PDP 7- Speech to a Mass Rally at Schwedagon Pagoda

Author Bio: The author Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese politician, diplomat, and author. She was the First and incumbent State Counsellor and a leader of the National League of Democracy. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 and was born and lived in Myanmar. She was a vocal person who protested and spoke for democracy and human right issues. She wants what is best for her country, which she believes is a democratic government.

Date/Context: This document relates to what we discuss in class by having a country who disagrees and dislikes their government and also the protests and rallies. In class we discussed many countries who dislike their government. Also we have discussed countries who have switched to a democracy because they feel that it is a better government for them. We have also discussed in class other protest leaders. One of these was Mohandas Ali, he wanted equal rights and peace and justice for everyone. He relates to Aung San Suu Kyi because she also wanted what was right for everyone.

Summary: In this speech, the speaker is focusing on union of the people and achieving a democratic government. The main focus of the speech was achieving a democracy. Kyi also often refers to her father in the speech. I think that she does this because he was a well-known man who lead many successful protests. Kyi talks about how the people need to unite if they support her and fight for a democratic government. She discusses how poor the current government and how scary and dangerous the politics are. She says that even her father does not wish to get involved with the politics. At the end of the speech she gives a list of demands.

Key Quotation: “The President, Dr Maung Maung, has said that he is calling an emergency party congress to decide whether there should be a national referendum. So far as I am concerned I do not think it is necessary to have this referendum. The entire nation’s desires and aspirations are very clear. There can be no doubt that everybody wants a multi-party democratic system of government. It is the duty of the present government to bring about such a system as soon as possible.”