Nobel Peace Laureate Suu Kyi sets hero’s pace with travel to Thailand

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Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi attending the 2012 Economic Forum on Asia in Bangkok, Thailand

Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi enters the building for the Economic Forum on Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday May 29, 2012 with security and international liaison. Image: WEforum/Sikarian Thanachaiary

(WNN) Bangkok, THAILAND: On the first of a multi-layered foreign tour following years of house arrest in her home country, Burmese Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi spoke on Wednesday to thousands of immigrants in Mahachai, Thailand.The crowd, made up of a majority of Burma/Myanmar migrants who are now living in Thailand gave her a hero’s welcome. Thailand is a country now hosting over 2 million Burmese immigrants. Suu Kyi’s trip to neighboring

Thailand came as she attended the 2012 World Economic Forum on East Asia in Bangkok Friday through Tuesday.

Her message was one of encouragement and support to the crowd in Mahachai as she mentioned how conditions for Burmese migrants worldwide may now be lifting. “History is changing,” she reminded the crowd as she promised to work for those Burmese natives who have left Burma/Myanmar, often under danger and hardship. “Don’t feel down, or weak,” said Suu Kyi upon seeing signs in the crowd saying, “We want to go home.”

“All of them say one thing,” added Suu Kyi, “we want to go back to Burma as soon as possible. That of course is part of our responsibility,” she shared with journalists during the event.

Considered a ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ in her home region, Aung San Suu Kyi became an international hero representing the struggle for human rights and democracy during years of imprisonment and sanctions.

Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest for three years in July 1989 with orders that she must stay inside her compound in Rangoon as conditions defining her arrest. Facing multiple releases, hardships and re-arrests since then up to her most recent government release on November 13, 2010, Suu Kyi received widespread support as a leader for pro-democracy. Those living inside Burma/Myanmar as well as activists worldwide watched, waited and protested against the government sanction against Suu Kyi as her house arrest continued for many years.

In 1991, while under arrest and unable to leave her home, Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize for “her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.” Her current schedule with a foreign tour will also include a special trip to ‘officially and finally’ receive her Nobel Peace Prize in person while in Oslo, Norway.

With a recent April 4 Chairman’s speech Suu Kyi, accepted victory of 44 out of 47 contested seats for the National League for Democracy (NLD) in the Burma/Myanmar parliament. The NLD win caused numerous nations in the West to lift sanctions against Burma/Myanmar.

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