PRESS RELEASE, 27-Mar-99, MYANMAR

[met@xxxxxxxxx]

Subject: PRESS RELEASE, 27-Mar-99,   MYANMAR EMBASSY, TOKYO.

PRESS RELEASE

EMBASSY OF MYANMAR 
TOKYO

(27th March 1999)   


Suu Kyi offered all possible assistance by Myanmar Government

The Government of the Union of Myanmar on 26 March offered Ms. Suu Kyi all
possible assistance she may need in fulfilling the gravely ill husbands?
dying wish to see her in the remaining days before he enters the twilight
of his existence. The Government also suggested that Suu Kyi?s visit to
Britain to see her dying British husband, Michael Aris as an alternative
which would be more sensible and humane.

Suu Kyi and her opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) Party fear
that if she goes to Britain to see her husband, she might not be allowed to
return to Myanmar.

While the Government remains sympathetic to the request for visa submitted
on Mr. Aris?s behalf it views that the more sensible alternative was for
Suu Kyi who is in robust health to visit her dying husband rather than the
terminally ill patient undertaking an arduous journey to visit the wife. It
would be neither practical nor morally correct for the dying patient to
travel thousands of miles in his present state of health.

The Government of Myanmar which views the situation with magnanimity and
sympathy on humanitarian grounds continues its offer to assist Ms. Suu Kyi
with all possible assistance and guarantees to allow her return to Myanmar
after her visit to see her husband believing that the trip be of a purely
humanitarian and family concern.

So far, there has been no response whatsoever from Suu Kyi nor her party
regarding the Government?s offer. The Government of Myanmar remains
sympathetic to the request by Mr. Michael Aris for a visa to Myanmar but
also very concerned for him being terminally ill patient in travelling
strenuously halfway round the world to see his wife, Ms. Suu Kyi.

The offer of the Government was conveyed on the morning of 26th March by
Colonel Than Tun (an officer who has a good working relationship) in person
but, regretfully Suu Kyi refused the Government?s offer outright and ended
the discussion abruptly when Colonel Than Tun was indicated to leave her
residence.

The Embassy is of the opinion that it is high time that politicizing of the
plight of Aris family be stopped and his illness be treated as a family
matter with pure humanitarian compassion, and hope that Suu Kyi would come
to sense and make the right decision.	
								                                   

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