'American Idiot' Blamed for Suu Kyi's Jailing

Pro-democracy leader faces years in jail because of Mormon's swim to her home
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted May 15, 2009 7:43 AM CDT
'American Idiot' Blamed for Suu Kyi's Jailing
John William Yettaw, center, is shown speaking with US diplomats and Myanmar officials in Rangoon.   (AP Photo/Myanmar News Agency, HO)

Blame for Aung San Suu Kyi's imprisonment has fallen squarely on a bizarre American who swam a lake to intrude into the pro-democracy's leader's home, CNN reports. John William Yettaw—a Mormon and a Vietnam veteran, according to his Missouri neighbors—is believed to have wanted to speak to Suu Kyi for a faith-based book on heroism he was working on, and to pray with her.  

Suu Kyi took pity on him and allowed Yettaw, exhausted from the swim, to stay and eat. Her anguished supporters have condemned the "fool" who gave the junta a pretext to lock up the leader just weeks before her 5-year term of house arrest was due to expire. Suu Kyi could now face years in jail for violating the terms of her house arrest. International governments voiced outrage at Suu Kyi's imprisonment yesterday, with Hillary Clinton saying she was "deeply troubled" by the move.
(More John William Yeattaw stories.)

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