Why was Aung San Suu Kyi awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991?

Aung San Suu Kyi AC is a Burmese politician, diplomat, and author. Aung San Suu Kyi received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her valiant fight for democracy in Myanmar.

Alexander and Kim, her sons, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. Aung San Suu Kyi used the US$1.3 million prize money from the Nobel Peace Prize to establish a health and education trust for the Burmese people.

Aung San Suu Kyi chose nonviolence as a political tactic around this time, stating in 2007, “I do not hold to nonviolence for moral reasons, but for political and practical reasons.”

The decision of the Nobel Committee mentions: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 1991 to Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar Burma for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.

“Suu Kyi’s struggle is one of the most extraordinary examples of civil courage in Asia in recent decades. She has become an important symbol in the struggle against oppression”

“In awarding the Nobel Peace Prize for 1991 to Aung San Suu Kyi, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to honour this woman for her unflagging efforts and to show its support for the many people throughout the world who are striving to attain democracy, human rights, and ethnic conciliation by peaceful means.”