Secondary: Rapid Response Assemblies



MYANMARTASTIC!

Aung San Suu Kyi’s release

By James Lamont

NB: As with all rapid-response assemblies, the situation changes quickly. Please update before using.

Suitable for Whole School

Aim

To explore the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Preparation and resources

• Download pictures of Aung San Suu Kyi, widely available on news sites.
  

Assembly

1. The government in Britain is not universally loved, as recent events have shown. But no matter what one’s opinions of the Coalition are, they have one very strong defence: together, they have a popular mandate to be in power. Imagine if, after losing an election, they refused to go. Imagine that, after stealing an election, they placed the people’s chosen prime minister under house arrest, on and off, for twenty years.
   
2. For the people of Burma, also known as Myanmar, this is reality. The former British colony has been ruled by a military government since 1962. During this period, Burma has languished in poverty and underdevelopment, her people subjected to arbitrary imprisonment, forced relocation and forced labour. It is reported that children are forced to become soldiers. In 1988, a popular uprising ended in tragedy, as soldiers killed over three thousand demonstrators. This challenge to the system led to the 1990 elections, which were won by the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The authorities declared the results null and void and placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest.
   
3. On the 13th of November this year, she was released. She had spent fifteen of the twenty-one years since the 1990 elections confined to her house. During this period, there have been other failed uprisings and she remained a figurehead for those dreaming of liberty in Burma. Also during this time, Burma was hit by a terrible cyclone and the ruling party moved the capital to a new city far away in the jungle, removing themselves further from the people they rule.
   
4. Aung San Suu Kyi’s release was timed to follow shortly after a general election on the 7th of November. Under house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi could not take part. The ruling party won but the United Nations stated that the election was a fraudulent one. However, despite the sham election, there is a chance that Suu Kyi's release could represent real progress for Burma. Many believe that the release was partially due to negotiations and lobbying carried out by the USA and Japan, which are keen to see democratic reform in one of the world’s worst dictatorships.
   
5. While the story of her captivity and eventual release is a story of hope, it is also a story of immense courage and faith. Suu Kyi has been noted for her commitment to non-violent action, and was the recipient of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize. The basic premise of her philosophy is that what causes people to do evil is not power or wealth or greed, but fear. Fear of the loss of power causes leaders to become corrupt, and to lose sight of what got them into power in the first place. This is a message of hope – that which makes us do evil can be overcome. The world hopes that her release marks a new period of Burma/Myanmar’s history. Perhaps the evil that has gripped that nation will one day loosen its grip and the government will learn to trust in the people to make the right decision.
   

Time for reflection

Light a candle.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s belief in peaceful resistance is centred in her Buddhist faith.

Her understanding of the power of fear has enabled her to shine as a beacon of hope for many during her years in imprisonment.

Over the weekend, Suu Kyi said: ‘We must work together. We Burmese tend to believe in fate but, if we want change, we have to do it ourselves.’

Spend a moment now thinking about what you are afraid of: perhaps some failure in school, of your family falling part or of friends leaving you on your own.

Now think about how you can peacefully act to minimize the things that you fear:
How you could behave at home towards the rest of your family to support them.
How you could work in school to ensure you do the best you can.
How you can relate to your friends.
How you can stand for peace at times when there may be little peace around you.

Prayer

Together, we give thanks for the release of Ang San Suu Kyi.
We pray that we may also have the peace within ourselves to bring peace to our lives,
and the lives of those around us.

Song

‘Let there be peace on earth’ (lyrics available on http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/h/harry_connick_jr/let_there_be_peace_on_earth.html)