YANGON, Myanmar — The trial of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was again closed Thursday, the court barring reporters and diplomats after allowing them to attend a single session Wednesday.
The secretive May 3 visit of John W. Yettaw of Falcon, Mo., who was not invited to Suu Kyi’s compound, has ensnared her in a legal mess that could sink her chances of ending six years of continuous detention without trial.
Suu Kyi’s supporters suspect some kind of trickery by the junta was behind Yettaw’s intrusion, while his family insists he is a well-meaning admirer who merely wanted to interview her.
On Thursday, prosecutors spent almost two hours showing a video said to have been shot by Yettaw at Suu Kyi’s house that showed only himself, not Suu Kyi.
On Wednesday, 23 objects seized from Suu Kyi’s house were presented as evidence, the most striking items being two black cloaks or robes described as being of a type worn by Muslim women, along with scarves to cover the face, two long skirts, and sunglasses.
Clearly implying that they could be used in an escape attempt, the prosecutor asked the police officer who seized the items: “If a person wears this woman’s Muslim dress and sunglasses, will you be able to identify the person?”
The officer replied, “No.”
