The National League of Democracy (NLD) has been told that party elder Win Tin has a 50-50 chance of survival, despite the 84-year-old having regained consciousness in the intensive care unit at Rangoon General Hospital.

“Win Tin is in a critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit.” NLD executive committee member Han Thar Myint told DVB on Thursday. “We are remaining hopeful that things will improve in the future, but we have been told by doctors he only has a 50-50 chance of survival.”

According to Win Tin’s doctor, Dr Myint Thein, the former journalist and 19-year political prisoner underwent an operation on his large intestine on Saturday for an infection stemming from his preexisting lung disease. Myint Thein said Win Tin was rushed to hospital with internal bleeding after doctors noticed an irregular heart rate.

However Win Tin’s niece, Yin Tun, speaking from the stricken democracy leader’s bedside, said that his condition has improved as of Thursday morning. “He still needs help breathing and the situation is still serious, although he indicated to me that he is feeling a little bit better,” she told DVB by telephone.

Public concern for Win Tin’s condition has prompted scores of supporters to maintain a vigil outside Rangoon General Hospital, praying for the veteran politician’s health. NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi, however, has not yet visited the man considered second in charge of Burma’s political opposition, despite her being in Rangoon.

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“She was due to visit him yesterday, however she did not come. I have not heard anything about a visit today,” Yin Tun said on Thursday.

Win Tin joined the NLD in 1989 and acted as a close aid to Suu Kyi as the party established itself. The senior leader vigorously campaigned for constitutional change before he was taken ill, with a particular focus on the amendment of Article 59(f), which bars Suu Kyi from running for the presidency.

Han Thar Myint said that he was unsure of why the NLD leader had not checked in on her deputy.

“I hope she will come soon,” Han Thar Myint said. “There are a lot of people waiting.”