Norway Keeps Aung San Suu Kyi’s Nobel Peace Prize on the Books
After the United Nations put the spotlight on Myanmar’s brutal military campaign in Rakhine State—threatening to label it a genocidal crime—the Nobel Committee in Norway decided not to yank the Peace Prize from Aung San Suu Kyi’s trophy shelf.
What the UN Found
- In a report published Monday, UN investigators accused the Myanmar army of mass killings and gang rapes, asserting they were carried out with “genocidal intent.”
- The report calls for the commander‑in‑chief and five senior generals to face prosecution under international law for the gravest offenses.
Aung San Suu Kyi: A 1991 Awardee
She won the Nobel Peace Prize back in 1991 after years of tirelessly fighting for democracy in Myanmar. Yet critics say she’s been silent amid the army’s crackdown on the Rohingya people.
Norway’s Stance
Olav Njoelstad, the committee’s secretary, reminded everyone that the prize is a snapshot of past deeds, not a current watchdog:
“The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded for achievements of the past. Aung San Suu Kyi earned it for her fight for democracy up to 1991,” he said.
He added that the rules governing Nobel awards bar the Committee from withdrawing a prize once it’s been handed out.
Eye‑Opening Facts About the Committee
- The Norwegian Nobel Committee is made up of five members, many of whom served as politicians or academics.
- Each member mirrors a different force in Norway’s Parliament, ensuring a balanced perspective.
- All other Nobel prizes—Physics, Chemistry, Literature, etc.—are actually awarded in Sweden.
Past Comments on Aung San Suu Kyi
Last year, former chair Berit Reiss‑Andersen made it clear: “We won’t strip the award after criticism of Aung San Suu Kyi’s role in the Rohingya crisis.”
In a TV interview, she added, “It’s not our job to oversee or censor what a laureate does after the prize has been won. The laureates themselves must protect their own reputations.”
Bottom Line
While the UN report paints a grim picture of Myanmar’s military, the Norwegian Nobel Committee remains resolute that the 1991 Peace Prize stays as a timeless reminder of Aung San Suu Kyi’s earlier struggle for freedom.
