    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 13 (Monday, April 5, 1999)]
    [Page 532]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on the Death of Michael Aris

    March 27, 1999

        The First Lady and I were saddened to learn of the death of Dr.
    Michael Aris, a scholar of Tibetan and Himalayan Studies at Oxford
    University. We offer our sincere condolences to his wife, Aung San Suu
    Kyi, his sons, Alexander and Kim, and other family members.
        Dr. Aris' perseverance and dedication to his wife and family and to
    the cause of human rights and democracy in Burma earned him the respect
    and admiration of citizens around the world. At this difficult time, I
    want to reaffirm to Michael's family and to all the people of Burma that
    the United States will keep working for the day when all who have been
    separated and sent into exile by the denial of human rights in Burma are
    reunited with their families and when Burma is reunited with the family
    of freedom.