Asian Leaders Condemn Suu Kyi Trial

Yettaw hoped to post video on YouTube

(NEWSER) - The American who jeopardized Aung San Suu Kyi’s freedom by swimming to the lakeside home where she was under house arrest told the court yesterday he did so because he “had a vision” that Suu Kyi’s life was in danger, the Independent reports. John Yettaw planned to alert Suu Kyi, and hoped to post a video of the pro-democracy activist on YouTube, but she refused to be filmed or photographed, according to the Daily Mail. More»

Burma opposition leader getting top Amnesty honor

(NEWSER) - It'll be a busy week for Aung San Suu Kyi: On June 17, she's headed to Oslo to belatedly pick up the Nobel Peace Prize she was awarded in 1991. The next day, she heads to Dublin to receive Amnesty International's top honor, presented by Bono at a tribute concert; the event will also feature Vanessa Redgrave, Riverdance, and Bob Geldof, the AP reports. The Burma opposition leader was awarded the Ambassador of Conscience prize in 2009 but was unable to leave her country under its ruling junta. More»

First direct appeal for pro-democracy leader's release

(AP) - President Barack Obama today abandoned decades of Western avoidance and told Myanmar's prime minister to free opposition leader and fellow Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a rare face-to-face meeting. The strong message, delivered during his summit with leaders of 10 Southeast Asian nations, signals a further thawing in diplomatic relations as the administration pressures Myanmar's ruling junta on human rights ahead of next year's elections. More»

Burmese democracy leader fails to reverse newest term of house arrest

(NEWSER) - A Burmese court rejected Aung San Suu Kyi's appeal against her latest spell of house arrest today. The pro-democracy leader, who was convicted of violating her previous sentence after an American swam to her home, will remain confined through next year and will be ineligible for the upcoming election. A lawyer for Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the last 20 years under house arrest, promised to appeal again to the high court. More»

(AP) - American John Yettaw boarded a flight home today, ending an infamous journey that began three months ago with a secret swim to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi that landed them both in prison. Suu Kyi, who repeatedly asked him to leave, and her two live-in aides, are still in custody. "It's very ugly that the person who caused the problem was released but the three people in the house remain detained," Suu Kyi said. More»