by Phanida & May Kyaw
Thursday, 07 May 2009 22:28
Chiang Mai – The National League for Democracy in exile, NLD-Liberated Area, on Thursday warned that Burma’s ruling junta is likely to twist the facts about the American citizen’s intrusion into the residence of party leader Aung San Suu Kyi to defame her.
The warning from the NLD-LA came on Thursday, following a report carried by the New Light of Myanmar, the junta’s official mouthpiece, on the arrest of an American, who secretly entered Aung San Suu Kyi’s lakeside villa after swimming across the Innya Lake, and stayed for two days.
The New Light of Myanmar on Thursday reported that an American citizen, John William Yeattaw, who arrived in Rangoon on May 2, swam across the Innya Lake on May 3, and entered Aung San Suu Kyi’s house, where he stayed till May 5.
“He was found and arrested by the security forces while he was swimming back,” the paper said.
Nyo Ohn Myint, in-charge of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the NLD-LA said this incident could be used by the junta, which had always wanted to portray the Nobel Peace Laureate negatively, to defame Aung San Suu Kyi.
“They [junta] might portray the American as one who is secretly supporting her. Or even worse, would be to sideline any political motives, and to portray negatively such as a man entering the house of a woman and staying for two days,” Nyo Ohn Myint said.
“That would be a direct insult and defamation to Aung San Suu Kyi’s integrity,” he added.
The NLD in Rangoon, meanwhile, expressed concern over the party leader’s security saying the intrusion clearly reveals security negligence on the part of the government.
“We don’t know anything in detail but I can say one thing. It clearly shows that security was weak,” Nyan Win, the NLD spokesperson, told Mizzima.
Nyo Ohn Myint said, “The incident proves that the junta had not put in place enough security to protect Aung San Suu Kyi. She had been detained for almost 13 years now and this proves that the security has not been tight. I think it is dangerous.”
While the motive of the man, who allegedly made his way into the Burmese opposition leader’s house is unclear, the New Light of Myanmar said, “Further investigation is being done to find out his motive for secretly entering the area that is out of bounds on security grounds.”
Meanwhile, the US embassy in Rangoon told Mizzima, while they are aware of the information through the newspaper as well as through the notice of the Burmese foreign ministry, they are still unable to confirm the details as they have not met the man.
“We are following up on it,” US Embassy spokesperson, Richard Mei said.
According to an AP report, neighbours saw about 20 policemen on Thursday afternoon entering the compound of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Friday, May 8, 2009
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