Profile Text
Aung San Suu Kyi in 2013, photo by Nadege /Bigstock.com
Place of Birth: Rangoon, British Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar)
Date of Birth: 19 June, 1945
Ethnicity: Burmese
Aung San Suu Kyi, also known as Suu Kyi, is a Burmese politician, diplomat, and author. She has been General Secretary of the National League for Democracy, since 27 September, 1988; as well as, Chairperson of the National League for Democracy, from 13 December, 2011 to 28 March, 2023, Leader of the Opposition, from 2 May, 2012 to 29 January, 2016, Minister of the President’s Office, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, both, from 30 March, 2016 to 1 February, 2021; Minister of Education, and Minister of Electricity and Energy, both, from 30 March, 2016 to 5 April, 2016, and State Counsellor of Myanmar, from 6 April, 2016 to 1 February, 2021. She was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1991.
Her father, Aung San (born Htein Lin), was a Myanmar politician, revolutionary, nationalist, and founder of the Tatmadaw, and is considered Father of the Nation of modern-day Myanmar; he served as Premier of British Crown Colony of Burma, from 26 September, 1946 to 19 July, 1947, his assasination; as well as General Secretary of Communist Party of Burma, from 15 August, 1939 to 1940, Minister of War in the State of Burma and Deputy Prime Minister, from 1 August, 1943 to 27 March, 1945, and President of the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League, from 27 March, 1945 to 19 July, 1947. Her mother, Khin Kyi, was a Burmese politician and diplomat. Her brother is engineer Aung San Oo. Her paternal uncle, Ba Win, was a politician, who was Minister of Trade. Her cousin, Sein Win, was also a politician, who was Prime Minister of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.
She was married to British historian Michael Aris , until his death. The couple has two children, including activist Alexander Aris .
Her name Aung San comes from her father, Suu from her paternal grandmother, and Kyi from her mother.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s paternal grandfather was named U Phar. U is a title, meaning “uncle.” Phar was a lawyer.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s paternal grandmother was named Daw Suu. Daw is a title, meaning “aunt.”
Aung San Suu Kyi’s maternal grandfather was named Pho Hnyin.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s maternal grandmother was named Phwa Su.
Source: Genealogy of Aung San Suu Kyi – http://www.geni.com