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NLD Press Release on 29th in Englis



Subject: NLD Press Release on 29th in English

National League for Democracy
NO (97/B), West Shwegondine Road
Bahan, Rangoon

PRESS RELEASE


1.	During his illness, Dr. Michael Aris, beloved husband of Daw Aung San 
Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the National League for Democracy had 
applied to the Burmese Embassy in London for entry visa to see his wife. 
His wife also sent the required letters of recommendation.

2.	The General Secretary, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also addressed a written 
request to the Chairman of the SPDC to enable her husband to visit her 
in Rangoon.

3.	In response to the request, on 26 March 1999, at about 11:00 a.m, one 
colonel from the Military Intelligence went to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 
residence and said, " If you go to London to see your husband we will 
give you any assistance you need." Her reply was "I am not going." Since 
there was no other business to discuss and the General Secretary was 
weary and exhausted she left to take a rest in her private room.

4.	Our information is that prior to this meeting between the said 
Colonel and the General Secretary, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and 
the Military Intelligence had scheduled a meeting with ambassadors and 
military attaches to take place at 13:00 hours. The reason behind this 
prearranged meeting gives rise to much speculation. Information that has 
been released about what was said at this meeting are totally untrue.

5.	In paragraph 2 of the news released by the authorities on 28 March 
1999 (after the death of Dr. Michael Aris and at a time when the General 
Secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was bereaving the loss) the claim is that 
they are assisting in the preparations for the ceremonies according to 
Buddhist rites to be held in Rangoon.

6.	However, the authorities photographed and video recorded the 
movements of visitors who went to express their sympathy and offer 
condolences and they insisted and demanded that names and address be 
entered in registers at three locations (on entry and departure). This 
is by no means "assistance" and contradicts the Burmese Buddhist concept 
of behaviour in matters of sickness and death.

7.	Included in the news released by the authorities is the claim that 
necessary assistance would be given should the General Secretary desire 
to travel to England to attend the funeral of her late husband. But that 
offer was conditional to her confining her activities to domestic 
affairs only and all political activity was prohibited.


8.	To place this kind of prohibition on a world renown Nobel Peace Prize 
laureate is insufferable and totally unacceptable.

9.	These news releases in the face of the General Secretary's 
categorical statement that she would not go is without meaning and 
inappropriate. The news releases are void of sincerity and honesty.

	
Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy

Rangoon
29 March 1999








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