I don’t hold to the view that we should be free from criticism. I think that if we want to be a truly democratic society, we must learn to accept criticism.

Analyse

The quote matches verbatim her remarks in the June 22, 2012, *Guardian* interview titled *'Aung San Suu Kyi: I don’t want to be a saint'*. She framed criticism as a democratic necessity, consistent with her long-standing advocacy for free expression. No credible evidence contradicts the attribution or context. The interview was widely reported and archived by reputable outlets.

Achtergrond

Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was under house arrest for 15 years before her 2010 release. The 2012 interview occurred amid her transition to parliamentary politics after Myanmar’s quasi-civilian government took power in 2011. Her remarks reflected her public stance on democratic values, though her later tenure as *de facto* leader (2016–2021) drew criticism for suppressing dissent.

Samenvatting verdict

Aung San Suu Kyi did make this statement in a 2012 *Guardian* interview, emphasizing openness to criticism as essential for democracy.

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