Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Senator wins release of US prisoner in Myanmar
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
Senator wins release of US prisoner in Myanmar
AP - Sunday, August 16
YANGON, Myanmar - U.S. Sen. Jim Webb won the release Saturday of an American prisoner convicted in Myanmar and sentenced to seven years in prison for swimming secretly to the residence of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the senator's office said.
ADVERTISEMENT
During Webb's visit to Myanmar _ the first by a member of the U.S. Congress in more than a decade _ the senator also secured a rare visit with Suu Kyi, who was convicted along with the American, John Yettaw, and sentenced to 18 more months under house arrest. She has been detained for 14 of the last 20 years.
Yettaw is to be officially deported Sunday, when he will fly with Webb on a military plane to Bangkok, according to a statement from Webb's office.
The 53-year-old from Falcoln, Missouri, has been held in Insein, Myanmar's largest prison, notorious for widespread torture and other abuse of both political prisoners and ordinary criminals.
Yettaw's lawyer has said his client was well-treated, though he fell ill while incarcerated. Before his conviction on Tuesday, he spent a week in a prison hospital for epileptic seizures. He is also said to suffer from asthma and diabetes.
"If it's true, of course I'm extremely happy and we're ecstatic," Betty Yettaw told The Associated Press, referring to reports that her husband would be freed. When reached by phone Saturday morning, she said had yet to receive any official notice.
The junta may have approved the meeting with Suu Kyi and agreed to release Yettaw to quell the torrent of international criticism against Myanmar following the trial and Tuesday's verdict. In July, authorities barred U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon from meeting with Suu Kyi during a two-day visit.
Webb, the statement said, requested that Suu Kyi be released during a meeting with junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe on Saturday. It was the first time the reclusive general had met with a senior U.S. official.
"It is my hope that we can take advantage of these gestures as a way to begin laying the foundations of goodwill and confidence building in the future," Webb was quoted as saying.
On Saturday, the 64-year-old Nobel Peace laureate was driven from her residence to a nearby government guest house for a 40-minute meeting with Webb, then reporters saw her taken home by car.
Webb, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, described the meeting as "an opportunity ... to convey my deep respect to Aung San Suu Kyi for the sacrifices she has made on behalf of democracy around the world."
The senator, who arrived in Myanmar's capital of Naypyitaw on Friday, was scheduled to address reporters in Yangon on Sunday.
The visit _ particularly the meetings with senior officials and Suu Kyi _ was unusual because of the poor state of relations between Myanmar, also known as Burma, and the U.S. Many critics said it was bad timing for outreach _ only days after the junta flouted international appeals that Suu Kyi be cleared of the latest charges. It also drew criticism from activists who say it confers legitimacy on a brutal regime.
While Washington has traditionally been Myanmar's strongest critic, applying political and economic sanctions against the junta, President Barack Obama's new ambassador for East Asia, Kurt Campbell, recently said the administration is interested in easing its policy of isolation. Webb has said that "affirmative engagement" could bring the most change to Myanmar, concerning those who think a hard line is the best approach.
Britain's ambassador to the United Nations suggested Webb's visit could help persuade the junta to free Suu Kyi.
"If the Americans can get the generals to see that their country's interest is reflected in taking interest in reconciliation, releasing Aung San Suu Kyi and holding free and fair elections, that would be very helpful." John Sawyers told BBC Radio 4 on Saturday.
But in a letter to Webb, dissident groups warned the junta would use the senator's trip for its own ends.
"We are concerned that the military regime will manipulate and exploit your visit and propagandize that you endorse their treatment on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and over 2,100 political prisoners, their human rights abuses on the people of Burma, and their systematic, widespread and ongoing attack against the ethnic minorities," the letter said. Daw is a term of respect for older women in Myanmar.
Possibly reflecting a similar wariness, a spokesman for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy said the party "has no interest in Jim Webb because he is not known to have any interest in Myanmar affairs." He did not elaborate.
Official media, however, appeared to herald Webb's arrival. The nightly broadcast led with the visit, reporting that the senator met with Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein on Friday, and returned to the subject several times during the night.
Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962. The junta called elections in 1990 but refused to honor the results when Suu Kyi's party won overwhelmingly.
___
Associated Press writers Foster Klug in Washington, Greg Katz in London, and Chris Clark in Kansas City, Missouri contributed to this report.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Insurgents target NATO HQ in Kabul as vote loomsAP - 2 hours 39 minutes ago
Philippine leader calls for 'annihilation' of extremistsAFP - 2 hours 59 minutes ago
Hundreds of workers protest at Chinese steel plant: reportAFP - Sunday, August 16
China beat Lebanon to book Iran basketball finalAFP - Sunday, August 16
Mourners survey typhoon wreckage of Taiwan villageAP - Sunday, August 16
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Millions of salmon fail to turn up in Canada
Hundreds mourn Kennedy sister at funeral
Rare flowering of Chinese tree in Belgium
US study uncovers powerful anti-cancer compound
US industrial output rebounds, consumer prices flat
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Sunday, 16 August 2009 Iran's top leader appoints new judiciary chief
Ransom demanded for missing Russian-crewed ship
US-TECH Summary
Sudan opposition parties threaten vote boycott
Russia, Venezuela moot oil joint venture
Facebook to face off with new Web rivals
Iran to put 25 more vote protesters on trial
Five more US bank closures brings total to 77
Iran's leader appoints new judiciary chief: report
Somali pirates find 7 bodies, blame Egyptians
| International
|
Berlusconi pledges final blow to organized crime
| International
|
Ecuador plans local committees to defend revolution
| International
|
Parched California scorched by multiple wildfires
Senator wins release of US prisoner in Myanmar
Drake's Pa. oil well idea changed world in 1859
AP NewsAlert
Wash. group puts markers on graves of mentally ill
Tribal effort to fix broken world hinges on condor
Suicide bomber in Pakistan's Swat kills 5
China, Taiwan hold 1st swimming race in strait
US renews calls on Iran to release Americans
Study says China's pollution may reduce light rain
US senator has rare visit with Myanmar's Suu Kyi
Mich. cruisers worry days of classic cars are over
Japan records first death from swine flu
Iraqis uneasy at idea of early US withdrawal
China steel workers trap official in 4-day protest
American who visited Suu Kyi to be freed from Myanmar
Tax dodgers scramble to come clean amid crackdown
George Michael says he was sober during car crash
Bollywood star held in U.S. airport, fans outraged
As Afghans vote, US raises the stakes in war
Ex-banker to join British American Tobacco: report
Iran puts more post-vote detainees on trial
| International
|
In death, as in life, Jackson surrounded by wackiness
Myanmar's Suu Kyi still detained but American freed
| International
|
North Korea makes nuclear threat over military drills
| International
|
Bull leaves top Spanish matador unconscious: report
Hamas chief: Iran turmoil won't affect support
Spanish police clash with pro-ETA demonstrators
Islamist leader among 24 killed in Gaza fighting
Eternal resting spot next to Marilyn Monroe to be auctioned
Wildfire rages in northeastern Spanish
Singer George Michael arrested after car crash
U.S. sees shift in Pakistan focus
| International
|
Fire breaks out in Kuwaiti wedding tent, 41 killed
| International
|
Three Iraqis killed in firing practice accident
| International
|
Britain's Brown trails badly in two opinion polls
| International
|
Afghan woman candidate packs gun, wears trousers
| International
|
As farmers age, plans match aspirants with pros
Lawyers, factory workers, dentist: future farmers?
Obama heats up defense of health care plan
Insurgents target NATO HQ in Kabul as vote looms
Philippine leader calls for 'annihilation' of extremists
Obama defends healthcare plans, criticizes insurers
U.S. senator meets Suu Kyi, Myanmar junta leader
China beat Lebanon to book Iran basketball final
Bollywood star downplays incident at US airport
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,332
Mourners survey typhoon wreckage of Taiwan village
ND town tries for most fire trucks in a parade
Watergate attracts at least 6 potential buyers
Japan's big businesses expect recovery by mid-2010
Pakistan lowers interest rate as economy improves: official
Producers evict Chima Simone from 'Big Brother 11'
Bollywood icon detained at US airport
Bishops discuss Catholic church's woes in Asia
French minister calls for full ban on burka: report
Iran puts another 28 vote protesters on trial
NATO, Russia join forces in hunt for missing ship
Ahmadinejad plans female ministers in Iran cabinet
| International
|
Ahmadinejad plans female ministers in Iran cabinet
Chavez to visit Russia, Belarus, Libya in September
Taliban threaten to attack Afghan polling stations
Afghan election campaigns in full swing as poll nears
| International
|
US envoy hails Pakistan anti-Taliban gains
Iran's Mousavi to lead 'green hope' opposition
Iran expands mass trial of opposition supporters
Signs of Taliban rift hearten Pakistan, U.S
| International
|
Donkeys, helicopters drafted in for Afghan vote
Hamas asserts power in Gaza after Qaeda clash
| International
|
Qaeda stronger as blasts feed Iraqi Kurd-Arab feud
| International
|
Single exit compounded deaths in Kuwait wedding fire
U.S. plane lands in Taiwan to help mudslide victims
| International
|
Nigerian police raid Islamic sect, detain hundreds
| International
|
Three Iraqis killed in firing practice accident
Heavy rains flood camps for displaced Sri Lankans
Strong quake off Indonesia's Sumatra, no tsunami alert
Rocket attack in Afghan south wounds 2 children
Strong quake strikes Indonesia's Sumatra, 7 hurt
Gunmen fire at bus at US mine in Indonesia
AP NewsAlert
Obama family to tour Grand Canyon on Sunday
Malaysia deputy PM in helicopter emergency landing
The Nation's Weather
US envoy praises Pakistan progress against Taliban
British pilot dies in Malaysia test flight crash
AP source: Wis. Gov. Doyle won't seek re-election
Report: Gunmen fire at bus at US mine in Indonesia
Chinese steelworkers' protest halts plant takeover
India faces drought but economists upbeat
Hong Kong airport chief says traffic drop slowing
Porsche buy launches VW drive for world domination
Sleepless in Beirut, sin city of the Middle East
Actor's US 'detention' prompts outrage in India
Strong earthquake rocks western Indonesia
South Korea picks Bong's 'Mother' as Oscar entry
Sleepless in Beirut, sin city of the Middle East
U.S. Olympic committee delays TV channel plans
| Entertainment
|
Actor's US 'detention' prompts outrage in India
Writing for Arab world no piece of cake: magazine
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights