MYANMAR: Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi sworn in as new member of Myanmar's parliament
Record ID:
860393
MYANMAR: Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi sworn in as new member of Myanmar's parliament
- Title: MYANMAR: Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi sworn in as new member of Myanmar's parliament
- Date: 3rd May 2012
- Summary: NAYPYITAW, MYANMAR (MAY 2, 2012) (REUTERS) PARLIAMENT IN SESSION AUNG SAN SUU KYI, NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY (NLD) PARTY LEADER, SEATED/SPEAKING TO OFFICIALS SUU KYI LOOKING THROUGH PAPERWORK WITH OFFICIALS MILITARY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT (MPS) SEATED SUU KYI STANDING, WALKING TO TAKE OATH SUU KYI AND MPS WALKING TO FRONT OF PARLIAMENT SESSION PRESIDENT OF PARLIAMENT SPEAKING SUU KYI AND MPS STANDING IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT, OTHER MPS STANDING SUU KYI AND NLD MPS, DRESSED IN ORANGE, TAKING OATH SUU KYI AND MPS STANDING, TAKING OATH SUU KYI AND MPS STANDING IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MORE OF SUU KYI AND MPS TAKING OATH
- Embargoed: 18th May 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Myanmar
- City:
- Country: Myanmar
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA44HQLXAMTTTE27N1B60BOHTAU
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi took her place in Myanmar's parliament on Wednesday (May 2), ushering in a historic new political era after nearly a quarter-century fight against military dictatorship.
The 66-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate waded through throngs of foreign and local reporters as she entered parliament in Naypyitaw to join a fragile new political system after 49 years of oppressive army rule.
Suu Kyi and 33 members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party who swept by-elections on April 1 took their seats after backing down from a demand to change the wording of the oath that new members take. Three more will join them in the lower house later.
She entered the imposing chamber and sat down, near the block reserved for serving military men, who have a quarter of the seats in parliament under the constitution.
Suu Kyi seemed relaxed as individual lawmakers strolled over to greet her before taking the oath.
The dispute with the ruling army-backed party over the oath had threatened to upset the delicate detente with President Thein Sein, a former senior general who has overseen a year of sweeping reforms in the resource-rich but impoverished country.
Suu Kyi agreed on Monday (April 30) to stick to the original wording and she will swear to protect a constitution drafted under military direction that she says is undemocratic and needs to be amended to reduce the political role of the armed forces. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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