U.S. Department Of State [: U.S. UR (r)

[publisher@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Re: U.S. Department Of State [: U.S. URGES BURMA TO GIVE VISA TO

HUSBAND 
OF RIGHTS ACTIVIST ]
To: Julien Moe <moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0
X-Sender: strider@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Julien: I have no idea if there has been a cause and effect but
"newsforum.com" has been featuring this story as its "Issue of the Week"
and it is getting some attention in Washington and London.  coggins

Julien Moe wrote:

> 19 March 1999
>
> TEXT: U.S. URGES BURMA TO GIVE VISA TO HUSBAND OF RIGHTS ACTIVIST
>
> (State Dept. Mar. 18 statement by James Foley)  (370)
>
> Washington -- The United States says Burma should issue a visa for Dr.
> Michael Aris.
>
> Aris, the husband of Burmese Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, is
> gravely ill in Britain. He wants to go to Burma to be with his wife,
> the noted human rights and democracy advocate.
>
> The Rangoon regime until now has not issued a visa that would permit
> him to enter that country.
>
> "Denying Dr. Aris a visa to visit his wife, particularly under these
> tragic circumstances, demonstrates a complete lack of compassion,"

> U.S. Department of State Deputy Spokesman James Foley said in a March
> 18 statement.
>
> The United States, Foley added, is working "to impress upon the regime
> in Burma the importance of responding positively and urgently to this
> humanitarian situation."
>
> Following is the text of the statement:
>
> (begin text)
>
> U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
>
> Office of the Spokesman
>
> For Immediate Release March 18, 1999
> 99/232
>
> STATEMENT BY JAMES B. FOLEY, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN
>
> BURMA - VISA FOR DR. MICHAEL ARIS
>
> We understand that Dr. Michael Aris, the husband of Nobel Laureate
> Aung San Suu Kyi, is seriously ill. This is a tragic development for
> Dr. Aris, Aung San Suu Kyi and their family. They have made tremendous
> personal sacrifices over the past decade in supporting Aung San Suu
> Kyi's efforts to bring about democracy and respect for human rights in
> Burma.
>
> We understand that Burmese authorities have to date not granted Dr.
> Aris a visa to visit Aung San Suu Kyi. We urge the Burmese authorities
> to make a humanitarian gesture and permit Dr. Aris to visit his wife
> before his illness worsens.
>
> We have worked closely with concerned governments, and through the
> United Nations, to impress upon the regime in Burma the importance of
> responding positively and urgently to this humanitarian situation.
> Denying Dr. Aris a visa to visit his wife, particularly under these
> tragic circumstances, demonstrates a complete lack of compassion. We
> will continue our efforts to convince the regime to act appropriately
> and issue the visa.
>
> (end text)