In year 2000, U2 received the Freedom of Dublin, together  with Burma democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who wasn't able to attend the cerimony because her government could have denied her the right to go back to her  Country, had she left  it. Her son Kim was there, representing her.
U2, who already knew about the woman who symbolizes the struggle of Burma's people to be free, didn't waste the inspiration the moment was providing.
The result was a song  "Walk on" that is to "All that you can leave behind", what "Pride" is  to "The Unforgettable Fire" Well, it's even more : in fact theBurmese military junta banned the song from being played in Burma.
The day i heard  the news about  the ban, at first  i cried with rage; but then i saw the wonderful sides of  the news:music, poetry are still a threat to dictators (what better award than this could U2 ever dream of winning "the Scare dictators stiff  award"), and the burmese  junta must be really feeling  the  breath of  democracy on their neck. So, what's the story behind this song, what's the story behind this incredibly brave woman and her  beleaguered Country?
Burma was a british colony that achieved independence in 1948, becoming a parliamentary democracy that survived, even among ethnic strife, until 1962 when a military-dominated regime took over and held power till this day, through torture and other human rights abuses. Its isolationist policy led to  economic deterioration and popular discontent.
Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of Burma independence  hero General Aung San, who was assassinated in 1947, six months before independence, when she was 2 years old.
After living for some time in India, in 1964 she went to Oxford university  where she studied  philosophy, politics and  eeconomics  and where  she  met her  future husband, Michael Aris.
They married in 1972 and had two children, Alexander and Kim. In 1988, while Burma was in political turmoil, she returned to Rangoon, to look after her ill  mother.
It was a  time  when people were taking to  the streets demanding democracy. The government responded by having the  soldiers killing thousands of unarmed protesters.
Aung San Suu Kyi took her stand, in a speech in Rangoon on Aug, 26th, 1988 she said "i cannot, as my father's daughter remain indifferent to all that is going on" . What was going on was -in her words- Burma's second struggle for independence. She became the leader of the revolt against the dictator general Ne Win. Inspired by Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi, she called for peaceful democratiic reform and free election.
On sept 18,1988 the Army regained control, after brutally crashing demostrations.
The military Junta (SLORC State Law and Order Restoration Council) called national election in May 1990. Those were overwhelmingly won by NLD (National  League for Democracy), Aung 
San Suu Kyi's party, despite the  fact that she was under house arrest and had been disqualified from standing. The military refused to hand over power, claiming that the  election had only been for a constituent assembly. Since then, the military have ruled  50 million people by fear, through an army of  400,000 soldiers (despite the lack of external enemies the military spending represents 40% of Burma's public sector spending), systematically using slave labour, intimidating opposition members.
Amnesty International reports that "torture has become an institution" in Burma.
Although Burma signed  several international human rights  treaties, there is no freedom of expression, child labour (and military enrolment) is widely used and detention without  trial is  customary. Not only freedom of association and assembly are denied, but  also labour unions are not allowed and religious  repression is practised. After many years under house arrest,  during  which  Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the  Nobel Peace Prize, she was released in 1995, only to be put under  house arrest again in 2000 when she  defied travel restrictions.
Because of travel restriction in 1999 she could not go and see her dying husband whom she hadn't seen for three  years, nor  could she attend  his  funeral  for fear of  not being  allowed back in her  Country. In May 2002, she was  released unconditionally. Her release is  a crucial step towards democracy in burma, but it is just  the  beginning. The international pressure which has  been a clue to  bringing  the military junta to negotiate  with Aung San Suu Kyi must  not  be  eased until  the  democratic process is irreversible. Throughout the years the light of hope has been kept bright and alive by such organisations as the Burma Campaign UK which has ceaselessly worked to raise public awareness of issues relating to  Burma, pressing for sanctions and discouragment of trade and investment.
We have asked John Jackson, director  of  BCUK some questions:

Q-Has the human rights situation in Burma improved since the release of 
Aung San Suu Kyi?
A- If anything the Human Rights situation in Burma is as bad as ever. Recent reports of widespread and systematic rape being used as a weapon of war against ethnic minority women by the Burmese army have alarmed the international community. Villages are being destroyed and thousands of refugees flee Burma each month. There have also been new arrests of political prisoners.

Q-Is there a transition programme from dictatorship to democracy under way?
A-NO. It seems pretty clear that the military have attempted some cosmetic changes in  an attempt to reduce the international pressure against it. Talks between Aung San Suu Kyi and the regime have taken place over the last two years, but have not moved on to substantive political issues. And at the moment the talks have stalled.

Q-Have other political prisoners been released?
A- There has been a slow trickle of releases. At the current rate of release, together with the new arrests that are taking place, it will take many years to release all of the 1,300 political prisoners in Burma.

Q-Has your course of action been affected by Aung San Suu Kyi's release? If so, what are the new challenges ahead?
A- Our course of action remains exactly the same. The policies of the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi remain the same. Foreign companies should not do business in Burma, and our governments should impose an investment ban on Burma.

Q-Apart from the day when Aung San Suu Kyi was released, what has been your 
best day at BCUK?
A- Our two recent victories, first when Triumph International pulled out of Burma in January, and secondly this September when Premier Oil pulled out after a year of campaigning by BCUK.But we've alse really enjoyed our work with MTV, both at MTV day in Bologna 
where the Boycott Kappa campaign gained a lot of publicity, but also with the Whiispering Freedom video produced by MTV with stars such as Bono, Mary J Blige, Lenny Kravitz, Macey Gray, Pierce Brosnan and many others.

Q-What can a U2 fan do, in order to help Burma walk on towards democracy?
A-Please join up and support the campaign for democracy in Burma wherever you may live. If you live in Italy, join the Boycott Kappa campaign, see the Burma Campaign website whic explains more.You are voters, you are consumers, you are citizens, you can influence your 
politicians, your companies and your media. As Aung San Suu Kyi says "Please use your liberty to promote ours"

Burma's long struggle for freedom is far from over and we can help Aung San 
Suu Kyi and her people walk on.

October 2002 
                                          Marina Caranta Armanini
Note:
my sources are:
-Aung San Suu Kyi. Freedom from fear and other writings. Penguin books 1991
-www.burmacampaign.org.uk (from which i have assembled most of the 
information reported here)
-www.amnesty.org and AI bulletins over the years.