(14 Aug 09 - RV) A U.S. senator arrived in Myanmar today and a government source said
he would meet the leader of the country's junta, which was condemned by the United
States this week for the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Jim
Webb, chairman of a Senate subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific affairs, is set to
meet Junta leader Than Shwe tomorrow.
According to some reports, he may
press for the release of John Yettaw, the American who swam uninvited to Suu Kyi's
lakeside home in May.
Yettaw himself was sentenced to seven years' hard
labour in a parallel trial. His health is fragile and he spent several days in hospital
this month.
Jennifer Quigley advocacy director for the US Campaign for
Burma, says Webb’s visit is sending the wrong signal to Myanmar’s ruling general’s