State Counsellor of Myanmar President of National League for Democracy Leader of the Opposition House Arrest General Elections Books Popular culture Family On May 4, 2009, American John Yettaw (1955 - 2021) trespassed upon the residence of Myanmar political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi, two weeks before her scheduled release from house arrest on May 27.
[9] Myanma authorities asserted that Yettaw's visits were instigated by opposition groups as part of efforts to pressure and embarrass the government, however no such evidence ever came to light.
Yettaw developed a deep interest in Aung San Suu Kyi and told people that he had to bring international attention to her situation.
[3][11] 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.
[12] Yettaw was prevented by the house staff from communicating with Aung San Suu Kyi, but he stayed there for a period of longer than two days.
[15][16] Unable to fly out of Bangkok, Thailand due to political protests involving the seizure of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Yettaw laid over at the Highland Hotel in Mae Sot for over a month.
[17] He also visited the Mae Tao Clinic nearly a dozen times, where he communicated with Bo Kyi of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
[15] 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 her residence at 5 am on May 4.
She refused, and her caretakers threatened to turn him in to the authorities, but Aung San Suu Kyi agreed to let him stay on the ground floor after he began to complain about leg cramps.
"[20] At 5 AM on May 5, Yettaw was apprehended by police near the International Business Center on the lake's west bank, less than 100 feet from the US counselor's home.
[5] Upon his arrest he was carrying two empty five-litre plastic bottles, two small bags, his US 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.
[3][11] As a result of the 2009 visit, the authorities declared that Aung San Suu Kyi breached the conditions of her house arrest.
According to Police Brigadier General Myint Thein, prior to the Yettaw visit, authorities had considered letting Aung San Suu Kyi go free, but the incident "infringed on existing law and we unavoidably and regretfully had to take legal action against her.
"[25] Aung San Suu Kyi's followers insisted that the government used this incident to continue her detention until after the 2010 general elections.
"[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.
"[28] The first day's witnesses included the two police officers who apprehended Yettaw in Inya Lake after he swam away from Aung San Suu Kyi's house.
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.
He stated repeatedly that he was sent on this journey by God to protect Aung San Suu Kyi from a terrorist group trying to assassinate her.
[15] On the same day, Aung San Suu Kyi released a statement alleging that Myanmar authorities were to blame for Yettaw's security breach.
He stated that Yettaw entered Aung San Suu Kyi's restricted residence twice and each time security guards allowed it, and therefore they had also violated the law.
[16] Also, Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyers were barred from discussions with her and authorities allowed none of them time to prepare her testimony.
[39] On June 11, 2009, Suu Kyi wrote a letter to the court explaining that after asking Yettaw to leave, she allowed him to stay overnight in order that he might avoid arrest and on the excuse of his health condition.
[41] On the same day United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Naypyidaw and met with foreign minister Nyan Win.
[47] British, German, Norwegian, French and Italian diplomats were present, marking only the third time during the trial Burmese officials had allowed such access.
[47] On July 27, the defense team submitted an application to the court to call an additional witness, Nyunt Maung Shein, a Burmese foreign ministry official.
Aung San 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.
Previous to this incident, Yettaw had been held in the prison's hospital where he received regular treatment for his seizures and diabetic and heart conditions.
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.
[37] At age 20, in southern California now, Yettaw married for the first time and converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a faith which he held until his death.
He earned degrees there in biology, psychology, and criminal justice[5] He then worked as a tour bus driver at Fort Leonard Wood.