Aug 28, 2008 (DVB), U Kyi Win, lawyer for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, is waiting to hear if his request for permission to visit the detained National League for Democracy leader on Friday has been approved.

The NLD has recently expressed concern about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after reports that she is refusing to accept food deliveries.

U Kyi Win has visited the pro-democracy leader twice this month to discuss her appeal against the military regime's decision to extend her house arrest for another year.

He told DVB that he was confident he would be allowed to visit her again, but has not yet received confirmation from the authorities.

"This evening, I went to see [, ] the special branch, who are in charge of granting permission to visit and the like," Kyi Win said.

"I went to them and submitted the application form. I asked them to allow me to see her the day after tomorrow, which is the 29th , had I asked for tomorrow, it would have been too close as they have to report it to their superiors," he said.

"If I don't get the 29th I asked them to give me the 1st, which is Monday, I am relatively sure I will be granted one of these days."

Although the meeting would be related to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's appeal against her house arrest, Kyi Win said the health and welfare of his client was also important.

Despite rumours that the NLD leader had begun refusing provisions from 15 August, Kyi Win said he had not noticed anything different when he met her on 17 August and had not asked her about it.

He said he had discussed with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi how to get freedom of movement for her helper and companion Daw Khin Khin Win, which has been reported to be one of the NLD leader's demands.

Kyi Win pointed out that the way Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was summoned by loudspeaker to meet with two diplomats at the gate of her compound would have forced her to contravene the SPDC's own rules for her detention.

"The prohibition order states that she must not contact, meet or speak to foreign embassies and political organisations, and section (b) of the order says she must not come out of her house compound," Kyi Win said.

"From a legal viewpoint, had she gone out to see the people who summoned her with loudspeaker from the gate of her compound , think about it, they are banning her and you could say that Mr. Gambari is an ambassador , she would have been breaking two rules imposed upon her."

Kyi Win also noted that on previous occasions government officials had picked up Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to take her to meetings with diplomats, and said he found it impossible to understand why she had been summoned over a loudspeaker this time.

Kyi Win also said he would discuss whether Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's family physician Dr Myo Win would be able to arrange a new time to see her as he will not be able to make the monthly medical check-up on 4 September due to other commitments.

Reporting by Htet Aung Kyaw