Summary
Highlights
Aung San Suu Kyi, now 79, is imprisoned in Myanmar after decades of fighting a brutal military dictatorship. Her youngest son, Kim Aris, continues the fight for her freedom and for democracy in Myanmar. Suu Kyi's father, General Aung San, was a key figure in Burma's independence movement but was assassinated when she was three. This tragedy instilled in her a powerful sense of destiny to fulfill his unfinished work for democracy.
In 1988, Suu Kyi returned to Myanmar to care for her ailing mother. During this time, a student and worker uprising challenged the military regime. Due to her father's legacy, she was implored to lead the opposition, eventually forming the National League for Democracy (NLD). Her first public speech drew 150,000 people, marking her emergence as a symbol of hope for democracy.
In 1990, the military junta refused to cede power after the NLD won free elections, placing Suu Kyi under house arrest for the first time. She spent 15 of the next 20 years under various forms of detention. In 1991, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, becoming an international symbol against oppression. Her husband, Michael Aris, who campaigned tirelessly for her release, died in 1999 without seeing her again, as she chose to remain in Myanmar to fight for her people.
In 2010, Suu Kyi was released, leading to a period of optimism. In 2015, the NLD won elections, making Myanmar the world's youngest democracy. However, the military had designed laws preventing her from becoming president directly, making her State Counsellor. During her time in power, criticisms emerged regarding her handling of the Rohingya crisis, where the military engaged in a brutal crackdown against the Muslim minority. Many accused her of not condemning the atrocities or speaking up for the victims, leading to international backlash.
To the surprise of many, Suu Kyi personally defended Myanmar against charges of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). While her supporters argued she was attempting to navigate a complex political landscape and avoid antagonizing the military further, critics saw this as a betrayal of human rights principles. Amnesty International withdrew her 'Ambassador of Conscience' award, citing her role in shielding human rights abusers.
In February 2021, the military staged another coup, citing unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud and detaining Suu Kyi and other NLD officials. She has since been sentenced to decades in prison on various charges, including breaching coronavirus rules and corruption. Former economic advisor Sean Turnell, who was also imprisoned, describes the harsh conditions for political prisoners. Suu Kyi, despite her age and health conditions, remains a political prisoner in what many describe as a politically motivated detention.
The coup plunged Myanmar into a full-blown civil war, with the military brutally suppressing dissent. Despite her international 'cancellation,' Suu Kyi remains a potent symbol of democracy for many Burmese people. The documentary concludes by discussing whether her fall was a military trap or her own political miscalculation, and the hope that, despite immense suffering, the people's will for democracy will eventually prevail, with Suu Kyi's role in history still evolving.