Suu Kyi: The Voice Of Her People

Who is she?

Suu Kyi is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. She has been detained under house arrest in Burma for almost 15 of the 21 years from 20 July 1989 until her release on 13 November 2010. Like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, Anug San Suu Kyi has become an iconic figure. She has persistently opposed Burma’s brutal military regime, instituted by General Ne Win in 1962.

Why is she my hero?

She is a loving, honest and powerful woman. So much love and honesty that give to the her family, her people and her country and this has make her the most influence leaders ever in this decade. Her determination and her courageous inspired me. Although her leadership of Burmese democracy movement and her passionate advocacy of human rights, have landed her in desperate trouble, she has invented the power of the powerless. The power of the people and she definitely the voice of her people.

She was first placed under house arrest in 1989 and in the years between, she has faced constant physical and psychological harassment by the Junta/Tatmadaw. Her extraordinary commitment to the Burmese people has resulted in involuntarily separation from her family - her English husband, Dr. Micheal Aris and their two sons. Aris’s death in 1999 was yet another cruel twist of the knife but, nothing can draw away Suu Kyi from the course she committed to.

What does “Freedom From Fear” means?

It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.

Aung San Suu Kyi: Freedom From Fear.

Study about her made me understand about what is powerful leaders means. To me, “Powerful “ meant Strong Energy. Energy can be positive when it become productive and it can be negative when it create destructive. History shows that, leaders create by being powerful when she or he can enrolling people to her or his vision.

When one leader create a vision and focus out to the people, we can see and feel the amount of positive energy can build a nation with full of goodness, fairness and just. People are connected and united. However, powerful leader of destruction like Hitler, Mussolini and many more and Ne Win (Junta) are creating fear and restriction to the people and these leaders are focus- in to themselves and sabotage the goodness of being human. We look like a free people and in fact laws, draconian laws has actually tied up the power and the rights of the people.

Example, Dr. Mahathir has enrolled me to his vision of Wawasan 2020, (although now, I wonder whether our current government still care about it when all I heard now is just One Malaysia) and I do feel that he is a powerful leader. However, I experience him as a controller leader which may lead to injustice. Well, every thing must go according to his way, and result shows, he is powerful leaders.

How is her being make her the Human Rights Icon?

Back to Aung San Suu Kyi, I experience her being a loving leader. She promotes non-violence approach and chooses democracy is the best way to rule the government. So that, the people can exercise their right as to what had been written in the constitution. During her fights against the Junta, I notice that she is persistence on the idea violence against violence is not the way to gain victory of independent. However, by being courageous and determine. Her integrity and belief about power lay on the hand of the people and not, in the hand of a soldier pointing out the guns to the people who shout for justice and freedom.

She has been such a strong woman and yet, soft and delicate to her people that charms all around the world and that why she won the Noble Prize for make a stand for her people.

Yes, she is a daughter of Bogyoke Aung San. He is Burmese hero during the fight of independence from the British. There is no doubt that exist other powerful leaders however, when one leader are only think about themselves and the people around them is just another tools to gain powers, the credibility of the leader reduce.

What did her people say about her? How they look up to her?

She is their only hope and to free the people from fear. I have attend to one of the ceremony at Bar Council recently on early July to celebrate her birthday and have the opportunity to ask Burmese people who attended as well, and all of them, love Suu Kyi so much like she is their mother. They wanted to go back their country and live there happily like what we have right now.

Burmese is beautiful people, very polite and respect people. I feel sad as well to have listened to their wishes when they don’t know when Burmese can have their real independence, and be free from fear.