Aung San Suu Kyi To Visit Oxford

Burmese pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi will be awarded an honorary degree on her first trip to Europe since 1988 by the University of Oxford. On 20 June, Ms Suu Kyi will receive an honorary doctorate in civil law, where she studied at St Hugh’s College from 1964 to 1967. The university first made the award in 1993, but because she was under house arrest imposed by Burma’s military government, from which the opposition leader was released only in 2010, she was prevented from receiving it in person until now. Her visit to the University will be her first since she left the UK in 1988.

In April, Aung San Suu Kyi was voted into the lower house of the Burmese parliament, representing the constituency of Kawhmu. Her party, the opposition National League for Democracy, won 43 of the 45 seats in the by-elections.

Ebba Lekvall, Co-President of the Oxford Burma Alliance, said: “We are excited to learn that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be visiting Oxford, and we are happy that she will be able to spend time with her family.”

Nora Godkin, the other Co-President of the society, added: “As Daw Suu has served as an inspiration for all the members of the Oxford Burma Alliance, we hope that we will be able to show her that Oxford students are committed to supporting Burma and the Burmese people on their journey towards democracy and freedom.” 

The 66 year-old graduated with a PPE degree in 1969 from St Hugh’s, where she is also an honorary fellow. Aung San Suu Kyi was issued her first passport in 20 years earlier this month. Besides visiting the UK, she will also receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on 16th June. She was awarded the prize in 1991, but was unable to receive it due to her house arrest. 

Ms Suu Kyi will receive the honour as part of the University’s annual Encaenia ceremony, which we at Oxford Royale Academy have detailed earlier.