US senator wins freedom for Suu Kyi intruder

YANGON - A United States man sentenced to seven years in jail for sneaking into the home of detained Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was handed over to an American consular official last night to be flown out of the country.

A US Embassy car retrieved John Yettaw from the prison where he has been held since early May after he was arrested while swimming away from Suu Kyi's house.

Senator Jim Webb of Virginia secured Yettaw's release and the two will fly on a military plane to Bangkok, Thailand, today, according to a statement from the US senator's office.

Yettaw and Suu Kyi were both convicted last week of breaking the terms of her house arrest. Suu Kyi, who has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years, was given 18 months' additional house arrest. Yettaw, 53, of Falcon, Missouri, was also convicted of an immigration violation and swimming in a restricted zone.

During Webb's visit to Myanmar - the first by a member of the US Congress in more than a decade - he also secured a rare visit with Suu Kyi.

Yettaw has been held in Insein, Myanmar's largest prison, which is notorious for widespread torture and other abuse of both political prisoners and ordinary criminals. His lawyer has said his client was well-treated, though he fell ill while incarcerated.

"If it's true, of course I'm extremely happy and we're ecstatic," said Betty Yettaw, referring to reports her husband would be freed. She had yet to receive any official notice.

The junta may have approved the meeting with Suu Kyi and agreed to release Yettaw to quell the torrent of international criticism after the trial and verdict. In July, authorities barred UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon from meeting Suu Kyi during a two-day visit.

The statement said Webb requested that Suu Kyi be released during a meeting with junta leader Senior General Than Shwe. It was the first time the reclusive general had met a senior US official.

The chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee's East Asia and Pacific affairs subcommittee, described the meeting as "an opportunity ... to convey my deep respect to Aung San Suu Kyi for the sacrifices she has made on behalf of democracy around the world".

A coalition of Burmese activists wrote a letter to Webb before his trip, expressing their fears.

"We are concerned that the military regime will manipulate and exploit your visit and propagandise that you endorse their treatment [of Aung San Suu Kyi] and over 2100 political prisoners," the letter said.

- OBSERVER, AP