Myanmar entered a new political era on Monday as Aung San Suu Kyi’s pro-democracy MPs took their seats in parliament, carrying the hopes of a nation subjugated for decades by the military.
Wearing orange uniforms, lawmakers from Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) arrived for their first day of work in the capital Naypyidaw buoyed by a massive popular mandate from November’s election.
That poll saw the NLD wrest a majority from the army establishment and has spurred hopes of a new political dawn in the long repressed nation.
Suu Kyi, the figurehead of Myanmar’s struggle for democracy, entered the cavernous parliament building without making a comment.
She took a seat alone for the short opening session which saw the lawmakers sworn in and the appointment of a close ally, Win Myint, as lower house speaker.
“Today is a day to be proud of in Myanmar’s political history and for the democratic transition,” Win Myint said in an acceptance speech.
“It’s a historic moment for the country,” said Myanmar political analyst Khin Zaw Win said, adding “a lot of worries come as part of the package” of taking power.(AFP)
Link: http://atimes.com/2016/02/nld-in-driving-seat-as-myanmars-new-parliament-opens/
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