[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

U.S. Department Of State [: U.S. UR



Subject: U.S. Department Of State [: U.S. URGES BURMA TO GIVE VISA TO

HUSBAND OF RIGHTS ACTIVIST ]
To: burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0
X-Sender: strider@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


19 March 1999 

TEXT: U.S. URGES BURMA TO GIVE VISA TO HUSBAND OF RIGHTS ACTIVIST 

(State Dept. Mar. 18 statement by James Foley)  (370)

Washington -- The United States says Burma should issue a visa for Dr.
Michael Aris.

Aris, the husband of Burmese Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, is
gravely ill in Britain. He wants to go to Burma to be with his wife,
the noted human rights and democracy advocate.

The Rangoon regime until now has not issued a visa that would permit
him to enter that country.

"Denying Dr. Aris a visa to visit his wife, particularly under these
tragic circumstances, demonstrates a complete lack of compassion,"
U.S. Department of State Deputy Spokesman James Foley said in a March
18 statement.
  
The United States, Foley added, is working "to impress upon the regime
in Burma the importance of responding positively and urgently to this
humanitarian situation."


Following is the text of the statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Office of the Spokesman

For Immediate Release March 18, 1999
99/232


STATEMENT BY JAMES B. FOLEY, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

BURMA - VISA FOR DR. MICHAEL ARIS


We understand that Dr. Michael Aris, the husband of Nobel Laureate
Aung San Suu Kyi, is seriously ill. This is a tragic development for
Dr. Aris, Aung San Suu Kyi and their family. They have made tremendous
personal sacrifices over the past decade in supporting Aung San Suu
Kyi's efforts to bring about democracy and respect for human rights in
Burma.

We understand that Burmese authorities have to date not granted Dr.
Aris a visa to visit Aung San Suu Kyi. We urge the Burmese authorities
to make a humanitarian gesture and permit Dr. Aris to visit his wife
before his illness worsens.

We have worked closely with concerned governments, and through the
United Nations, to impress upon the regime in Burma the importance of
responding positively and urgently to this humanitarian situation.
Denying Dr. Aris a visa to visit his wife, particularly under these
tragic circumstances, demonstrates a complete lack of compassion. We
will continue our efforts to convince the regime to act appropriately
and issue the visa.

(end text)