Activist Than Nyein Undergoes Surgery

By MIN LWIN
The Irrawaddy News
November 18, 200

Burmese activist Dr Than Nyein, 71, an elected member of Parliament in 1988, recently underwent surgery on his liver in Singapore, according to a family member.

His son told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that Than Nyein is now in good condition. He was taken to Singapore on November 9.

“He has suffered with a tumor in his liver ever since he was a political prisoner,” he said.

On September 23, Than Nyein—the brother-in-law of Gen Khin Nyunt, a former prime minister and chief of military intelligence, who is now under house arrest—was released along with a group of other political prisoners including well-known journalist Win Tin.

After transferring from prisons at least four times in 11 years, Than Nyein was released from Prome Prison with liver problems and swollen lymph nodes.

In early 2008 during a medical examination, his doctor advised him to seek specialist treatment.

As a student of Rangoon Institute of Medicine, Than Nyein was elected chairperson of the Medical Students Union. He was involved the 1988 uprising. When the National League for Democracy (NLD) party was founded, he was elected vice-chairman of the Rangoon Division Organizing Committee.

Than Nyein was arrested in 1997 along with Dr May Win Myint and six other activists following an attempt to hold a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD youth members in Mayangone Township in Rangoon.

“When I became involved in Burmese politics, I prepared myself to be in prison at some point,” Than Nyane said in an interview in late September.

Than Nyein completed his original seven-year prison sentence in 2004. After that time, he was held without charge or trial on renewable detention orders under Section 10(a) of the State Protection Act, an administrative law that allows the authorities to detain anyone without charge or trial if it’s believed the person is a danger to the state.