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Burma deports Suu Kyi US ‘guest’

August 16th, 2009 | No Comments

John Yettaw - image released by Myanmar News Agency, May 2009

The American man jailed for visiting Burma’s detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to be deported from the country shortly.

Visiting US Senator Jim Webb said after meeting Burma’s (Myanmar’s) military ruler Than Shwe on Saturday that he would leave with John Yettaw on Sunday.

Senator Webb also met pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Mr Yettaw was jailed for seven years over the visit and Ms Suu Kyi’s house arrest was extended by 18 months.

The US state department has welcomed Mr Yettaw’s imminent release.

"It is my hope that we can take advantage of these gestures as a way to begin laying a foundation of goodwill and confidence-building in the future"

Senator Jim Webb

Burmese junta’s tactical manoeuvre

Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi intruder

Mr Yettaw’s wife, Betty, told the Associated Press that she had not received any official notice that he would be returning home.

"If it’s true, of course I’m extremely happy, and we’re ecstatic," she said by telephone from their home in Camdenton, central Missouri.

However, Burmese dissidents say Senator Webb’s trip could be seen as an endorsement of the poor treatment received by Ms Suu Kyi and more than 2,000 other political prisoners.

Senator Webb’s office said Mr Yettaw would be officially deported on Sunday morning and that the senator would bring him out of the country on a military aircraft that was returning to Bangkok.

After his arrest, Mr Yettaw, said he had been sent by God to deliver a warning to Ms Suu Kyi that she would be assassinated.

Senator Webb, who also asked for the release of Ms Suu Kyi, was the most senior US official to meet the Burmese leader, his office said.

"I am grateful to the Myanmar government for honouring these requests," he said in a statement announcing Mr Yettaw’s release.

"It is my hope that we can take advantage of these gestures as a way to begin laying a foundation of goodwill and confidence-building in the future," Senator Webb added.

‘Sacrifices’

Earlier, Ms Suu Kyi was taken to a state guesthouse near her home to meet Senator Webb, where the two held talks lasting about 40 minutes.

The Democratic senator described the meeting as "an opportunity for me to convey my deep respect to Aung San Suu Kyi for the sacrifices she has made on behalf of democracy around the world".

Ms Suu Kyi went on trial in May after Mr Yettaw swam to her lakeside home with homemade flippers, evading guards.

She was charged with breaking the terms of her house arrest by sheltering Mr Yettaw and, after many delays, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in prison.

Gen Than Shwe salutes during Armed Forces Day - 27 March 2006

Although the sentence was commuted to 18 months’ house arrest by Than Shwe, it ensures the opposition leader cannot take part in planned elections next year.

Ms Suu Kyi, 64, has spent 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest.

Senator Webb, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific affairs, has previously called for more "constructive" US engagement with Burma.

He said in July that the trial of Ms Suu Kyi would make this difficult.

The UN Security Council expressed "serious concern" following Ms Suu Kyi’s conviction earlier this week and urged the release of all political prisoners, while the EU extended sanctions against Burma.

But Burma’s neighbour China said the world should respect its laws.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is the current chairman of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) told the BBC that imposing sanctions could lead to problems and that it was important to take a balanced approach to dealing with Burma.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

U.S. secures release of Myanmar prisoner

August 16th, 2009 | No Comments

American John Yettaw, the man who swam across a lake to visit Myanmarâ€™s opposition leader, will be released on Sunday. It follows a visit to Rangoon by U.S. Senator Jim Webb, the first and most senior U.S. official to meet Myanmarâ€™s military leader Than Shwe.

US senator ‘meets Burmese leader’

August 15th, 2009 | No Comments

Senator Jim Webb in Vientiane, capital of Laos - 13 August 2009

US Senator Jim Webb has arrived in Burma on a visit during which he is to meet military ruler Than Shwe.

He would be the most senior US official to meet Than Shwe, the Democratic senator’s office said in a statement.

His visit comes days after pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was given 18 more months of house arrest.

Adding to international condemnation, the UN Security Council has expressed its "serious concern" and the EU extended its sanctions against Burma.

Mr Webb, who is close to US President Barack Obama, is due to meet Than Shwe on Saturday, a Burmese official said.

He is not expected to meet Ms Suu Kyi or American John Yettaw, whose uninvited visit to her home led to the trial which ended on Tuesday.

Mr Webb chairs the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific affairs.

‘Watered-down’ statement

Ms Suu Kyi was put on trial in May after Mr Yettaw swam to her lakeside home, evading guards. She was charged with breaking the terms of her house arrest by sheltering Mr Yettaw and after many delays, was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in prison.

Although the sentence was commuted to 18 months house arrest by Than Shwe, it ensures the opposition leader cannot take in planned elections next year.

Ms Suu Kyi, 64, has spent 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest.

A supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi hands out photos of her during a protest in Paris after the court verdict.

A UN Security Council statement on Thursday expressed "serious concern" at the sentence and urged the release of all political prisoners.

Correspondents said the statement was watered down from an original US draft, which "condemned" the verdict and demanded that Burma’s military junta free Ms Suu Kyi.

The main reason for the weaker language was China – a powerful permanent member of the council, with close ties to Burma’s rulers, says the BBC’s Tom Lane at the UN.

Together with Russia it has blocked strongly-worded condemnations in the past, our correspondent adds.

The US, Britain and France were among countries to condemn the verdict, but Burma’s neighbour China said the world should respect Burma’s laws.

The EU said judges involved in Ms Suu Kyi’s sentencing would now join military and government figures in having their overseas assets frozen and travel to the EU banned.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Asian regrets at Suu Kyi verdict

August 12th, 2009 | No Comments

Supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi in Seoul, South Korea

A key group of Burma’s South East Asian neighbours has issued a rare statement condemning the conviction of Burma’s pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

She was found guilty on Tuesday of breaking the terms of her house arrest.

In the past the Asean group has been criticised for not taking a tougher stance on Burma’s rights record.

The US, the EU, Britain and France are among those who have condemned the verdict, but neighbour China said the world should respect Burma’s laws.

Beijing’s statement has led many to believe that China will not back any UN action proposed against Burma, says the BBC’s Karishma Vaswani, reporting from the Thai capital, Bangkok.

Mrs Suu Kyi’s lawyers have told the BBC’s Burmese Service they plan to appeal against the verdict.

Trading partners

Thailand, the chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), said it had learned with deep disappointment that Mrs Suu Kyi was sentenced to 18 months of house arrest with limited freedom.

But analysts say it is unlikely that Burma’s leaders will pay much attention to Asean’s statement.

"Keeping Aung San Suu Kyi under arrest… does not serve the proclaimed national interest"

Ton van Lierop
EU spokesman

Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi

Burmese reaction

International sanctions

Putting pressure on Burma

They are believed to be far more concerned about the opinions of their big neighbours – specifically leading trading partners China and India, says our correspondent.

Both countries have been accused by critics of propping up Burma’s military government, especially in recent years, as growing economic sanctions have strangled Burma’s trade relationship with the West.

After Tuesday’s verdict the UN called for the immediate release of the 64-year-old pro-democracy leader – who has spent 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest.

Critics of Burma’s military regime say the verdict is designed to prevent Ms Suu Kyi from taking part in elections scheduled for 2010.

Ibrahim Gambari, the UN’s special envoy to Burma, told the BBC that free and fair elections could not take place without her.

"[Aung San Suu Kyi] is absolutely indispensable to the resumption of a political process that can lead to national reconciliation," in Burma, Mr Gambari told the BBC.

Hard labour

The UN Security Council adjourned an emergency session without agreeing a response to the sentencing, and will resume deliberations later on Wednesday.

Britain’s ambassador to the UN, John Sawers, who is head of the Security Council this month, said some countries, including China and Russia, had asked for more time to consider a draft statement condemning the verdict.

A statement from the office of Nicolas Sarkozy said the French president was calling on the European Union to impose new sanctions on Burma.

Ms Suu Kyi was on trial for allowing a US national, John Yettaw, into her lakeside home after he swam there uninvited.

Mr Yettaw was jailed for seven years, including four years of hard labour.

Mrs Suu Kyi’s previous period of house arrest expired on 27 May.

This new term will mean she is still in detention during the polls, which are expected to take place next May.

Her party, the National League for Democracy, won the last elections in 1990 but was never allowed to take power.

Are you in Burma What’s your reaction to the verdict Send us your views using the form below. You can also send a comment to our debate

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi ‘guilty’

August 11th, 2009 | No Comments

Supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi in Seoul, South Korea

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to an additional 18 months house arrest by a court in Rangoon.

Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate, was convicted of violating state security laws by allowing a US national into her lakeside home after he swam there.

She was jailed for three years with hard labour, but this was commuted to house arrest, an official said.

American John Yettaw was jailed for seven years, four with hard labour.

Ms Suu Kyi, who has spent nearly 14 of the past 20 years in detention, had denied the charge but said she expected to be convicted.

Journalists had unexpectedly been allowed to enter the courtroom in Rangoon’s Insein prison shortly before the sentence was announced.

Following the reading of Ms Suu Kyi’s sentence there was a five-minute recess before the country’s home minister entered the courtroom and read out a special order from Burma’s military ruler Than Shwe.

The order said he was commuting the sentence and that it could be served under house arrest.

The trial has brought international condemnation, with critics accusing Burma’s military government of trying to keep Ms Suu Kyi out of elections next year.

Mr Yettaw, 54, swam to Ms Suu Kyi’s lakeside house in Rangoon and stayed there for two nights in May.

He is believed to have epilepsy, diabetes and post-traumatic stress disorder and has been treated at a Rangoon hospital.

Reports say he was discharged from hospital on Monday night after a week of treatment for epileptic seizures.

Are you in Burma What’s your reaction to the verdict Send us your views.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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Locked up

August 11th, 2009 | No Comments

Myanmar’s opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is detained again

AFTER many delays, a court in Myanmar at last handed down its verdict on Tuesday August 11th, concluding the trial of the country’s main opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The staunchest foe of the ruling junta has been consigned to another 18 months of house arrest, as punishment for a bizarre incident in May when an American eccentric swam to her lakeside villa, forcing her to break the terms of her previous house arrest. The verdict was expected: the government has, in effect, found an excuse to prolong her detention, which was about to expire, until after elections that are planned for some time next year. Her defence, that as a prisoner she was in no position to fend off uninvited visitors, was brushed aside by the court.

The sentence handed down on Tuesday was for three years’ hard labour, but in a piece of careful choreography the interior minister promptly stood up to announce that the junta leader, General Than Shwe, had commuted it. By giving the gentlest sentence that was realistically available he may hope to minimise the international outrage. The hapless John Yettaw, the 54-year-old Mormon who testified he was motivated to make his swim by a vision in a dream, was told to serve four years’ hard labour and three years in prison. Aung Naing Oo, a Burmese scholar at Chiang Mai university in Thailand, suggests that the regime will be keen to expel him much sooner than that. …

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Verdict delayed in Suu Kyi trial

July 31st, 2009 | No Comments

Burma’s military rulers have warned supporters of jailed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi not to protest when her trial verdict is announced.
A verdict is expected on Friday in her trial for breaching the terms of her house arrest by allowing an uninvited US man stay in her home in Rangoon.

State media cautioned against protests, saying "we have to ward off subversive elements and disruptions".

Despite international calls for her release, a guilty verdict is expected.

The official New Light of Myanmar newspaper said: "Look out if some arouse the people to take to the streets to come to power. In reality they are anti-democracy elements, not pro-democracy activists."

‘Vision warning’

Ms Suu Kyi faces five years in jail if she is convicted.

She is accused of allowing American well-wisher John Yettaw to stay in her lakeside home after he swam there, evading her guards.

He has said he swam to her home to warn her he had a vision that she would be assassinated.

Lawyers for Ms Suu Kyi have not disputed the events, but say she had no control over the situation and that the guards around her home should have kept Mr Yettaw away.

Timeline: Aung San Suu Kyi trial
Profile: Aung San Suu Kyi

Her lawyers have also argued that the law she has been charged under is part of a constitution abolished 25 years ago.

The trial had initially been expected to last a few days, but has now dragged on for more than two months. Defence lawyers gave their final statements on Tuesday, in response to the prosecution’s closing arguments the day before.

Analysts say the Burmese junta may use this trial to make sure the popular pro-democracy leader is still in detention during elections planned for early next year.

Her lawyer, Nyan Win, said Ms Suu Kyi was "preparing for the worst", stockpiling books and medicines.

Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won elections in 1988 but was never allowed to take power.

The 64-year-old has spent nearly 14 of the last 20 years in detention, much of it at her Rangoon home.

Unusually, diplomats from Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the US were allowed to attend the trial in its closing stages.

Analysts suggested that signalled belated recognition on the part of the government at the level of international anger over Ms Suu Kyi’s prosecution.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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Aung San Suu Kyi ‘preparing for worst’

July 27th, 2009 | No Comments

â€¢ Closing arguments due in trial of Burma’s pro-democracy leader
â€¢ Verdict not expected for at least a fortnight

The trial of Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi entered its final phase today, with both sides expected to present closing arguments before a verdict is delivered in two to three weeks.

Aung San Suu Kyi is charged with breaking the terms of her house arrest by allowing an American man spend two nights at her home in early May. She faces up to five years in prison if found guilty.

John Yettaw, a Vietnam veteran who was described by his wife as eccentric, said he swam across a lake to her home because he wanted to warn her that she was about to be assassinated by “terrorists.”

Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been in detention for 14 of the past 20 years, pleaded with Yettaw to leave and relented only after he claimed to be too ill to swim back.

Reports said Yettaw’s lawyer was due to defend his client today against a trespassing charge, which carries a sentence of up to three months in prison.

Khin Maung Oo, said at the weekend he would attempt to win Yettaw, 53, a lenient sentence. “I will try my best to defend my client. I will argue that he did not violate the restriction order and I will try my utmost to get him lesser punishment,” he said.

Although the prosecution was expected to wind up its case against the Nobel prize winner today, her lawyer said a verdict was not imminent. “I expect all the arguments will be made today but I think the verdict might take as long as two or three weeks,” Nyan Win told Reuters.

Nyan Win said his client was “preparing for the worst” at the end of a trial that the junta’s critics have denounced as an excuse to keep Suu Kyi incarcerated during national elections next year.

Statements were expected from Aung San Suu Kyi’s longtime companions, Khin Khin Win and her daughter Win Ma Ma. The women, members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), also face up to five years in prison.

The NLD won a landslide victory in elections in 1990, but the ruling generals refused to recognise the result.

The junta has so far resisted international calls for Aung San Suu Kyi’s immediate release. Last week, the state-controlled media accused the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, of “interference” after she said a satisfactory conclusion to the trial could lead to better economic ties with Washington.

In demanding her release, western critics of the regime were showing “reckless disregard for the law”, the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said. “The court will hand down a reasonable term to her if she is found guilty, and it will release her if she is found not guilty,” it added.

Most of the trial has been conducted behind closed doors since it began on 18 May.

Diplomats have been allowed to witness four hearings, with observers from the US, Singapore, Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia reportedly granted access to this morning’s proceedings.

A diplomatic source said Aung San Suu Kyi, who is being held at Insein prison in the capital, Rangoon, had appeared “fit, healthy and in sparkling form” when she appeared in court last Friday.

The defence does not deny that Yettaw visited her compound, but argues that she cannot be charged under laws that were abolished in 1988. It blames her bodyguards for failing to apprehend Yettaw, who remained undetected inside the compound for several hours.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Burma

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Closing arguments in Burma trial

July 27th, 2009 | No Comments

The prosecution in the military government’s trial of the Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is to deliver its closing arguments.
Ms Suu Kyi faces five years in prison if she is convicted of having violated her house arrest when a American man swam to her lakeside home uninvited.

Her lawyers – who delivered their final statement on Friday – say they expect a verdict in two to three weeks.

Unusually, diplomats have been allowed into the court for this session.

Lawyers read closing arguments for the other defendants, two of Ms Suu Kyi’s housemaids and John Yettaw, the American intruder.

The prosecution may wrap up its case against Suu Kyi later on Monday, court officials said.

Poll ploy

A verdict is not expected yet, however.

"I expect all the arguments will be made today but I think the verdict might take as long as two or three weeks," said Ms Suu Kyi’s lawyer, Nyan Win.

Timeline: Aung San Suu Kyi trial

The trial has been held mostly behind closed doors, but diplomats from the United States, Singapore, Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia were allowed to attend the session, one of the diplomats told reporters.

Hundreds of NLD members and supporters of Ms Suu Kyi rallied outside Insein Prison where she has been held since May. About 10 truckloads of security personnel were seen in the area.

Ms Suu Kyi, 64, has spent nearly 14 of the last 20 years in detention, much of it at her Rangoon home.

Polls are planned by the military government for some time next year. Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won the last elections in 1988 but was never allowed to take power.

The trial, which had been expected to wrap up in days when it started, has dragged on for more than two months.

Prosecutors argue that Aung San Suu Kyi must be held responsible for the midnight swim to her home by the American well-wisher, John Yettaw, in early May.

Her lawyers have argued that the law she has been charged under is part of a constitution abolished 25 years ago.

In any case, they say, she cannot be responsible for the incident as she was living under tightly-guarded house arrest at the time.

BBC South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says the fact that some defence witnesses and foreign observers have been allowed shows that the government belatedly recognised the anger stirred up around the world by trying Ms Suu Kyi on such bizarre charges.

But, our correspondent adds, all the indications are that she will still be found guilty. Burma’s ruling generals fear her popularity, and do not want her to play any role in next year’s election.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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Aung San Suu Kyi trial delayed

July 24th, 2009 | No Comments

Burmese pro-democracy leader says delay gives prosecution more time to prepare closing arguments in house arrest case

Burma’s jailed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is “absolutely dissatisfied” by the decision to adjourn her trial until Monday because it gives prosecutors more time to prepare their closing arguments, her lawyer said today.

The widely criticised proceedings had been expected to end with defence lawyers and the prosecution presenting their final arguments today.

The Nobel peace prize winner is charged with breaking the terms of her house arrest after an American man spent two nights at her compound in May.

“[She] said she was absolutely dissatisfied with the arrangement giving more time for the prosecution to prepare the argument,” said Nyan Win.

The trial was adjourned after the defence spent more than two and a half hours reading out their 30-page closing statement, according to people in the courtroom.

A diplomatic source who witnessed the hearing said Aung San Suu Kyi looked “fit, healthy and in sparkling form.

“She smiled at her defence team and was admirably composed, particularly given the length of the hearing and the humidity in the courtroom.

“At the end she went over to the diplomats present and thanked them warmly for their support.”

The 64-year-old, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years under house arrest, has denied the charges. She says she urged her uninvited guest, John Yettaw, to go home and only relented after he claimed to be feeling unwell.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who is being detained at the notorious Insein prison in the capital, Rangoon, met her lawyers for two hours yesterday to discuss their closing arguments.

“We are very optimistic because our arguments are based on solid legal points,” her lawyer told reporters.

“We have the law on our side, but we don’t know if the judges are on our side.”

The defence team says the authorities have denied them the chance to properly make their case. While the court has heard testimony from 23 prosecution witnesses, only two defence witnesses have been allowed to take the stand. Most of the trial has been conducted behind closed doors.

The defence does not deny that Yettaw visited Aung San Suu Kyi’s compound, but were expected to argue that she could not be charged under a law belonging to a constitution that was abolished 25 years ago, or held responsible for the failure of her guards to apprehend the American.

The diplomatic source said that at times it wasn’t clear which law was being used for the prosecution. “The whole thing is incoherent as well as wrong. This is an attack on her because she stands for freedom of expression and assembly.”

Two female members of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), are facing the same charges, while Yettaw is charged with trespassing. Lawyers will present their cases for the three on Monday before prosecutors present their closing arguments.

Yettaw swam across a lake to the heavily guarded compound using homemade flippers and water bottles as buoyancy aids. The 53-year-old Vietnam veteran said he had dreamed she was about to be assassinated and wanted to warn her.

Diplomats from France, Germany, Britain, Norway and Italy have been allowed to witness the hearing â€“ only the third time observers have been given access to the court since the trial began on 18 May. The only journalists present were two reporters from the Burmese state media.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s supporters say the Burmese military junta is using Yettaw’s stunt as an excuse to keep her out of sight during national elections scheduled for next year.

The NLD won 80% of the vote in elections in 1990; a result ignored by the country’s military leaders.

Observers believe the court will find her guilty and impose a sentence ranging from another year of house arrest to up to five years in prison. The verdict is expected next month.

The junta appears determined to prevent her from playing any part in the elections, despite repeated international calls for her immediate and unconditional release.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Burma

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