U.S. intruder testifies on Suu Kyi's trial
The Myanmar court heard testimonies on Wednesday from witnesses for trying opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The American citizen, John Yettaw, 53, testified for three hours in the court. He swam across Inya Lake at late-night on May 3 that triggered the trial.
During his testimony, he said frequently that God sent him to Myanmar to protect Suu Kyi because he had a vision that Suu Kyi was assassinated by terrorists and he wanted to warn her and the government.
John Yettaw was former U.S. military serviceman from Falcon, Missouri. He also testified that four or five policemen saw him swimming across the lake to reach Suu Kyi's house. They didn't shoot at him, but threw rocks, Yettaw said.
He repeatedly said that God sent me to warn her, during the session.
The government said Yettaw's presence violated the conditions of Suu Kyi's house arrest.
Suu Kyi denied the charge, she claimed that she didn't have any prior knowledge of Yettaw's plans, but said she did not alert authorities for fear he would be arrested.
My political colleagues are serving long prison terms without any consideration or protection from the law. I allowed him to take temporary refuge in my political belief that I will not push anyone into custody, her statement said.
It does not matter who are the intruders or whatever their motive, I just did it out of my political belief.
Yettaw, labeled a crazy guy by Myanmar exiles, is charged with immigration violations, illegal swimming and breaking a security law that protects the state from subversive elements.
Suu Kyi's two female housemates, Daw Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma, are charged under the same security law.
Nyan Win, a spokesman for Suu Kyi's political party, the National League for Democracy, complained that the court was violating Suu Kyi's rights because the judge rejected three of four defense witnesses. By contrast, the court rejected only nine of 23 government witnesses.
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