State Media: American Caught Making Secret Visit to Aung San Suu Kyi

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-05-07-voa8.cfm

By VOA News
07 May 2009



Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (File)
Burmese state media are reporting a U.S. citizen has been arrested after he allegedly swam across a lake and snuck inside the residence of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Reports say the man recently checked into a Rangoon hotel across the lake from Aung San Suu Kyi's residence.

They say the man allegedly confessed to swimming across the Inya Lake on Sunday. He was caught trying to swim back to his hotel late Tuesday.

The U.S. Embassy in Rangoon says it has seen the reports and was trying to learn more.

Official Burmese media say the man was carrying a U.S. passport and his name is John William Yeattaw.

Witnesses near the home say police were seen at Aung San Suu Kyi's lakeside compound on Thursday.

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate has been under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years.




The French Press Agency says the American arrived in Burma last week on a tourist visa.

The current term of Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest is due to expire at the end of this month. Earlier this week, Burma's military junta rejected an appeal to free her despite persistent calls for her release from opposition party leaders in Burma and the international community.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.