In December 1991, Alexander Aris, the son of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese democracy activist imprisoned by the junta in Rangoon, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. Awarded the prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee "for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights", she was unable to accept it in person. The following are excerpts from what Alexander said:
". . . she would begin by saying that she accepts the Nobel Prize for Peace not in her own name but in the name of all the people of Burma. She would say that this prize belongs not to her but to all those men, women and children who, even as I speak, continue to sacrifice their wellbeing, their freedom and their lives in pursuit of a democratic Burma. Theirs is the prize and theirs will be the eventual victory in Burma's long struggle for peace, freedom and democracy . . .
". . . no one must underestimate [their] plight. The plight of those in the countryside and towns, living in poverty and destitution, those in prison, battered and tortured; the plight of the young people, the hope of Burma, dying of malaria in the jungles to which they have fled; that of the Buddhist monks, beaten and dishonoured.
"Nor should we forget the many senior and highly respected leaders besides my mother who are all incarcerated . . . "We must also remember that the lonely struggle taking place in a heavily guarded compound in Rangoon is part of the much larger struggle, worldwide, for the emancipation of the human spirit from political tyranny and psychological subjection . . .
"[The military dictatorship] has through almost 30 years of misrule reduced the once prosperous 'Golden Land' of Burma to one of the world's most economically destitute nations. In their heart of hearts even those in power now in Rangoon must know that their eventual fate will be that of all totalitarian regimes who seek to impose their authority through fear, repression and hatred . . .
"The example of those nations which have successfully achieved democracy holds out an important message to the Burmese people; that, in the last resort, through the sheer economic unworkability of totalitarianism this present regime will be swept away. And today in the face of rising inflation, a mismanaged economy and near worthless kyat, the Burmese government is undoubtedly reaping as it has sown. I know that within the military government there are those to whom the present policies of fear and repression are abhorrent, violating as they do the most sacred principles of Burma's Buddhist heritage.
"It is my profoundest wish that these elements for moderation and reconciliation among those now in authority may make their sentiments felt in Burma's hour of deepest need.
"My mother is often described as a political dissident who strives by peaceful means for democratic change. We should remember that her quest is basically spiritual.
"As she has said: 'the quintessential revolution is that of the spirit', and she has written of the 'essential spiritual aims' of the struggle . . .
"To live the full life one must have the courage to bear the responsibility of the needs of others . . . one must want to bear this responsibility . . . Buddhism, the foundation of traditional Burmese culture, places the greatest value on man, who alone of all beings can achieve the supreme state of Buddhahood.
"Each man has in him the potential to realise the truth through his own will and endeavour and to help others to realise it.
"Finally she says, 'the quest for democracy in Burma is the struggle of a people to live whole, meaningful lives as free and equal members of the world community.
" It is part of the unceasing human endeavour to prove that the spirit of man can transcend the flaws of his nature'."
The full text may be read at: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1991/kyi-acceptance.html