After 1948 Burma, now also known as Myanmar, was a free country. But in 1962 the army took control of the country. Ever since then, Myanmar has had a harsh military government. However many people have struggled to bring freedom back to Myanmar. For her part in the struggle, Aung San Suu Kyi was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991
In 1988 Aung San Suu Kyi became the leader of the National League for Democracy, a party that opposes Myanmar’s military government. She made speeches against the government and organized protests. In July 1989 Suu Kyi was sentenced to house arrest. Although she remained under house arrest until 1995, she continued her struggle for freedom. Protests in Myanmar and around the world forced the military government to have an election in May 1990. Suu Kyi’s party won the election, but the military government ignored the results.
Aung San Suu Kyi was given the Nobel Peace Prize because of her peaceful struggle and her bravery. Soldiers have threatened to shoot her, and many of her supporters have been sent to prison or killed. Suu Kyi has been arrested many times. Since 1989 she has spent fifteen years in prison or under house arrest but she has never stopped speaking against the government. She has also argued against violence. Instead of fighting with the government, her protests have always been peaceful. Today Suu Kyi’s struggle goes on, and her support around the world continues to grow.