NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER


March 28, 1999


NCGUB MOURNS THE PASSING OF  DR. MICHAEL ARIS


Dr. Michael Aris was a scholar, a gentleman, a good and decent man.  He
dedicated his professional life to helping the world understand Asia's
Himalayan cultures.  He dedicated his personal life to the wife and sons he
loved.  In the trying events of the past ten years, these projects became
one and this quiet teacher lived an extraordinary lesson in compassion,
courage, patience, and most importantly, love.

Those of us who knew him will remember him as a man who saw need and tried
to help, who saw wrongs and tried to right them, who saw ignorance and
tried to teach.  The people of Burma will remember him as the man who
supported, loved -- and was loved by-- the woman they need.  When
circumstances forced them apart, he raised their young sons to manhood.  He
scrupulously avoided involvement in Burma's politics in order to protect
his wife.  When attacked in hatred, he had the courage and the wisdom to
respond with compassion.

Dr. Aris,  in his introduction to "Freedom From Fear", recounted a moving
conversation with Aung San Suu Kyi as they were about to begin their lives
together.  He recalled her words that "Sometimes I am beset by fears that
circumstances and national considerations might tear us apart just when we
are so happy in each other that separation would be a torment . . . And yet
such fears are futile . . . If we love and cherish each other as much as we
can while we can, I am sure love and compassion will triumph in the end."

Dr. Aris' contribution to the democracy movement was his whole-hearted
understanding that Burma needs Daw Aung San Suu Kyi more and his ungrudging
consent that she should be with her people in their struggle for democracy
and human rights.  We remain grateful.


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