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Could you imagine being under house arrest secluded from the outside world for almost 15 years? Me neither! This is the story of Aung San Suu Kyi, a truly inspirational woman who proved the will for political equality cannot be silenced. 
 

Daughter of Burma’s independence hero General Aung San, Aung San Suu Kyi shared his many ideas on freedom and equality and earned a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University where she met her future husband. Although she lived in the UK with her husband and children Suu Kyi was strongly involved in Burmese politics. In 1988 she flew to Burma to care for her critically ill mother and remained aghast (shocked) at the political anguish she encountered in her hometown. Determined to not let her father’s efforts be in vain Suu Kyi made the life-changing decision to oppose the unjust dictator General Ne Win.  She became chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD) travelling around Burma to advocate political freedom and in 1990 her party won the polls! Unfortunately Suu Kyi was already placed under house arrest and remained confined in her own house until 1995.  In 2000 the authorities in power in Burma decided to isolate Suu Kyi with release in 2002 although shortly later she was imprisoned once again due to her being linked to a strong opposition against the working government. During her initial years under house arrest Suu Kyi lived isolated from current affairs and kept her spirits high by studying and exercising. When her husband fell ill of cancer she was faced with the tough decision to either return back to the UK to see him risking never to be allowed to return to Burma or to remain under house arrest but deal with the terrifying prospect of not being able to assist her husband in his time of need. Honouring her father’s legacy and her own ambitions for political justice and freedom of thought Suu Kyi stayed in Burma and in 1990 her husband sadly passed away. Suu Kyi, although gravely distressed, found the strength to continue her uphill battle against Burmese corruption and tried to meet up with fellow member of the NLD.

Suu Kyi received international aid and support from many countries and the United Nations itself as well as recognition through awards including the Nobel Peace Prize and following a rare visit from one of her sons Suu Kyi was officially released in 2010. In the 2012 elections the NLD won 43 of the 45 seats in the lower house of parliament symbolising a steppingstone for political freedom in Burma.  Suu Kyi is one of the most fascinating political prisoners for her zeal to continue to strive for justice in a country that didn’t yet know the meaning of the word. I feel Suu Kyi still has big plans for Burma and is following in her father’s footsteps to being an iconic inspirational figure worldwide.