Burmese pro-democarcy activist Aung San Suu Kyi says she is being held under a security law, similar to Malaysia's Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for indefinite detention without trial.

UN special envoy Razali Ismail said she told him this during his meeting with her last Tuesday just before he concluded his five-day mission to Rangoon.

He said Suu Kyi had expected to see him although she had not been informed of the identity of her visitor.

"When I went in, she said, 'I knew it was going to be you, Raz. I had the feeling that it was going to be you'I asked if she was hurt, she said 'No'. I asked if she was interrogated, she said 'No'," Razali told malaysiakini in an interview, the first part of which was posted yesterday.

"She told me that they are keeping her under Section 10a (of the 1975 State Protection Act). She asked me what the charge against her was...that she did nothing wrong and it was the (government-sponsored groups) who attacked her.

"I have looked up what it implies and it's pretty serious. The law allows them to keep her incommunicado for up to six months. The use of a security law would also appear at variance with the government's claim that they are holding her in 'protective custody'."

The controversial law has repeatedly been used in the past to detain political dissidents. It allows for the government to impose wide-ranging restrictions on individuals suspected of involvement in activities deemed a threat to state security or public peace.

Under Section 10a, the government is authorised to detain individuals without charge over consecutive 60-day periods, up to 180 days. A related provision allows for a council of ministers to extend detention for an unspecified amount of time.

The military junta in Burma, however, has not revealed that she is being held under this law, saying only that her detention was necessary for her own safety, according to recent news reports.

Supervised visit

Razali said his meeting - held at a location in Rangoon that he is not authorised to reveal - was supervised for the first time by a military official, Brigadier-General Than Tun, who has served as the liaison officer between the government and Suu Kyi since 1989.

Far from being intimidated by the official's presence, Razali said Suu Kyi had demanded justice from the government for her "barbaric" treatment.

"She was in protective custody so (the military) wanted to be there at the meeting. But (Than Tun's) presence did not inhibit me. I just talked and she didn't care (either)," he said.

Relating her experiences on the May 30 evening when her convoy was ambushed by pro-government groups, Razali said Suu Kyi had sensed trouble after her group was stopped at a roadblock.

She was about to leave the car to check on the commotion when a group of people came up suddenly and started smashing her window.

"Someone covered her with his body and her driver sped off straight away. She was later kept for one night at a military camp and brought back to Yangon (Rangoon) the next day," he said.

Razali said Suu Kyi had asked about the fate of her supporters, but that he had not told her about the suspected death toll or casualty list because he did not want to upset her further.

The government had announced that four people were killed and 50 injured during the violent confrontation between Suu Kyi's supporters and pro-government groups. However, unofficial estimates placed the death toll as high as 70.

Commenting on the discrepancy, the envoy said it was unlikely that the death toll could be as high as that estimated by opposition groups.

"There may have been a few deaths. But the government was right about her not being hurt. Who started the rumour that she was hurt? These are inflammatory rumours," he said disapprovingly.

Split in ranks

Razali said Suu Kyi's detention may be symptomatic of disagreement among government leaders on how to deal with her popularity.

"There are pragmatists and conservatives. The conservatives may want to get rid of her...not all of them, but some of them may go to extremes."

Burma observers have speculated that the latest turn of events signal the increasing impatience of army hardliners against Suu Kyi's role in the country's political future.

The military intelligence unit, which is responsible for her current protective custody order, is headed by Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt who is known as a pragmatist leader keen on engagement.

Aside from Khin Nyunt, Razali also had a "good meeting" with the country's second highest government leader, General Maung Aye, during his trip. This was the first time the two had met.

This could auger well for a shift in Maung Aye's position to favour a more conciliatory approach.

Laborious process

While it is said that Burmese Prime Minister Senior-General Than Shwe is opposed to dialogue with Suu Kyi, Razali appeared cautious about commenting on this.

"I don't know where he stands (on this). Maung Aye may be able to convince him not to do the drastic thing, but it is all a very slow and laborious process," he said.

As for Suu Kyi, the envoy said he plans to wait another week to see if the government will release her before he heads to New York to brief UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

"Those are my expectations (that the junta will release her soon). I don't even have a commitment if they are going to let her out on a specific date," he said.

The envoy said it would be unacceptable for the military to postpone her release until the situation goes "back to normal", as officials have undertaken.

"We should be worried about who determines what 'normal' is. If it is left to the military, she might be in detention for a long time. Even before May 30, there were no talks and no steps towards reconciliation...and this was not good," Razali added.

Razali, a seasoned diplomat, was appointed by the UN three years ago to facilitate political dialogue between the Burmese government and opposition groups led by Suu Kyi.

However, far from achieving progress, the envoy found instead that his visits to Burma had more often been focused on securing her release from various periods of detention.