BBC-BURMA - KIM VISIT

[tinkyi@xxxxxxx]

DATE=4/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248187
TITLE=BURMA - KIM VISIT  (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GERALDINE CARROLL
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE YOUNGEST SON OF BURMA'S OPPOSITION LEADER, AUNG SAN 
SUU KYI, HAS ARRIVED IN RANGOON TO VISIT HIS MOTHER.  IT IS THE 
FIRST VISIT BY A MEMBER OF HER FAMILY SINCE THE DEATH OF HER 
HUSBAND, MICHAEL ARIS, MORE THAN THREE WEEKS AGO IN BRITAIN. 
GERALDINE CARROLL REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN 
BANGKOK. 

TEXT:  BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT SAYS AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S 
YOUNGEST SON, KIM HTEIN LIN ARIS, WAS GREETED BY HIS MOTHER AT 
RANGOON'S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.  IN A STATEMENT, THE GOVERNMENT 
SAID THE PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER WAS ASSISTED BY AIRPORT OFFICIALS 
AS SHE MET HER 21-YEAR OLD SON, WHO ARRIVED ON A FLIGHT FROM 
BANGKOK.  THE GOVERNMENT MADE NO INDICATION WHETHER MS SUU KYI'S 
OTHER SON, 25-YEAR OLD ALEXANDER, WOULD ALSO BE ALLOWED TO VISIT.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS GRANTED VISAS TO KIM AND ALEXANDER IN THE PAST
ON THE GROUNDS THAT THEY ARE  NOT  INVOLVED IN POLITICS.  

AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S HUSBAND OF 27 YEARS, MICHAEL ARIS, DIED OF 
CANCER IN BRITAIN LAST MONTH.  BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT 
REFUSED HIS FINAL REQUEST TO VISIT HIS WIFE BEFORE HE DIED.  THE 
GOVERNMENT CLAIMED ITS MEDICAL FACILITIES WERE TOO PRIMITIVE TO 
TREAT MR ARIS' CANCER.  HOWEVER, IT OFFERED TO ALLOW AUNG SAN SUU
KYI TO VISIT HER DYING HUSBAND IN BRITAIN.   

AIDES TO THE NOBEL LAUREATE SAY SHE REFUSED THE OFFER FOR FEAR OF
BEING FORCED INTO EXILE.  THEY SAY SHE REFUSED A SUBSEQUENT OFFER
TO ATTEND HER HUSBAND'S FUNERAL IN BRITAIN.  

THE UNITED NATIONS AND SOME FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS HAVE CRITICISED 
BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS FOR FAILING TO GRANT MR ARIS A VISA ON 
HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS.   

AUNG SAN SUU KYI SAID IN AN INTERVIEW PUBLISHED IN A BRITISH 
NEWSPAPER A WEEK AGO THAT HER SONS HAD ASKED HER TO TRAVEL TO 
BRITAIN TO VISIT THEIR FATHER BEFORE HE DIED.  SHE SAID IT WAS 
HARD TO SAY NO TO THEM,  BUT HAS REPEATEDLY STRESSED HER VIEW 
THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE SUFFERED WORSE PERSONAL TRAUMAS UNDER 
BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS THAN SHE HAS.   

AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS BEEN FIGHTING A POLITICAL BATTLE WITH THE 
MILITARY GOVERNMENT AFTER HER NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY PARTY
WON A LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN ELECTIONS IN 1990.  THE GOVERNMENT HAS

REFUSED TO HAND OVER POWER TO THE N-L-D. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS 
ACCUSE THE REGIME OF SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. (SIGNED) 

NEB/GC/KL

16-Apr-99 7:56 AM EDT (1156 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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