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General Aung San is assassinated
Aung San Suu Kyi's father, General Aung San, is assassinated when Suu Kyi was only two years old. It was six months before Myanmar becomes independent -
Suu Kyi declares her support for a revolt against General Ne Win.
Suu Kyi returns to Myanmar from US to look after her mother, who has fallen ill. Myanmar is in the midst of a revolution, as a protest against General Ne Win and his military soldiers. On August 26, 1988, Suu Kyi delivers a speech declaring her support for the revolution. -
Secretary-General of the National League for Democracy.
On September 24, 1988, the National League for Democracy (or NLD) forms and Suu Kyi serves as the Secretary-General. The NLD pursues a policy of non-violence and civil disobedience. A policy is inspired by the campaigns of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. Suu Kyi travels throughout Myanmar, giving speeches and calling for peaceful democratic reform. -
Placed under house arrest.
Suu Kyi is placed under house arrest at her home in Yangon because she challenged the military's prohibition by giving democracy speeches. The government claims she can go free if she agrees to leave the country, but Suu Kyi refuses to do so until they releases Myanmar to a civilian government and frees political prisoners. She is released in July 10, 1995. -
Placed under house arrest for the second time.
Even though Suu Kyi was put under house arrest she continues to fight for democracy, founding a representative committee in 1998. The military junta places her under house arrest for the second time on September 23, 2000, officially for violating travel restrictions. She is released on May 6, 2002 -
Placed under house arrest for the third time.
After the NLD and pro-government demonstrators clash in 2003, Suu Kyi is placed under house arrest for the third time on May 6, 2003. However, the international community calls for her release throughout her imprisonment, and the government relaxes the conditions of her house arrest. But before her imprisonment ends, she is sentenced to a further 18 months. That is most likely to prevent Suu Kyi from participating in parliamentary elections. -
Suu Kyi wins a seat in parliament.
A series of election laws in 2010 prohibit Suu Kyi from running and the NLD refuses to register. This leads to a disbanding of NLD. The NLD re-registers as a political party in November 2011, and after a campaign, Suu Kyi wins a seat in parliament on April 1, 2012. Her party wins 43 of the 45 seats contested in the election. On May 2, 2012, Suu Kyi officially takes office, becoming the leader of the opposition.