TRINITY COLLEGE:NOBEL Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded an honorary degree by Trinity College Dublin last night.
She received her doctor in laws degree at a special ceremony at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin. It followed Amnesty International Ireland’s Electric Burma Concert in her honour.
The oration at the degree ceremony was delivered in Latin by the public orator, Prof Anna Chahoud. In it, she spoke of Ms Suu Kyi’s “unbroken spirit” and resistance in the face of autocracy.
“We are overjoyed to greet you, Aung San Suu Kyi, chair of the Burmese National League for Democracy,” she said.“The true child of oriental wisdom, you were nourished by love and loyalty and raised in the peaceful ways of a time-honoured tradition; in your unbound respect for all that is human, you embraced the study of our own humanities at Oxford.
“The day came – and how deeply mindful of your heroic father were you then – when your soft voice spoke in dissent against autocracy, in defence of your people, in the face of extreme danger.
“Not once did you harden your voice or your heart, as one who firmly believes in non-violence: the strength of your revolution lies in the novelty of the militants – wholly unarmed human beings.
“Here is a truly unbroken spirit, calm and compassionate. When you urge us to search for inner freedom, while liberty and life itself are at stake, you are no theorist; for abstract doctrine, with no regard for the suffering multitude of human needs, is not wisdom, it is perverse indifference.
“The world knows your forces are armed with justice, courage and perseverance, with no other authority than free-will, sense of responsibility and dedication. No achievement is more deserving of the honours – the Nobel Peace Prize among them – that have been rightfully bestowed on you.”