Terrorist Attack on May 30, 2003

In 2003, Aung San Suu Kyi made many trips around Burma, as she had an agreement with the authorities to do so. The National League for Democracy (NLD) women’s wing members also joined these tours. On every trip, Military Intelligence personnel (MI) and members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), a civilian organization under the military’s control, caused disturbances.

On May 30, 2003, roughly 5,000 people brutally attacked Aung San Suu Kyi and her motorcade near Kyi village, Depayin Township, Sagaing Division. They used many different weapons, including iron bars, bamboo shoots, bamboo shoots with sharp points and stones. Nyunt Nyunt, an eyewitness currently residing on the Thai-Burma border, describes her experience during the attack as follows.

“- my blouse was totally removed and I had to pull my sarong up quickly. While I was doing this, they tried to pull down my sarong, but they couldn't remove it as it was glued with the others' blood. I also used my arms to keep it up. I was beaten again with a bamboo rod.-“

The authorities arrested the victims of the attack - NLD members and NLD sympathizers. Aung San Suu Kyi was also arrested. Members of the women’s wing in the NLD collected signatures asking for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, NLD leaders and other NLD members. They sent the signed letter to the authorities. As a result, May Hnin Kyi, an elected MP responsible for the letter, was arrested three times.

The authorities have yet to arrest the perpetrators of the attack.