ASIA: US man's 'regrettable' actions hurt Suu Kyi: Webb
Mon Aug 17 04:43:44 EST 2009
BANGKOK, Aug 16 AFP - The US man deported by Burma after swimming to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi had harmed the democracy icon by his "regrettable" actions, the US senator who secured his release said on Sunday.
Democrat Jim Webb also told a news conference in Bangkok that he had offered no incentives during talks with Burmese junta leader Than Shwe which resulted in him winning Yettaw's freedom.
"I made it very clear to them and I will make it clear to you today that what he did was regrettable, I believe that it was hurtful to the person he was trying to help," Webb said shortly after arriving in Thailand with Yettaw.
"I don't think he is a mean-spirited human being," he added.
The junta ordered Suu Kyi to serve another 18 months of house arrest after a court on Tuesday convicted her and Yettaw. Yettaw was given seven years' imprisonment and hard labour.
Yettaw, 54, had told the trial that he was on a "mission from God" to warn the Nobel laureate about a vision that she would be assassinated. He was not at the news conference.
Webb said that Yettaw, who suffers from epilepsy and diabetes, needed treatment following a "medical incident" on Sunday morning. Yettaw was hospitalised last week after suffering several fits.
"He's not a well man," Webb said.
"He had a medical incident this morning when they read him his orders of deportation. He's now undergoing a thorough medical review here in hospital and soon he will be able to return to his family."
Webb said he had gone to the junta with three requests: to free Yettaw, to allow him (Webb) to meet Suu Kyi and to let Suu Kyi take part in elections due next year.
He said he was pleased they granted his first two "and I hope that these ... are something we can take advantage of and begin laying a foundation of goodwill and confidence-building, so that we might have a better situation in the future."
Webb denied that he had offered Burma's military regime anything in exchange for Yettaw's freedom.
"I offered nothing other than what I just said -- I offered my logic on this issue, on all of these issues," he said.
"But at the same time on humanitarian grounds I feel fortunate that the government honoured my request to let him come back to Thailand with me."
