Summer Issue, 2012

In recognition of Aung San Suu Kyi’s commitment to the non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights, The University of Hong Kong bestowed upon her a degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa at its 186th Congregation on March 15, 2012. “Laws concern us in many ways, not just the making of laws, but the administration of laws,” she told the assembled audience by video link. “We are, at the moment, thinking of laws in many ways, laws as part of the legislative process, laws as part of the judicial process.” “Only with a strong, independent, honest judiciary, and a strong, independent legislature that truly reflects the will of the people, will we be able to look on laws as a protective body for our people. That is why I am so honoured to be awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws,” she said. In presenting her to the congregation, Professor Michael Wilkinson of HKU’s Faculty of Law said, “Daw Suu’s influence has been and remains truly global. She is an inspiration to us all.” At the conferral, Daw Suu said she hopes to visit HKU in person in the near future, and lauded HKU’s ongoing support for the Myanmar people. “I will be able to come to you, and be part of your campus life, for perhaps just a very short period,” she said. “But even a short period, even a matter of days, or even a matter of hours, would mean a great deal to me, as you have done so much to help the cause of democracy in Burma, simply by your interest and your enthusiastic support.” Aung San Suu Kyi was a key figure in forming the pro- democracy party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), in the late 1980s. She was already under house arrest by Burma’s military regime when her party won the 1990 general election in a landslide victory, and the ruling generals never allowed the NLD to take power. By the time of her release in November 2010, she had spent a total of 15 years under house arrest. She had also been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1991. “... you (HKU) have done so much to help the cause of democracy in Burma...” “People should not be categorised as good or evil, wise or stupid. It would be much more sensible to divide them simply into learners and non-learners. The highest form of learning would be that which makes us caring and responsible citizens of this world, and equips us with the intellectual means necessary to translate our concerns into specific deeds.” Photo courtesy: Reuters/OTHK HKU’s Centenary Distinguished Lecture http://www.hku.hk/socsc/assk/ 4