28th March 1999
Farewell salute to Dr Michael Aris
At 6.45 GMT on the 27th March 1999, Dr Michael Aris, Senior Research
Fellow in Tibetan and Himalayan Studies, a member of the governing
body of St. Antony's College, Oxford, and husband of Nobel Peace
Prize Laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, died of cancer in an Oxford
hospital. He turned 53 on the day he died.
A quiet, gentle, academic with two sons, he spent the last few years of his
life in forced isolation from his wife due to the fascist dictatorship,
military of Burma, so called, "State Peace and Development Council". Over
a three year period consecutive visa requests where denied Michael by the
dictators and even when he was known to be terminally ill they would still
not grant him a visa.
Dr Michael Aris was a very private man. While giving unqualified emotional
support to his wife he did not interfere in her selfless campaign to bring
democracy and human rights to Burma. He did not seek to have her end her
battle and go back to him and her comfortable life style in the UK.
When Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was called to Rangoon in 1988 to care for her
dying mother, she told Dr Aris that she had the feeling their lives were
about to change forever. Indeed that was to be the case. Seeing the state
of her country and the brutality of the military against the people, she
began a political campaign that saw her placed in detention for many years.
Despite the fact that she has now been released, her movements are
severely restricted and her political party, the National League for
Democracy (NLD), winner of the 1990 general elections in Burma,
which has not been permitted to govern, is facing attempted annihilation
at the hands of the dictators.
The relationship between Dr Michael Aris and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
was said to be one of great commitment and devotion. Dr Aris often
said that while the rest of the world loved Daw Suu, no one loved her
more than he did and he loved no one more than her. In a
confidential interview with a former diplomat to Rangoon, it was said that,
"Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is as strong as ever, but very, very sad".
The Australia Burma Council asks the international community to
respect the privacy of the Aris family and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at
this devastating time. We wish to solute the selfless man, Dr Michael
Aris, send love and support to the entire family particularly his
sons, Alexander and Kim and have it known that we reaffirm
our commitment to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD.
ENDS