In honour of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is recalling Aung San Suu Kyi’s dictums.

In honour of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is recalling Aung San Suu Kyi’s dictums.

10.May 2011

1: “Words need to be back up by Action”

“There have been many words supporting democracy, and we are duly grateful for them, because we do not underestimate the power of words. But words need to be backed up by action — by action that is united and that is focused on essentials. Only by such action will we be able to realize our democratic aspirations”. (Aung San Suu Kyi)

2: The results of the 1990 General Elections must be implemented 

“That the results of the 1990 General Elections must be implemented is a resolution already taken by the United Nations. We already know that the General Assembly of the United Nations has accepted the notion that the will of the people has been expressed in the 1990 General Elections. This is something we can not abandon. It will be to the detriment of our country if after an election has been held the results are not honoured and we do not resist attempts to trivialise it.”

3: Aung San Suu Kyi on United Nations Role in Burma 

“United Nations in Burma, as elsewhere, is to promote the articles of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and, through establishing the universality of human rights, to bring peace to the world.”

4: Aung San Suu Kyi’s Vision On People Of BURMA

Here is what I want most for my people: I want the security of genuine freedom and the freedom of genuine security. I would like to see the crippling fetters of fear removed, that the people of Burma may be able to hold their heads high as free human beings. I would like to see them striving in unity and joy to build a safer, happier society for us all. 

5: Aung San Suu Kyi On International Community

We have confidence that peoples all over the world favor justice and peace, and compassion and friendship, all the qualities which can only come to the fore if there is a free democratic system of government. Peoples who are repressed cannot think of peace because they have to think of survival. Peoples who are repressed cannot think of justice because they have been given no justice. Because of that we have to build up a system where there is rule of law, where there is an accountable, transparent government and where we can achieve the right balance between freedom and security that we may contribute towards peace in our region and in the whole world.

The help of the international community does make a difference. 

6: Aung San Suu Kyi On “The Support Of People From All Over The World” 

Our movement has been helped greatly by the support of people all over the world who understand our need for basic human rights. We are extremely grateful to those who have given us support. And we are fully confident that with this support we will be able to make Burma the kind of country that will be of benefit to its people and to the rest of the world. 

7: Aung San Suu Kyi On “ASEAN” 

The democratisation process in Burma can be accelerated if the international community – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), in particular increases pressure on the military regime. 

8: Aung San Suu Kyi On “Younger Generation of BURMA” 

I would especially like to see our younger people stride confidently into the future, their richness of spirit soaring to meet all challenges. I would like to be able to say: “This is a nation worthy of all those who loved it and lived and died for it–that we might be proud of our heritage.” 

9: Aung San Suu Kyi’s vision on justice & peace in the world”

When democracy comes to Burma, we hope that we may be able to make our own contribution towards the progress of justice and peace in the world. But until that time comes, we would like to call upon our friends all over the world to help us in our struggle.

10: Aung San Suu Kyi’s View on “Burmese Military Junta”

Now, the military authorities are claiming that they are working towards democracy- this must be a fantasy. How can authorities who are so afraid to grant basic democratic rights to people build or construct democracy. The fact is that the present military authorities are in great fear of people power. Their minds seem to be set on the idea that only by keeping the people crushed and subjugated they can exist. Such people can never construct democracy. 

11: Aung San Suu Kyi’s View on “lives under the military regime”

Want and fear are two of the greatest enemies we have to contend with from day to day. In the country like Burma, where we have been crushed under a military regime for many, many years, want and fear stalk us all the time. 

12: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Freedom From Fear”

Want and fear go together where there are no human rights and where there is no justice. We would like justice, human rights, and peace to spread all over the world, so that everywhere might live free from fear and from want. 

13: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Global Village”

This military regime understands, like all governments in all countries understand today, that no country can remain separate from the rest of the world. 

14: Aung San Suu Kyi on “The thirst for democracy in Burma”

The thirst for democracy is stronger than ever, for the Burmese have suffered much more since 1988, under the present dictatorship, than under those of preceding regimes. In reality, the gulf is widening between the Army and the population; it is a sign there is no hope for this regime. 

15: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Precious People”

It is our people who are precious to us. So our first care is our people. We want to make sure that our people enjoy security, enjoy freedom and they enjoy the right to advance themselves. That is to say they enjoy the right to education. Health and education for us are the two most important things. And we want to provide our people with good health care, good education. And to do that we need an accountable, transparent government. A government that is not there to oppress the people but to do the best that it can for the people. 

16: Aung San Suu Kyi on “The results of the 1990 parliamentary elections”

The junta continues to frustrate the will of the people by refusing to honour the results of the 1990 parliamentary elections, which the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) won by a landslide (obtaining 392 of the 485 parliamentary seats). 

18: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Democracy, Human Rights & Peace”

We believe in democracy because we believe that democracy is the only system that ensures respect for basic human rights and without basic human rights there can be no peace in our world. When the Burmese parliament is allowed to meet, we are confident that it will represent the true will of the people and that the true will of the people of Burma will go a long way towards assisting democracy and peace in our region and in the world.

19: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Peace, Development and Justice”

Peace, development and justice are all connected to each other. We cannot talk about economic development without talking about peace. How can we expect economic development in a battle field? It would not be possible. But there are more than one kind of battle field in this world. A battle field is not necessarily a place where people are shooting each other. In a civil society, where basic human rights are ignored, where the rights of the people are violated every day, it is like a battle field where lives are lost and people are crippled, because people can lose their lives. And the development of their lives can be crippled by a lack of basic human rights. So when we talk about peace, we can not avoid talking about basic human rights, especially in a country like Burma where people are troubled constantly by a lack of human rights and a lack of justice and a lack of peace. 

20: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Authoritarian Government”

We in the opposition cannot allow any authoritarian government to hijack the elections and are determined to continue with our struggle.

21: Aung San Suu Kyi on “True Independence”

We honour those who understand and cherish true independence and because of this, they have made sacrifices and are still making the sacrtifices for the attainment of democracy. We are especially grateful to all those who are now being held as prisoners, those honourable persons who were elected by the people to serve as their representatives who are standing firm fully aware of their obligations to those who elected them. We are grateful to the members of the National League for Democracy, their families, and others who are committed to the cause of democracy. I am certain that our country will. without doubt, enjoy the benefits of true independence because of these courageous sons and daughters who will not renounce the pledges of independence. 

22: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Unity”

Unity cannot be built without mutual trust and understanding, and that there is no hope for peace or prosperity unless there is unity. 

23: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Junta’s Human Rights Abuses”

What is it that frightens this government so much? Why are they so intent on these repressive measures? Why are they so intent on depriving our people of their basic rights? A country where there are no basic rights is a country where a people cannot be secure. 

24: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Lives under junta”

To struggle on a daily basis against a dictatorial military regime is not an easy business. Many of our people have suffered grievously and some are still suffering but they continue with their struggle because of their deeply held beliefs in the ability of the human race to do better for themselves now than they have done in the past. 

25: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Unity in Diversity”

Unity in diversity has to be the principle of those who genuinely wish to build our country into a strong nation that allows for a variety of races, languages, beliefs and cultures to flourish in peaceful and happy coexistence. Only a government that tolerates opinions and attitudes different from its own will be abel to create an environment where peoples of diverse traditions and aspirations can breathe freely in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust. 

26: Aung San Suu Kyi on “We shall achieve democracy”

We are confident that the time is not long before democracy comes to Burma. We are confident that we shall achieve democracy primarily because of the strong desire of the people of Burma for democracy. However, we do not in any way, underestimate the importance of the help of our allies all over the world. 

27: Aung San Suu Kyi on “We are in need of support to speed up democratisation process”

In the name of peace, in the name of human rights and in the name of common decency we would like to call upon all our allies to give us the strongest support at this time when we are in need of support to speed up the process of democratisation. 

28: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Saints & Sinners”

Saints, it has been said, are the sinners who go on trying. So free men are the oppressed who go on trying and who in the process make themselves fit to bear the responsibilities and to uphold the disciplines which will maintain a free society. Among the basic freedoms to which men aspire that their lives might be full and uncramped, freedom from fear stands out as both a means and an end. A people who would build a nation in which strong, democratic institutions are firmly established as a guarantee against state-induced power must first learn to liberate their own minds from apathy and fear. 

29: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Right to shape our own destiny”

The people bravely expressed their will in 1990, but still their will has not been recognized. The people of Burma want something very simple. They want the opportunity to be able to shape their own lives. When we fought for independence from the British before 1947, the Burmese people asked for the right to shape their own destiny. Now that we are fighting for democracy, we are asking for the same thing. We are asking for the right to shape our own destiny. 

30: Aung San Suu Kyi on “‘Grace under Pressure”

Fearlessness may be a gift but perhaps more precious is the courage acquired through endeavour, courage that comes from cultivating the habit of refusing to let fear dictate one’s actions, courage that could be described as ‘grace under pressure’ – grace which is renewed repeatedly in the face of harsh, unremitting pressure. 

31: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Dream & Hope”

There is a difference between having hope and dreaming. It is not wrong to have hope but you have to work towards achieving that hope. Just sitting down and dreaming will not do. Have one vision and struggle to achieve it. Our vision is that we will have genuine and a full measure of democracy and the full measure of human rights for which we will struggle on. A fantasy world is not what we want and that is not what we are building. 

32: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Peace, Trust & Justice”

In our country, there are many races living together, but we have not been able to live together in peace because the situation does not exist where we can trust each other. So trust is a basic element for peace. Unless we can trust each other, unless we can be sure that we will receive justice, and that we also have to give justice, we can not achieve peace. 

33: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Bogyoke Aung San”

Bogyoke Aung San regarded himself as a revolutionary and searched tirelessly for answers to the problems that beset Burma during her times of trial. He exhorted the people to develop courage: ‘Don’t just depend on the courage and intrepidity of others. Each and every one of you must make sacrifices to become a hero possessed of courage and intrepidity. Then only shall we all be able to enjoy true freedom.’ 

34: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Courage & Endurance”

The wellspring of courage and endurance in the face of unbridled power is generally a firm belief in the sanctity of ethical principles combined with a historical sense that despite all setbacks the condition of man is set on an ultimate course for both spiritual and material advancement. It is his capacity for self-improvement and self-redemption which most distinguishes man from the mere brute. 

35: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Burma & Peoples of the World”

The case for Burma is not just for one country. It is the case for all those who are suffering under authoritarian regimes. The sufferings of our people are the sufferings of all those whose human dignity is not protected by the law. I hope that in arguing the case for Burma, I shall be arguing the case for all peoples in the world who are suffering from the violation of human rights. 

36: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Dialogue”

If they(junta) really want dialogue they would be ready at any time. As long as they don’t want dialogue they will come up with some excuse and this is just one of the many.

37: Aung San Suu Kyi on “NLD’s stands on a Dialogue”

We(NLD) have done everything we can to try to bring about a dialogue that will help us find solutions to the problems of our country. It is the military regime that is opposed to dialogue. We would like the world to look clearly at what is happening and to see where the inflexibility really lies. The National League for Democracy represents the people of Burma and their desire for a fair, just, democratic government.

38: Aung San Suu Kyi on “People all over the world need to be informed”

“People all over the world need to be alerted to what is happening in Burma…unless they are informed of what is going on it will be difficult for them to voice their support for what we are doing. I think keeping lines of communications open is very, very important.”

39: Aung San Suu Kyi said “There is no way that we can resolve our economic problems without a political situation”

“In this day and age we cannot isolate any country. We cannot say that we are not going to interfere in the internal affairs of a country because it’s got nothing to do with us. It has something to do with everybody. Those who claim that they will not interfere in the internal affairs of Burma do not hesitate to be involved economically in Burma. As long as they are involved economically, how can they say that they are not interfering in the internal affairs of our country ? If they are prepared to engage economically with our country, then they must also be prepared to do what they can to help us resolve our political problems. There is no way that we can resolve our economic problems without a political situation.”

40: Aung San Suu Kyi on “A deliberate campaign of junta”

“I think the authorities are anxious to make sure the world does not get to hear about us or hear from us”. 

42: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Good governance”

At this time we would like our friends from all over the world to support us firmly. Everything that is done with regard to Burma should be done with a view to helping us to achieve good governance. Good governance means transparency, accountability, and respect for the people. Good governance means democratic government. 

43: Aung San Suu Kyi on “UN resolutions on Burma”

Since 1992, the United Nations General Assembly has been passing resolutions on the human rights situation in Burma. But resolutions are not enough. Resolutions should be implemented. We think it is time that the international community took a greater interest in getting the terms of the resolutions implemented. 

44: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Instability can spread”

Please do not forget that instability in one part of the world could spread very rapidly these days. 

45: Aung San Suu Kyi on “1990 Elections Results”

“To ignore the result of the 1990 elections is to have total disrespect for the people and is also an insult to the people.” 

46: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Prepare for the worst”

“Hope for the best and prepare for the worst” 

47: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Words alone are not OK”

It is not OK just to say that we support you with your mouths. You have to do it pragmatically. We are very much encouraged by the fact that people support us with action. 

48: Aung San Suu Kyi on “”There has to be a revolution of the spirit” 

Without a revolution of the spirit, the forces which produced the iniquities of the old order would continue to be operative, posing a constant threat to the process of reform and regeneration. It is not enough merely to call for freedom, democracy and human rights. There has to be a united determination to persevere in the struggle, to make sacrifices in the name of enduring truths, to resist the corrupting influences of desire, ill will, ignorance and fear. 

49: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Why junta should do the Dialogue” 

They(junta) should think of exchange of views and dialogue as an honorable and dignified way of bringing about change. Sometimes I think that this regime thinks that if they accept idea of dialogue with the opposition of negotiations they will be losing face, that this would be a disgraceful road to take. In fact, (it is) not. 

50: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Junta” 

I think this military regime is frightened of losing power. 

51: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Hope, Work & Struggle” 

I always say that you cannot hope without endeavour, you’ve got to work. You have no right to hope unless you are prepared to struggle for what you want. But I do believe that justice will prevail in the end.

52: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Genuine Unity”

We think that it is not only through genuine unity that we will be able to build up the future of our country. 

53: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Humanitarian Issues” 

When it comes to humanitarian issues, there is no question of difference of race, or difference of citizenship, or difference of religion.

54: Aung San Suu Kyi on “A peaceful settlement ” 

We do not want revenge, we do not think there is anything particularly honourable or admirable about seeking revenge, we want to find a peaceful settlement …we remain committed to dialogue. It may be difficult to get there, but we’re determined to get that. And we’re absolutely confident that we shall get that. 

55: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Everyone who support for freedom in Burma” 

We would like to thank all of you who have given us your sympathy, your moral support and your practical help. 

56: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Why are we working so hard to free our country?” 

Why are we working so hard to free our country? Is it not that we see democracy through a haze of optimism. We know that democracy is a jewel that must be polished constantly to maintain its luster. To prevent it from being damaged or stolen, democracy must be guarded and unremitting vigilance. 

57: Aung San Suu Kyi on “To build a nation that respects and cherishes human dignity” 

We are working so hard for freedom because only in a free Burma will we be able to build a nation that respects and cherishes human dignity. 

58: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Determined to realize JUSTICE in Burma” 

In a country like ours which is totally crushed by a military regime, justice is a dream. But it is a dream that we are determined to realize. This is why we are working for democracy in Burma. And this is why we ask the world to support our cause. There are those who say that nothing works. There are those who claim that the help of the international community is not going to make democratization come any earlier to Burma. This is not so. The help of the international community does make a difference. 

59: Aung San Suu Kyi on “The need for help from the international community” 

The greater the people desire democracy, the more frantic the military regime becomes to oppress them, to try to dissuade them from working for democracy; which is why the greater our peoples’ desire for democracy, the greater the need for help from the international community. 

60: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Political activity is considered a crime in Burma under junta” 

If you cannot say what you wish, then it means that you are not free, either as an individual or as a member of a political society. We in the National League for Democracy know better than most political parties what it is like to work in a situation where political activity is considered a crime. 

61: Aung San Suu Kyi on “We want a system whereby the people are allowed to judge” 

We want a system whereby the people are allowed to judge whether or not the government in power is actually working for the good of the nation or simply for the good of that government itself. 

62: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Junta’s hold on power” 

For the military regime, the most important thing is to keep their hold on power, not to lose their grip on power. In order to keep their grip on power they are prepared to sacrifice the future of our young people. We will become a house divided. We will become a nation made up of two classes, the military elite and the rest. This does not augur well either for the military or for the civilians. 

63: Aung San Suu Kyi on “The Burmese people of Burma” 

The Burmese people who constitute the majority in Burma also suffer from a grave lack of human rights. 

64: Aung San Suu Kyi on “Importance of UNITY among the people of Burma”

A nation can progress and prosper only when there is unity, and only when there is a general acceptance among the people that there is justice. So our first care is our people. We want to make sure that our people enjoy security, enjoy freedom and they enjoy the right to advance themselves.