Aung San Suu Kyi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Her Excellency Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
အောင်ဆန်းစုကြည်
Aung San Suu Kyi in 2017
State Counsellor of Myanmar
In office 6 April 2016 – 1 February 2021
President	Htin Kyaw Win Myint
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Min Aung Hlaing (as Chairman of the State Administration Council)
Leader of the Opposition
In office 2 May 2012 – 29 January 2016
President	Thein Sein
Preceded by	Sai Hla Kyaw
Succeeded by	Thein Sein
Ministerial offices 2016–2021 Minister of the President's Office In office 30 March 2016 – 1 February 2021 President Htin Kyaw Win Myint Preceded by Aung Min Hla Tun Soe Maung Soe Thein Thein Nyunt Succeeded by Vacant Minister of Foreign Affairs In office 30 March 2016 – 1 February 2021 President Htin Kyaw Win Myint Preceded by Wunna Maung Lwin Succeeded by Wunna Maung Lwin Minister of Education In office 30 March 2016 – 5 April 2016 President Htin Kyaw Preceded by Khin San Yi Succeeded by Myo Thein Gyi Minister of Electricity and Energy In office 30 March 2016 – 5 April 2016 President Htin Kyaw Preceded by Khin Maung Soe Zeya Aung Succeeded by Pe Zin Tun
General Secretary of the National League for Democracy
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 September 1988
Preceded by	Office established
Chairperson of the National League for Democracy
In office 13 December 2011 – 28 March 2023
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Member of the House of Representatives for Kawhmu
In office 2 May 2012 – 30 March 2016
Preceded by	Soe Tint
Succeeded by	Vacant
Majority	46,73 (71.38%)
Personal details
Born	(1945-06-19) 19 June 1945 (age 80) Rangoon, British Burma
Political party	National League for Democracy
Spouse	Michael Aris ​ ​ (m. 1972; died 1999)​
Children	2, including Alexander Aris
Parents	Aung San Khin Kyi
Relatives	Aung San Oo (brother) Ba Win (uncle) Sein Win (cousin)
Residence	54 University Avenue
Education	University of Delhi (BA) St Hugh's College, Oxford (BA) SOAS University of London (MPhil)
Occupation	politician author pro-democracy activist
Awards	Full list
Signature

Aung San Suu Kyi (born 19 June 1945) is a politician, writer, and activist from Myanmar (also known as Burma). She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her peaceful efforts to bring democracy to her country. From 2016 to 2021, she served as the State Counsellor of Myanmar, a role similar to a prime minister. She also led the National League for Democracy (NLD) political party. Aung San Suu Kyi played a key part in Myanmar's move from military rule towards a more democratic government in the 2010s.

She is the youngest daughter of Aung San, who is considered the founder of modern Myanmar. Her mother was Khin Kyi. Aung San Suu Kyi was born in Rangoon, which was then part of British Burma. She studied at the University of Delhi and St Hugh's College, Oxford. After her studies, she worked for the United Nations for three years. In 1972, she married Michael Aris, and they had two sons.

Aung San Suu Kyi became famous during the 8888 Uprising in 1988, a large protest for democracy. She helped create the NLD party and became its General Secretary. In the 1990 Burmese general election, the NLD won most of the seats in Parliament. However, the military government refused to give up power. This led to many countries speaking out against the military. Aung San Suu Kyi was held under house arrest for about 15 years between 1989 and 2010. She became known worldwide as a leading political prisoner.

Her party did not take part in the 2010 Myanmar general election. Later, in the 2012 Burmese by-elections, her party won many seats, and she became a member of Parliament. In the 2015 Myanmar general election, her party won by a huge amount. This meant they could choose the country's president. Even though she could not become president herself due to a rule in the constitution, she took on the new role of State Counsellor.

After becoming State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi faced criticism from many countries and groups. This was mainly because of how Myanmar handled the situation of the Rohingya people in Rakhine State. Her government was also criticized for arresting journalists. In 2019, she went to the International Court of Justice to defend Myanmar's military against claims of serious human rights violations against the Rohingya.

Aung San Suu Kyi's party won the 2020 Myanmar general election. However, on 1 February 2021, she was arrested after the military took control in a coup. This led to many protests across the country. She was charged with several offenses and sentenced to prison. Her total sentence was 33 years, later reduced to 27 years. Many international organizations and countries, including the United Nations and most European countries, said her arrest and trials were politically motivated. As of July 2025, she remains in prison, though there were reports in April 2024 that she was moved to house arrest due to a heat wave.

Her Name

Aung San Suu Kyi is a personal name, not a family name like in many Western countries. It comes from her relatives: "Aung San" from her father, "Suu" from her grandmother, and "Kyi" from her mother.

In Myanmar, people often call her Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Daw means "aunt" and is a respectful title for older women, like saying "Madam." Her supporters sometimes call her Daw Suu or Amay Suu ("Mother Suu").

Her Early Life

Aung San Suu Kyi was born on 19 June 1945 in Rangoon (now Yangon), which was then part of British Burma. Her father, Aung San, helped create the modern Burmese army and worked for Burma's independence from the United Kingdom. He was assassinated in 1947.

She grew up with her mother, Khin Kyi, and two brothers in Rangoon. Her mother became an important political figure and was appointed ambassador to India and Nepal in 1960. Aung San Suu Kyi went with her mother to India. She studied in New Delhi and graduated from the University of Delhi in 1964 with a degree in politics. She continued her education at St Hugh's College, Oxford, in the UK. She speaks Burmese, English, French, and Japanese. She follows Theravada Buddhism.

After her studies, she lived in New York City and worked for the United Nations. On 1 January 1972, she married Michael Aris, a scholar of Tibetan culture. They had two sons, Alexander Aris and Kim Aris.

In 1988, Aung San Suu Kyi returned to Burma to care for her sick mother. Her husband, Michael Aris, visited her for the last time in 1995. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1997. Despite many requests from world leaders, the Burmese government would not let him visit her again. They also urged her to leave the country to see him, but she feared she would not be allowed back. Michael Aris died on 27 March 1999. She was also separated from her children, who lived in the UK, until 2011.

Her Fight for Democracy

Starting Her Political Journey

When Aung San Suu Kyi returned to Burma in 1988, the country was going through big changes. The military leader, General Ne Win, stepped down, and large protests for democracy began on 8 August 1988. These protests were met with violence by the military.

On 26 August, Aung San Suu Kyi spoke to a huge crowd in Yangon, calling for a democratic government. In September 1988, a new military government took power. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's idea of non-violence and Buddhist teachings, Aung San Suu Kyi entered politics. She helped start the National League for Democracy (NLD) on 27 September 1988. However, she was soon placed under house arrest on 20 July 1989. She was offered freedom if she left the country, but she refused.

The 1990 Election and Nobel Peace Prize

In 1990, the military government held a general election. The NLD won a large majority of the votes, meaning they should have formed the government. But the military refused to accept the results and would not hand over power. This caused a lot of anger and concern around the world.

Aung San Suu Kyi was already under house arrest before the election. In 1990, she received the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. A year later, in 1991, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her peaceful struggle for democracy and human rights. Her sons accepted the prize for her. She used the prize money to create a health and education fund for the people of Myanmar.

Years Under House Arrest

Aung San Suu Kyi was held under house arrest for a total of 15 years over a 21-year period. During this time, she could not meet her supporters or international visitors. She spent her time reading and playing the piano. Sometimes, foreign diplomats and her doctor were allowed to visit her.

The government kept her imprisoned because they saw her as a threat to the country's peace. She often appealed against her detention, and many countries called for her release. On 13 November 2010, she was finally released from house arrest.

United Nations Efforts

The United Nations tried to help start talks between the military government and Aung San Suu Kyi. In 2002, she was released after secret talks. She said it was "a new dawn for the country." However, in 2003, her group was attacked by a mob, and she was arrested again and placed back under house arrest.

The UN continued to try and help, with special envoys visiting her. In 2007, she appeared in state media for the first time in four years, meeting with a UN envoy. However, these efforts did not lead to her full freedom at that time.

The 2009 Incident

In May 2009, an American man swam to her house without permission. He was arrested, and Aung San Suu Kyi was also arrested for breaking the rules of her house arrest because she allowed him to stay. She was taken to Insein Prison. Her trial received strong criticism from around the world. Many leaders, including the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, called for her release.

On 11 August 2009, she was sentenced to three years of hard labor, but this was changed to 18 more months of house arrest. This meant she could not take part in the 2010 elections.

Her Release in 2010

On 13 November 2010, Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest. She appeared before a large crowd of her supporters who had gathered near her home. This was six days after a general election that many people criticized. She had been held for 15 of the previous 21 years.

After her release, her son Kim Aris was able to visit her for the first time in 10 years. She also began discussions with the Burmese government, which led to some political prisoners being freed. In November 2011, her NLD party decided to re-register as a political party to take part in upcoming elections.

The 2012 By-Elections

In January 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi officially registered to run for a seat in the lower house of Parliament in the special elections held on 1 April 2012. She campaigned for changes to the country's constitution and for more protection of people's rights.

On 1 April 2012, the NLD announced that Aung San Suu Kyi had won her seat in Parliament. State television confirmed her victory and her party's win in 43 out of 45 contested seats. This officially made her the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. On 2 May 2012, she and other NLD members took their oaths and began their work as lawmakers.

In June 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi finally gave her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in Oslo, two decades after receiving the award. In September 2012, she received the Congressional Gold Medal in the United States, which is the highest award given by the US Congress. She also met with US President Barack Obama.

The 2015 General Election

In July 2012, Aung San Suu Kyi said she wanted to run for president in Myanmar's 2015 elections. However, the constitution prevented her from becoming president because her late husband and children were foreign citizens.

The NLD won a huge victory in the 2015 elections, gaining enough seats to choose the president. Even though she couldn't be president, Aung San Suu Kyi said she would hold the real power in any NLD-led government. On 30 March 2016, she became a minister in the new government. She was later appointed State Counsellor of Myanmar, a new position created especially for her, similar to a prime minister.

State Counsellor (2016–2021)

As State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi invited foreign ministers from China, Canada, Italy, and Japan to discuss diplomatic relations. She also granted amnesty to students who had been arrested for protesting.

However, her time as State Counsellor also brought international criticism. This was mainly due to how her government handled the situation of the Rohingya people in Rakhine State. Many groups and countries expressed concern about the treatment of this Muslim minority. Aung San Suu Kyi denied claims of ethnic cleansing and said she wanted to work towards peace. She also faced criticism for the arrests of journalists.

In December 2019, Aung San Suu Kyi appeared at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. She defended the Myanmar military against claims of serious human rights violations against the Rohingya. She stated that the accusations were "incomplete and misleading." In January 2020, the court ordered Myanmar to take steps to protect the Rohingya.

Arrest and Trial in 2021

On 1 February 2021, Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested by Myanmar's military, along with other NLD leaders. The military claimed the November 2020 election results were fraudulent. She was charged with various offenses, including illegally importing walkie-talkies.

Her arrest led to widespread protests across Myanmar. Many international leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and US President Joe Biden, condemned the coup and called for her release.

Throughout 2021 and 2022, more charges were filed against her. Her trials were closed to the public and media. Human rights groups called them a "courtroom circus of secret proceedings on bogus charges." In December 2021, she was sentenced to four years in jail, later reduced to two years. In January 2022, she received an additional four years. By October 2022, her total sentence reached 26 years. In December 2022, her trials ended with another conviction, bringing her final sentence to 33 years in prison.

In August 2023, the military government reduced her sentence to 27 years. She was reportedly moved from prison to a VIP government residence. However, since September 2023, reports indicate she is back in prison, and her health is worsening. Her requests to see a dentist have been denied. In April 2024, the military announced she was transferred to house arrest due to a heat wave, but some reports claim she remains in prison with air conditioning added to her cell.

Her Political Ideas

Aung San Suu Kyi has looked at many countries for ideas on how Myanmar could become a democracy. She mentioned countries in Asia like South Korea and Indonesia, and also countries in Eastern Europe and Latin America that moved from strict governments to democracies. She also learned from South Africa's journey from an authoritarian system. She believes Myanmar can learn from others' successes and avoid their mistakes.

Groups That Supported Her

Many organizations and people around the world have supported Aung San Suu Kyi's fight for democracy.

• Freedom Now, a US-based group, worked to help free her from house arrest.
• She was an honorary board member of International IDEA and ARTICLE 19, which are human rights organizations.
• Universities in Belgium, South Korea, Italy, and Australia gave her honorary degrees.
• The Freedom Forum recognized her efforts with an award in 2003.
• The U.S. Campaign for Burma and the Burma Campaign UK are NGOs that raise awareness about Myanmar's struggles.
• St Hugh's College, Oxford, where she studied, awarded her an honorary doctorate.
• She was an honorary member of The Elders, a group of global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela.
• In 2011, she was the Guest Director of the 45th Brighton Festival.
• She delivered the 2011 Reith Lectures for the BBC, with her talks secretly recorded and brought out of Myanmar.
• In April 2012, British Prime Minister David Cameron visited her, inviting her to Britain.
• In May 2012, she received the first Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent.
• In November 2012, she visited India, including her former college.
• She set up the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, named after her mother, to help improve health and education in Myanmar.

Health Information

Aung San Suu Kyi has had some health issues over the years, including surgeries in 2003, 2013, and 2016. In 2012, her doctor said she was generally healthy but had low blood pressure and could get tired easily.

After her arrest in February 2021, there were concerns about her health. However, military officials claimed she was receiving special care. In July 2023, Thailand's foreign minister said she was in good health. But since September 2023, reports suggest her health is worsening, with toothache and difficulty eating, and her requests to see a dentist have been denied.

Books She Wrote

• Freedom from Fear (1991)
• Letters from Burma (1991)
• Let's Visit Nepal (1985)

Images for kids

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  Aung San Suu Kyi at her constituency in Kawhmu township during the 2012 by-election campaign

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  Aung San Suu Kyi meeting with Edgardo Boeninger of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, 1995

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  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at a conference in London, during 5 countries tour of Europe, 2012

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  The ceremony of the Sakharov Prize awarded to Aung San Suu Kyi by Martin Schulz, inside the European Parliament's Strasbourg hemicycle, in 2013

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  The 2009 celebration of Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday in Dublin, Ireland

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  Aung San Suu Kyi greeting supporters from Bago State in 2011

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  US Senator Jim Webb visiting Aung San Suu Kyi in 2009. Webb negotiated the release of John Yettaw, the man who trespassed in Aung San Suu Kyi's home.

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  Aung San Suu Kyi addressing crowds at the NLD headquarters shortly after her release

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  Aung San Suu Kyi meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Yangon, December 2011

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  Aung San Suu Kyi (centre) giving a speech to the supporters during the 2012 by-election campaign at her constituency Kawhmu township, Myanmar on 22 March 2012

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  US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with Aung San Suu Kyi and her staff at her home in Yangon, 2012

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  Aung San Suu Kyi meeting Barack Obama at the White House in September 2012

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  Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson meeting Aung San Suu Kyi in London, 12 September 2016

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  Indian prime minister Narendra Modi meeting Aung San Suu Kyi in New Delhi, 24 January 2018

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  Aung San Suu Kyi with Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte and Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, 25 January 2018

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  Aung San Suu Kyi with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, 14 November 2018

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  Aung San Suu Kyi with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, 22 June 2019

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  Protesters holding posters with the image of Aung San Suu Kyi during a demonstration against the military coup

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  Protesting teachers holding portraits of Aung San Suu Kyi

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  Aung San Suu Kyi with French Ambassador for Human Rights, François Zimeray

See also

In Spanish: Aung San Suu Kyi para niños

• List of civil rights leaders
• State Counsellor of Myanmar