Global InformationAung San Suu Kyi trespasser incidents information
 Self-portraiture on camera in Yettaw's possession at the time of his arrest: shown attached to Yettaw's sandals are homemade swimfins fashioned of heavy paperboard | |
| Date | 4 May 2009 |
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| Location | Lake Inya Residence at 54 University Avenue, Yangon, Myanmar, where Aung San Suu Kyi was being held under house arrest |
| Participants | John Yettaw |
| Outcome | Arrests of Yettaw, Suu Kyi and her two housekeepers Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma on 6 May 2009 Suu Kyi's sentence: 18 months house arrest Khin Khin Win and Win Ma Ma sentences: identical with Suu Kyi's Yettaw's sentence: 7 years imprisonment, 4 of which, hard labor. (Yettaw's sentence was subsequently commuted to three and a half years, which itself was suspended upon his deportation from Myanmar on August 16, 2009.)[1] |
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On May 4, 2009, American John Yettaw (1955 - 2021) trespassed upon the residence of Myanma political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi, two weeks before her scheduled release from house arrest on May 27. This illegal visit prompted Suu Kyi's arrest on May 13, 2009.[2] Yettaw himself was arrested by Myanma 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, US Senator Jim Webb arrived in Burma and successfully negotiated Yettaw's release and August 16 deportation.[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.[10] The Myanmar government disqualified Suu Kyi from participating in the 2010 elections.[10]
- ^ Johnston, Tim; Lynch, Colum (12 August 2009), "Suu Kyi Verdict Douses Hope of Reform in Burma", Washington Post
- ^ "Lawyer: Myanmar possibly rushing Suu Kyi's trial". Associated Press. 19 May 2009. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
- ^ Mydans, Seth (19 May 2009). "Myanmar Presses Case Against Pro-Democracy Leader". The New York Times.
- ^ Sudekum Fisher, Maria (14 May 2009), "Motives of American who swam to Suu Kyi a mystery", Associated Press
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
newsweekwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Zaw, Aung (13 May 2009), "Suu Kyi's Stalker Swimmer", Irrawaddy, archived from the original on 23 May 2009
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
bbc14was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi 'guilty'". BBC. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
- ^ "Senator wins release of US prisoner in Myanmar", Associated Press, 15 August 2009
- ^ a b "Burma says Suu Kyi visit 'staged'", BBC News, 22 May 2009