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Cathal Mcnaughton / Reuters
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi signs a book at the Nobel Institute after a meeting with the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo on Saturday.
Updated at 8:40 a.m ET: OSLO, Norway -- Myanmar opposition leader and international democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi finally accepted her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Saturday after spending a total of 15 years under house arrest.
In the speech, Suu Kyi said full political freedom in her country was still a long way off, and talked about the isolation she felt during the years under house arrest. She said the prize had "made me real once again … it had drawn attention to the struggle for democracy in Burma," according to Germany's Deutsche Welle.
Suu Kyi, the Oxford University-educated daughter of General Aung San, Myanmar's assassinated independence hero, also advocated caution about transformation in Myanmar, whose quasi-civilian government continues to hold political prisoners.
"Absolute peace in our world is an unattainable goal," Suu Kyi said in her acceptance speech during her first trip to Europe in nearly 25 years.
"Hostilities have not ceased in the far north; to the west, communal violence resulting in arson and murder were taking place just several days before I started out the journey that has brought me here today," she said.
Large crowds welcome Suu Kyi as she travels Thailand during world tour
"There still remain such prisoners in Burma. It is to be feared that because the best known detainees have been released, the remainder, the unknown ones, will be forgotten," Suu Kyi, 66, told a packed Oslo City Hall.
A day earlier, she arrived from Switzerland to a jubilant reception as dancing and chanting crowds filled Oslo's streets and showered her with flowers.
Suu Kyi never left Myanmar even during brief periods of freedom after 1989, afraid the military would not let back in.
Her sons, Kim and Alexander had accepted the Nobel prize on her behalf in 1991, with her husband Michael Aris also attending the ceremony. A year later Suu Kyi announced she would use the $1.3 million prize money to establish a health and education trust for Burmese people.
She was unable to be with Aris, an Oxford academic, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and died in Britain in 1999.
Earlier, Norwegian government leaders said they have eagerly awaited Saturday's speech at Oslo City Hall since Suu Kyi won the world's highest diplomatic honor in 1991. But Suu Kyi said she never doubted that she would travel one day to Oslo to give her honorific lecture.
"Yes of course, I always believed that. That's why I have always said that the first time I traveled abroad I would come to Norway," she said in answer to a reporter's question. "I never doubted that. Did you?"
Switzerland was the first stop on a planned two-week tour of Europe also taking in Ireland, Britain and France. The journey is her first in Europe since 1988, the year she left her husband and two young sons in England to visit her ill mother back home -- and became the focal point for the country's nascent democracy movement.
Before accepting the prize, a tired-looking, rarely smiling Suu Kyi appeared to be recovering from falling ill on Thursday.
"We are not at the end of the road, by no means, we are just starting out," she said on Friday.
She both warned that her country's political transformation was not irreversible and the military had to give up its excessive powers and rejected a suggestion that her aim was to dismantle the military.
"I have never thought that I was doing anything against the military, I've always said I want the military, the army to be an honorable, professional army that is respected by the people," Suu Kyi said at a press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg on Friday.
Myanmar refugees flee in rickety boats after sectarian clashes
"I fight against what is dangerous for the democratic process and the military having the kind of powers that they shouldn't have certainly endangers the democratic process," said Suu Kyi.
For the first time in nearly a quarter century, Myanmar's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has left her country for a journey overseas, first to Bangkok and later to Europe. NBC's Ian Williams reports.
Suu Kyi's 17-day European trip has been clouded by sectarian violence between Rakhine Buddhists and stateless Muslim Rohingyas, testing Myanmar's 15-month-old government.
On Friday, a fragile peace held in the wake of days of that has stoked nationalist fervor and displaced 30,000 people and killed 29 by government accounts.
The government has made peace and unity among Myanmar's many ethnic groups its mantra and has struck ceasefire deals with minority Karen, Shan, Mon and Chin rebels, among others, after decades of hostilities.
But there is entrenched, long-standing animosity between Rakhine Buddhists and around 800,000 Muslim Rohingyas, who mostly live in abject conditions and who still do not possess citizenship.
Reuters, The Associated Press and msnbc.com staff contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Muslim Rohingyas? Is this another problem with religion?
This prize used to have a very honorable meaning, then they gave one to Obama.
pity party at table 1 may be seated
NoSenseofScope, Please please stop whining. A minority won the Presidential election and a Nobel Peace prize. Don't you know that he was up for that award even before he was President?
Seriously, get over it. You sound like an itsy bitsy litte child who just likes to tantrum.
What's it like living life so bitter?
darbob
Pull your head out of obamas ass. He was nominated in 2009 just weeks after becoming president.
This year, the name of the U.S. president has been put forward by unidentified nominators, although he has been in office only a matter of weeks.
Just like MOST liberals, you do not have a clue what you are talking about.
He didn't do anything that warrented getting the nobel prize.
If you disagree, tell me what he had accomplished.
Nobel prize.............YAWN!!!!!!!
You know the libtards are upset when they use the name change insult. What a couple of blowhards.
U2Mac, As you say he was "nominated in 2009, just weeks after becomming President" -- Do you think, U2Mac, that the nominations are made on a whim? I will say it again, Obama was up for (ie, being considered) for that award BEFORE he was elected.
Please, remove your foot from your mouth and we can move on, or you can continue to be the whiney little child that you seem to wish to be,
There are ALWAYS problems with religions, ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, political and social diffferences. That is the human condition. I am comforted by the knowledge that a few people make tremendous sacrifices for their beliefs. Mr. Obama, whether you like him or not, share his beliefs or voted for him IS one of those people. Being elected president is a long, hard demanding haul. It costs a ton of money and there is NO gurantee of success. Like any other great undertaking, it demands respect...Suu Kyi gave her youth and very possibly from the way she looks presently, her very life for her country and its people. For all you haters: Look in the mirror. What have YOU done? I have had a very successful life through dedication and hard work but it does not approach the achievements of Ms Suu Kyi....Never will. I wish peace and happiness to her. Good Work. Thank You.
Why is Burma in the news so much lately? Did they find oil there?
She was always "real" and loved by the masses of people. Simply stifled and kept under house arrest by a dictatorship frightened of its own people. Sadly, its not the only place where the most popular and in tune with the people aren't voted into power, but rather are arrested. A government in fear of its own people SHOULD be in fear of them.
Oh geez. Another "UN'ist" is brought into the fold. Great just what we need right now, another socialist to hear for the next few weeks at least on this site!
While the world burns the UN'ist / Marxist / Communist / Socialist throw another party to honor themselves, these people are just as bad as the Hollywood crowd that Obama loves so much.
Here ya go "Flash". Please take a political science course or three....
Wow, Denver, Hard to know where to start. Burma is rich in natural resource, but has been under a military dictatorship for some time. Recent changes appear to indicate that Burma (Myranmar) will become more democratic, hence the interest.
Always a nice thing to see that the people have a voice.
Oil founda long time ago. China and India have been drooling over their oil, natural gas. virgin teak forests ,gems , gold, ect and making deals with the milatary goverment to get their paws on them. if they could have cleaned up the problems the karen, Shan ect. armies whose land is filthy with natural resoures.
They're just finally coming in from the cold. They already know there's oil there.
Why is it that in that part of the world, when there is political unrest, that Muslim's are always involved? Think about it...
Hmmm, could it be that in that part of the world, there are lots of muslims?
GAWD you people
111pet
Get an education
Myanmar (Burma) is a multi-religious country. There is no official state religion, but the government shows preference for Theravada Buddhism, the majority religion. [1] According to both the statistics published by the Burmese government and the CIA, it is practiced by 89% of the population,[2][3][4] especially among the Bamar, Rakhine, Shan, Mon, and Chinese.
The Nobel Peace Prize has been a total Joke since they gave it to a World Class Divider (Barrack Obama)
To bad the US has not changed more. Love the icon, I hope it goes away with your way of thinking. this is about Suu Kyi and about making changes that help make this country and other countries better. Obama is hated just like Jimmy Carter not the main stream and He is of African desent.
Totally agree Hobie One. Why would Barrack Obama be inserted into a story about a woman who suffered house arrest under a military dictatorship? Your icon Carl sort of would define some sort of obsession with Mr. Obama if you need a characature of him along with your comments on non-related articles.
KKKarl, you are an idiot. BOTH Nobel Prize winners deserved it. Shut up and please go away with the rest of the haters.
Carl- Pity Party at table 2 you may now be seated
I have to agree with Carl, to most rational thinking people, the Nobel Peace Prize has since lost it's level of importance by awarding it to a person who did absolutely nothing to deserve it (BO).
Additionally, I don't think Carl's icon is a caricature.
Lastly, as a "hater" & an obvious "idiot" yourself Tee, will you be going away with the others?
I have to agree with Carl here in that with this woman they did make a right choice but for the African American/Kenyian (with his misguided supporters) with no birth certificate I think they made the biggest mistake in history.
Though he is technically in keeping with the Nobel prize founder by using the most DYNAMITE on the planet to kill the most people since WW2 but of course to bring peace & good will to the world...........Obama style
tee
Using kkk is funny stuff. I understand liberals as dumb as you call Americans racist for not liking your idol. The problem is this, you are to stupid to use facts or cannot back up your arguement altogether so you throught out the race card. Shock
Tell us all why barack hussein obama deserved it.
Remember, think before you speak.
It seems Obama doesn't agree with you.
What's the difference between Suu Kyi and Barry Obama? She deserves the medal, he has never earned it! She's a great woman who's made sacrifices in the name of freedom, he would curtail freedom and increase government control of our lives. The prize isn't a joke because of 1 error!
Too bad you don't get it. You talk about
government control. I beat you wish the government had more control when the bailout started and before the banks and investment firms were deregulated. That was created by letting people in powerful place do the right thing for more than themselves. Go ahead trust them again. I think not, you should get use to it. Any part of our world that we don't put a watch dog in place, Is a bad thing. People do what is best for themselves not others first.
By the way how many more of us would have died if Obama was not in office?
An African American in the house, at the worst time in our economic history says a lot. Give it to African now can’t make any worse. Of course the whole thing was all Obama’s fault. LOL Open your eyes!!
"By the way how many more of us would have died if Obama was not in office?"
Really? That just proved your viewpoints null and void.
HobieOneKANOBIE: " An African American in the house, at the worst time in our economic history says a lot." In the House??? R U a RAPPER??? Yeh, it says a lot. It says OBAMA is at best a pompous, narcissistic, incompetent POTUS who only offers HIS Opinions, which have yet proven to be acceptable to the American Taxpayer, and in MOST cases, not even acceptable to his own Party. NEVER a SOLUTION..only a failed ideology...Now that says a hell of a lot.
EvaPeron
Not just one ! 1997- Steven (raise the price of gas ) Chu ; 2007- Al ( the sky is falling, the sky is falling ) Gore : 2009- Barack ( I haven't the slightest clue what I'm doing ) Obama
This woman deserves nothing more then our utmost respect for her unfailing fight for a democratic process in her country and around our world,,,,,
Agreed...How many of the "leaders" in this country would endure the suffering she has experienced for the love of their country??? None that I have ever seen. And PLEEEEAAAAAZZZZEEE....don't say OBOZO. His idea of suffering would be 10 minutes away from a microphone, a captive drooling audience, or an "Interview" of his ?????
Obama.
I'm tired of hearing about this lady. She looks like a man.
Wow, you are a true example of someone that has been spoiled by your freedoms.
Wow BLS,
You wouldn't even be breathing if you went through what Ms Kyi experienced. She is a national hero who wasn't allowed to be with her dying husband because of a brutal dictatorship which has strangled Myanmar. You are either a true loser or mentally ill.
If anyone is deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize, it's Suu Kyi.
But Spocks brother, Suu Kyi Yaki got robbed. Spock should split it with his brother.
Is that Spock?
Your comment alone makes you look like an idiot. No picture needed.
LMAO!! It's a rich Spock!! Oh god that one tops the day for me!
Oh course not, it's Sulu.
A courageous, consistent and committed woman. Watch out world hunger, you're next.
Yeh..r U gonna rob her and feed the world????
Nobel prize = $1,000,000. Ohhhh I bee able to bee ohh soooo happie feet tooo.
She earned and deserved her Nobel Peace Prize, unlike Mr. Obama who has disappointed and underperformed on the world stage , e.g. Gitmo.
I've been the Burma twice. The reverance for Suu Kyi, no matter how hard the junta tried to suppress it, was always churning just under the surface everywhere I went. Her legacy was kept alive by word of mouth for twenty years , in a nation where all media were either " monitored" or an instrument of the State. Burma would be an utterly failed state in disarray today were it not for the passive hope Suu Kyi gave her people even while in internal exile.
Her populist influence in the Southeast Asia region cannot be understated , at a time when the Chinese are trying to exert a great deal of expansionist pressure and Islamism was likewise surging in places like Malaysia. Suu Kyi's message buffered much of that. The next few years will be interesting in Indochina.
...wait a second...how come ovomit didn't get the Nobel prize for his works in Economics...he's such a brilliant business man and leader...O.K. the drugs are wearing off now...nevere mind
how come george w. didn't get the nobel prize for economics. his last month in office the economy shrunk 9 % a feat only surpassed by the last president who was a real businessman. a guy who did stop most of the spending. a true republican. herbert hoover. ever hear of hooverville? there were many after his election in 1928.
lets do that again and see if we get a differrent result! and a more deserving person of the nobel peace prize than aung san suu kyi isn't n the running.
you fleabaggers with your creative 4 th grade names for obama sure do know how to impress. you guys can't even see a weather report without getting your lame 2 cents worth political whining in.
How come we never invaded this milatary dictatorship?
Nobel Peace prize? Thats the same one they give POTUS for sending drones all over to kill terrorist and any poor bastards that happen to be in the general vicinty 17 women and children by the last count but we got two of those pesky al gulible terrorists. Increaseing the troop in afganastan as soon as he took office. That nobel peace prize ?
Wake up people its a game and we are not included in its play.
We are the GAME pieces.
“Truth hurts. Maybe not as much as jumping on a bicycle with a seat missing, but it hurts.”
-Naked Gun
"Banking was conceived in iniquity and was born in sin.
The Bankers own the earth. Take it away from them,
but leave them the power to create deposits,
and with the flick of the pen they will
create enough deposits to buy it back again.
However, take it away from them, and
all the great fortunes like mine
will disappear and they ought to disappear, for
this would be a happier and better world to live in.
But, if you wish to remain the slaves of Bankers
and pay the cost of your own slavery,
let them continue to create deposits."
--- Sir Josiah Stamp (1880-1941)
President of the Bank of England & 2nd richest man in Britain
Source: Speaking at the Commencement Address of the University of Texas in 1927
If shes walking next to the fascist Hillary the people of Mynamar should start leaving the counrty while they can Cause our brand of Democracy only works for Corporations and the government. We just obey
Is Nobel the same outfit that gives Obama, Gore and all the other Democrat Socialist leaders peace prizes when all they do is divide people and bring no peace?
Congratulations indeed, to all past American winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. All of America is proud of our collective victories. It's a shared success for the entire country!
Aung San Suu Kyi is a heroine of our time. She should be headlined on every newscast in every country that values democracy, especially in the USA. What do we have headlining newscasts? Some wild and crazy celebrity crossing Niagra Falls on a high wire for 25 minutes while this woman fought a good fight for free speech, fair voting, and economic freedom in her home country for more than 25 years and counting.
Anyone doubt that civilization is going to hell in a handbasket here in the USA? Just look at the news priorities.
Congratulations Aung San Suu Kyi, I have admired your courage and steadfast belief in democratic goverance for many years. I also admire Hillary Clinton who should have been our President. She is also a leader of the first order as is Aung San Suu Kyi.
Young woman all over the world should look upon these women as the best people to model their lives after.
Of course a fem-nazi makes an appearance here bringing one-sided gender politics into a discussion that should be about how this great individual represents human rights and the indomitable human spirit -- for ALL humans, male and female. It's not about race, religion, or gender, okay? (No matter what your women's studies professor indoctrinated you with).
Indeed.
Lets not confuse a LADY that has dedicated her life and lost so much to her beliefs with anyone else. I, for one, hold her in the highest regard. I don't consider myself anything, except someone that believes in personal freedom. I really and truely admire any one with convictions as strong as hers. Jim
Yes Jim,
A human being with the courage of their convictions...How about that!!!! Kudos and Thank You one and all..
I am very glad this women finally got the day she so long waited for, she earned it many times over.
But?
Sorry president Obama did not deserve to have this great award.
I don't give a damn what anyone says on this vine or anywhere else.
He did not earn this great prize sorry no way, no how, ever.
Glad she is finally free to see the world she wished for her own people.
Obama give her yours you fake want to be.
Since none of us were on the board who decides who gets the Nobel
peace prize who cares if you agree or don't agree with their choise.
it is what it is.
OH WONDERFUL! Another person inducted into the one world government admiration society! Since Yassar Arafat, Al Gore and Barry were presented the prize, (I won't say won which indicates you actually did something of note"), I have lost any respect for the prize. I would rather we not waste the news space on this joke of a story and concentrate on real world problems and real world solutions. I think Groucho said it best about these people, " I wouldn't want to belong to a club that would have me as a member".
Congratulations Suu Kyi. This moment in time long overdue.
Wow...politiics can ruin everything.....cherishable and serene.....this lady simply was doing the right thing and was vilified for 21 years. She did not even get a chance to do her dance with her husband...but life is bitter sweet.......IT always comes back around.
You rightwing nitwits. Let's start with some of this "Socialism" you yack about. Slavery was enforced by conservatives, child labor laws was fought against by conservatives, Jim Crow and segregation was fought for by conservatives, voting rights for women was fought against by conservatives, voting righs for minorities was fought against by conservatives, Social Security was fought against by conservatives, every progressive idea has been fought against by conservatives. When Eisenhower tried to get anything through the Congress for the Black Americans, the conservatives in the South fought against it and he my friend was a Republican. Most countries in the world have Socialism to some extent. You remember that China is a Communist government and the government owns 60% of the economy. Their economy is doing just fine. Germany has had socialized medicine for almost 150 years. They have stringent environmental laws and labor has a representative on theif corporate Boards. Their economy is fine and ours is in the toilet. I am ashamed to have so many jackasses who call themselves Americans. They are set to vote for a draft dodger and a coward. Except for two people in the House and Senate, none of the Republicans serving ever served a day in the Military. The majority of the Democrats have. Shut up and crawl back into your hole.
Good post Harry! Too bad the Rushcult will choose to think you are lying to them.
After Obama received a Nobel prize for ???, this thing has all of the gravitas of a trinket found in a Cracker Jack box. Who cares?
AMEN HARRY!!!
harry
We are talking about that pos obama, not every repub since the beginning of time. I understand that libs are to stupid to stay on topic but you went a bit wide with your rant.
When was obama in the military? Just wandering
"The majority of libs have served" wow
Do you lib pukes ever think about saying something you can back up with facts.
Who cares about your opinions.
Man, I believe most in the south were Democrats and the slaves were freed by a Republican you DUMB A S S! Martin luther King was also a republican and without the republicans there would be no civil rights in this country today GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ah, FlyNavy, you prove the oxymoron "military intelligence." And, you dishonor the men & women who serve honorably.
Hey Harry
I guess if Eisenhower was fighting for the rights of black Americans, and he was a republican, I guess your argument sort of washes out right? I don't know what circles you run in but my conservative friends want equal rights for all Americans--not special priveleges based on race or anything else. I'm glad you cited Germany but conveniently left out GREECE or SPAIN or a host of other failing socialist countries. Oh and I believe your beloved socialist Germany has started two world wars resulting in the deaths of millions. Wait, you socialists like that though--control the world population so mother earth isn't burdened by our polution. Oh and China? Really? Yes, their economy is fine but at what cost? Talk about human rights violations. Does your hypocrisy know no bounds at all? You, my friend, are the quintessential problem with America today.
Nice post! Harry is is a stupid SOB!
Very good post!