§ Mr. LesterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the status of Aung San Suu Kyi, the detained leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyIt has been alleged that Aung San Suu Kyi owes allegiance to a foreign power. In fact, she is a citizen of Burma and has not acquired British citizenship. She is therefore not entitled to the rights and privileges of a British citizen, nor does her marriage to a British citizen of itself confer such rights and privileges on her. She is neither a Commonwealth citizen nor a citizen of a member state of the European Community. As with other aliens in her category under United Kingdom law, she is under a number of disabilities by comparison with British citizens. Most importantly:
- (a) she is not entitled to vote in parliamentary or local elections;
- (b) she has no right of abode in the United Kingdom and, accordingly, requires leave to enter the United Kingdom and is liable to deportation from the United Kingdom;
- (c) she is not eligible for a British passport or for British diplomatic or consular protection overseas;
- (d) she is subject to restrictions in certain fields, for example, employment under the Crown.
Aung San Suu Kyi may now apply for British citizenship, on account of her marriage, only by naturalisation under section 6(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981, which is a matter within the discretion of the Home Secretary. She has no right to British citizenship by virtue of her marriage to Dr. Aris, and cannot therefore be said to be entitled to the rights and privileges of a British citizen in the sense of possessing a right to citizenship.
Aung San Suu Kyi's marriage to a British citizen does not in itself entitle her to any social security benefits.