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AFP: SPDC says "no difficulty" in S



Subject: AFP: SPDC says "no difficulty" in Suu Kyi returning

   Myanmar says "no difficulty" in Suu Kyi returning after visit
   (RECASTS with second statement)
   
   YANGON, March 26 (AFP) - Myanmar said Friday it "saw no difficulty" in
Aung 
San Suu Kyi returning to Yangon after any trip to Britain to say a final 
farewell to her terminally ill husband.
   Aides say the opposition leader, who is locked in a bitter political 
struggle with the government, fears she will be forced into exile if she 
leaves the country to see cancer-striken Michael Aris.
   Officials had previously said any decision on Aung San Suu Kyi's status 
would be taken when the need arose, but a statement issued here appeared to 
signal a slight shift in position.
   "The government of Myanmar sees no difficulty for Ms Suu Kyi in returning 
to Myanmar after her visit to see her husband believing the trip to be of a 
purely humanitarian and family concern," said a government statement.
   It was issued after Myanmar claimed earlier Friday that Aung San Suu Kyi 
ordered a government envoy out of her house following an abrupt discussion 
about her husband's request for a visa.
   British academic Aris wants to travel to Yangon to say goodbye to his
wife, 
but junta officials have so far stalled on the request.
   Military officer Colonel Than Tun visited the Nobel peace prize winner on 
Friday at her Yangon home to offer assistance and to discuss an "alternative" 
to Aris' plea, an earlier statement issued here said.
   "Regretfully, she refused the government's offer and the discussion 
abruptly ended with the officer being indicated to leave her residence," said 
the statement.
   A journey to Britain "would be more sensible and humane in the fulfilling 
of the husband's dying wish to see her in the remaining days before he enters 
the twilight of his existence," the statement said.
   Myanmar's government remained "sympathetic" to the visa request from Aris, 
but was "very concerned for him being a terminally ill patient in travelling 
strenuously halfway round the world to see his wife," it added.
   Western nations including the United States, Britain, France and Australia 
have called on the government to show compassion by granting the visa.
   Myanmar claims Aung San Suu Kyi has conspired with Western nations to 
manipulate her husband's illness for political gain.

   "The Aris family in England has publicly pleaded that Mr Michael Aris' 
illness 'be treated as a family matter, with compassion, and not used for 
political purposes,'" the statement read.
   "The government of Myanmar totally agrees with this," it said, turning the 
the Aris family's plea against Aung San Suu Kyi.
   Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won a landslide victory
in 
elections in 1990 but the government has refused to hand over power and has 
tried to crush party support.
   Michael Aris is critically ill after prostrate cancer spread to his spine 
and lungs, according to reports from Britain.
   He has made a number of visits to Myanmar since his wife, the daughter of 
independence hero Aung San, returned to the country in 1988 and emerged at
the 
head of the pro-democracy movement.
   He was last in Myanmar between December 18, 1995 and January 16, 1996 but 
several subsequent visa requests are believed to have been denied.


Thida (Thin Myat Thu)                 http://www.communique.no/dvb/
WEB editor                                    Tel: +47 22 41 41 43
Democratic Voice of Burma                     Fax: +47 22 41 39 29

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