By Assunta Ng
Aris Myint San Aung at the fourth of July naturalization ceremony (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)
A secret guest was present at the Fourth of July naturalization ceremony at the Seattle Center, where hundreds of immigrants were sworn-in as new citizens. This guest was more prominent than anyone in the audience, including a U.S. Senator, the Secretary of State, the Mayor, and many other elected officials. This visitor, who left immediately after the ceremony, was never introduced. Only a handful of people were aware of his presence.
After all, who would have thought that the guy wrapped with a U.S. flag on his head was Alexander Aris Myint San Aung, the eldest son of Burmese National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi?
Alexander is a friend to Simon Khin, a Burmese refugee who received a Spirit of Liberty Award from the Ethnic Heritage Council. Khin met Alexander because his wife was awarded a scholarship in the early 1990s from Prospect Burma, a scholarship foundation started with Kyi’s Nobel Prize money.
When this reporter requested to take his picture, Alexander almost freaked out, according to Khin.
“He has never been seen in public with his mother. The media has not been kind to him.
He’s a very private person,” said Khin. When the media could not interview him, they made up things about him, explained Khin. (end)
A great photo!
Given the traumatic history of his family, the desire to withdraw from public life is understandable. But, as this piece of reportage maybe shows, it is possible for him to aid his mother and her cause in more private and personal ways. With great respect and appreciation for the humanitarian work done for Burmese dissidents.