Friday, 12 February 2010 23:20 Myint Maung
New Delhi (Mizzima) - Following an operation on his eyes, expectations have risen over the possibility of tomorrow’s release of National League for Democracy (NLD) Vice-Chairman Tin Oo from house arrest, as his six-year term of detention is set to expire.
NLD party leaders along with his son, Thant Zin Oo, living in Japan, are optimistic of his release after learning that Tin Oo (82) underwent eye surgery at the American Eye Vision Hospital in Rangoon last week.
"It has been noticed that those to be released soon are usually provided medical care. He had eye surgery last week. If the house arrest term is to be extended, they usually inform us in advance, which has not been done in U Tin Oo’s case. I think he could be released from house arrest," NLD Central Executive Committee member Win Tin told Mizzima.
"The house arrest term of Vice-Chairman U Tin Oo will expire tomorrow, so I expect he will be released. We will know by tomorrow evening," commented Thant Zin Oo, Chairman of the NLD Liberated Area - Japan Branch.
A security cordon was provided for Tin Oo’s visit to the eye center.
"He was allowed to have eye surgery at American Eye Vision last week. One of his eyes is said to be affected by glaucoma and the other has a blood clot. The condition of one of his eyes is bad," Win Tin said.
Tin Oo is serving a sentence under the law ‘Safeguarding the State from the Danger of Subversive Elements’.
"Under this law he cannot be confined and interned anymore. The term of house arrest will expire tomorrow," explained Nyan Win, a lawyer and NLD spokesperson.
Retired Commander-in-Chief Tin Oo was arrested after the Depayin incident of May 30th 2003, and has been under house arrest since February 2004.
He was ambushed and attacked by a pro-junta mob near the town of Depayin, in Sagaing Division, as he and colleagues including party General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi were traveling in a motorcade to upper Burma on an organizational tour.
Tin Oo has reportedly been suffering from varicose veins in his legs for the last 20 years.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Subscribe to email feed
