Major surgery for imprisoned Nobel winner
Burma’s imprisoned pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, underwent major surgery today, her physician said.
Suu Kyi, 58, was admitted to the Asia Royal Cardiac and Medical Centre in the capital, Rangoon, on Wednesday for what hospital officials said was a gynaecological operation.
Earlier reports said the surgery took place on Thursday, but she was only given medical tests.
Suu Kyi’s personal physician, Dr. Tin Myo Win, said he and a team of other doctors operated on Suu Kyi, the widow of an Oxford don, for three hour. She was recovering and was in a stable condition.
“She has regained consciousness and her condition is 100 percent good,” he said.
Diplomats from the US, Britain and Italy gathered outside the hospital with presents and bouquets for Suu Kyi, but were not allowed to see her.
“We repeatedly ask permission to see the lady,” said a US embassy spokesperson, referring to Suu Kyi by her nickname. “We have repeatedly pressed to see her and we have a standing request. We want to see her today, we wanted to see her yesterday, the day before.”
Members of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party also waited outside the hospital.
Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, was detained after a bloody clash between her supporters and a government-backed mob on May 30 while she was visiting northern Burma, also known as Myanmar.
The military seized power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy uprising. It held elections in 1990, but refused to recognise the results after Suu Kyi’s party won.
