Suu Kyi Lawyers 'Optimistic' as Trial Nears End

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»

Sen. Webb: 'What he did was regrettable'

(NEWSER) - While Myanmar activist Aung San Suu Kyi begins another 18 months under house arrest, the American responsible for her sentence is free and has landed in Thailand, reports CNN. John Yettaw, whose release was won by Sen. Jim Webb, was hospitalized for observation in Bangkok. “He had a medical emergency this morning when they read him his orders of deportation,” Webb said. Yettaw had been sentenced to 7 years' hard labor for swimming to the home of Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest at the time. More»

(NEWSER) - Sen. Jim Webb arrived in Burma today and will meet with the leader of the country's junta this weekend, reports the New York Times. The Virginia Democrat will be the highest-ranking American official ever to meet Gen. Than Shwe; the White House said the senator was "not carrying a message from the administration." His visit comes just 3 days after Aung San Suu Kyi returned to house arrest following a widely condemned trial. More»

Myanmar democracy activist gets another 18 months house arrest

(NEWSER) - Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been found guilty of violating a security law because an American swam to her house, and will again be placed in house detention for at least another 18 months, Reuters reports. The court handed down a sentence of three years hard labor, which the country's military government cut in half and commuted to house arrest. The guilty verdict was widely expected by critics who say the case was trumped up to keep Suu Kyi out of next year's election. More»