JOURNALISTS and diplomats on May 26 were again allowed to attend the trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, during which she spent 27 minutes answering questions posed by the presiding judge.

On May 20 the government had allowed 10 journalists into the court. On May 26 the number was boosted to 25 – 15 from the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Yangon, and 10 from Myanmar publications.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged with violating Section 22 of Myanmar’s Penal Code, for “protecting a criminal and disturbing the stability of the state” in connection with an uninvited visit to her house by American John William Yettaw, 53, on May 4 and 5.

In response to questions from the judge, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said she lived with her assistants, Daw Khin Khin Win and Daw Win Ma Ma, at her home and that the government had issued her with orders restricting her to house arrest, and had also issued extensions of these orders.

When asked whether Mr Yettaw had visited her home on November 30, 2008, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi answered: “I heard about his visit but I didn’t see him.”

She also said the intrusion of Mr Yettaw into her house was reported to her by Daw Khin Khin Win at 5am on May 4, although she did not know what time he actually arrived. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that she did not report Mr Yettaw’s arrival to authorities responsible for security at her house, adding that there were no security personnel in her compound at the time.

“I permitted [Mr Yettaw] to take shelter at my home temporarily,” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said. She also said she did not know whether certain “letters or items” appropriated by the police from her house had been left by Mr Yettaw.

“Only Mr John William Yettaw himself knows that matter,” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi told the judge.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also said she did not know whether Mr Yettaw had taken photos or video during his intrusion into her house, adding: “I only learnt that he took photos and shot video when I appeared in court.”