VOA on Michael Aris Death

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=3/27/99

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-247266

TITLE=BURMA / ARIS DEATH (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=GERALDINE CARROLL

DATELINE=BANGKOK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  MICHAEL ARIS, THE HUSBAND OF BURMA'S PRO-DEMOCRACY 

LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, HAS DIED IN BRITAIN FROM CANCER.  MR.  

ARIS HAD REQUESTED A VISA TO VISIT HIS WIFE IN RANGOON, BUT WAS 

DENIED ONE BY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT THERE.  GERALDINE CARROLL 

REPORTS. 


TEXT:  AUNG SAN SUU KYI ISSUED A STATEMENT AFTER BEING TOLD OF 

HER HUSBAND'S DEATH SAYING SHE WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD A 

WONDERFUL HUSBAND WHO HAD GIVEN HER ALL THE UNDERSTANDING SHE 

REQUIRED.


ON BEHALF OF HER TWO SONS, SHE ALSO THANKED ALL THOSE AROUND THE 

WORLD WHO HAD SHOWN LOVE AND SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND SUPPORTED

HER HUSBAND DURING HIS ILLNESS.


BURMA'S MILITARY LEADERS DENIED MR. ARIS A VISA, SAYING IT WOULD 

BE MORE HUMANE FOR AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO TRAVEL TO BRITAIN TO SEE 

HIM.  


THE SITUATION PLACED AUNG SAN SUU KYI IN ONE OF HER TOUGHEST 

PERSONAL DILEMMAS SINCE SHE EMERGED AS AN ICON OF DEMOCRACY IN 

BURMA A DECADE AGO.  AIDES TO AUNG SAN SUU KYI SAYS SHE FEARED 

SHE WOULD  NOT  BE ALLOWED BACK INTO THE COUNTRY IF SHE HAD GONE 

TO BRITAIN TO SEE HER DYING HUSBAND.


JUST FRIDAY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT ASSURED THE NOBEL LAUREATE 

SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO RETURN TO BURMA IF SHE WERE TO VISIT HIM.  

BUT AN OFFICIAL WHO MET AUNG SAN SUU KYI ON FRIDAY SAYS SHE 

REJECTED THE OFFER.


SUPPORTERS OF MS. SUU KYI SAY SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSCIOUS OF 

THE PERSONAL SACRIFICES REQUIRED BY HER POLITICAL ROLE.  


                          /// OPT /// 


MR ARIS MADE A NUMBER OF VISITS TO RANGOON AFTER HIS WIFE 

RETURNED TO BURMA IN 1988 -- BUT HAD NOT SEEN HIS WIFE IN SEVERAL

YEARS. 


HUMAN  RIGHTS GROUPS AND WESTERN  GOVERNMENTS HAD APPEALED 

UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR A VISA ON MR ARIS' BEHALF. 


AUNG SAN SUU KYI LEADS BURMA'S NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY 

WHICH WON A OVERWHELMING VICTORY IN ELECTIONS IN 1990. THE 

GOVERNMENT HAS REFUSED TO HAND OVER POWER AND OPPONENTS SAY IT IS

GUILTY OF SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.  


                         /// END OPT ///


MR. ARIS' DEATH CAME ON BURMA'S 54TH NATIONAL ARMED FORCES DAY --

MARKED WITH A PARADE IN RANGOON.  THE GOVERNMENT USED THE 

OCCASION TO URGE REBEL FORCES TO MAKE PEACE.  


MEANWHILE, THE OPPOSITION, LEAD BY MS. SUU KYI'S NATIONAL LEAGUE 

FOR DEMOCRACY PARTY -- CALL FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN 

BURMA. (SIGNED)


NEB/GC/JO


27-Mar-99 10:43 AM EST (1543 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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