Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi (1945- ) is the pro-democracy opposition leader in Burma. She first became involved with the pro-democracy movement in 1988, when she returned from Great Britain to take care of her ailing mother. She was put under house arrest by the military for almost 14 years after founding the National League for Democracy, which won an overwhelming victory in the 1990 general elections. She is a recipient of several awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize with $1.3 million in prize money that she used to establish a health and education trust for the Burmese people.

Early life

Aung San Suu Kyi was born June 19, 1945, in the former capital city of Rangoon, as third child of General Aung San and Ma Khin Kyi. She was named "Aung San" after her father, "Kyi" for her mother, and with "Suu" of her grandmother, which is also the day of week of birth.

Her father was a leader in the country's struggle for independence from Great Britain.