Dec 4, 2007 (DVB), Detained 88 generation student leader Ko Htay Kywe was denied permission to attend his mother's funeral yesterday, according to a friend of the activist.

Daw Mi Mi Lay's funeral was held at around 1pm yesterday at Yay Way cemetery in North Okkalapa township, Rangoon.

Around 1,500 people came to pay their respects, including political activists, veteran politicians, ABFSU members, commodity protestors, actor Kyaw Thu and 68 monks and 68 nuns.

A friend of Htay Kywe said he wished that the student leader could have been at the funeral.

"Ko Htay Kywe couldn't make it here and it's really sad; we wanted him to be here at his mother's funeral," he said.

"But he did send in a card and a wreath."

Daw Mi Mi Lay died aged 68 on 29 November at around 9.30pm.

She had been suffering from cancer since 2003, and was admitted to the Shwegonedine special clinic in October for about a month.

She was sent home on 29 November when the hospital decided it could do no more for her.

Htay Kywe has been detained since 13 October for his part in instigating the protests over commodity prices beginning in August this year.

Reporting by Maung Too