Ko Ko Lay, an exiled Burmese activist currently residing in the United States, spoke to an audience of approximately 30 students and guests in the Lurias room of the Hassenfeld Conference Center about the conflict in his home country and the steps that are being taken to find a resolution. Lay was one of the student leaders who organized an uprising in Burma against the military-dominated Socialist Program Party on August 8, 1988, known as the 8.8.88 Revolution. He was invited by the Southeast Asian Club as part of a weeklong promotional program for the group, which also received support from the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life and the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance for the event.

"We believed it was our duty [to revolt]," Lay said during his speech. "It was time to change, but the regime kept down the movement."

On September 18 of that same year, the Burmese military ended the popular revolution through brute force, killing more than 3,000 students and civilians in the process. Students leaders like Lay were either persecuted or fled the country.

"So many of my friends-the other leaders-have been in solitary and will stay there for the rest of their lives," Lay said. "If I go back, I will be jailed for life."

Lay also spoke about Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Laureate and leader of the non-violent movement for human rights and democracy in Burma who was put under house arrest in May 1990 after the National League for Democracy won an election that would have made Suu Kyi the prime minister. Instead, the militaristic regime intervened and reassumed power.

After the military quelled the 1988 uprising, the organization split into two segments, an inside group and an outside group. Lay is part of the latter, a system of leaders and activists working to educate the world about the movement.

"We have a student army ready to fight back, made up of more than 10,000 students, but it is my job to try to make sure we don't need to use militaristic tactics," Lay said.

Lay is also a U.S. Congressional intern and speaks about the situation in Burma with U.S. representatives. He said the U.S. should put pressure on China to stop aiding the Burmese government and on the U.N. Secretary to take peaceful actions.

"We want to find a peaceful solution and effective solution," he said.

Lay travels to various college campuses to speak to students about the conflict. His recent trips have included the University of California at Berkley and San Francisco State University, where he is currently working on his Master's Degree in Social Change Design and Conflict Resolution.

"It is my responsibility to study for my country," Lay said. "We must use education to better our own world."

Lay cited technology as a necessary resource and said the reason the conflict in Burma is not as widely known as those in other regions is due to a lack of communication. He now works as the secretary of information for his activist organization.

SEAC co-President Kayla Sotomil '10 said the group invited Lay as part of an effort to spread awareness about Southeast Asian countries.

"We have the basic facts [about the situation in Burma], but we wanted him to share his experiences so we could relate on a more personal level," said Krystal Khine '10, the other SEAC co-President and a native of Burma.

In an interview after his speech, Lay explained his motivation behind speaking on college campuses.

"Who is going to solve our problems?" Lay asked. "The youth of this world possesses the future. That is why I speak at universities.