Yahoo – AFP, Hla-Hla Htay, 1 February 2016
Aung San
Suu Kyi arrives for a parliamentary session in Naypyidaw on February 1,
2016
(AFP Photo/Ye Aung Thu)
|
Naypyidaw
(Myanmar) (AFP) - Myanmar entered a new political era Monday as Aung San Suu
Kyi's pro-democracy MPs took their seats in parliament, bearing the hopes of a
nation subjugated for decades by the military.
Wearing
pastel orange uniforms, lawmakers from the 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.
Aung San
Suu Kyi is barred from the office of
president in Myanmar by a military-scripted
constitution because she married and had
children with a foreigner (AFP
Photo/
Ye Aung Thu)
|
Suu Kyi,
the centrepiece of Myanmar's struggle for democracy, entered the cavernous
parliament building without 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.
The new
government faces a daunting rebuilding task in one of Southeast Asia's poorest
countries, whose economy was crushed by almost half a century of junta rule.
Many NLD
MPs are also political novices, unskilled in the business of government.
They must
swiftly adapt to a difficult decision-making process in a legislature where
unelected soldiers occupy 25 percent of all seats.
"It's
a historic moment for the country," said Myanmar political analyst Khin
Zaw Win.
The country
will now choose a new president to succeed President Thein Sein, the former
general who in 2011 launched dramatic political and economic reforms which
culminated in the election.
Suu Kyi
herself is barred from the post by a military-scripted constitution because she
married and had children with a foreigner.
The
70-year-old has vowed to sidestep this hurdle by ruling "above" a
proxy president, although she has yet to reveal her choice for the role.
While there
is no clear schedule for the selection of candidates, it could be within days.
Elected
members of both houses and the military will nominate three candidates to
replace Thein Sein, who retains his post until the end of March.
Lawmakers
from the National League for Democracy arrived for their first day
of work in
the capital Naypyidaw on February 1, 2016 (AFP Photo/Ye Aung Thu)
|
The new
president will then be chosen by a vote of the combined houses.
Great
expectations
Observers
are closely watching Suu Kyi's relationship with the still-powerful military,
which holds key ministries as well as the 25 percent parliamentary bloc.
Suu Kyi may
try to persuade the army to help her change the charter clause that blocks her
path to power, analysts say, although it has so far baulked at any attempt to
redraft it.
After
decades under the military yoke, Myanmar's people queued in their thousands to
cast ballots for Suu Kyi and her party last November, throwing their support
behind her simple campaign message of "change".
With a resounding
parliamentary majority, her lawmakers are -- at least initially -- expected to
act as a rubber-stamp for her government.
While the
NLD majority will need to time to find their feet, the military has had plenty
of time to prepare for the handover.
A
quasi-civilian government has steered reforms since outright army rule ended in
2011.
The military has appointed "more senior and experienced, and probably better prepared" soldiers to parliament, according to Renaud Egreteau, an analyst who has studied Myanmar's legislature.
Military
members of parliament attend a lower house session in Naypyidaw
on February 1,
2016 (AFP Photo/Ye Aung Thu)
|
The military has appointed "more senior and experienced, and probably better prepared" soldiers to parliament, according to Renaud Egreteau, an analyst who has studied Myanmar's legislature.
Thein Sein
has led the opening up of the long-isolated country, spurring international
investment with sweeping political reforms.
But Myanmar
remains blighted by civil wars and ethnic and religious divisions. Poverty
rates are high and the bureaucracy is poorly funded and riven with corruption.
On the
streets of Yangon, however, ordinary people were optimistic about what Suu Kyi
could achieve.
"We
have been hoping for an NLD government for a long time. I feel happy now,"
said 22-year-old dentist Kyaw Htet.
New era dawns as Suu Kyi's party strides into Myanmar parliament https://t.co/RwRwAA7pjl pic.twitter.com/VDXqBgotIJ— AFP news agency (@AFP) February 1, 2016
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