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Dons pay tributes to Suu Kyi's husb



Subject: Dons pay tributes to Suu Kyi's husband

India Newspaper
The Hindustan Time
March 30,1999

Dons pay tributes to Suu Kyi's husband
Vijay Dutt
London, March 29
At Oxford, there is more grief for Dr. Michael Aris who died without
seeing his wife Aung San Suu Kyi than anger at the Burmese military
governments' failure to let her visit her husband with an assurance that
she would be allowed to return to her country. An Oxford academic
specialising in Tibetan studies, Dr Aris was not visit her in the last
two years despite suffering from prostrate cancer.
His death on his 53rd birthday on March 27 has cast bloom not only in
the academic circles but even others living in the city. The latter
expressed exterme anguish at the tragedy of the forced separation
between him and San Suu Kyi, who were married 27 years ago. Many have
been visiting the St Anthony College with which Dr Aris was attached.
The earlier pleas to let him visit her were turned down by the military
regime alleging that it was worried about his treatment while he
remained in Burma. It was alleged that medical facilities in Rangoon
were not good enough for his treatment. Most dons say that the
Buddha-like stolidity and forbearance with which Aris bore the
separation even when he knew his days were numbered had touched them
too. "There was no point in raving against those who did not have humane
feelings nor any rational reason for their actions," said some who knew
Dr Airs well.
Most describe him as an intensely private person and aver that he
maintained, at least "outwardly", a detachment at his being unable to
see his wife.
It could only be described as a remarkable sign of patience and
tolerance. He was ever anxious to help students from his wife's country.