Security 'didn't stop' Yettaw visit

(DVB)–Soldiers guarding Aung San Suu Kyi’s house knew of John Yettaw entering the compound earlier this month and did little to prevent it, Yettaw told the courtroom yesterday.

Burma’s opposition leader is on trial for harbouring the US citizen who swam to her compound earlier this month where she is held under house arrest.

Suu Kyi told the courtroom yesterday that the breach of security that allowed Yettaw into the house was the fault of authorities charged with guarding her compound, and not Suu Kyi.

Yettaw yesterday added substance to this argument with claims that he had passed a number of soldiers en route to the compound.

“He said, on his second visit, he was seen by about four to five soldiers on his way into her compound,” said lawyer Nyan Win.

“They were carrying guns with them but they didn’t do anything to stop him from approaching the house, apart from throwing some stones at him.”

It was the second time Yettaw had visited Suu Kyi’s house, the last occasion being in November 2008 when he also swam across Lake Inya.

On both occasions he said he was “on a mission from God” to warn Suu Kyi and the Burmese government that a plot was being hatched by terrorists to assassinate Suu Kyi and pin the blame on the government.

“He said he was only here to warn us, as God told him to and that he loves Burmese people and has respect to the Burmese Police who are very well disciplined.

Reporting by Naw Say Phaw