The Fight For Freedom And Democracy In Burma

"Aung San Suu Kyi, human rights activist and leader of Burma's National League for Democracy, was detained in 1989 by SLORC, the ruling military junta, following a spontaneous uprising that swept a nation silenced by more than 25 years of political repression. Today she remains under house arrest in Rangoon, a prisoner of conscience, separated from her family and friends. Although her party won an overwhelming victory in May 1990, the military has refused either to release her or transfer power in accordance with its earlier promise. This collection of writings, edited by her husband, Michael Aris, reflects Aung San Suu Kyi's beliefs, hopes and fears for her people. Composed before her incarceration, it ranges from a portrait of her father, Aung San, the revered leader of the nationalist movement in the 1930s and 1940s, to essays on the literature and cultural heritage of her country, a comparative study of intellectual development in Burma and India under colonialism and a selection of essays, speeches, letters and interviews resulting from her involvement in the struggle for democracy. Together with reminiscences by two people who know her well and two independent assessments of her role in politics and the human rights movement, these writings give a voice to Burma's 'woman of destiny', an individual whose spirit, courage and ideals were internationally recognized when, in 1990, she was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought and in 1991 the Nobel Peace Prize."--Publisher's description

Aung San Suu Kyi is a world-renowned, inspirational symbol of Burmese resistance and courage. Released in 2010 after spending fifteen of the previous twenty-one years under house arrest, she emerged into a Burma that has finally begun to court democracy, and many are now looking to her to lead the country. But is it possible for Suu Kyi to mend the deep divisions in Burmese society? Who are the groups that make up Burma’s face of resistance? What is it they are fighting for? And how can she unite these disparate factions into one cohesive group to take on the current regime in the elections scheduled for 2015? Former political activist and exile Aung Zaw explores these questions in the context of his own experiences, and sheds light on those people who have fought alongside Suu Kyi for decades in Burma’s resistance movement. The book profiles key members of the National League for Democracy, examines the background of prominent activists involved in the 1988 student uprising, and focuses on the next generation of democracy leaders. From an insider’s perspective, Aung Zaw demystifies the volatile state of contemporary Burmese politics and the background of Burma’s current president, Thein Sein, and poses questions about the ongoing debate of international sanctions versus investment in the light of Burma’s untapped natural resources. The Face of Resistance is a timely and succinct reminder that despite international accolades, Burma is far from free. What Others are Saying “This book indeed gives a face to the resistance against Burma’s dictatorship. Brilliantly written, it should be read by everyone interested in contemporary Burma and its ongoing struggle for democracy.” —Bertil Lintner

Aung San Suu Kyi was born to lead. Following in the footsteps of her dissident father, Aung San, she has resisted the machinations of a corrupt government for years and paid dearly for it. In a largely biographical format, this book details Aung's rise as an opposition leader in Myanmar (formerly Burma), telling the story of a woman who willingly sacrificed her freedoms for those of her people. Background information and notable moments in her struggle are called out in boxed inserts.

Letters from Burma - an unforgettable collection from the Nobel Peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi In these astonishing letters, Aung San Suu Kyi reaches out beyond Burma's borders to paint for her readers a vivid and poignant picture of her native land. Here she celebrates the courageous army officers, academics, actors and everyday people who have supported the National League for Democracy, often at great risk to their own lives. She reveals the impact of political decisions on the people of Burma, from the terrible cost to the children of imprisoned dissidents - allowed to see their parents for only fifteen minutes every fortnight - to the effect of inflation on the national diet and of state repression on traditions of hospitality. She also evokes the beauty of the country's seasons and scenery, customs and festivities that remain so close to her heart. Through these remarkable letters, the reader catches a glimpse of exactly what is at stake as Suu Kyi fights on for freedom in Burma, and of the love for her homeland that sustains her non-violent battle. Includes an introduction from Fergal Keane 'Aung San Suu Kyi has become a global symbol of peaceful resistance, courage and apparently endless endurance' Guardian 'A real hero in an age of phony phone-in celebrity, which hands out that title freely to the most spoiled and underqualified' Bono, Time Aung San Suu Kyi is the leader of Burma's National League for Democracy. She was placed under house arrest in Rangoon in 1989, where she remained for almost 15 of the 21 years until her release in 2010, becoming one of the world's most prominent political prisoners. She is also the author of the collection of writings Freedom from Fear.

Gives an account of Burma's pro-democracy movement and Aung San Suu Kyi's prominent leadership role

Nestled beneath the far-eastern end of the Himalayas lies an enchanted place, whose cities bear the legendary names "Mandalay" and "Rangoon"; where the ancient landscape shimmers with thousands upon thousands of gilded Buddhist shrines set against the glowing background of saffron rice paddies. Deemed "the golden land" by European explorers in the fifteenth century and "the pearl of Asia" by Rudyard Kipling, geographically remote Burma - "sister country" of neighboring Tibet - has for the most part miraculously defied the influences of the modern world. Burma's Revolution of the Spirit takes us behind the complex veil that shields from Western eyes this most fascinating and culturally diverse, yet least documented country in Southeast Asia. It demonstrates all too clearly the nation's political isolation by a military dictatorship, which has virtually sowed salt in Burma's fertile earth for thirty years and which responded to a nonviolent popular demonstration on August 8, 1988, with an unconscionably brutal assault inviting comparison with Tiananmen Square. Above all, Burma's Revolution of the Spirit depicts a people's hunger to be free despite the cruelest suppression - and presents a true national heroine: Aung San Suu Kyi, awarded the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize in absentia while under house arrest and still held prisoner in her own land. In this dynamic woman's exquisite features, in scenes of pastoral serenity and impassioned protest, we glimpse the soul of one of the most politically ravaged yet spiritually vibrant societies on earth. Filled with striking documentary images in both black and white and color (many of which were smuggled out of the country), the book is enriched by thewords of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose profound inspirational powers evoke those of such gentle modern warriors as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and the Dalai Lama. Tributes from seven Nobel Peace laureates are also included. Burma's Revolution of the Spirit conveys in affecting narrative its message of justice and respect for all life. Aung San Suu Kyi was cited by the Nobel Committee as "one of the most extraordinary examples of civil courage in Asia in recent decades". She is the daughter of patriot Aung San, whose Burmese Independence Army fought to expel the Japanese forces of occupation during World War II and who set the stage for independence from England before his assassination in 1947. Aung San Suu Kyi was educated at Delhi University and Oxford University. She has won numerous awards and honors in addition to the Nobel Peace Prize, most notably the Rafto Human Bights Prize and the Sakhorov Prize. She is the general secretary and leader of Burma's National League for Democracy and was placed under house arrest by the military junta in July of 1989 for her activities. Aung San Suu Kyi is married to British scholar Dr. Michael Aris and has two sons.