Time Asia Magazine: For her steadiness and her steadfast belief in the powers of democracy and peaceful protest, 40.4% of voters nominated Aung San Suu Kyi as Asia's Online Hero for 2004.
Hongkong-based Time Asia edition magazine Senior Editor Zoher Abdoolcarim said out of nearly a hundred thousand responses his magazine received for the online poll, 40.4% nominated for Aung San Suu Kyi, 35.9% for Malaysia's former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and 20.3% for Tibet's Spiritual leader Dalai Lama.
Mr. Zoher said, " I'm not surprised by this. She is a symbol of peaceful resistance worldwide…in the mould of Nelson Mandela or even Mahatama Gandhi." He noted since there is a strong lobby for Burma among Burmese exiles this may also be a factor in Aung San Suu kyi being nominated so widely.
Basically, Mr. Zoher said those who took part in the poll saw several things in her. "They see Aung San Suu Kyi as the rightful leader of the party, as being the rightful winner of the 1990 elections… denied victory, basically having the elections stolen. Second, they regard her as a symbol of peaceful resistance, third, those who nominated her yearn for change in Burma."
"Last two years ago, Time's inaugural Asian Heroes edition Aung San Suu Kyi was also nominated," said,Mr. Zoher. He added, "Earlier this year, she's been also named on the Time's list of 100 Most Influential People in the world."
Last year's Time Asia edition Online hero was also Burmese. Dr. Cynthia Maung, ethnic Karen who runs Maetaw Clinic in Thai-Burma border for Burmese refugees was nominated for her valuable commitment and dedication in social and health care for the needy.