In 1988 Aung San Suu Kyi became the leader of the National League for Democracy , a party that opposes Myanmer's military government . She made speeches against the government and organised protests . In July 1989 Suu Kyi was sentenced to house arrest . Although she remained under house arrest unitl 1995 , she continued her struggle for freedom . Protests in Myanmer 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