Ma Thida

Dr. Ma Thida, a Burmese surgeon and writer was arrested in 1993 and sentenced to twenty years in prison for the nonviolent expression of her beliefs and her association with Nobel Peace Price winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the founders of Burma/Myanmar's main political opposition party. In February 1999, Dr. Ma Thida was pardoned and released on humanitarian grounds. Dr. Ma Thida's health seriously deteriorated while she was in prison. Dr. Ma Thida suffers from endometriosis and other ailments for which she did not receive adequate medical treatment while in detention.

AAAS awards and honors:

• Science and Human Rights Reception, 1997.