A pillar of strength

Tragically for Suu Kyi, Aris died in 1999 on his 53^rd birthday.

Throughout her long ordeal, she has continued to be a source of inspiration for people around the world.

The people of Burma have been a primary source of her strength, although it is hoped she also gained inspiration from the international support she received, including a Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.

The compelling images beamed around the world in recent days of Suu Kyi’s first overseas trip in 24 years say much about her personal qualities.

Her first destination was not the halls of power in Asia, Europe or America, but a camp in Thailand housing thousands of Burmese refugees who had fled from their home country in search of a better life.

Suu Kyi was mobbed by the crowds, many reportedly wishing to return home now that Burma was undergoing democratic reform.

No doubt the welfare of these refugees will be high on her agenda during a scheduled meeting with the Thai Prime Minister.

Suu Kyi’s proposed return visit to England where she lived, studied at Oxford, married and raised her sons, until her fateful return to Burma in 1988, will capture the emotions of people worldwide.

It is to be hoped that the reforms under way in Burma and the role Suu Kyi has assumed in public life will create a momentum for change that will prove impossible to reverse.

Hopefully there will be a parallel between the fundamental political and societal changes in South Africa that followed the release from custody of Nelson Mandela.

While their experiences were naturally different, as Mandela was held in prison for 27 years, one of the keys to their eventual triumph over adversity was a refusal to give in to bitterness or the desire for revenge.

Mandela once said, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

Suu Kyi has dedicated her life to bringing freedom to the people of Burma and the depth of their support for her campaign was shown in the recent by-elections where her party won 43 of the 46 seats.

It is my sincere hope and the hope of people all over the world that Burma will fully emerge from its darkest years and once again be welcomed into the community of nations.

The world continues to be fascinated by a petite Burmese woman, 66 years of age, who has managed to defy and hopefully triumph over a military regime using only the power of her ideas and her unwavering commitment.