John Yettaw

In May 2008, Yettaw and his teenage son took a lengthy trip to Asia.

His son did not return home until school started again in September.

Yettaw then travelled to Mae Sot, Thailand, where he took up residence in a hotel, bought a motorcycle and developed a friendship with a Thai resident.

He developed a deep interest in Aung San Suu Kyi and told people that he had to bring international attention to her situation.

He tried unsuccessfully to get work at Thai NGOs.

In October, after having a vision that he was a defender of the oppressed, he left Mae Sot without paying any of his bills.

On 27 October in Bangkok, Thailand, he obtained his Burma visa.

On 7 November he flew to Yangon.

On 30 November, he reached Aung San Suu Kyi's home by swimming across Lake Inya.

He entered the property via a culvert on University Avenue Road and Inya Myaing Road.

He then made his way over a small fence behind the house, which was a restricted zone and was without communication devices.

Burmese authorities had forbidden Aung San Suu Kyi from having contact with outsiders.

His trek was successful despite her residence being surrounded by over a dozen security guards 24 hours a day, and despite the presence of police boats that frequently patrolled local waters.

Yettaw was prevented by the house staff from communicating with Aung San Suu Kyi, but he stayed there for a period of longer than two days.

During this initial visit, Yettaw gave her at least six books, including The Book of Mormon, along with a letter written by Yettaw's daughter.

This letter was later ripped up by Aung San Suu Kyi.

She reported Yettaw's visit to her doctor who alerted authorities.

Authorities took no action.

He left the property via the same route he arrived.

According to Yettaw, upon his departure from her house, police officers apprehended him, aimed guns at him, asked "What are you doing here?", but then let him go.

Unable to fly out of Bangkok, Thailand due to political protests involving the seizure of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Yettaw laid over at the Highland Hotel in Mae Sot, Thailand for over a month.

There he spoke openly to several people about his failed attempt to see Aung San Suu Kyi and his plans to try again.

During this time he frequently visited refugee schools and met the children.

He was often seen with a Thai woman.

He also visited the Mae Tao Clinic nearly a dozen times, where he communicated with Bo Kyi of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

On 4 May 2009, American citizen John Yettaw trespassed upon the residence of Burmese political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi, two weeks before her scheduled release from house arrest on 27 May.

This illegal visit prompted Suu Kyi's arrest on 13 May 2009.

Yettaw himself was arrested by Burmese authorities on 6 May.

He was charged on 14 May with illegally entering a restricted zone, illegal swimming and breaking immigration laws.

It is illegal in Burma to have a guest stay overnight at one's home without notifying the authorities first.

Their trial began 18 May 2009.

On 11 August, Yettaw was sentenced on three counts totalling seven years, including four hard labour.

Suu Kyi was sentenced to eighteen months of house arrest.

On 14 August, US Senator Jim Webb arrived in Burma and successfully negotiated Yettaw's release and 16 August deportation.

Burmese authorities asserted that Yettaw's visits were instigated by opposition groups as part of efforts to pressure and embarrass the Burmese government.

As of May 2009, Yettaw was still paying off the travel cost of his 2008 visit.

In mid-April 2009, Yettaw travelled from Missouri to California to see an ex-wife.

He informed her that he needed to go to Asia to obtain details on a paper he was writing about forgiveness.

On 20 April, Yettaw flew to Bangkok, leaving his children with various friends.

The incident effectively meant that she was unable to participate in the 2010 elections.