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According to family members, Yettaw was a veteran of the [[Vietnam War]] with nearly two years of battle experience, and was once [[wounded in action]]. However, records from the [[National Personnel Records Center]] show that he was stationed in [[West Germany]], not Vietnam.<ref name="googleap"/><ref name="newsweek"/> In southern California, Yettaw had been licensed as a general contractor but has not worked full-time for the last 20 years.<ref name="fisher"/><ref name="newlight"/><ref name="bone"/><ref name="bbc14"/> Yettaw's Burmese lawyer [[Khin Maung Oo]] expressed that Yettaw had been diagnosed around 1999 with [[post-traumatic stress disorder]].<ref name="googleap"/> Yettaw also has [[prediabetes]] and [[asthma]].<ref name="fisher"/> According to his ex-wife, Yvonne, he has suffered from [[alcoholism]] and possibly untreated [[bipolar disorder]].<ref name="newsweek"/> According to Yvonne and her mother Doris Brochu, Yettaw qualified for Veterans Administration payments in 2007 under a 100% disability, which payments he had supplemented with federal grants for postgraduate academics.<ref name="bone"/>
According to family members, Yettaw was a veteran of the [[Vietnam War]] with nearly two years of battle experience, and was once [[wounded in action]]. However, records from the [[National Personnel Records Center]] show that he was stationed in [[West Germany]], not Vietnam.<ref name="googleap"/><ref name="newsweek"/> In southern California, Yettaw had been licensed as a general contractor but has not worked full-time for the last 20 years.<ref name="fisher"/><ref name="newlight"/><ref name="bone"/><ref name="bbc14"/> Yettaw's Burmese lawyer [[Khin Maung Oo]] expressed that Yettaw had been diagnosed around 1999 with [[post-traumatic stress disorder]].<ref name="googleap"/> Yettaw also has [[prediabetes]] and [[asthma]].<ref name="fisher"/> According to his ex-wife, Yvonne, he has suffered from [[alcoholism]] and possibly untreated [[bipolar disorder]].<ref name="newsweek"/> According to Yvonne and her mother Doris Brochu, Yettaw qualified for Veterans Administration payments in 2007 under a 100% disability, which payments he had supplemented with federal grants for postgraduate academics.<ref name="bone"/>

Tests have confirmed that John Yettaw is in fact a moron.


==2008 visit==
==2008 visit==

Revision as of 16:16, 16 August 2009

John Yettaw
Born
John William Yettaw

1955
Detroit, Michigan
NationalityAmerican
Alma materDrury University (psychology, biology and criminal justice; 1997)
Occupation(s)Psychology graduate student
Former seasonal building contractor
Known forVisits to Aung San Suu Kyi and subsequent arrest by Myanmar authorities
WebsiteJohn 7 Children

John William Yettaw (born 1955) is a U.S. citizen known for his 2008 and 2009 illegal visits to Burmese political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi. The 2009 visit prompted her arrest on May 13, 2009, two weeks before her scheduled release from house arrest on May 27.[2] Yettaw himself was arrested by Myanmar authorities on May 6. He was charged on May 14 with illegally entering a restricted zone, illegal swimming and breaking immigration laws.[3][4][5] It is illegal in Myanmar to have a guest stay overnight at one's home without notifying the authorities first.[6]

Their trial began May 18, 2009. On August 11, Yettaw was sentenced on three counts totaling seven years, including four hard labor. Suu Kyi was sentenced to eighteen months of house arrest.[7][8] On August 14, U.S. Senator Jim Webb arrived in Myanmar and successfully negotiated Yettaw's release and August 16 deportation.[9]

Myanmar authorities claimed that Yettaw's visits were part of a conspiracy that intended to embarrass the Myanmar government.[10] International organizations and nations sympathetic to her cause said the charges against Suu Kyi were a ruse to extend her detention beyond the 2010 scheduled elections.[10]

Yettaw has been referred to by some parts of the media as "Suu Kyi's stalker swimmer," "The Suu Kyi Swimmer" and "The Inya Lake Swimmer."[6][11][12]

Biography

Yettaw and his twin sister were born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1955. Their three older siblings died before becoming adults: one drowned, one committed suicide in a mental hospital, and one died while institutionalized. At the age of two their father abandoned them. Four or five years later a volunteer Big Brother molested him. Shortly after that his mother lost custody because of her alcoholism.[5] He later told family members that his mother had schizophrenia and mistreated him.[13] Relatives in California took him in, but he ran away in 1971 and lived in his car for two years until he was able to join the United States Army. He served for just over a year before being discharged, spending a majority of that time in Germany, and not, as was reported in 2009, in Vietnam.[5]

In 1975 Yettaw married his first of four wives in southern California. The marriage, initiated because of pregnancy, lasted only two years; a subsequent union lasted six years. In the late 1980s Yettaw converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). He was attracted to the church because of its belief that in the afterlife he could be reunited with his entire family. At a church singles event he met his third wife, Yvonne.[5] They were married for 12 years, had six children together, and divorced in 2002. During their marriage a fire destroyed their home. One of their sons, Clint, died in 2007 when his motorcycle hit a deer. As of 2009, one of their remaining children attends college[14][15] while the other four are under his physical custody.[3][4] Yettaw blamed himself for Clint's death. He had given his son the motorcycle as a gift, and had had two weeks earlier a premonition of Clint's death, but failed to act. Early in his marriage with Yvonne, Yettaw had another vision: that his father lived in Falcon, Missouri, a vision that turned out to be accurate.[5] Yettaw's father owned a parcel of land there.[14] Yettaw moved his family to the area. He, his ex-wife and children are all members of an LDS congregation in Lebanon, Missouri.[13] After their divorce, Yettaw moved to a mobile home on his 160-acre Falcon property. In the front yard he buried his son Clint. During this time Yettaw worked as a USA Tours bus driver, shuttling U.S. soldiers to and from Fort Leonard Wood. He also began construction on a turreted house. During this segment of his life Yettaw was involved in a fight in a parking lot and an incident in which he spat on a woman. A restraining order filed by the woman was placed on Yettaw.[5]

Yettaw graduated from Drury University in 1997 cum laude. He earned degrees in three different majors: psychology, biology and criminal justice. He was enrolled in a doctoral program at the Forest Institute's School of Professional Psychology (Springfield, Missouri campus), but was dismissed in 2007 for an altercation he had with a professor.[5]

His current wife and children reside in nearby Camdenton.

According to family members, Yettaw was a veteran of the Vietnam War with nearly two years of battle experience, and was once wounded in action. However, records from the National Personnel Records Center show that he was stationed in West Germany, not Vietnam.[16][5] In southern California, Yettaw had been licensed as a general contractor but has not worked full-time for the last 20 years.[4][17][13][7] Yettaw's Burmese lawyer Khin Maung Oo expressed that Yettaw had been diagnosed around 1999 with post-traumatic stress disorder.[16] Yettaw also has prediabetes and asthma.[4] According to his ex-wife, Yvonne, he has suffered from alcoholism and possibly untreated bipolar disorder.[5] According to Yvonne and her mother Doris Brochu, Yettaw qualified for Veterans Administration payments in 2007 under a 100% disability, which payments he had supplemented with federal grants for postgraduate academics.[13]

2008 visit

In May 2008, Yettaw and his son Brian took a lengthy trip to Asia. Brian did not return home until school started again in September. Yettaw then traveled to Mae Sot, Thailand, where he took up residence in a hotel, bought a motorcycle and developed a friendship with a Thai resident. He developed a deep interest in Suu Kyi and told people that he had to bring international attention to her situation. He tried unsuccessfully to get work at Thai NGOs. In October, after having a vision that he was a defender of the oppressed, he left Mae Sot without paying any of his bills. On October 27 in Bangkok, Thailand, he obtained his Myanmar visa. On November 7 he flew to Rangoon, Myanmar.[5]

On November 30, he reached Suu Kyi's home by swimming across Lake Inya. He entered the property via a culvert on University Avenue and Inya Myaing Road. He then made his way over a small fence behind the house, which was a restricted zone and was without communication devices. Myanmar authorities had forbidden Suu Kyi from having contact with outsiders.[3][17] His trek was successful despite her residence being surrounded by over a dozen security guards 24 hours a day, and despite the presence of police boats that frequently patrolled local waters.[18] Yettaw was prevented by the house staff from communicating with Suu Kyi, but he stayed there for a period of longer than two days.[3]

During this initial visit, Yettaw gave Suu Kyi at least six books, including The Book of Mormon, along with a letter written by Yettaw's daughter. This letter was later ripped up by Suu Kyi.[4][19][20] Suu Kyi reported Yettaw's visit to her doctor who alerted authorities. Authorities took no action.[21] He left the property via the same route he arrived.[17] According to Yettaw, upon his departure from her house, police officers apprehended him, aimed guns at him, asked "What are you doing here?", but then let him go.[22][23]

Unable to fly out of Bangkok, Thailand due to political protests involving the seizure of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Yettaw laid over in Myanmar at the Highland Hotel in Mae Sot for over a month. There he spoke openly to several people about his failed attempt to see Suu Kyi and his plans to try again. During this time he frequently visited refugee schools and met the children. He was often seen with a Thai woman.[24] He also visited the Mae Tao Clinic nearly a dozen times, where he communicated with Bo Kyi of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.[17]

As of May 2009, Yettaw was still paying off the travel cost of his 2008 visit.[4]

2009 visit and arrest

2009 swim to Suu Kyi's residence
This pair of images of self-portraiture were on the camera in Yettaw's possession at the time of his arrest; shown attached to Yettaw's sandals are homemade swimfins fashioned of heavy paperboard
Date4 May 2009
LocationLake Inya
Residence at 54 University Avenue, Yangon, Myanmar, where Aung San Suu Kyi was being held under house arrest
ParticipantsJohn Yettaw
OutcomeArrests of Yettaw, Suu Kyi and her two housekeepers Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma on 6 May 2009
Yettaw's sentence: 7 years imprisonment (4 of which, hard labor)
Suu Kyi's sentence: 18 months house arrest
Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma: identical sentences as Suu Kyi's [25]

In mid-April 2009 Yettaw traveled from Missouri to California to see an ex-wife, leaving his 10-year-old and three teenage children unattended. He informed her that he needed to go to Asia to obtain details on a paper he was writing about forgiveness. On April 20, Yettaw flew to Bangkok, leaving his children with various friends.[5][14] He told his family that he was working on a book and searching for U.S. soldiers missing in action from the Vietnam War.[13] According to Yettaw’s wife, he wanted to interview Suu Kyi about forgiveness and resilience.[4] Soon thereafter, Yettaw visited exiled Burmese groups in Thailand and told them about a faith-based book he was writing on heroism.[6] Yettaw spent a week in Bangkok waiting for his Myanmar visa to clear.[5]

On the evening of May 3, 2009, Yettaw swam a 2-kilometer (1.25-mile) distance across Lake Inya in Rangoon to the house where Aung San Suu Kyi was held under house arrest by Myanmar authorities. He planned his route across the lake using Google Earth.[3] Some policemen saw him during his swim and threw rocks at him.[22]

Using the same route he used during the 2008 visit, via the culvert, and over a small fence, Yettaw successfully evaded the government security guards and entered Suu Kyi’s residence at 5 AM on May 4.[17] [26][27] He entered the house by climbing up a drain.[28] Inside, he came upon Suu Kyi’s two female assistants, Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma, a mother and daughter, Suu Kyi’s sole sanctioned companions.[3][29] He informed them that he was tired, hungry and suffered from diabetes. The women fed him.[3] He asked Suu Kyi if he could stay at the house for a few days. She refused, and her caretakers threatened to turn him into the authorities, but Suu Kyi agreed to let him stay on the ground floor after he began to complain about leg cramps. During his stay, they provided him with rehydration salts and meals. Some of his time there he devoted to prayer.[26][28]

The Myanmar government requires all non-family overnight visitors to be registered and forbids overnight stays by foreigners.[3] According to Suu Kyi and her assistants, he stayed there as an uninvited, unwelcomed guest. Yettaw's family later stated that he was "well-intentioned" and "unaware of the possible consequences."[28]

Yettaw left the house just before midnight (11:45 PM) on May 4, the same day he arrived, although some accounts allege he left on May 5.[3][27] He then swam towards the home of the U.S. Counselor, which shares a fence with Kanthaya Hospital.[17] According to Myanmar officials, Yettaw left behind "two black chadors, two black scarves, two long skirts, one red torch light, six color pencils in a plastic bag, three pairs of sunglasses, two signal lights, a pair of swimming glasses, one two-pin plug, two pieces of circuit wire, one recharger, a black bag with a zip in it that was used to keep the apparatuses, a plastic bag with a zip in it, two pairs of gray stockings, five parts of an English book, and a bag with pieces of torn paper sheets in it."[26] At 5 AM on May 5 Yettaw was apprehended by police near the International Business Center and the U.S. embassy on the lake's west bank, less than 100 feet from the US counselor's home.[17][18]

Arrest and fallout

Originally scheduled to return to the United States June 24, Yettaw was arrested May 6 and taken to Insein prison; on May 14 he was charged with illegally entering a restricted zone, illegal swimming and breaking immigration laws.[4][3][4][5] Illegal entry carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; immigration violations carry up to one year in jail.[4] Yettaw shared his cell with two Myanmar prisoners. He refuses to eat food, hoping to induce another vision.[5]

Upon his arrest he was carrying two empty five-litre plastic bottles, two small bags, his U.S. passport, a flashlight, a camera protected by plastic wrap, a pair of pliers, a screw driver, a pair of folding pliers with laser, six memory cards, a torch light with dry cells, 28 separate dry cells, a hat, a white shirt with long sleeves, a pair of trousers, seven paper sheets with written English words, two paper sheets with printed words, two envelopes, two $100 bills, two $10 bills, one $50 bill, ninety-three 1000-kyat notes, and 10 visiting cards. Pictures on his camera included photographs of Aung San, a fighting peacock and a bookshelf.[3][17]

As a result of the 2009 visit, the authorities declared that Suu Kyi breached the conditions of her house arrest.[30] She was charged under the country's Law Safeguarding the State from the Dangers of Subversive Elements, which carried a three-to-five-year jail term. She and her two caretakers, Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma, were removed to the Insein prison, where they stayed for the duration of the trial. According to Police Brigadier General Myint Thein, prior to the Yettaw visit, authorities had considered letting Suu Kyi go free, but the incident "infringed on existing law and we unavoidably and regretfully had to take legal action against her."[31]

Suu Kyi’s followers insist the government is using this incident to continue her detention until after the 2010 general elections.[4] Other supporters have raised suspicions that the incident was constructed by the government.[3] The Myanmar government alleges that Yettaw's visit involved a conspiracy of "internal and external anti-government elements" meant "to intensify international pressure" to release Suu Kyi.[10] Her lawyer Kyi Win said on May 14: "Everyone is irritated with this American. All of these problems are his fault. He is a fool. Suu Kyi begged him to go back, but he said he was too tired. He slept overnight on the first floor." [7] However, two weeks later her defense lawyer Nyan Win stated that "Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said she bore no grudge against Mr. Yettaw or his family."[32]

Authorities closely investigated security lapses involving Yettaw's visits. It was announced on August 7 that after questioning sixty-one security members of the police battalion in question, one Police Lieutenant Colonel was demoted, an undisclosed number of personnel were given three to six month prison terms for dereliction of duty, and over twenty others received actions against them under a Police Disciplinary Rule.[33]

Tin Myo Win, Suu Kyi’s physician, was under investigation as a conspirator but was released before the trial began.[6][34]

Trial

The criminal case, #47/2009, levied against Yettaw, Suu Kyi, Khin Win and Ma Ma, began May 18, 2009 in the Yangon North District Court.[35] Suu Kyi and Yettaw each pleaded not guilty to their charges.[5]

On the first day a U.S. consular officer was present to observe. U Khin Maung Oo represented Yettaw.[36] Yettaw faced charges relating to, according to the United States State Department, "immigration, trespassing into a restricted zone, and violating a law that protects the state from those desiring to cause subversive acts."[34] The first day's witnesses included the two police officers who apprehended Yettaw in Inya Lake after he swam away from Suu Kyi's house. The officers initially thought Yettaw was a thief. When they discovered he was a foreigner, they turned him over to the Special Branch, which usually handles political cases.[2]

On May 20, police major Tin Zaw Htun was called by the prosecution to testify. Htun provided details of items Yettaw left at Suu Kyi’s home, including three pair of sunglasses and two abaya-like dresses. The dresses and sunglasses were modeled for the court by two women.[37] The Myanmar government alleged that Yettaw used these garments to disguise himself.[10] When questioned about these and other items left behind, Suu Kyi explained that Yettaw had left them for her as presents.[26] Police captain Sa Kyaw Win was also called by the prosecution. He testified that on May 6 he seized sixty-one items from Yettaw's room on the fifth floor of the Beauty Land Hotel in Yangon.[26] Confiscated items included: a Sony Camcorder (DCR SR 45) and charger, a pair of Bushnell night glasses (3x40), a vocal translator, a Nokia 3110-C phone and charger, a battery charger, a 4 GB Memory Stick, a pair of scissors, a map published by Myanmar Tourism Service, and money hidden in a phone book.[17][26]

On May 21, prosecutors submitted for evidence a video Yettaw created with the intent of uploading it onto YouTube. The video began with a shot of a photograph of Aung San and then a shot of Yettaw beside the photograph. Yettaw's voiceover explained that he was at Suu Kyi's home, that he asked her if he could film her, but she declined. "She looked nervous," Yettaw's narration explains, "and I am sorry for that."[38]

On May 26 Suu Kyi took the stand to defend herself. When asked about Yettaw's visit she testified that she and her assistants urged him to leave, and let him rest there for the day, but that he left her home before midnight.[27] In response to questions about items Yettaw left behind, she said "I don’t know if Mr. Yettaw had forgotten to take them or left them. Only Mr. Yettaw will know."[39] Later that day Myanmar authorities officially lifted her house arrest, but continued to detain her in prison,[40] although another government official stated that her house arrest did not expire for another six months.[22]

On May 27, the court heard testimony from Yettaw and Suu Kyi's two caretakers, Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma.[29] Her caretakers testified for 30 minutes each, and Yettaw testified for nearly three hours. He stated repeatedly that he was sent on this journey by God to protect Suu Kyi from a terrorist group trying to assassinate her. He stated the he was seen by policemen as he swam across the lake, and that they did not fire guns at him, but threw rocks instead. He also stated that he had tried to enter Suu Kyi's previously, that police apprehended him, questioned him briefly and then let him go.[22] The same day Suu Kyi released a statement alleging that Myanmar authorities were to blame for Yettaw's security breach. She had reported Yettaw's unwelcomed 2008 visit to authorities, but no action was ever taken.[21]

On May 28, the defense's only witness, U Kyi Win, took the stand. He stated that Yettaw entered Suu Kyi's restricted residence twice and each time security guards allowed it, and therefore they had also violated the law. Furthermore, because no action was taken by the security guards, then Yettaw, Suu Kyi and her assistants were not guilty of the charges. Through further questioning by Yettaw's lawyer, U Khin Maung Oo, U Kyi Win added that the property Yettaw entered did not belong to Suu Kyi but instead belonged to the State because the government had official security guards around it. He also made the argument that the charges against Suu Kyi fall under parts of the law that were based on the now abolished 1974 constitution, and therefore are invalid.[35]

Yettaw then took the stand. Yettaw stated that, on his own accord, he entered the property on the morning of May 4, that he left the property about midnight on May 5. Under cross-examination, Yettaw stated that in November 2008 and May 2009 he applied for Visas to visit Yangon, during which time he signed an agreement that he would respect Myanmar laws and visa rules. He acknowledged that he entered the property secretly and without permission, that he knew the property was guarded. He also stated that he did not mean to break any immigration laws.[35] In the afternoon authorities brought Yettaw to University Avenue and had him explain how he crossed Inya Lake. Yettaw explained how he entered the Lake through a small drain on University Avenue and Than Lwin Street. University Avenue was closed off for an hour and a half during his explanation.[41] The court then announced that the original verdict date of May 29 was to be postponed, and that final arguments would be made June 1.[23] Of the eight days of proceedings, only two were open to journalists and diplomats.[23] Also, Suu Kyi's lawyers were barred from discussions with her and authorities allowed none of them time to prepare her testimony.[42]

The trial judge originally accepted only one of the four witnesses offered by the defense, while accepting fourteen of the twenty-three government witnesses,[22] but on June 3 Yangon's Divisional Court agreed to hear an appeal from the defense to re-admit three witnesses: Win Tin, Tin Oo and Khin Moe Moe, all members of the National League for Democracy. The appeal was set for June 5, but not until June 9 did the Divisional Court agree to allow Khin Moe Moe's testimony.[16][43] Her lawyers then sent an appeal to the High Court to allow the other two witnesses.[43] The appeal was accepted by the Court and scheduled for June 17. Closing arguments were re-scheduled for June 12, but Suu Kyi's lawyers requested and had granted an adjournment until June 26 to allow Moe Moe to testify at the trial. Moe Moe needed time to travel from Shan State and to prepare.[44]

On June 24, the Myanmar Supreme Court heard arguments from Suu Kyi's lawyers for allowing two more defense witnesses to testify. Judges argued that, because Tin Oo was under house arrest and because Win Tin said things in interviews with the Democratic Voice of Burma that were critical of the Myanmar government, they should not be allowed to testify.[45] Five days later the Court officially rejected the two witnesses.[46]

On June 26, the Court set Moe Moe's appearance for July 3.[45] On the same day United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Naypyidaw and met with foreign minister Nyan Win. He was not able to meet with Suu Kyi, but did request that Myanmar free its political prisoners. The expressed purpose of Gambari's visit was to open the door for a visit by U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon.[47] Ki-moon arrived in Naypyitaw on July 3, but after two days of talks with General Than Shwe, Ki-moon was unable to negotiate a visit with Suu Kyi and left without any progress.[48]

On July 3, the Court announced the adjournment was extended for another week.[49] Defense witness Khin Moe Moe took the stand July 10, testifying for six hours (from 10AM to 5 PM with an hour lunch at noon). Moe Moe and the defense team argued that the law under which Suu Kyi was being tried, Section 22, which protects the government from people planning subversive acts, was created under the 1974 Constitution, which was abolished by the current Myanmar government in 1988. He was the last witness of the trial. Final arguments were set by the Court for July 24.[50]

On July 24, Suu Kyi's defense gave a 30-page closing statement.[51] British, German, Norwegian, French and Italian diplomats were present, marking only the third time during the entire trial Myanmar officials had allowed such access.[52] The trial was then adjourned over the weekend until July 27, providing the prosecution more time to prepare.[51]

On July 27, the defense team submitted an application to the court to call an additional witness, Nyunt Maung Shein, a Myanmar foreign ministry official. Final arguments were presented for Yettaw, Khin Win and Ma Ma. The morning session was attended by diplomats from Australia, Japan, Singapore, the United States, the Philippines and Malaysia, while in the afternoon only U.S. Consul Colin Furst was in attendance.[53] The final defense arguments, including a 15 minute statement from Yettaw, concluded July 28. Again, diplomats from the U.S., Japan, Singapore and Thailand were present.[54] The Court announced the verdicts would be made July 31.[55] Officials then notified shops in the vicinity to be closed July 31. Two police battalions also arrived to support the already existing security forces.[56] However, on July 31 judges Thaung Nyunt and Nyi Nyi Soe, citing an undisclosed problem with the legal procedures, adjourned the trial until August 11, three days after the anniversary of the 8888 Uprising. After the announcement, Yettaw moved about the courtroom and said "I love you" to the defense team.[57]

The verdict came on August 11. Yettaw was condemned to a total of seven years: three for violating Suu Kyi's house arrest, three hard labor for breaking immigration laws, and one hard labor for trespassing. Suu Kyi was initially sentenced to three years of hard labor, but after a five-minute recess, Than Shwe reduced it to eighteen months of house arrest. Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma were also sentenced to eighteen months.[8] United States Senator Jim Webb arrived in Myanmar on August 14 and successfully appealed to Than Shwe for Yettaw to be pardoned because of ill health.[58] Yettaw left Myanmar with Webb on August 16.[9][59]

Health issues during trial

On May 8, Yettaw began to decline food, claiming religious reasons, and accepted only water.[60] On July 9, he was removed to Insein Prison hospital because he was still refusing food. There authorities began feeding him intravenously.[60]

On August 3, Yettaw was taken from Insein prison and admitted to Rangoon General Hospital after having seizures. He was isolated in intensive care in a heavily guarded separate room and treated by neurological specialists. Previous to this incident, Yettaw had been held in prison's hospital where he received regular treatment for diabetes, epilepsy and his heart.[61] Two days later Yettaw was visited by U.S. Embassy official Colin Furst. The same day, defense lawyer Nyan Win expressed concern that Yettaw's condition may further delay the trial because "The court normally doesn't make judgment in the absence of the accused."[62] Yettaw remained in intensive care throughout the week. On August 7, he suffered three more fits, according to Police Brigadier General Khin Yee.[33] Yettaw was discharged August 10.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bone, James (15 May 2009), "American who swam to see Aung San Suu Kyi is Vietnam veteran", Times Online
  2. ^ a b "Lawyer: Myanmar possibly rushing Suu Kyi's trial". Associated Press. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Mydans, Seth (19 May 2009). "Myanmar Presses Case Against Pro-Democracy Leader". The New York Times.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Sudekum Fisher, Maria (14 May 2009), "Motives of American who swam to Suu Kyi a mystery", Associated Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Dokoupil, Tony; Samuels, Lennox (13 June 2009), "'The Lady' And The Tramp", Newsweek
  6. ^ a b c d Zaw, Aung (13 May 2009), "Suu Kyi's Stalker Swimmer", Irrawaddy
  7. ^ a b c "Burma's Suu Kyi taken to prison". BBC News. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ a b c "Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi 'guilty'". BBC. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2009. {{cite news}}: Text "coauthors" ignored (help)
  9. ^ a b "Senator wins release of US prisoner in Myanmar", Associated Press, 15 August 2009
  10. ^ a b c d "Burma says Suu Kyi visit 'staged'", BBC News, 22 May 2009
  11. ^ "Motives of 'Suu Kyi Swimmer'", Myanma Thadin, 15 May 2009
  12. ^ "Suu Kyi Porn Site Sparks Outrage", Irrawaddy, 8 June 2009
  13. ^ a b c d e Bone, James (15 May 2009), "American who swam to see Aung San Suu Kyi is Vietnam veteran", Times Online
  14. ^ a b c Sudekum Fisher, Maria (15 May 2009), "Missourian arrested in Myanmar", STLtoday
  15. ^ "Falcon teen killed in morning crash", The Lebanon Daily Record, p. 1, 2 August 2007
  16. ^ a b c "Myanmar lawyer says US man had no criminal intent", Associated Press, 3 June 2009
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Yangon North District Court judges, district law officers and defence lawyer U Khin Maung Oo together with Mr. John William Yettaw inspect the scene", New Light of Myanmar, 29 May 2009
  18. ^ a b Paquette, David (28 May 2009), "Is Yettaw a Triathlete?", Irrawaddy
  19. ^ Peck, Grant (12 May 2009). "Detained American Visited Suu Kyi Before?". Associated Press. Retrieved 18 May 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  20. ^ Mydans, Seth (19 May 2009). "Myanmar Presses Case Against Pro-Democracy Leader". The New York Times. [The New Light of Myanmar...]said he had made a similar intrusion last November, swimming across the lake and giving her a copy of The Book of Mormon[...].
  21. ^ a b "Suu Kyi blames Burma's military government for 'security breach'", CBC, 27 May 2009
  22. ^ a b c d e Olarn, Kocha (27 May 2009), "U.S. man at center of Suu Kyi trial testifies", CNN
  23. ^ a b c Davies, Nem (29 May 2009), "Yettaw's testimony throws a wrench into junta's plans", Mizzima
  24. ^ Naing, Saw Yan (19 May 2009), "Who is John W. Yettaw?", Irrawaddy
  25. ^ Johnston, Tim; Lynch, Colum (12 August 2009), "Suu Kyi Verdict Douses Hope of Reform in Burma", Washington Post
  26. ^ a b c d e f Mydans, Seth; McDonald, Mark (21 May 2009), "Myanmar Again Closes Trial of Democracy Activist", New York Times
  27. ^ a b c Mydans, Seth (26 May 2009), "Myanmar Dissident Testifies at Trial", New York Times
  28. ^ a b c McCurry, Justin (20 May 2009), Journalists and diplomats allowed to attend Aung San Suu Kyi trial
  29. ^ a b "Curbs on Suu Kyi trial reimposed", Aljazeera, 27 May 2009
  30. ^ "Gift to the junta", London Evening Standard, 14 May 2009
  31. ^ Tun, Aung Hla (26 May 2009), "Suu Kyi testifies as pressure builds on Myanmar", Reuters
  32. ^ "Burmese Dissident: 'No Grudge' Toward American Intruder", Associated Press, 30 May 2009
  33. ^ a b Thein, Myo (8 August 2009), "Security men guarding Suu Ky's house punished", Mizzima
  34. ^ a b Kelly, Ian (18 May 2009). "Daily Press Briefing, May 18". U.S. State Department. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  35. ^ a b c "Myanmar: Charges against US citizen Mr John William Yettaw, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma heard for ninth day". Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  36. ^ Phaw, Naw Say (20 May 2009), "Yettaw 'had visions' of Suu Kyi in danger", Democratic Voice of Burma
  37. ^ Parry, Richard Lloyd (20 May 2009), "Aung San Suu Kyi allowed to talk to diplomats at her trial", Times Online
  38. ^ Weaver, Martha (22 May 2009), "American's visit to Suu Kyi was a plot to embarrass Burma, says minister", Guardian
  39. ^ "Myanmar's Suu Kyi defends herself in court", Japan Today, 27 May 2009
  40. ^ "Suu Kyi: I Didn't Break Arrest Rules", Jakarta Globe (Associated Press), 27 May 2009
  41. ^ "Police ask Yettaw to reenact his transgression", Democracy for Burma, 28 May 2009
  42. ^ "Suu Kyi's witnesses 'rejected'", BBC News, 27 May 2009
  43. ^ a b "Myanmar court allows Suu Kyi defence to call 1 witness", CBC News, 9 June 2009
  44. ^ "Myanmar court delays Suu Kyi trial", Aljazeera, 12 June 2009
  45. ^ a b Mungpi (26 June 2009), "Court adjourns Suu Kyi's trial to July 3", Mizzima
  46. ^ "Myanmar court rejects appeal for Suu Kyi witnesses", Associated Press, 29 June 2009
  47. ^ "UN envoy ends two-day visit to Myanmar", AFP, 27 June 2009
  48. ^ Buncombe, Andrew (5 July 2009), "5,000 days in captivity: The world's most famous political prisoner and a dismal landmark", The Independent
  49. ^ Heilprin, John (3 July 2009), "Myanmar denies UN chief's request to see Suu Kyi", Associated Press
  50. ^ Moe, Wai (10 July 2009), "Suu Kyi's Long Friday", Irrawaddy
  51. ^ a b "Trial of Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi Extended", Associated Press, 24 July 2009
  52. ^ "Trial of Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi to continue, envoy says", Today's Zaman, 24 July 2009
  53. ^ Pogatchnik, Shawn (27 July 2009), "Suu Kyi awarded Amnesty's highest honor", Associated Press
  54. ^ "Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi verdict set for Friday", Associated Press, 28 July 2009
  55. ^ Mydans, Seth (28 July 2009), "Myanmar Dissident Verdict on Friday", New York Times
  56. ^ Naing, Saw Yan (29 July 2009), "Security Increased for Suu Kyi Verdict", Irrawaddy
  57. ^ "Myanmar court delays Suu Kyi verdict until Aug. 11", Associated Press, 31 July 2009
  58. ^ http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200908/2657314.htm?desktop
  59. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090816/ap_on_re_as/as_myanmar_us_prisoner
  60. ^ a b "Yettaw Admitted to Prison Hospital", Irrawaddy, 10 July 2009
  61. ^ Mungpi (5 August 2009), "US man in Suu Kyi case 'better' in Myanmar: source", AFP
  62. ^ "American may delay Suu Kyi verdict", China Post, 7 August 2009
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