Robin Thomson and Rosie Sparks: Aung San Suu Kyi's release offers hope

Published on Sunday 21 November 2010 21:44

With the recent news from Burma, nobody can be completely ignorant of the work of Aung San Suu Kyi. However, we at James Gillespie's High School have always been aware of her and her struggle: so much so that she is one of the three leaders after which our 'learning communities' are named – alongside Henry Raeburn the artist and James Maxwell the scientist, she represents those who benefit humanity through politics.

As her controversial release is discussed by governments and the press, it is important to remember her past before considering her future.

It was in 1989 that Aung San Suu Kyi was first placed under house arrest. Inspired by the peaceful protests of Martin Luther King and Gandhi, she had travelled Burma seeking support for democratic elections. This led to separation from her family, who moved to Britain.

Sadly this meant that when her husband died in 1999, she hadn't seen him for five years. She knew that if she left Burma to be with him, she would not be allowed to return. This she views as one of the many sacrifices she made in order to free Burma. MS Suu Kyi has been in and out of house arrest while life went on without her, but despite that she said that she always "remained free" in her mind, and that it was her commitment to the Burmese people that mattered.

The end of her imprisonment merits jubilation, but we cannot forget the 2,202 other political prisoners remaining in similar conditions. Our school Amnesty International branch continues to campaign for their freedom, the freedom of Burma and the freedom of other political prisoners around the globe.

Many question if Ms Suu Kyi has struck a deal with the Burmese Junta, or whether she will soon be re-imprisoned. However, short years ago, the idea they would cave to outside pressure and release her would've seemed absurd.

We can only hope that her release signifies the beginning of the liberation of other political prisoners and Burma in the near future.

• Robin Thomson and Rosie Sparks are sixth year students at James Gillespie's High School, Edinburgh