step in and order the men to lower their guns(it’s a scene reimagined in the movie Beyond Rangoon).In July 1989 Aung San Suu Kyi, who by now had becomethe NLD’s primary spokesperson, was placed underhouse arrest for publicly expressing doubt about thejunta’s intentions of handing over power to a civilian government,and for her plans to lead a march in Yangon tocelebrate Martyr’s Day. Her status as Aung San’s daughtersaved her from the fate of many other NLD members,who were imprisoned in the country’s notorious jails.With her husband and sons by her side, Suu Kyi wenton a hunger strike for 12 days to gain an assurance thather jailed supporters would not be tortured. None ofthis stopped the NLD from decisively winning the generalelection of May 1990.A Prisoner of ConscienceAris left Yangon with their sons on 2 September 1989.Suu Kyi would see either Alexander or Kim for over twoand a half years. Her husband was allowed to spend onemore fortnight with her over Christmas in 1989, a timehe described as ‘among the happiest memories of ourmany years of marriage’.At any moment during her years of arrest, Suu Kyiknew that the authorities would let her walk free toboard a flight to return to her family in the UK. Butonce she left Burma she knew she would never be allowedto return, and she would not accept permanentexile. It was a sacrifice in which her family supported1985–87At Kyoto University, Suu Kyiresearches her father’s timein Japan; she also registers atLondon’s School of Oriental andAfrican Studies for a doctoratein Burmese literature.1988Returns to Yangon in Marchto care for her mother,who has suffered a stroke;in September becomessecretary-general of NationalLeague for Democracy (NLD).1989At her mother’s funeral inJanuary she swears to servethe people of Burma until herdeath. Stands for election inFebruary; placed under housearrest in July.1991Wins Nobel Peace Prize;sons accept it on her behalf.Pledges she will use $1.3million prize money toestablish health and educationtrust for Burmese people.1995Released from house arrest,resumes campaigning for theNLD, but her movements arerestricted. At year’s end shesees Aris for what will be thefi nal time.1996In November her motorcadeis attacked in Yangon, thewindows of the car she istravelling in is smashed bya mob; despite presenceof security forces no one isarrested.1999Suffering terminal prostatecancer, Aris is refused entryto Burma and dies in the UK.After his funeral, sons Kim andAlexander are allowed to visittheir mother briefl y.355AUNG SAN SUU KYI