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News from India Newspaper (r)



"Burma thinks visa for Suu Kyi's husband is a bad idea"

"The Asian Age" Newspaper
Date March 19, 1999.

Bangkok, March 18: The government of Burma indicated reluctance on
Thursday to grant a visa request by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi's British husband, who is suffering from prostate cancer and seeking
to visit his wife.
In a new release, the government expressed "great sadness" over the
illness of Michael Aris. It said it was "reviewing" his visa request.
Mr. Aris has not been granted a visa in three years. Ms Suu Kyi, feared
and despised by Burma' military government, has declined to leave the
country for fear she would not be allowed to return.
The government statement described Mr. Aris' condition as "extremely
grave" and said its health authorities were surprised that he would try
to make such a trip.
"To undertake such a trip?would appear to be both irresponsible and
inhumane and the government is reluctant to encourage or endorse such an
action," it said.
It suggested that Ms Suu Kyi, "who is in perfect health," travel to
England "to respond to her husband's dying wish to see her".
"She has so far refused to go", it said. The military regime considers
Ms Suu Kyi, an outspoken critic of its rule, a disruptive force, and has
frequently suggested that she leave the country.
In the past year the state-controlled press has mounted a major
campaign calling for her deportation. Their stories claim that she holds
British citizenship as she lived in England for many years, but both she
and the British government deny this.
Mr. Tin Oo, vice-chairman of Ms Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy, said he was unsure of Mr Aris' condition, but understood that
he was not bedridden because he regularly traveled to a hospital for
treatment.
Mr Aris and Ms Suu Kyi have been married 27 years and have two adult
sons.  (AP)