Documentary Galleries: Southeast Asia

Asia, especially South East Asia, is my favorite part of the world to work in. It is my years of living and working among these Buddhist cultures of Asia; Laos, Nepal, Japan, India, Cambodia, Thailand, Bhutan, Burma and Tibet that influenced me to discover the human connection within all of us.

When I first met Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, she had been under house arrest for six years in Rangoon. It was by sheer luck that two days later I happened to be in Rangoon when she was temporarily released and I was invited to come over and celebrate the New Year holiday with their family.

I was granted my interview and ushered into an enclosed room, where I waited in the stifling heat. The room was devoid of furniture because Aung San Suu Kyi had sold it off piece by piece rather than be supported by her captors. For years she hadn’t even had electricity. Aung San Suu Kyi emerged looking fresh, without a bead of perspiration on her brow, fresh jasmine flowers in her hair, wearing a lavender-colored sarong. She had the sniffles and even her purple hanky was color coordinated.

She shook my hand and seated herself regally, with absolutely ramrod-straight posture. Her youthful appearance and diminutive stature belied her fifty-one years. Despite her size her presence was immense, and seemed to encompass the whole room. I later observed that she managed the same self-composure even when among a huge crowd.

With a perfect English accent, she answered my questions articulately and at great length. With great inelligence and insight the dignified Aung San Suu Kyi was serious about her demands and desires as she related her significant messages to the world, but I noticed that her sense of humor and ability to laugh was never far behind.

"You've really given up a large portion of your personal life for your politics. Is it difficult? I wonder, do you ever feel alone?" I asked her at one point.

"No, I worry about my sons of course, as is only natural, but I do not feel alone because there are so many of us in the struggle together," she told me. "I think it is difficult to feel alone in a situation like this, the very fact that we are subjected to so much injustice and persecution; it gives us a great sense of solidarity."

Many factors have contributed to my inner strength, such as my Buddhist faith. Also, my father was a major influence on me. As are my colleagues surrounding me who are so unafraid. But many people have stood up to adversity and come out stronger for it in the end. Certainly I was exposed to many attacks, but many others are just as dedicated and have had to put up with much physical hardship. It depends how far you are prepared to go."

Shortly after I left Burma, her secretary was arrested and Aung San Suu Kyi was placed back under house arrest. Eleven years later she still remains a prisoner in her own home. She is someone who continues to impress me with her indomitable spirit.