By MRATT KYAW THU | FRONTIER
YANGON — National League for Democracy patron U Tin Oo remained in critical condition in hospital on Thursday afternoon, according to medical staff.
The NLD cofounder and former military commander-in-chief, who turned 90 in March, fell in the bathroom of his Bahan home around 11pm on Wednesday.
He was taken to the Shwegondaing Special Clinic and promptly admitted to the Yangon General Hospital’s neurological ward, later losing consciousness for several hours.
After regaining consciousness around midday, Tin Oo remains under critical care. Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein and members of the NLD’s central executive committee visited the party patron Thursday morning.
Support more independent journalism like this. Sign up to be a Frontier member.
Frontier has been unable to confirm reports he had suffered a stroke.
A career military officer, Tin Oo rose to the positions of commander-in-chief and defence minister in 1974, during the era of the Ne Win dictatorship.
After resigning two years later, the former general was accused of corruption and accused of being an accessory to an abortive coup plot.
Released under a prisoner amnesty in 1980, Tin Oo returned to the limelight after founding the National League for Democracy with Myanmar’s current leader, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Imprisoned again the following year, Tin Oo spent more than 12 years in detention over the course of the next two decades before his release ahead of the 2010 general election.
He never sought public office during his time with the NLD, granting a rare interview in 2015 to deny rumours he was being considered for the presidency, and has limited his public engagements in recent years amid ailing health.
Additional reporting by Sean Gleeson.
