Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The Burmese military junta has rejected outright a petition by the lawyer of detained Burmese pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to review the extension of her house arrest period, an official of her party in exile said.

Nyo Ohn Myint, in-charge of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Thailand-based National League for Democracy-Liberated Area (NLD-LA) said, the junta last week rejected the petition by Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer Kyi Win to review her detention which has gone beyond five years in the last term.

"The appeal was rejected and at the same time they [junta] have forbidden Kyi Win to meet Aung San Suu Kyi to explain about the appeal to her," said Nyo Ohn Myint.

Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who completed her last five years in detention in May 2008, is having to contend with an extension for another year. But the NLD-LA in their statement said, according to the law she has the right to appeal.

But lawyer Kyi Win, said he had not been informed of the rejection of the appeal by the regime and that he was told that authorities are working on the case, and that he no longer requires to meet Aung San Suu Kyi.

"They [authorities] told me that they are now working on the case and so they said I no longer need to meet Aung San Suu Kyi," Kyi Win told Mizzima.

But he, however, added that "I will try to meet Aung San Suu Kyi again."

Meanwhile, a source close to the NLD said, Kyi Win had also been threatened by the authorities not to reveal the rejection of the petition in Aung San Suu Kyi's case.

While the information cannot be independently verified, Nyo Ohn Myint said, the junta's action is likely to be related to their planned 2010 general election, for which they fear the release of Aung San Suu Kyi might foil their determination to successfully conduct the polls.

"This shows that the ensuing 2010 election will be not be fair and just, and it also means denial of Aung San Suu Kyi from participating in political activities and rejection of the international call to conduct free and fair elections," Nyo Ohn Myint said.

Aung San Suu Kyi had been detained for the past 13 of 19 years.