Imprisoned American citizen released by Myanmar

I'm elated to see this person liberated and on their way home apparently from the middle of Myanmar, which used to be called Burma, (a little tidbit which I only happen to know from a Seinfeld episode with Peterman and Elaine...not from my expensive college years... lolol) however this Congressman Jim Webb, while an American Vet I have to say really creeps me out for a couple different reasons, and this little out of the blue hostage exchange is quite strange to say the least, don't you all think?

I mean there was absolutely no press leading up to this nor do I ever recall hearing anything about the poor person being held hostage until yesterday morning and I must say I'm pretty much in touch with most up to the minute goings on around the world like you all are.

So back on topic, I do again welcome home with open arms the formerly imprisoned John William Yettaw, but do wind this up with one word of caution for this gentleman and that is the following..... please don't take anymore trips to hostile lands in the future if you could....why leave the greatest country in the world for even a day to visit a place like Myanmar to get this ? Just a thought......



The office of Virginia Senator Jim Webb says he's won the release of a U.S. prisoner in Myanmar and met with detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (Aug. 15)

English_Xinhua: "YANGON, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- American citizen John William Yettaw, who was recently sentenced by a Myanmar district court to serve seven years' rigorous imprisonment, was released and deported by the government Sunday and left the country in the afternoon along with Democrat Senator of the United States Jim Webb who concluded his three-day visit to Myanmar.

Yettaw was convicted by the court on charge of entering into Aung San Suu Kyi's restricted lake-side residence for three days in early May.

The release was secured through efforts made by Webb who met with Myanmar top leader Senior-General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, in Nay Pyi Taw Saturday.

Webb, Chairman of the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, arrived in Myanmar on Friday on a three-day visit as part of his two-week tour to five Southeast Asian nations at the invitation ofMyanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win.

The visit came days after a Myanmar district sentenced on Aug. 11 on the 54-year-old epilepsy-suffering American Yettaw, along with Aung San Suu Kyi, to the seven years' rigorous imprisonment.

Webb's five-nation trip had taken him to Laos and he will proceed to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia after Myanmar visit."

---