ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

by Nem Davies | New Delhi (Mizzima) – The Burmese military junta has refused a request by opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, to meet her lawyer.

Her lawyer U Kyi Win requested the junta authorities to let him visit his client on either December 8 or 10 for discussion on an appeal against her alleged unlawful detention beyond five years. He received a reply from the authorities yesterday, refusing his request.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesman U Nyan Win said quoting U Kyi Win that the authorities informed him that the council of ministers (cabinet) was handling the appeal.

"The junta denied his request saying the request is being handled by the cabinet," he said yesterday.

"The word 'handling' has a lot of contextual meanings, it is very difficult to interpret this word," he added.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent over 13 of the last 19 years under house arrest, sent an appeal against her detention to Naypyidaw (capital city) on October 9. In this appeal, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi claimed that she had been unlawfully kept under house arrest beyond the limit mentioned in the provision of the law.

She was granted a meeting with her lawyer three times to discuss the appeal. U Nyan Win said that the regime denied what should be granted in accordance with the law.

"We see this as denying a lawful and rightful request. The lawyer and his client should have meetings freely as granted by the law. I see this is denial of lawful and rightful right," he said.

"The lawyer must meet his client to prepare his argument to be submitted in court as to which points should be included and which should not as per the client's instruction," he said.

The regime restricted her movement (house arrest) under the 'The Law Safeguarding the State from the danger of Destructive Elements'.

The NLD won a landslide victory in the 1990 general elections but the regime denied handing over power to the party.