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Dr Michael Aris, had not seen his wife, Daw Suu Kyi, for three years when he died in Oxford, England, on March 27, 1999, his 53rd birthday. He had been denied a visa to visit his wife for the last time by the Burmese Dictators. These callous Generals never guaranteed, to Daw Suu Kyi's satisfaction, that they would allow her back in Burma if she left to visit her dying husband.

The brutal military junta ruling Burma today failed to meet Challenge 10 thrown down to them on this page.

The British husband of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is gravely ill with cancer and seeking a visa from Yangon's military government to visit his wife, sources close to the family said on Wednesday. The sources, who did not want to be identified by name, said academic Michael Aris was suffering from prostate cancer that had spread to his spine and lungs and was not expected to live long. 

The Yangon government, which is eager to see Suu Kyi leave the country, has refused to issue Aris a visa for the past three years. The sources said negotiations to issue a visa to Aris, who was in hospital in Britain, continue, but Yangon had indicated Suu Kyi should be the one to travel. 

"They have said that it is for the sick person to be visited," one of the sources said, adding that it was unlikely Suu Kyi would leave Myanmar as she did not believe she would be allowed to return. The spokesman for the Yangon government could not immediately be reached for comment. The source said Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the United Nations and the Sultan of Brunei had made appeals to the Myanmar government to grant Aris a visa. 

"Michael is not expected to survive," said another of the sources. "He is desperate to get in to see her to say goodbye for the last time. But he would have to be accompanied by a nurse and might not even survive the journey." At the moment, the other source said, Aris was not fit enough to travel. "The prognosis is not good. The cancer has spread into the spine and lungs. He's undergoing therapy in hospital. There are negotiations going on for a possible visa. It seems unlikely the visa will be granted, but this would be a golden opportunity for the (Myanmar) government to display a humanitarian gesture," he said. 
 
 

The Government of Myanmar has learned with great sadness of the illness of Dr. Michael Aris, the husband of Aung San Suu Kyi, Secretary General of the National League for Democracy. Dr. Aris has requested a visa to Myanmar to see his wife which the government is currently reviewing. Dr. Aris' medical condition is extremely grave, however, and Government health authorities are surprised that he would request such a difficult trip at this time. Dr Aris has been hopitalized with prostate cancer which has spread to his spine and lungs, and according to a published report, would be unlikely to survive the trip. To undertake a trip to Myanmar under such conditions, therefore, would appear to be both irresponsible and inhumane, and the Government is reluctant to encourage or endorse such an action. As a more sensible alternative, the Government of Myanmar suggests that Ms. Suu Kyi who is in perfect health travel to England to respond to her husband's dying wish to see her. She has so far refused to go. The Government will provide Ms. Su Kyi with all possible assistance in joining her husband, if she decides to go.

If it is fate that must intervene to bring about the reconciliation of Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and the ruling military junta in Burma, then so be it. The ball is in the State Peace and Development Council's court, and the leaders of the junta must grab at the opportunity to show the international community that there is some metta in the hearts of Buddhists. Both sides must leave aside their ideological differences and come to an agreement that Aung San Suu Kyi will get to see her husband, Michael Aris, who is seriously ill with cancer and does not have long to live. 

A dying man must be given the chance of a last reunion with his family, and this issue is purely humanitarian. Aris has requested a visa to visit his wife, who is embroiled in a bitter struggle for democracy with the ruling junta, which in turn tries to portray its strong Buddhist belief and devotion through merit-making by building pagodas and donating to temples. But all this will come to nought if they refuse to allow Aris to visit his wife, which is his last wish. 

Granting a visa to Aris to visit Suu Kyi will not only make the Burmese junta look better in the eyes of the international community but also open the door to dialogue, which is sadly missing at present. Arrogance and one-upmanship should be put aside for the moment. This is a time for a humanitarian gesture and compassion. Such a golden opportunity is rare. In the past few months, the Burmese junta has lauched vigorous public-relations campaigns, sending top leaders to visit various countries in the region. Prime Minister Gen Than Shwe himself has for the first time met Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, a level of diplomatic contact not seen for a long time. The regime has also tried to win international-friends and sympathy through its anti-narcotics efforts. Despite strong US scepticism, the regime's anti-drugs campaigns have already won some international praise. All these PR blitzkriegs to redeem itself and show the world that Burma under the SPDC is a country worth recognising and dealing with will pale if the Burmese authorities grant Aris his last wish. The junta's reluctance to grant a visa is political. Yet politics must be put on the back burner to allow the human spirit to live on. After all, humanity without compassion is a people without a religion. 

Early this week the Burmese junta even came out to say that it would be "inhumane" to allow an ailing Aris to travel to Burma and instead suggested that a "healthy" Suu Kyi make the trip to London, where Aris is being treated for prostate cancer. The difficulty here, as Suu Kyi and the rest of the world know, is that the leader of the National League for Democracy would not be allowed back into Burma. It has been aired before and turned down by "The Lady". Despite all the pleas of the international community to the Burmese junta to allow Aris a visa, the Burmese authorities are turning this new overture into a political game by asking Suu Kyi to visit her husband. This is a time for the Burmese generals to look at Suu Kyi and her husband as fellow human beings. If they can do that, then there is some hope for the future of a country known for one of the most despicable human-rights records. 
 

CHALLENGE 10: Will SLORC let her return to Burma after visiting her husband? The world watches, waiting to see if you Generals have the humanity to guarantee that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi can return to Burma after seeing her seriously ill husband in England.

"In 1988, what later became known as the '8888 Uprising' Burmese students led the fight against the military junta. After a decade, they are talking about of a '9999 incident' again" writes Win Htein. "YESTERDAY (March 13, 1999) was the 11th anniversary of Burma's Human Rights Day. Ko Pho Maw, a 21-year-old engineering student was killed by the army in the compound of the Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT), the first martyr among 3000 people in the ''8888 Uprising''. 

''At the time, they [riot police] shot at us with real bullets when we asked the soldiers to go back to their barracks. We could not see anything under the smoke-bomb and we ran like blind men'' recalled Ko Kyaw Htin, leader of the All Burma Students' Democratic Front(ABSDF), in a border shelter camp. ''We had never experienced anything like this. I thought they would shoot plastic bullets and smoke-bombs''. They thought the police would not use real bullets or enter the RIT compound. 

''Now we have a leading political party with a strong leader. The people are also more knowledgeable than 8888. This fact could be the main difference between 8888 and 9999.''  - ABSDF statement

CHALLENGE 9: How will you Generals deal with a possible 9999 uprising? What price in dead bodies are you ready to pay for your so-called  "disciplined democracy"? Why don't you tell your people the price of freedom and democracy in Burma. It may prove to be a sufficient deterrent and save you a lot of bullets.

New York-based Human Rights Watch likened holding the meeting in Yangon to ``holding a convention on weapons of mass destruction in Baghdad, on women's rights in Kabul or on terrorism in Tripoli.''

Khun Sa, one of the most notorious of the Golden Triangle drug lords, is thought to be living in Yangon under government protection. The U.S. government believes he remains at least indirectly involved in the drug trade through subordinates. Yod Suk, a former Khun Sa underling who now heads the Shan State Army in its opposition to the military government in Yangon. said the more than 20 countries attending Interpol's Fourth International Heroin Conference in Yangon from Tuesday would have been better off joining the United States and many European countries in staying away. 

CHALLENGE 8: If the Burmese Dictator-Generals want to convince the world of their sincerity in the anti-heroin campaign, let them prove it by extraditing Drug Lord Khun Sa to the United States of America where to face drug charges.

"We are also human beings and we respect human beings and human rights." - SPDC Foreign Minister Win Aung - Sun, 21 Feb 1999

CHALLENGE 7: Let Foreign Minister U Win Aung prove his point by visiting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, or explain to the world why he cannot bring himself to talk to her.

Time to issue the Deportation Order - by an anonymous Supreme Court Lawyer (Extract from an article with the above heading in the Government Daily "The New Light of Myanmar" - 9/9/98) 

All British citizens can hold two passports under the existing British law. But Section 1.6 if 1982 Myanmar Citizens Law prohibits Myanmars from holding dual citizenship. The section definitely states that if a citizen left the nation for good or became a citizen of a foreign country or registered as a citizen of that nation or obtains another passport or similar paper, that person ceases to be a Myanmar citizen. 

CHALLENGE 6: Daw Suu Kyi strongly denies that she ever held any passport other than that of the country of her birth. If there was any truth in the allegation made anonymously by a SLORC lackey 5 months ago, then she should have been deported by now, February 16, 1999)

I CHALLENGE SLORC/SPDC TO PUBLISH PROOF OF DAW SUU KYI's BRITISH PASSPORT, AND IF THEY CANNOT, TO WITHDRAW THE ALLEGATION MADE IN THIS ARTICLE BY AN ANONYMOUS LAWYER WHO DEMANDS THE BANISHMENT OF A BRAVE LADY FROM HER OWN COUNTRY.

A representative of Burma's military government, General Abel has said that the country's long-awaited draft constitution is close to completion, the first time that the Burmese authorities have suggested that the drafting process -- begun six years ago -- is nearing an end. General Abel, who made his statement during a BBC interview at the ASEAN summit in Hanoi, did not give any specific time-frame, but he said there would be elections once new constitution was in place.

Burma must be held to account - Editorial - Bangkok Post: 20 February 1999 

"Burma will introduce a constitution this year and hold elections in 2000. Thailand and ASEAN must hold Rangoon accountable in both cases. It is not enough that Burma introduce some of the trappings of democracy and freedom. In its bilateral relations with Thailand and in its political reform, Burma must prove substance, not form." 

CHALLENGE 5: Can the above statement in the Bangkok Post Editorial be confirmed by SLORC/SPDC? When can the world expect this long-awaited new Burmese Constitution? How soon after that will the long-suffering Burmese peoples be able to exercise their democratic right to vote for the party of their choice, which must include the National League for Democracy (NLD?

I CHALLENGE GENERAL ABEL TO STATE CLEARLY THAT THIS TIME THEY WILL RESPECT THE WISH OF THE PEOPLE IF THE NLD GAIN AN OVERWHELMING MANDATE, AS THEY DID IN 1990?

INTERNATIONAL ACTION AGAINST ILLICIT DRUGS: MYANMAR TO HOST 4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEROIN IN COLLABORATION WITH INTERPOL 

It is unfortunate that at a time when there is an urgent need to promote multilateral initiatives to overcome the drug menace, there are some who have become so blinded by such emotive issues as human rights and democracy that they are unable to separate the wheat from the chaff. They readily believe the allegations of systematic violations of human rights in Myanmar and the sensational stories that authorities there are hand in glove with drug traffickers. Those who are willing to verify the situation will find that the charges against Myanmar are spurious and that they invariably emanate from insurgent groups and disaffected expatriates. 

"So long as Burma continues to encourage and protect the top international drugs traffickers, there is no hope that Thailand or any neighbour can halt the growing problem. The time has come to talk straight to Burma, and to publicize its close links with narcotics deal." 

CHALLENGE 4: Ambassador U Tin Win is invited to rebut the charges detailed below. Why are Burmese students incarcerated in jail while Khun Sa and his cohorts live a life of luxury under the protection of the military junta?

Three of the world's top drug dealers live under the direct protection of the Burmese junta. In addition, the regime has failed to slow drug production even by rebel forces. It gained direct control of huge areas of the north after the defection of Khun Sa, but neither opium nor heroin output has been set back. Burma's military leaders flaunt the international battle against narcotics trafficking by cooperating with three major drug dealers: Khun Sa, Lo Hsing-han and Surachai "Bang Ron" Ngernthongu.

Khun Sa lives in a lakeside villa and rubs shoulders with his neighbours, members of the ruling State Peace and Development Council, formerly SLORC. Since his sensational defection three years ago, the regime has refused to try or extradite Khun Sa. Lo Hsing-han, has been the Opium Warlord since a TV documentary of that name in the 1960's and is the premier heroin exporter in Burma, and thus in the world. From his luxurious home in Rangoon, the Lo controls a network of some of the world's most organised and dangerous drug traffickers. He also controls virtually all of the important opium refineries in the eastern Shan state near the Chinese border.

His partners include well-known ethnic Chinese drug lords Lin Ming Xian and Peng Jia Sheng. Surachai, known as Bang Ron, has found a secure home in Burma since fleeing across the border a few steps ahead of Thai authorities. He is the king of amphetamines in Southeast Asia. He is arguably the single greatest threat to the security of Thailand today. Not only is he the biggest drug dealer to Thai youth, he is closely tied to armed Burmese rebels on and near the Thai frontier. Bang Ron's case shows the problems of corruption in fighting the rich and violent drug traffickers. His minions inside the Thai police helped him to escape to Burma. Although no country at the Tokyo meeting is without its problems of police and official corruption, Burma remains the only reliable friend of world-class drug lords .

If international drug trafficking is to be combatted, sweet deals between narcotics peddlers and government must end. Most nations recognise that corruption of their anti-drug forces is the second most dangerous threat to attempts to halt narcotics trafficking. But only one country in our region is known to keep close ties with the top narcotics dealers. So long as Burma continues to encourage and protect the top international drugs traffickers, there is no hope that Thailand or any neighbour can halt the growing problem. The time has come to talk straight to Burma, and to publicize its close links with narcotics deal.

Myanmar's military rulers have vowed to become more engaged in world affairs to improve their international standing, state-run media said Thursday. Junta First Secretary General Khin Nyunt said Myanmar would try to host more international meetings to show visitors the truth about the country, which is accused of widespread human rights abuses and drug trafficking. "We must show the world not only the fact that we are capable of hosting high-level international meetings but that as a member of the ASEAN family we are very much involved in the activities of the regional grouping," he was quoted as saying in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper. "Many nations, including some from the Asian region, have been taken in by the falsehoods being spread about Myanmar. "By hosting as many international meetings as possible visitors attending them would find out for themselves the wrong impression they have been harbouring about the country." 

CHALLENGE 3: If First Secretary General Khin Nyunt is serious about demonstrating the freedoms available to Burmese citizens, will he tell the world that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD Party members would be invited to attend any international meeting held in Yangon with freedom to speak freely.

In the latest bizarre development in Burma, the military Dictators clinging to power with the guns of their army, are forcing tens of thousands of people to cancel the votes they cast for National League for Democracy candidates nearly ten years ago, when that party gained over 82% of the vote in free and fair elections supervised by the UN. It is a new twist in a decade-  long political battle between despots and democrats, a desperate final attempt by Dictators to legalise their hold on power. 

Burmese State Television reported that 20,000 voters turned up at each of three mass rallies in central Burma last week to cancel out the votes they cast in 1990 for NLD Member of Parliament, Than Tun, because he could no longer be trusted. 

 In the May 1990 multiparty democracy general election, U Thein San contested as a National League for Democracy [NLD] candidate in Sagaing Division's Kawlin Township Constituency. His election showed the people's unfettered wishes, and it demonstrated that sovereignty lies with the people - a basic democratic principle. U Thein San received 29,986 valid votes - 73.1 per cent - and was declared as the legitimate elected representative of the People's Assembly by the Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission. 

We have received information that preparations are under way to orchestrate a no-confidence rally - an utterly disgraceful and contemptible exercise - against this legally-elected People's Assembly representative, U Thein San. The military intelligence is using the Union Solidarity and Development Association [USDA] - a non-political organization - for this purpose.

About 1400 [local time] on 28th February 1999, at Inkyawsin Village of Thayetkhone Village Tract, one group led by U Maung Than, chairman of the village Peace and Development Council [PDC], and another group led by U Maung Maung Lwin, secretary of the Katha Township USDA, asked for household lists and demanded signatures from every individual over 18 years. They were threatened with prison terms of two to three years for non-compliance and a fine of 100 kyats for failure to attend the meeting of heads of households.

Our information is that in other villages, U Pho Han, chairman of Kawlin Township PDC, together with Police Lance Cpl U Sein Thaung, and members of his force misused authority and obtained signatures through coercion and force. The procedure used in other villages was as follows:

Names of everyone 18 years old and above from every household list that the village PDC demanded were copied to forms and the head of the household was made to sign. In some of the villages, villagers who refused to sign the no-confidence papers were threatened with arrest.

The NLD urges the authorities to refrain from exploiting and threatening, in the manner set out above, ordinary and simple people who are peacefully struggling to make a living. We are fully aware that the people have no inclination or desire to behave in this illegal manner against their elected representative.We publicly declare that these "no-confidence" rallies and activities are illegal and do not have any legitimacy for the following reasons:

(a) The said ultra vires activities contravene the provisions of the Political Parties Registration Law dated 27th September 1988 and the People's Assembly Election Law dated 31st March 1989. 

(b) The authorities are acting in contravention of the provisions of paragraph (b) of Order No 2/88 dated 18th September 1988 prohibiting the gathering, making speeches, or instigation by five or more persons. 

(c) Violating the rights of simple and innocent people and using them as stepping stones. 

(d) Extreme abuse of authority and power. CHALLENGE 2: Would SPADCO(ex SLORC) tell the world how many NLD members legally elected have been "unvoted" to date in this barbaric way?.
 

CHALLENGE 1: Tell us, SPADCO(ex SLORC), what date has been set for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's prosecution?

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to stop Burmese Dictators in their tracks. Deny them the foreign investment they use to buy guns and bullets. Find out how this can be done.

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