[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 158 (Thursday, November 15, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COMMENDING DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER 
                    RECEIVING THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2001

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support today of H. Con. 
Res. 211, which commends Daw Aung-San Suu Kyi on the 10th anniversary 
of her Nobel Peace Prize. I would also like to commend and extend my 
thanks to Congressman Peter King for his leadership in introducing this 
resolution.
  Daw Aung-Sun Suu Kyi is indeed a heroine to her country and to 
democratic nations around the world for her leadership of the 
nonviolent movement for human rights and democracy in Burma. She was 
born into public service in 1945 as the daughter of General Aung San, a 
national leader who was assasinated 2 years after her birth, and Daw 
Kin Kyi, her mother who was appointed in 1960 as Burma's ambassador to 
India.
  In pursuit of higher education, Daw Aung-San Suu Kyi went on to study 
abroad in England, Japan, and India and worked in various capacities 
for the United Nations and as a fellow and scholar at several 
educational institutions. In 1988, she traveled back to Burma to help 
her ailing mother while massive pro-democracy demonstrations against 
the repressive military regime arose. Later that year, she led the 
charge calling for a democratic government in Burma. Despite the 
military reestablishment of control and the crushing force that 
retaliated against the pro-democracy supporters, she helped to form the 
National League for Democracy (NLD) and was named its General 
Secretary. As the leader of the NLD, she traveled extensively 
throughout Burma in support for the establishment of a democratic 
government. In 1989, she was placed under house arrest by the military 
regime that reclaimed the power from the pro-democracy supporters. 
Despite her detention that year, the NLD won a landslide victory in the 
general elections of Burma with 82% of the seats. However, the military 
regime refused to recognize the result of the election and she remained 
under house arrest.
  On October 14, 1991, Daw Aung-San Suu Kyi was awarded the 1991 Nobel 
Peace Prize and $1.3 million, which she used to establish a health and 
education trust in support of Burmese people. Throughout the years of 
her detention and after her release from house arrest in 1995, she has 
continued to assert the rights of her people and move forward the 
struggle for democracy and the national reconciliation of the Burmese 
government. Last year, President Bill Clinton conferred the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, America's highest civilian honor, 
to Daw Aung-San Suu Kyi for her tireless leadership for her country.
  It is only fitting that today Congress pay tribute and honor to Daw 
Aung-San Suu Kyi for her inspiring leadership and remarkable 
contributions to bring peace and democracy to Burma. I urge my fellow 
colleagues to join in support in the passage of H. Con. Res. 211.

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