Aung San Suu Kyi's World: Portraits of Burmese Dissidents and Activists

Working on a series originally entitled "Even Though I'm Free I Am Not," photographer James Mackay spent three years taking portraits of Burmese dissidents and democracy activists, including the Nobel laureate and famed Burmese democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi. In each photo, the subject lifts his or her hand in the classic Buddhist gesture of the abhaya mudra, a sign representing protection, peace and the dispelling of fear. Inscribed on their raised hands are the names of allies, friends, kindred spirits who were still in detention at the time the photo was taken.

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Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner, leader of the opposition party the NLD and Burma's democracy icon, spent more than 15 years under house arrest in her lakeside home and Insein prison. First detained in July 1989 for 6 years, she was put back under house arrest again from 1999 to 2002 and then finally again in May 2003 after the infamous Depayin incident where the military regime attempted to assassinate her. She was released from ... more
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner, leader of the opposition party the NLD and Burma's democracy icon, spent more than 15 years under house arrest in her lakeside home and Insein prison. First detained in July 1989 for 6 years, she was put back under house arrest again from 1999 to 2002 and then finally again in May 2003 after the infamous Depayin incident where the military regime attempted to assassinate her. She was released from her latest sentence in November 2010 and continues to work tirelessly to achieve democracy and national reconciliation in Burma in spite of constant threats and oppression from the authorities. Soe Min Min, a member of the NLD who was arrested in 2008 and sentenced to 8 years for praying for Aung San Suu Kyi's release whilst she was under house arrest. He was released from Insein prison under a presidential amnesty in January 2012. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net)

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