The first recipient of the Oxi Day Battle of Crete Award, Aung San Suu Kyi, made history yesterday as she was elected to parliament in her country of Burma.

This Nobel laureate, Congressional Gold Medal winner and modern-day David versus Goliath for democracy and freedom became one of the world’s most prominent prisoners of conscience as she said “no!” to Burma’s ruthless military rule.

However, after almost 22 years under house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi will now take public office for the first time and lead a bloc of lawmakers from her National League for Democracy party in Burma’s military-dominated Parliament.  Her supporters hope this triumph will represent a major turning point in the nation’s transition from military rule to a more democratic government.

“The Washington Oxi Day Foundation congratulates Aung San Suu Kyi for her tremendous courage and decades-long determination that resulted in yesterday’s landmark election that will hopefully change forever the course of her country’s history and create a better future for Burma’s 60 million people,” said Andrew Manatos, Founder and President of the Washington Oxi Day Foundation.

In her acceptance speech at the First Annual Washington Oxi Day Celebration, Aung San Suu Kyi spoke about the Oxi Day spirit and standing up to injustice by saying “Oxi” or “No”. She said:

“Sometimes, for the long term good, we have to make the decision to say no. And because of all those people who have said no to injustice, no to unreason, no to cruelty, no to revenge, we are now where we are. We have made progress along the road of civilization…Because of the many heroes of the past who have decided to say no… I hope that this no reverberating all over the world will be not a negative, but a positive force for good and for happiness of all people.”

She also spoke about how she was inspired by the Greeks in her own struggle for democracy in Burma.

“Ever since I was a little girl, I had lots of romantic dreams about Greece, and the courage of the Greeks during Second World War was something in which I took pride as I would with my very own people. In fact, in a way, we are all the same people because concepts of democracy and heroism have come to us from Greece.”

The Washington Oxi Day Foundation presented its First Annual Oxi Day Battle of Crete Award to Aung San Suu Kyi on October 27, 2011 at a Black Tie Dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington in recognition of her commitment to the spread of democracy in Burma and around the world. The Oxi Day Battle of Crete Award recognizes a woman who took courageous action in an effort to protect or acquire freedom and democracy. Aung San Suu Kyi, who was not able to attend the ceremony due to political constraints, accepted the award via video message.

To see a video of her acceptance speech for the 2011 Oxi Day Battle of Crete Award, click here.

For more details on the upcoming Second Annual Washington Oxi Day Celebration on October 24-25, 2012, click here.