"No Secret Deal"

In response to concerns expressed by non-Burman ethnic leaders about the secret meetings held between the leader of the National League for Democracy Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council, and Secretary 1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt in September and again with Khin Nyunt in October 1994, Dr Michael Aris released the following statement in Bangkok on 23 January 1995:

"It has always been the firm conviction of those working for democracy in Burma that it is only through meaningful dialogue between diverse political forces that we can achieve national reconciliation, which is the first and most vital requisite for a united and prosperous country.

That the international community shares this view is evident from clause 5 of the General Assembly resolution of December 1994 which encourages the Government of Burma to engage ‘in a substantive political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders, including representatives from ethnic groups, as the best means of promoting national reconciliation and the full and early restoration of democracy.’

It was in full acceptance of this view and with genuine good will that I approached the meeting with members of the State Law and Order Restoration Council on 20 September and 28 October 1994.

There have not been and there will not be any secret deals with regard either to my release or to any other issue. I adhere to the principle of accountability and consider myself at all times bound by the democratic duty to act in consultation with colleagues and to be guided by the aspirations of those engaged in the movement to establish a truly democratic political system in Burma. I remain dedicated to an active participation in this movement."

Aung San Suu Kyi
22 January 1995
Rangoon, Burma.

Note: As a result of Dr Michael Aris’ role in publicizing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s position regarding the 1994 talks with SLORC, he was barred from visiting his wife. Dr Aris died on 27 March 1999 in England of cancer without ever seeing her again.