Aung San Suu Kyi trespasser incidents

2009 swim to Suu Kyi's residence

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 [That two of my sons made as a contribution - they asked me to photograph the fippers for them.
Date	4 May 2009
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 16 August 2009.)

NOTE: I Read this article for the first time tonight - 11 Jan 2010. The title, Suu Kyi trespasser incidents is a [Misnomer]]. The title would be more accurate as "The Suu Kyi "compound" trespasser incidents. There are false and misleading aspects laced throughout this story that have been propagated from Newsweek that - in my opinion - is Libellous with False Light reporting. This article contains a disturbing amount of inaccuracies and per my request needs to be cleaned up quickly - please. This article contains heresay reporting. Some of the information presented in this article was released to the press as Propaganda and is misleading and outright incorrect. There a many aspects of this story that cannot be revealed as a matter of protection to various people in Burma. John Yettaw JohnYettaw (talk) 05:48, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

On 4 May 2009, the American citizen John Yettaw trespassed upon the residence of Burmese 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. 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. It is illegal in Myanmar to have a (let me emphasise the word)guest stay overnight at one's home without notifying the authorities first.

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. On August 14, U.S. Senator Jim Webb arrived in Myanmar and successfully negotiated Yettaw's release and August 16 deportation.

Myanmar authorities claimed that Yettaw's visits were part of a conspiracy that intended to embarrass the Myanmar government. 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.

2008 visit

In May 2008, Yettaw and his teenage son took a lengthy trip to Asia. His son did not return home until school started again in September. Yettaw then traveled to Mae Sot, Thailand (This is not accurate... You Don't Know where I went Fact), where he took up residence in a hotel, bought a motorcycle [False Information - I purchased the motorcyle in Chiang Mai, TH] and developed [I met several people in Thailand - This is FALSE LIGHT REPORTING] a friendship with a Thai resident [False and misleading - I made many friendships in Thailand]. He developed a deep interest in Suu Kyi and told people that he had to bring international attention to her situation {ABSOLUTELY FALSE - MORE OF NEWSWEEK's FALSE STATEMENTS]. He tried unsuccessfully to get work at Thai NGOs [ABSOLUTLEY FALSE - I NEVER SOUGHT WORK AT ANY NGO... FALSE REPORTS]. In October, after having a vision that he was a defender ["LIE"BELLOUS... of the oppressed [ABSOLUTELY FALSE], he left Mae Sot without paying any of his bills [LIBELLOUS - I PAID ALL OF MY BILLS -THIS IS FALSE REPORTING FROM NEWSWEEK CLEAN-UP THIS LIBELLOUS TRASH - THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE LIE!!!!] John Yettaw JohnYettaw (talk) 05:48, 12 January 2010 (UTC)] On October 27 in Bangkok, Thailand, he obtained his Myanmar visa. On November 7 he flew to Rangoon, Myanmar.

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. 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. Yettaw was prevented by the house staff from communicating with Suu Kyi [ABSOLUTELY FALSE - THE ONLY PERSON I TALKED WITH WAS AUNG SAN SUU KYI... THE "WOMEN" DON"T SPEAK ENGLISH] , but he stayed there for a period of longer than two days. [This is a flip-flop article].

During this initial visit, Yettaw gave Suu Kyi at least six books {FALSE REPORTING -YOU Don't know what I gave her... FALSE REPORTING IN THE PRESS] JohnYettaw (talk) 05:48, 12 January 2010 (UTC)], including The Book of Mormon, along with a letter written by Yettaw's daughter [I have a copy of the "54" page letter written by my daughter. This letter was later ripped up by Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi reported Yettaw's visit to her doctor who alerted authorities. Authorities took no action. He left the property via the same route he arrived. 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.

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 [HOW COULD I LAY OVER IN MYANMAR AND IN THAILAND AT THE SAME TIME - FALSE STATEMENTS]. There he spoke openly to several people about his failed attempt to see Suu Kyi and his plans to try again [ABLSOLUTELY FALSE John Yettaw JohnYettaw (talk) 05:48, 12 January 2010 (UTC)]. During this time he frequently visited refugee schools and met the children. He was often seen with a Thai woman. He also visited the Mae Tao Clinic nearly a dozen times, where he communicated with Bo Kyi of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

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

2009 visit and arrest

In mid-April 2009 Yettaw traveled from Missouri to California to see an ex-wife [FALSE STATEMENT]. He informed her that he needed to go to Asia to obtain details on a paper he was writing about forgiveness [FALSE STATEMENT]. On April 20, Yettaw flew to Bangkok, leaving his children with various friends [FALSE STATMENTS] . He told his family that he was working on a book and searching for U.S. soldiers [FALSE STATEMENT]missing in action from the Vietnam War. According to Yettaw’s wife, he wanted to interview Suu Kyi about forgiveness and resilience [INACCURATE STATEMENT]. Soon thereafter, Yettaw visited exiled Burmese groups in Thailand and told them about a faith-based book he was writing on heroism [FALSE STATEMENT]. Yettaw spent a week in Bangkok waiting for his Myanmar visa to clear [NOT TRUE].

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 [FALSE REPORTING - NOT TRUE ]. Some policemen saw him during his swim and threw rocks at him.

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 [[NOT TRUE - YOU WERE NOT THERE - FALSE INFORMATION] at 5 AM on May 4 [FALSE - TIME IS WRONG AND I DID NOT ENTER RESIDENCE]. He entered the house by climbing up a drain. [THE FOLLOWING IS FALSE AND MISLEADING] Inside, he came upon [FALSE] Suu Kyi’s two female assistants, Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma, a mother and daughter, Suu Kyi’s sole sanctioned companions. He informed them that he was tired, hungry and suffered from diabetes [FALSE - THIS IS NOT TRUE- THE ONLY PERSON I SPOKE WITH WAS AUNG SAN SUU KYI]. The women fed him [FALSE]. He asked Suu Kyi if he could stay at the house for a few days [FALSE]. [THIS ENTIRE PORTION IS TRASH REPORTING] She refused [FALSE], and her caretakers threatened to turn him into the authorities [FALSE], but Suu Kyi agreed to let him stay on the ground floor after he began to complain about leg cramps [FALSE]. During his stay, they provided him with rehydration salts and meals. Some of his time there he devoted to prayer.

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

Yettaw left the house just before midnight (11:45 PM) [FALSE] on May 4, the same day he arrived, although some accounts allege he left on May 5. He then swam towards the home of the U.S. Counselor, which shares a fence with Kanthaya Hospital. 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." 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.

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. Illegal entry carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; immigration violations carry up to one year in jail. Yettaw shared his cell with two Myanmar prisoners. He refused to eat food, hoping to induce another vision.

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.

As a result of the 2009 visit, the authorities declared that Suu Kyi breached the conditions of her house arrest. 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."

Suu Kyi’s followers insist the government is using this incident to continue her detention until after the 2010 general elections. Other supporters have raised suspicions that the incident was constructed by the government. 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. 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." 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." [One article that has not been referenced mentions that "ASSK was awaiting to receive me" - This article is laced with bais.] [There is more to this story than the PRESS will even know... and it appears that the contributor to this Wikipedia article are biased toward writing slanted views. I assert, that some of us on trial were and still are unable to reveal what Actually transpired. The contributors of this page have Propagated misinformation]

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.

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

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. Suu Kyi and Yettaw each pleaded not guilty to their charges.

On the first day a U.S. consular officer was present to observe. U Khin Maung Oo represented Yettaw. 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." 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 [I swan to the police outpost that is located next to the US Embassy residence - I had circled the location of the outpost on my map - I did not use Google "map" Search in either incident.]. 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.

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. The Myanmar government alleged that Yettaw used these garments to disguise himself False Supposition on the part of the Myanmar offical]. When questioned about these and other items left behind, Suu Kyi explained that Yettaw had left them for her as presents. 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. 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.

On May 21, prosecutors submitted for evidence a video Yettaw created with the intent of uploading it onto YouTube [This is Propaganda and was NEVER my intention. 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 {FALSE THIS IS NOT WHAT I SAID Propaganda, but she declined [More Inaccuracies]. "She looked nervous," Yettaw's narration explains, "and I am sorry for that." [NOT TRUE - FALSE STATEMENT]

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. 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." Later that day Myanmar authorities officially lifted her house arrest, but continued to detain her in prison, although another government official stated that her house arrest did not expire for another six months.

On May 27, the court heard testimony from Yettaw and Suu Kyi's two caretakers, Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma. 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 [ABSOLUTELY FALSE... I NEVER SAID "I 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 {FALSE - I NEVER TESTIFIED TO ANYTHING OF THE SORT], that police apprehended him, questioned him briefly and then let him go [ABSOLELY FALSE REPORTING - I WAS NEVER QUESTIONED BY POLICE ON THE WAY OUT.. I WAS CAUGHT BUT THE OFFICE NEVER SAID ON WORD TO ME - HE POINTED AN AK-47 AT ME BUT I WALKED AWAY FROM ME AND HE WALKED AWAY FROM ME _ THIS ARTICLE IS GARBAGE. 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.

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 [One officer cought me on the way out the first time but had no clue that I had been at the ASSK compound, (2) during my second visit back to the ASSK compound, I was detected in the water about 100 yards in the cove just beyond the culvert leading to the main part of Inya lake when I was spotted by two officers - it was dark and I did not show myself and all they saw was something Unrecognizable and black (my backpacks) and they threw rocks at the items floating in the water... they never saw me], 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.

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 [past] midnight on May 5 [which would make in May 6th]. Under cross-examination, Yettaw stated that in November 2008 and May 2009 he applied [In Chiang Mai, Thailand and not in Bangkok as falsely stated in this article] 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. 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. 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. Of the eight days of proceedings, only two were open to journalists and diplomats. Also, Suu Kyi's lawyers were barred from discussions with her and authorities allowed none of them time to prepare her testimony. [There were many things that were barred... just as me having an interpreter during the proceedings]

The trial judge originally accepted only one of the four witnesses offered by the defense, while accepting fourteen of the twenty-three government witnesses, 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. Her lawyers then sent an appeal to the High Court to allow the other two witnesses. 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.

On 11 June 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 [There is SO MUCH MORE to this story than can be revealed]. 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. Five days later the Court officially rejected the two witnesses.

On June 26, the Court set Moe Moe's appearance for July 3. 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. Ban arrived in Naypyitaw on July 3, but after two days of talks with General Than Shwe, Ban was unable to negotiate a visit with Suu Kyi and left without any progress.

On July 3, the Court announced the adjournment was extended for another week. 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.

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

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. 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. The Court announced the verdicts would be made July 31. Officials then notified shops in the vicinity to be closed July 31. Two police battalions also arrived to support the already existing security forces. 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 [I shook hand and quietly told each member of the team that I appreciated them and that I loved each of them. There is Lost in Translation components to mis-information that was released to the press].

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.

Health issues during the trial

On May 8, Yettaw began to decline food, claiming religious reasons, and accepted only water [I went a total of 49 days, 112 hours without food. I told the authorities and US Consul, Colin Furst, that I was going without food for "Spiritual" reasons and I told the Burmese Police and Intelligence Personnel that on 25 June, 2009, something significant was going to occur and that I needed to prepare - and on 25 June, 2009, my oldest son died in California - FYI and [Verifiable]] I had told my family that I felt one of my sons was going to die while I was a prisoner in Insein prison]. ms . On July 9, he was removed to Insein Prison hospital because he was still refusing food. There authorities began feeding him intravenously FALSE STATEMENT - NOT ACCURATE.

On August 3, Yettaw was taken from Insein prison and admitted to Rangoon General Hospital after having seizures [There is much more to this story]. 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 his seizures and diabetic and heart conditions. 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." Yettaw remained in intensive care throughout the week. On August 7, he suffered three more fits, according to Police Brigadier General Khin Yee. Yettaw was discharged August 10.

Release from Myanmar

File:John Yettaw.jpg

After release from confinement in Burma, Yettaw disembarks U.S. government plane in Bangkok, Thailand

On August 12, 2009, U.S. Senator Jim Webb negotiated Yettaw's release on humanitarian grounds because of Yettaw's health. Myanmar authorities commuted Yettaw's sentence in half, suspending the remaining three-and-a-half years upon Yettaw's deportation. On August 14, Senator Webb flew with Yettaw to Thailand. Yettaw had to be helped off the plane. He gave reporters an "I love you" sign, [The sign of "I love you" was intented as a message for my children... this was a prearranged signal that I was OK] but did not respond to any questions. He was immediately placed in an undisclosed Bangkok hospital. The next day he underwent medical testing. According to Senator Webb and Yettaw's family members, Yettaw was not in good health [There is much more to this story than was was Released.

On August 19, Yettaw made a near 24-hour trip from Bangkok to the United States, landing first in Chicago and then flying on to Springfield, Missouri. While transferring planes in O'Hare International Airport, he was in a wheelchair and wore a surgical mask. He said to reporters there "If I had to do it again, I would do it a hundred times, a hundred times, to save her life", also adding "That they locked her up; it just breaks my heart." He refused a later question by saying "I wish I could talk more. I can't." He then made a zipper motion over his lips. Upon his arrival at Springfield-Branson National Airport, at the request of his family, Yettaw was escorted out the side of the airport to avoid the media.

Biography of Yettaw

Main article: John Yettaw

The American citizen who has been referred to by some parts of the media as "Suu Kyi's stalker swimmer," "The Suu Kyi Swimmer" and because her home is on Lake Inya and he swam it, "The Inya Lake Swimmer," is John William Yettaw (born 1955).

Yettaw, one of five children, was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1955, and at about eight years of age moved to Los Angeles County, California, to live with relatives [FALSE AND INACCURATE AND THE SAME MISINFORMATION THAT WAS NOTED ON THE "JWY" BIO PAGE]. In 1973 he joined the United States Army. Yettaw has been married four times, becoming married to his present spouse during the decade of the 2000s. He himself has raised seven children, most of whom were born during his relationship with his third wife. Having done general contracting work in California, in about 1990 Yettaw moved to Missouri, where along with building he began to run a bus for a private transportation company that shuttled Transported U.S. soldiers to and from a U.S. army base in the area, Fort Leonard Wood. He graduated from Drury University in 1997. [This Article is poorly formulated and should be cleaned up for accuracy. This article contains misinformation that has been generated due to Lost in Translation misinformation and other forms of deliberate false reporting Propaganda and speculation... and False Light reporting and Weasel Word journalism... and there are accuraries that can be represented as fact. There are aspects of this story that can not be revealed and as a result inaccuracies and speculation will have to suffice to protect key figures not mentioned in the press or in any article - there were aspects of my testimony that was not allowed to be presented in Court. My actual Dream and as well other sources of Undisclosed confirmation involving the Assassination involved 2 men (a 2-man team) swmining in Inya Lake and entering the Comound from the rear of the property and into the house. It will not be disclosed what Aung San Suu Kyi and I discussed during the 48 hour period that I was in the house. It will not be revealed until Aung San Suu Kyi tells the Actual story well after the junta has fallen from power and Democracy is well established. Until then... I suppose I will have to continue to deal with bad press - like what has been spread though Bias and Misinformation and Speculation in many International and Domestic articles - such as contained in this inaccurate Wikipedia article.

NOTE: Not one of you at Wikipedia were in the water with me Fact... Not one of you stepped over the fence of the ASSK comound with me Fact. Not one of you know what Aung San Suu Kyi and I [Discussed]] before I entered the house Fact... In fact... you don't know anything about whether or not Aung San Suu Kyi and I made [Prearranged]] Statments in the event I was arrested Fact. Nor were any-of-you in ASSK's house with me at anytime Fact. Nor were any-of-you with me at the time during the final hours of my departure from the house and therefore DO NOT know what ASSK and I discussed [Fact]]. Nor were any-of-you side-by-side with me as I Voluntarily swam to the Police outpost as a means of closing off the rear of the compound Fact. Nor were you - individaully or collectively - with me at my side during the trail Fact. Furthermore, none of You know for a Fact what I said/testified in the Burmese [Kangaroo Court]] that controls the Press Media within the murder stricken country. Not do you in Fact know what was Supressed by the junta run Court Fact. Nor do any of you at Wikipedia know what has been Spread] as "Smoke Screen" or what was Smeared as Proaganda [Fact]]. Not one of you Actually knows the situaton concerning my Health] at any time while I was in Burma... or the how much Help I recieved... or the "types" of assistance surrounding my Release that I received with in Yangon or Insein Prison. I received Excellent medical care and Advice in more ways that You - or anyone else - will ever know based on false Assumptions. The "Suu Kyi 'compound" incidents" will someday prove to be a Positive stor and not a Negatively slanted story as posted in the article. Someday... some "tesitmonies" and/or statements just may be Reversed by those who were not and have not been permitted to tell the Truth... and at least oneofyouatWikipedia might someday appear to like a "Dumb... sonofab***h"... with his face in a mirror of self-examination. Don't Judge me until all of the Facts have been Revealed. This article contains sloppy journalism. John Yettaw JohnYettaw (talk) 15:27, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

See also

• Burma – United States relations
• James Mawdsley

External links

• Aerial view of Inya Lake, Suu Kyi’s home (marked with a circle) and the location of Yettaw's arrest (marked with a box)
• Images of Yettaw arriving in Thailand, August 16, 2009: [1], [2], [3], [4]
• Raw news video footage of Yettaw during his stopover at O'Hare International Airport enroute home, August 19, 2009 (AP)
• Excerpt of CNN's interview with Yettaw (video)
• Yettaw's travel blog
• Images of Yettaw arriving in Thailand, August 16, 2009: [5], [6], [7], [8]
• Raw news video footage of Yettaw during his stopover at O'Hare International Airport enroute home, August 19, 2009 (AP)
• Excerpt of CNN's interview with Yettaw (video)