VOA-BURMA / ARIS FUNERAL

[tinkyi@xxxxxxx]

DATE=3/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247330
TITLE=BURMA / ARIS FUNERAL (L)
BYLINE=GERALDINE CARROLL
DATELINE= BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  HUNDREDS OF MOURNERS IN BURMA HAVE BEEN PAYING THEIR 
RESPECTS TO  THE PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, 
FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF HER  HUSBAND, MICHAEL ARIS,  FROM CANCER. 
GERALDINE  CARROLL REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN 
BANGKOK, THE OPPOSITION LEADER IS  ORGANIZING A BUDDHIST CEREMONY
IN RANGOON TO MARK HIS PASSING.   

TEXT:  WITNESSES SAY HUNDREDS OF FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS HAVE PAID
THEIR  RESPECTS TO  AUNG SAN SUU KYI AFTER THE DEATH OF HER 
HUSBAND LAST SATURDAY.  PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SIGNING BOOKS OF 
CONDOLENCE AT THE  HEADQUARTERS OF HER OPPOSITION NATIONAL LEAGUE
FOR DEMOCRACY PARTY.   FRIENDS WHO VISITED HER SAY SHE APPEARED 
PALE BUT MENTALLY STRONG. SHE  IS REPORTEDLY BEING CARED FOR BY A
PERSONAL DOCTOR.   WITNESSES ALSO SAY THE  MILITARY GOVERNMENT 
HAS BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON HER RANGOON COMPOUND. 

AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS PLANNING A BUDDHIST CEREMONY IN HONOR OF HER 
BRITISH HUSBAND LATER THIS WEEK.  THE GOVERNMENT DENIED A FINAL 
REQUEST  BY MR. ARIS TO VISIT HIS WIFE BEFORE HE DIED.  OFFICIALS
SAID BURMA WAS NOT  EQUIPPED TO COPE WITH MR ARIS' CANCER AND 
SUGGESTED THAT AUNG SAN SUU  KYI TRAVEL TO BRITAIN TO VISIT HIM. 
SHE LAST SAW HER HUSBAND IN 1996.  

THE GOVERNMENT EXPRESSED CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY IN A 
STATEMENT SUNDAY AND SAID IT WOULD ALLOW THE OPPOSITION LEADER TO
RETURN  TO BRITAIN FOR HER HUSBAND'S FUNERAL.  HOWEVER, IT MADE 
NO GUARANTEE TO  LET HER RETURN TO BURMA.  AIDES TO AUNG SAN SUU 
KYI SAY SHE REFUSED A  PREVIOUS OFFER TO VISIT HER DYING HUSBAND 
FOR FEAR BURMA'S MILITARY RULERS WOULD FORCE HER  INTO EXILE. 
THEY ADD IT IS THEREFORE UNLIKELY THE OPPOSITION LEADER WILL NOW 
LEAVE THE COUNTRY TO ATTEND THE  FUNERAL IN BRITAIN.    

AUNG SAN SUU KYI HAS BEEN LOCKED IN A POLITICAL STRUGGLE WITH THE
MILITARY GOVERNMENT SINCE THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY, THE 
N-L-D, WON A LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN ELECTIONS IN  1990.   THE 
GOVERNMENT IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON HER MOVEMENTS IN BURMA AFTER 
IT NULLIFIED THE ELECTIONS, REFUSING TO HAND OVER POWER TO THE 
N-L-D.  

/// REST OPT /// CONDOLENCES FOR MICHAEL ARIS ARE BEING EXPRESSED
AROUND THE WORLD.  THE  UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL, KOFI 

ANNAN,  SAID IN A STATEMENT (SUNDAY) HE WAS  SADDENED BY THE NEWS
OF MR. ARIS' DEATH AND HE CRITICIZED THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT  FOR
REFUSING MR. ARIS' REQUEST TO VISIT HIS WIFE BEFORE HIS DEATH.   
PRESIDENT CLINTON RELEASED A STATEMENT (SUNDAY) PLEDGING TO THE 
BEREAVED FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE OF BURMA THAT THE UNITED STATES 
WOULD KEEP  PRESSING FOR FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA.  
(SIGNED) 

NEB/GC/FC

29-Mar-99 3:49 AM EST (0849 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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