Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), has spent the majority of the last twenty years in detention.

Despite her party, the National League for Democracy, winning a significant victory in the 1990 elections, the military, which has been in power since 1962, refused to hand over control.

She has served as the general secretary of the National League for Democracy (NLD) since the party’s founding in 1988 and was registered as its chairperson while it was a legal party from 2011 to 2023.

She played a vital role in Myanmar’s transition from military junta to partial democracy in the 2010s.

Profile

• Full Name: Aung San Suu Kyi
• Born: June 19, 1945
• Age: 78 years old
• Birthplace: Yangon, Myanmar
• Nationality: Burmese
• Occupation: Politician, Author, Civil rights Activist
• Height: 1.68m
• Parent: Aung San, Khin Kyi
• Siblings: Aunt San oo, Aung San chit, Aung San lin
• Spouse:
• Children: Alexander Aris, Dannian Kim Arundel Aris
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $215million

Early Life

According to Peter Popham, Aung San Suu Kyi was born on June 19, 1945, in Rangoon (now Yangon), British Burma, but she was born in a small village outside Rangoon called Hmway Saung.

Her father, Aung San, allied with the Japanese during World War II, founded the modern Burmese army, and negotiated Burma’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1947.

Tragically, he was assassinated by his rivals that same year. Aung San Suu Kyi’s family background includes being a niece of Thakin Than Tun, who was married to Khin Khin Gyi, the elder sister of her mother, Khin Kyi.

Her mother and two brothers, Aung San Lin and Aung San Oo, raised her in Rangoon. Aung San Lin passed away at the age of eight after drowning in a lake on their property.

Her older brother later moved to San Diego, California, and gained U.S. citizenship. Following Aung San Lin’s death, the family relocated to a house near Inya Lake, where Aung San Suu Kyi interacted with people from diverse backgrounds, political beliefs, and faiths.

Education

Aung San Suu Kyi’s education was diverse and reflective of her upbringing and future leadership role.

She attended English-medium Catholic schools in Burma until 1960, then completed her secondary education at the Convent of Jesus and Mary School in New Delhi, India.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Politics from the University of Delhi from 1960 to 1964 and a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) from St Hugh’s College, Oxford University, from 1964 to 1969.

Additionally, she started doctoral studies in Burmese literature at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, in 1985, although her work was interrupted.

Career

She received her education in the U.K. and held a position at the United Nations before returning to Myanmar during the pro-democracy protests in 1988.

She co-founded the National League for Democracy (NLD) and became a prominent opposition figure.

She was placed under house arrest by the military junta in 1989 and remained isolated for the next two decades.

She promoted nonviolent resistance and became a global symbol of democracy, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. After the junta initiated some reforms, she was released in 2010.

Leading the NLD to significant victories in the 2015 and 2020 elections, she was prevented from assuming the presidency due to constitutional limitations.

Acting as the de facto leader, she served as State Counsellor from 2016 to 2021, overseeing economic growth and increased relations with Western countries.

She received global criticism for her approach to the Rohingya crisis in 2017, where she was accused of ignoring military atrocities.

Following the military’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results, a coup took place in February 2021, leading to the detention of Suu Kyi and other NLD members.

Despite calls for her release and the restoration of democracy from the international community, she remains in custody, facing numerous charges by the military regime.

The future of Myanmar and Suu Kyi’s legacy is uncertain as her supporters highlight her bravery. At the same time, her critics question her commitment to human rights and failure to condemn military actions.

The situation in Myanmar continues to be unstable, with ongoing demonstrations and violence against the military rule.

Awards and Nominations

Major Awards:

• Nobel Peace Prize (1991): Awarded for her “nonviolent struggle for democracy and human rights.”
• Rafto Human Rights Prize (1990): Recognizes efforts to promote human rights in their communities.
• Sakharov Prize (1991): Awarded by the European Parliament for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
• Olof Palme Prize (2005): Honors distinguished international cooperation and human rights achievements.
• Congressional Gold Medal (2008): The highest civilian award the United States Congress bestowed.
• Wallenberg Medal (2011): Recognizes individuals who demonstrate courage and resilience in the face of oppression.
• Presidential Medal of Freedom (2011) is the highest civilian award given by the President of the United States.

Other Distinctions:

• Amnesty International’s “Ambassador of Conscience” Award (2009)
• Chatham House Prize (2011)
• Honorary doctorates from numerous universities across the world

Nominations:

• Suu Kyi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times before receiving it in 1991.
• She was also nominated for the Sakharov Prize in 1988 and 1989.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: N/A
• Facebook handle: Aung San Susu Kyi
• Twitter handle: N/A

Personal Life

Born in 1945 in Rangoon, Burma, now known as Yangon, Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of Aung San, a respected independence hero who was assassinated when she was just 2 years old.

Educated in Burma, India, and England, she married British scholar Michael Aris in 1972, with whom she had two sons.

Returning to Burma in 1988 to care for her ailing mother, Suu Kyi became involved in the pro-democracy movement and eventually founded the National League for Democracy (NLD). Influenced by Gandhian principles, Suu Kyi championed nonviolent resistance against the military regime.

Despite being placed under house arrest in 1989, she remained a beacon of hope, eventually earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.

Throughout her 21 years of separation from her family, Suu Kyi continued to symbolize the fight for democracy in Myanmar.

After being released from house arrest in 2010, Aung San Suu Kyi remained politically restricted. Despite the NLD’s overwhelming victory in the 2015 elections, she couldn’t become President due to a constitutional clause.

She held a substantial position as State Counsellor of Myanmar from 2016 to 2021 but faced international criticism for her response to the Rohingya crisis and other human rights violations.

Following her detention in a military coup in 2021, she is currently on trial with uncertain outcomes.

During her time under house arrest, her husband, Michael Aris, passed away from cancer in 1999, a heartbreaking situation as she couldn’t be by his side.

Suu Kyi has faced backlash for her perceived inaction on human rights abuses, failing to meet the expectations of many who once saw her as a democracy icon.

Net Worth

The Burmese politician has an estimated net worth of $215million.

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