AUNG SAN SUU KYI355It was at this point, as the street demonstrations con-
tinued to mount, that Suu Kyi decided to join the move-
ment for democracy. Her speech at Shwedagon Paya on
26 August 1988, with her husband and sons by her side,
electrifi ed the estimated crowd of half a million, and sent
ripples of excitement and hope throughout the country.
Elegantly attired, the trademark fl owers in her hair, the
43-year-old Suu Kyi brought a hitherto-unseen sophis-
tication to Myanmar politics as she launched what she
called ‘the second struggle for national independence’.
The brutal reaction of the military brought the pro-
tests to an end a month later.
Braving the Generals
Suu Kyi, however, was just getting started, and in Septem-
ber 1988 she joined several former generals and senior
army offi cers (including Tin Oo, army chief of staff in the
1970s, who had been jailed for his role in an abortive coup
in 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 army
captain, recalls how she had ‘a real ability to connect to
the people’, while a diplomat quoted in the New York
Times said her very name was ‘magic’ among the pub-
lic. In April 1989, while campaigning in the town of
Danubyu, she came up against soldiers who threatened
to shoot her and her supporters; with great courage she
continued to move forward and calmly asked that they
be allowed to pass. Only at the last minute did a senior
offi cer 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 be-
come the NLD’s primary spokesperson, was placed un-
der house arrest for publicly expressing doubt about the
junta’s intentions of handing over power to a civilian gov-
ernment, and for her plans to lead a march in Yangon to
celebrate Martyr’s Day. Her status as Aung San’s daugh-
ter saved 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 went
on a hunger strike for 12 days to gain an assurance that
her jailed supporters would not be tortured. None of
this stopped the NLD from decisively winning the gen-
eral election of May 1990.
A Prisoner of Conscience
Aris left Yangon with their sons on 2 September 1989.
Suu Kyi would see either Alexander or Kim for over two
and a half years. Her husband was allowed to spend one
more fortnight with her over Christmas in 1989, a time
he described as ‘among the happiest memories of our
many years of marriage’.
At any moment during her years of arrest, Suu Kyi
knew that the authorities would let her walk free to
board a fl ight to return to her family in the UK. But
once she left Burma she knew she would never be al-
lowed to return, and she would not accept permanent
exile. It was a sacrifi ce in which her family supported
1985–87
At Kyoto University, Suu Kyi
researches her father’s time
in Japan; she also registers at
London’s School of Oriental and
African Studies for a doctorate
in Burmese literature.1988
Returns to Yangon in March
to care for her mother,
who has suff ered a stroke;
in September becomes
secretary-general of National
League for Democracy (NLD).1989
At her mother’s funeral in
January she swears to serve
the people of Burma until her
death. Stands for election in
February; placed under house
arrest in July.1991
Wins Nobel Peace Prize;
sons accept it on her behalf.
Pledges she will use $1.3
million prize money to
establish health and education
trust for Burmese people.1995
Released from house arrest,
resumes campaigning for the
NLD, but her movements are
restricted. At year’s end she
sees Aris for what will be the
fi nal time.1996
In November her motorcade
is attacked in Yangon, the
windows of the car she is
travelling in is smashed by
a mob; despite presence
of security forces no one is
arrested.1999
Suff ering terminal prostate
cancer, Aris is refused entry
to Burma and dies in the UK.
After his funeral, sons Kim and
Alexander are allowed to visit
their mother briefl y.