Apr 27, 2009 (DVB), The lawyer of the detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will file an appeal for her release directly to Burma's junta leader following the government's failure to respond to previous appeals.

Three appeals have been filed by lawyer U Kyi Win since last October but no response has been given.

Suu Kyi, the leader of opposition party National League for Democracy, has been under house arrest for 13 of the last 19 years, since the NLD won a landslide victory in the 1990 elections.

"The government is not acting on the appeals," said Kyi Win. "For that reason, we will be appealing to a higher authority or the chairman of the [State Peace and Development Council].

"We will state that the government has failed to act on our appeals and we will request him to take necessary action."

The lawyer decided to file the appeal to the highest authority after being given the power of attorney by Suu Kyi. The current order on her detention expires on 27 May this year.

"Of course, we could wait for that period to end without taking any action," he said. "But, what will the consequence of that action be?"

"The government has completely ignored the appeals of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, which is a right granted under Section 19.

"If we do not appeal, that lawful right will come to nothing."

Suu Kyi's current spell under house arrest began in 2003 following the Depayin massacre, in which a government-backed mob opened fire on a convoy of people associated with the NLD, killing 70.

Reporting by Yee May Aung