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VOA on Michael Aris Death
- Subject: VOA on Michael Aris Death
- From: moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 23:18:00
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)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.