San Suu Kyi sworn in to Myanmar’s parliament

Naypyitawn: Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sworn in to Myanmar’s military-backed parliament today, taking public office for the first time since releasing her battle against authoritarian rule nearly a quarter century ago.

The 66-year-old opposition leader’s entry into the legislature heralds a new political era in Myanmar, cementing a risky detente between her party and the reformist govt of President Thein Sein, which inherited power from the army last year.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party will take up too few seats to have any real power in the ruling-party dominated assembly, however, and there are fears the presence of the opposition lawmakers could simply legitimize the regime without any change.

But the new lawmakers are also likely to bring a level of public controversy to the legislative body that has never been seen as they get ready for the next general election in 2015.

The swearing-in ceremony took place in the capital, Naypyitaw, which was built by the former army junta. With white roses in her hair, Suu Kyi stood along with several dozen of her party’s lawmakers as the speaker of the lower house asked them to read the oath.

Posted on May 2 2012. Filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry