John William Yettaw

Suu Kyi trespasser incidents

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
Location	Lake Inya Residence at 54 University Avenue, Yangon, Burma, 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 labour. (Yettaw's sentence was subsequently commuted to three and a half years, which itself was suspended upon his deportation from Burma on 16 August 2009.)

John Yettaw
January 2010
Born	John William Yettaw 1955 Detroit, Michigan
Residence	Falcon, Missouri
Alma mater	Drury University (psychology, sociology, criminal justice, and biology; 1997)
Occupation	Psychology graduate student Building contractor
Website	John 7 Children (travel blog)

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 27 May. This illegal visit prompted Suu Kyi's arrest on 13 May 2009. Yettaw himself was arrested by Burmese authorities on 6 May. He was charged on 14 May with illegally entering a restricted zone, illegal swimming and breaking immigration laws. It is illegal in Burma to have a guest stay overnight at one's home without notifying the authorities first.

Their trial began 18 May 2009. On 11 August, Yettaw was sentenced on three counts totalling seven years, including four hard labour. Suu Kyi was sentenced to eighteen months of house arrest. On 14 August, US Senator Jim Webb arrived in Burma and successfully negotiated Yettaw's release and 16 August deportation.

Burmese authorities asserted that Yettaw's visits were instigated by opposition groups as part of efforts to pressure and embarrass the Burmese government. The incident effectively meant that she was unable to participate in the 2010 elections.

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 travelled 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 Aung San 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 27 October in Bangkok, Thailand, he obtained his Burma visa. On 7 November he flew to Yangon.

On 30 November, he reached Aung San Suu Kyi's home by swimming across Lake Inya. He entered the property via a culvert on University Avenue Road 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. Burmese authorities had forbidden Aung San 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 Aung San Suu Kyi, but he stayed there for a period of longer than two days.